Author Archives: chadzaucha

“Every awesome thing in creation is designed to point you to the One who alone is worthy of capturing and controlling the awe of your searching and hungry heart.”

Tripp, Paul David. Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do (p. 21). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Yep. There’s still some snow on the hills in the background.

This is how Jesus described the extravagant act of worship bestowed on him by the woman at Bethany (Matthew 26:10).  She broke open a flask of very expensive perfume and poured it on his head.  The disciples were quick to point out the “wasteful” nature of this action.  Yet, Jesus rebuked them.  He was honored by her lavish gift.  And she was lifted up as an example of what true worship looks like:  extravagant, costly, humbling, sacrificial.

I confess that I am more like the disciples than like the woman:  cautious, practical, functional, guarded.  As I am, so also is my worship.  Lord, teach me to be like the woman, extravagant in my worship. May I do unto you a beautiful thing.

This is my beach, my happy place.  Josh and I spent a glorious afternoon in Orlando a few weeks ago watching the Braves and Pirates play a spring training game.  It didn’t matter which players were on the field or who won the game.  It was baseball in the Florida sun.  Someday when I am old and rich I will spend the month of March in Florida and attend spring training games everyday.  (Christy needs a little convincin’)

Tomorrow is Opening Day for the MLB season.  Sadly my Cincinnati Reds have already declared the day a rainout.  What could be worse than waiting all winter for baseball and have Opening Day rained out?  OK, lots of things, but let me whine for just a minute anyway.  The good news is that baseball season is here.  In the words of Rogers Hornsby:  “People ask me what I do all winter when there’s no baseball.  I’ll tell you what I do.  I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

Better get those ice shanties off the lake.

Last weekend I was blessed to be the speaker at a weekend retreat for young adults in the Greater Cadillac Area.  Here are some personal reflections from my time there:

1. I preached 4 times, covering the 4 chapters in the book of Jonah.  As one who personally struggles in the area of receiving God’s love, the idea of God’s relentless pursuit of wicked Ninevites, pagan sailors, and a rebellious prophet was significant to me.  He will even use severe mercy (ex. a great storm) to bring us to where we need to be.  So great is His love for us.  I thoroughly enjoyed studying and sharing the book of Jonah and look forward to teaching it again.
2. I shared a bit about my own battle with depression and anxiety and was not surprised that so many at the gathering could relate.  There is a great need and opportunity for the church to effectively minister to people who are plagued in these areas.
3. In chapter 1 of Jonah it was noted that the sailors “rowed hard to get back to dry land.”  They were exerting great personal effort to save themselves.  I think this kind of self-effort has a lot to do with my own depression and that of others.  While intellectually we know that we are saved by grace through faith, there is still the tendency to “row hard” resulting in exhaustion, failure, and guilt.  Our relentlessly pursuing God has called us to cease striving and rest in His grace.
4. The worship is passionate and sweet.  I very much enjoyed the freedom to worship God in spirit and in truth.
5. Our community has some remarkable young adults who are passionate in their love for Jesus and His mission.

Hope to connect more with this group in the future.  It was indeed a great weekend.

Ephesians 6:19

[19] and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, (ESV)

When I think of enthusiasm, I think of John Hasbrouck–a man of unmatched vision, passion, and zeal.  John had a unique ability to see it, believe it, and do it.  He did nothing halfway.  No wonder we had such great enjoyment in discussing together Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship for a season on Saturday mornings.   As I write this I realize just how much John impacted my life and challenges me today to live enthusiastically.  It is no wonder:  the word “enthusiasm” comes for the construction “in theos” or “in God.”  No doubt John is experiencing a glorified enthusiasm today in the presence of Jesus.  Thank you John for your legacy of enthusiasm in my life.