From Guest Blogger Glen Bryant

Have you ever noticed how people react to things that are shiny and new? It’s like we are drawn to physically and verbally react. Cars are a good example. When we see a brand new car with its shiny new paint and chrome, we almost always make some comment showing how much we admire the newness and the “shine”. Even with my older car, when I wash it, I always turn as I’m walking away to get another look at it because the shine makes me happy…it gives me a good feeling. The same principle applies to people we see.

A little over five years ago, there was an experience in my life that changed me forever. You see, I had been in the “party scene” for most of my life. Starting in high school, I began using alcohol and drugs and had continued far into my adult years. I knew a lot of people who “shined” when they were using, but they quickly lost that shine when the drugs wore off. I was the same way. I tried to make sure that the good feeling I had wouldn’t wear off by keeping a steady supply of drugs and alcohol at my disposal. If the good feeling starts to wear off you simply supply your body and mind with what it needs to maintain the feeling of happiness. Of course that didn’t always work. Sometimes no matter how much I used, the feeling of happiness was unachievable. The things that I had relied on to make me happy weren’t working like they used to…they were only temporary at best. That’s when God stepped in.

I received an invitation to go to church from a co-worker and for whatever reason I said yes. So the next Sunday I got up, got cleaned up and dressed, did some meth (speed), and headed for church. I felt pretty safe going to church high because I figured these church folk wouldn’t be able to tell anyway, but I’ll never forget walking into the sanctuary and seeing people I knew from the party crowd, even one guy I used to buy a lot of my drugs from! People were smiling and truly happy to see me, even people I didn’t know. But what really got my attention was when the music started and I began noticing the “shine” on the faces of some of the people up on stage. It was different. I stood there trying to figure it out. What was it about these people? It was like being in a parking lot…some of the cars stand out because they are shinier than the rest. This was people though, and they definitely were shining brighter than anyone I’d ever seen. They had something I wanted. I had to find out how to get it for myself.

A month later I threw away the drugs I had. I was figuring this thing out. The happiness I had while using was a lie. The happiness they had, seemed to be coming from inside. It was a “natural” high. How cool is that! No more hangovers! It all started with the “shine” I saw in the faces of some of the people. It’s like this. Have you ever been in a room with no windows when the lights go out? It’s completely dark, and you try to find some kind of light to focus on. Then you see a crack of light coming from under the door and you head straight for it. You know that’s the way to go so the fear of being in the darkness will go away, and that when you are in the light you will be safe and happy to be out of the darkness. I saw a light in these people I had never seen in any bar or at any party. I was drawn to it, and I wanted what they had.

You see, the shine I saw in those peoples faces was coming from inside…it was coming from their heart. It was real, it was natural, and I was starting to feel it myself. I could see the light in the darkness and I was headed straight toward it. It wasn’t sunshine I saw, it was son-shine. They were shining because they knew that the Son of God was living in their heart. They were shining because they knew that Jesus had sacrificed Himself to pay the price for all the wrongs they had done and will do. They were shining because of the promise of eternity in heaven with the one who shined brighter than all the others. But just like a car, it takes a lot of work to get and keep the “shine”.

Our cars get dirty, scratched, and dinged-up just like we do. Our relationship with God is what keeps us clean, like reading His word and doing what it says, talking to Him (praying), and leaning on Him through the good and tough times. Even though we have some dings and scratches that will always be there, through “Christ in our lives” we can “shine” like brand new every day, and just like that brand new car in the parking lot stands out among the others, my goal is to be a light to others just like those who shined the light for me when I was standing in the darkness of my sin. I want to be like the people who allowed God to use them. The “Son-Shine” in their faces and lives, saved my life.

By Glen Bryant

I am amazed at Gods love and how he could love me in spite of knowing everything about me. I know how selfish and egotistical I can be, yet that doesn't effect his love. We all have a variety of relationships in our life, some good, some not so good. I am looking forward to seeing what God has to say in his word about relationships and learning some practical things that I can put inplace to help make those relationships healthy.
This weekend my great friends Jonathan and Megan tie the knot. I am excited for them and all the life changes that they are experiencing. Congrats Jonathan and Megan.

-Tonight Jonah plays in the second round of the Ntional League playoffs, they are still undefeated.

New Elevate Video

I am Legend

Tonight we are going to be closing the series "I am Legend." We looked at some of the names God used to reveal himself to us. As the "I AM" he was the beginning of all things, and when we fall short, when we aren't big enough, strong enough, wise enough, patient enough, he not only says "I AM" he is "I AM." We also saw the mighty God, who created the heavens and the earth by simply speaking them into existence, this all-powerful mighty God breathed life into his creation and showed his magnificent artistry by hand crafting us into his image. We Also saw him as an Everlasting Father, a Father who is kind, compassionate, in love with us, and always there.

Tonight we will close with him revealing himself through Jesus, who came and said in John 14:6: I am the way the truth and the life." I am thankful that God in his unspeakable and indescribable majesty is not only willing but passionately pursuing a relationship with us.

Memorial Day

I really have a lot of respect for the men and women who give of themselves to serve our country. Today is memorial day a day to remember those who gave all a sacrifice for us. The whole thought of being willing to sacrifice all for the good of the whole country is an amazing thing. I cant imagine what it is like to be in battle, and to be on constant guard, with your life on the line. I had a friend who was in Iraq who began to understand a relationship with God which he would find when he came home. He shared with me that while he was ducking for cover with enemy fire exploding all around him, he felt a strange peace that there was a purpose in his life. After he came home his wife, who was attending a church I was a pastor at, brought him to church. After hearing about a relationship with Jesus, he said it finally all made sense; this is what God had had protected him for, and that strange peace he felt in the midst of undescribable trauma, was Gods hand.


