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august 06.archive


The Real Thing

Baptisms are exciting no matter where you do them, but I’m convinced that there are not very many things more inspiring that witnessing people making a public confession of faith by getting baptized on the beach for all the world to see. Last night, I watched in awe as nine of Christ’s followers stepped out into the waters of Lake Erie, proclaimed their allegiance to the King of Kings and were baptized. Sin, loss, and redemption were the three key themes of each of their stories, which they shared with everyone in earshot before they stepped into the water. Church and un-churched, close friends and bystanders were all there to witness their step of faith. I was overwhelmed. This is the real thing. This is true faith.

I hear a lot of people saying we need “A New Kind of Christian.” I don’t think we do. What we really need is the original kind, the kind that was willing to proclaim their faith in the face of death, the kind that was thrown to the lions in the Roman Coliseum, the kind that relentlessly spread the message of the gospel to the first century world, the kind that really follows Christ in every aspect of His person and ministry. This is the kind of Christian I witnessed last night.

Before we took the group out to the lake, I held a mini baptism class. I made sure everyone knew that this was a proclamation of faith that could bring them persecution. I shared what happened to the first century Christians who took this step. I even shared how our culture was growing increasingly bitter toward the message of Christ. I wanted to scare them. I wanted everybody to know the risk they were taking. I even cited C.S. Lewis who said that Christians are like the French resistance during World War II. Imagine if they’d waited for D-Day to proclaim their allegiance to the Allies. Their allegiance would have meant nothing, because the fight would be over. Instead, they risked their lives to prepare the way for the cause of freedom. By stepping out and being baptized, these brave souls put on the uniform of Christ and joined the resistance. They are preparing the way for the rightful king in the face of a tyrannous dictator. They knew the risk and they chose to take it. This is the great adventure.

Few times in my life have I been so inspired, so filled with honor as last night. I’m still living off the excitement today. God is doing a work beyond our wildest imaginations. He is equipping us to lead this generation in the adventure of becoming like Christ. What greater cause could you grant your allegiance?!

This Sunday, we are continuing to equip Christ’s followers to accomplish this mission. We are beginning a series on Evangelism, not that cheesy door to door pass a tract and run kind. I’m talking about the risky kind, the kind that requires you to tell people where you allegiance lies, the kind that really makes disciples. We don’t need a new kind of evangelism. We just need to get back to the original way. Some of you are wondering what I mean. Show up these next three weeks and you will find out. I guarantee that you will find answers to your biggest questions and frustrations about evangelism. This is not just a social event. We are a movement to advance the Kingdom of God. Join the cause. Fight the good fight.

- 2:37 pm - 8/28/06 - Dan Samms

Dreaming in the Real World

"One day, you will be old enough to begin reading fairy stories again." - C.S. Lewis

Have you ever noticed how the imagination of the child is virtually endless? There is no limit to possibility when you are 5 years old. A twig can become the famed sword Excalibur, and you and your friends are valiant knights rescuing maidens and slaying dragons who appear in place of the neighbor's Doberman. Girls imagine themselves as beautiful brides standing at the altar with a handsome prince and the entire world watching as they celebrate the greatest day of their lives. How wonderful it was to be a child, innocent, imaginative and hopeful!

The greatest crime I have ever seen committed was the snuffing of child-like hope. I once heard a television personality talk about the need for women to get out of their "delusions" and quit looking for a knight in shining armor. He believed that dreams were worthless in the "real world." His adolescent pride made him feel like he was the "big boy" who could crush everyone's child like dreams in the name of "realism". If he only knew the destruction he caused.

I hear a lot of people say that we need to "quit dreaming and live in the real world." In their conception, we'd all be better off if we just quit setting our hope so high and started accepting the world for what it is; painful, sad, and broken. Isn't this the mantra of the mainstream music industry? How many times have you heard, "I'm just talking about how it is in the world," and "Don't blame me for telling you how it is in my part of town?" Let me frank with you. Evil will never cease as long as we accept it as the norm of society. We disintegrate as a culture when no one dreams great dreams.

In the face of terrible oppression, Martin Luther King spoke the words "I have a dream." At the time, his dream seemed beyond possibility, but because he spoke of how the world could be rather than perpetuate the way it was, he changed he face of American history. He dreamed in the real world. Let me assure you, Dr. King did not ignore the reality of the present. He simply did not use it as an excuse to do nothing.

When C.S. Lewis wrote that we would all eventually become "old enough" to read fairy tales again, he was remarking upon the fact that most of the people who claim to be "grown ups" are really quite misinformed about the true nature of maturity.

Children dream dreams outside of reality. Adolescents crush dreams in the name of "growing up." But, adults, that is truly mature men and women dream in the real world. They fix their eyes on hopes and dreams that they passionately and purposefully turn into reality.

What if every little girl held out for a true gentleman husband? What if every musician wrote songs of a better day? What if every little boy really lived out his childhood dream to be a hero? What if we all made good of our hopes?

What I'm talking about here is not something all that new. When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God "on earth as it is in heaven," He wasn't just whistling Dixie. He was talking about making this world better as we live here on this earth. I have heard some use Jesus' teaching about the poor and needy to advocate a social gospel free from any "spiritual talk" about sin, suffering and redemption. I've heard others try to ignore social concerns for fear of being associated with "liberals." Both parties have it wrong. The truth is that when we truly understand sin as an offense against God, when we really understand that Jesus Christ died a violent painful death to redeem us from our wretchedness, when we see that He really was raised from the dead so that we could some day live with Him in Heaven, when we really believe his teaching about how to live out His love on earth, when we truly obey Him, we will be living out His kingdom on this earth. The right perspective about heaven will give you the right perspective about you life on earth. Quit living in the "real world" and start living out the kingdom in the real world. He is the King of kings on earth just like He is in Heaven. Let's obey Him here just like we will obey Him there.

Think today about the things you are dreaming about. What are you doing to make those dreams a reality? Maybe it would do us all some good to read a few "fairy stories."


- 2:07 pm - 8/18/06 - Dan Samms

    Exciting things are happening at Frequency. As you can see, we have a new web site! The new look of the site goes along with the new look of the ministry.

    Here’s what else is new:

      Connection Groups have become the heartbeat of our ministry. Various small groups meet weekly for fellowship and book discussions. People are connecting with Christ and each other in the attempt to grow thier faith and understanding.

      Join a Connection Group Today >>

      New people are coming to Frequency, and the ministry is growing as a result! Please invite any and all young adults that you come into contact with - Sundays at 6:30.

      Daniel Samms has taken over as our regular speaker as he shares on topics such as relationships, Christian living, and foundations of the faith.

      Haven't been to Frequency in awhile? You are missing out. Frequency is changing and we want you to be a part. Come join us as we lead our generation in the adventure of becoming like Christ by ministering to hurts and grounding people in their faith.

      - 11:04am - 8/09/06 - Admin