Potential is one of those intangibles that is of utmost importance. The goal of any project, any career, any life, is to grasp onto it’s full potential, to discover 100% of all it’s possibilities. The problem with this, is today in our culture we are thinking so small. We preach that we believe in excellence, but only to an extent. We set ‘reasonable goals’ to keep them within reach so there is almost no chance of failure. We are told to be the best we can be, as long as it’s within reason.

When we subscribe to the world’s view of excellence, when we accept this view of potential, we fail to believe in the extravagant, the unimaginable, the unbelievable. But the truth is, a God born idea, or a life surrendered to God, at the moment it is birthed, is inherently given the potential to do the unfathomable. God accomplishes what the powers of this world cannot. He’s in the business of creating the extravagant, the unimaginable, the unbelievable. When we begin to change our perception of what we think is possible, we look at what we used to think was 100% of our potential, and realize we were only really giving 60. God brings us to the 100% that really is 100%.

The limits of our potential that we set in our minds dictate the limits our potential will reach in our lives. God is interested in blowing the roof off of our limits and moving our thinking onto an entirely new track. This is a track where the blind see, and the lame walk, a track where we, mere broken humans, have the potential to not only shake our relationships, but our community, nation, and the world at large, for the glory of God’s kingdom. 


-jon

The most popular name in America right now is that of Tim Tebow. With the billion and one articles and opinions that have been spread about the Denver Broncos quarterback in the last few months, I thought I would add my two cents to the pot.

However, I don’t want to talk about Tim Tebow the athlete, or Tim Tebow the person, or even give my opinions on Tim Tebow’s faith. Rather, I want to use Tim Tebow as the headliner to highlight a fasting moving trend that has been bubbling under the surface of our culture for the past few months.

They say that no press is bad press. And Tim Tebow has had more than his fair share the past few months. And when Tim Tebow is in the news, you can probably bet that the name of God will be close by. Because of Tim Tebow’s relentlessness in sharing his faith at any opportunity he receives, especially in front of millions of viewers, God’s name has been all over the media these past few months. And whether this news is good, bad, or something in between, Tim Tebow is starting a movment.

Every time after a game when Tebow thanks his Lord and Savior, he is making it more and more acceptable for Christian athletes, and Christian celebrities at large, to express their faith openly in our ever growing secular culture. And in the past year, Tebow has not been the only one bringing God into the press.

In the early stages of the upcoming election, the number one blaring issue to most voters thus far, has been the religious faith of candidates such as Michelle Bachmann and Mitt Romney. And while Bachmann is no longer in the race, her presence and openness about her faith, whether you agree with it or not, has gotten people talking more and more about things not of this world. And with the fast growing demographic of politically active, twenty-something Christians, in 2012 the ‘Christian vote’ will be more important then it’s ever been before.

Elsewhere in the country, The Book of Mormon has been the hottest show on Broadway for the last year and a half. And while the show does not paint the most positive picture of the Mormon faith, it has gotten God’s name into the theatre and paved the way for revivals of such shows as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar. Shows like this, whether they are theologically correct or not, bring the faith conversation to over five thousands audience members a week in the heart of New York City.

There is no denying it, God is in the media, and it has all the signs of the beginning of a movement. And Tim Tebow is now it’s unofficial leader. All it takes is one person using their voice, to inspire other people to begin using theirs. The more these people and their professions of faith are trending, the more curious people will become, and all it takes is a little curiousity to get people to begin digging into the things of God. Because when God’s on television, then God’s in our homes, and when God’s in our homes, then we have a much better chance of being in our hearts. Thus, I would like to purpose a new definition, or an expanded one, of the term Tebowing.

Tebowing: Relentlessly and unapologetically using your platform to expand God’s kingdom.

Tebow is doing this on a national scale, and don’t be surprised if you begin to see more and more people start coming out of the woodwork talking about their faith on national television. Don’t be surprised when you begin to see more and more voices calling out in the desert.  We only needed someone to prepare the way so we can begin to prepare His way.

So is it a good thing that there is all this media talk about faith and religion? I don’t know if there is a right answer to that question. But this we do know, that when people are talking, God will use that talk, positive or negative, to bring glory to his name, and people to his heart.

-jon

Last night I attended an event/concert benefitting for the drought in Africa, put on by an organization called Afrocka. After walking through the lobby, and seeing their displays, and listening to a few songs, I was nearly brought to my knees. Instead, I decided just to sit down, and I began to pray and thank God for this opportunity to see my vision come to life.

Now Afrocka was not my idea, nor do I have anything to do with the organization other than being a now avid supporter. But the Afrocka team and I have a shared vision. A vision that art and creativity can mobilize a community to do more then just listen to music and scream and dance. That art, when it is centered on the Lord and serving his people, can be an amazing venue to bring positive change to the world.

The theme for Afrocka this year was Hope. And last night, as I left the event I was filled with new hope that not only was my dream important and could come true, but that there were others out there who believe the same thing I do, that creativity mixed with a servants heart, moves mountains, and ends droughts.

In light of my new inspiration, God really spoke to my heart in the car ride home last night, so I brought out my phone and started writing. This was all that came out....