Some of the stories he shared with me of what it is like in real life war still make me shutter. The amazing thing is that the God who made his presence felt to a soldier dodging bullets is pursuing an intimate relationship with all of us, and offers the same peace that he felt for the trials and struggles in our life. Today I pray for the thousands of men and women in this same situation that they would feel the peace that God brings a realize their purpose as well- to know the creator and experience the new life that he brings.

From Guest Blogger Glen Bryant

Do you know how many people make their living off of being the “middle man”? The fact is our whole society is based in some way on this concept. When you want to buy a house you don’t usually contact the owner, you contact a real estate agent. Even when you rent a house you sometimes deal with a “management” company, instead of the owner. Everything from buying stocks to buying flowers has someone in the middle helping the transaction happen and making their cut of the profits. A lot of the time that’s the safest place to be. The risk can be much less for the people in the middle.

I worked for a family member once that had a business selling storage tanks. Mostly the big ones you see in mountain and rural areas. We would make some of the tanks on-site, but a lot of them we would simply take the request on the phone, call a bigger distributor, who would give us a discount so we could in-turn sell the tank to the customer and make some money on the deal. The tanks were even delivered directly to the site sometimes and we would never even see them or the person who bought them! It almost sounds dishonest but it’s become “the American way” of making money and we call that being a “broker”.

Now I’m not putting anybody down for how they make a living, I had just been thinking about a situation where I tried being the “middle man”, or “broker”, on a different level…on a spiritual level. You see, I had a co-worker that came to me one day because she new that I was a Christian and she was needing help with her son who at the time was 17 almost 18. He had gotten involved with the wrong crowd and had gotten in progressively worse and worse trouble with the law until he found himself going to prison for about 3 years. Yes, that’s right, adult prison. His mom was asking if there was anybody at my church that I could get to connect with him somehow, to encourage him and help him find a better way to live. I told her I would do my best, and I set out to see what I could do.

Since he was a young, Hispanic male, that had some gang background, I started trying to find someone in our church who would fit the order. The “middle man” was on the job. I talked to several people and even gave the address of the prison to a couple people who said they would try, but after about six months my friend’s son had received no mail. I was having trouble figuring out why no one would take an interest in helping this young, lost youth. I was failing at my job as the broker, the “middle man”. I had seen the mother’s tears, someone had to help!

So I did the only thing left to do. I took the address I had been given, wrote him a letter, and mailed it off. I had no idea how he was going to react. I didn’t feel like I was the right one for the job…I was much older, and Caucasian. In my mind I couldn’t see him connecting with some old, white dude…..but I was wrong. You see God had a plan all along. He set the whole thing up from the start. It was amazing. What I remembered was that even though we may be different ages or races, that God made each and every one of us in His image. So the idea that we have nothing in common with certain people is a lie from the get-go. We were made by God to be a family, to love each other like He loves us, no conditions, and no boundaries. As my new friend and I continued writing back and forth my eyes were opened to the fact that God didn’t want a broker, or a middle man, He wanted me, God new that not only did this young man need my friendship, but I needed his as well. He didn’t want me to find someone else to be his friend, He wanted me to do it. He new we both had something to offer each other…friendship, family, and the love of Christ. I am so happy God put this person in my life. We have been writing to each other since 2006 and next year he gets out. I have every intention of being outside the gates when he steps out, now 20 years old, and giving my brother in Christ a big hug, and on the following Sunday walking in to church with him.

Now this isn’t intended to be a pat on my own back, I just wanted people to learn from my mistake. Don’t always be looking for a “middle man” when it comes to God’s work. It may feel like the safer way sometimes, but you will never know the blessings God has in store for you…if you don’t see the path He’s laid before you.

Take the risk…be God’s “direct supply” to the lost.

By Glen Bryant

Rest

I find myself getting sick quite a bit lately. I think there are a couple of reasons for that. 1. I havent been taking care of my body. (no gym and bad eating happens make for some sluggish days) 2. Improper time management, many times I will allow the tyranny of the urgent to take complete rule, and my unwillingness to say no, keeps me up late doing things I should have done or shouldnt have volunteered to do.
3. and Finally not taking one of the 10 commandments seriously. That being the Sabbath. I think the sabbath has nothing to do with going to church, but rather taking time to stop and let God rejuvenate my mind, body, and soul.

Here is what Louie Giglio wrote about the Sabbath:

That’s what today is all about. Sabbath is not about legalism and rule keeping. This holy day of rest is about the posture of our hearts...about laying at His feet the heavy weight of the world we’ve tried to carry all week long.

There’s so much to be done and so little time to do it. And that’s the point exactly. We can’t. But, then again, Sabbath reminds us that God is building the house that stands, not us. And having done our best at all we can, it’s time to be still...and by our very godly inactivity exalt Him as our all in all.

Breathe out weight and worry. Breathe in again the bigness of God.

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15a

Today’s prayer:
Father we praise You today. Not because we are supposed to, but because we want to…we need to. We need to remember again today that You are Almighty. Limitless. Unchanging. Forever the same. From weariness and brokenness we look up to You. You are the source of life and peace. All of our help comes from You, Maker of heaven and earth. (end)

I need to take some time to take care of me: That is sometimes the best thing I can do for my family, my friends, and the people God has commissioned for me to lead.