Cast to the Other Side (John 21)

Have you caught any fish?
We've labored all night.
Bring what you have.
We've not even a bite.

Don't be discouraged, stay where you are.
But the fish are not biting, we're heading to shore.
You're in the right place, but your nets the wrong side.
We're trained to catch fish!, you're just a stranger on shore,
But whatever you say, our wisdom no more.

I have enough fish, I. have enough bread;
That's not the point the man on shore said.
We're tired and no sense does it make,
But we'll cast to the other side, in case a catch we should take.

The Nets will they hold? The catch is so large!
Heaven's resources untold, who is this in charge?
Bring it ashore and add to my fry,
You were in the right place, just new methods to try.

The man on the shore,
We suddenly knew who He was.
But no one dare say,
Until He called us as one.

My resources are yours,
And to you I will give,
Fish for the catch,
Just follow my instructions, new life yet to live.

So stay in your place, the place is not wrong.
The spray in your face, casting your net with a song.
So what do we learn from this man on the shore?

The resources are His, He gives want you lack.

It's a journey of faith, never look back.

Prisoner of the City

I'm a prisoner of the city
The guards are my fear
Prison walls built so high
The cries of the city ring in my ear

I'm a prisoner of the city
They say I'm free to go
Be just like everyone else
Who said, "God loved them"
As they drove off with their love in tow

I'm a prisoner of the city
But my sentence is not from man
The love of Christ compels me
In chains of the Gospel I take my stand

I'm a prisoner of the city
If I leave they'd say I tried
But Jesus loves the city
For the city too Jesus died

So a prisoner of the city I choose to be
Remembering how Jesus found and rescued me
The love-life of Jesus, His presence to be
Opening prison doors, setting the captives free

Play With Me Daddy

Play with me daddy, my little boy did plead
A game of flag football is really all I need

Work to be done, a child has to wait
A decision to make, which do I take?

I've missed it before, these play with me dates
My child's fleeting moments in innocencies gate

I tried to do both, to play and to pen
It seemed a good option, but only just then

But I better decided for just one so someday when
So not to look back on "what could have been"

The decision was right, the joy on his face
When I laid down the pen, played the game, slowing the race

Play with him, three games did he win
Play with me daddy, please son, ask me again

Sights and Sounds

It's the sights and sounds of the city
Sights and sounds of the neighborhood
Dogs barking barking, babies crying,
Traffic screeching, and bullets flying

It's the sound of kids playing ball in the street
The sight of two cars who meet,
Passing a rock, addictions to keep

It's the sight of the elderly couple shuffling along
Who remember their block,
The sound of joy and laughter
Instead of a lock

It's the sights and sounds of anger
Fueled by hopelessness and fear
What can be done to take back our streets
And lose the gun, Bring back the peace
So our streets can be safe, the community one

But out of the darkness echoes a voice
Of One crying in the wilderness, offering a choice
It's the sound of Salvation, and the Sight of Love
Jesus weeping over the city, offering His Blood

Lay down the hurt and come to the Cross
Enter His Kingdom, laying down the loss
You see, Christ is invading the streets
Transforming the sights and sounds of anger and hopelessness
To sights and sounds of Grace and Peace

So watch for the sight of His coming
Listen for the sound of His voice
He echoes throughout the city
New Life He offers, sins forgiven, causing rejoice

So call on Him today,
The sights and sounds of the city,
The sights and sounds of the streets,
All will be made new in Jesus
If for no one else, our Savior loves you

Little Boy In the Gym

Little boy in the gym fighting back the tears in his eyes
Being raised by a dad who says "real men don't cry"

Working his combos as hard as can be, it's only day one of a long journey you see
He's gotta get it right or his fathers disappointment he'll be

Take it slow and easy to him I say, you don't have to get it perfect, just try today
Real men acknowledge the pain, and release it with tears

You see, crying can either stop us in our tracks
Or push us through carrying the pain on our backs

Crying allows us to feel the pain, and savor sweet victory
Tears are the bodies release and the cleansing we need

So to the man who says, "real men don't cry"
Stay away from my son before he starts believing your lie!

The ones who say, "real men don't cry"
Know nothing of manhood, or even wanna try

To the man who says, "real men don't cry"
Lay down your arrogance and misguided pride

Real men look to Jesus who not only wept, but died
Defeating the grave and in life canceling the debt

Little boy in the gym with tears in your eyes
Seeking your fathers approval if only this time

Just remember this truth, that it's okay to cry
Jesus our Savior loves you, and so do I

Teddy Bears

In the city we see it every day
Teddy Bears nailed to a tree
So easy to miss
Too painful to see

They're more than a face
In a pict on a tee
They're innocency lost
These Teddy Bears nailed to a tree

They represent a life
Snuffed out from what could be
Taken out by hate
By mans own lost innocency

So don't ignore the pain
Follow Christ and Go and Be
Take to the streets
Christ's love-life to be

Teddy Bears belong in a child's arms
Not nailed to a tree

Fight Camp; A Door or A Bridge?

Thanks Paramount - River Road Campus (Amarillo, TX) for leading an amazing week of Fight Camp 2016. Mentally, physically, and spiritually we all walked away exhausted. Your 14+ hour days; your love for kids and families; all enveloped in your love for Jesus. And Lion's Roar parents and volunteers who didn't have to give back to their school, but chose to and the difference you guys made. Friend's from a nearby church who gave of time and resources so each child could break a board to demonstrate their newly learned and honed skills. I could go on and on as it was an amazing week.

Fight Camp 2016 really did serve as a back door into people lives as campers not only learned some really cool martial arts moves, but more importantly, learned about Jesus who loves them. This is what back door ministry is all about in the urban context, or any other context probably. But the neat thing about Fight Camp 2016 is that God used a back door to become a bridge for one little girl and her dad.

You see, there was a cute little girl who attended each day of Fight Camp 2016, and gave it everything she had. Day after day parents were there watching their kids learn martial arts moves and have fun in classes ranging from; kickboxing to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, to wrestling to crafts and music, and of course, snack time. So this little girl took the initiative (we call it a God-thing) and called the dad she had never met (only talked to on the phone), nor knew what he looked like, and invited him to come watch her break a board on the final day. And guess what God arranged? Yep, on that final day when she was to break her board to demonstrate her skills there was a strange man that had not been there before. Taking a risk she asked, "are you my dad?" He replied, "yes." What an amazing moment in Kingdom life that may not have been possible outside of God's intervention at Fight Camp 2016. Healing, reconciliation, and restoration of a broken family began as a back door became a bridge.

Since that day I've been wondering how many other back doors God could turn into bridges? Is there a door you've been walking in and out of that God is trying to turn into a bridge? A bridge to Him or a bridge to others? I'll never look at a back door opportunity the same again as now I'm asking God to divinely turn all back door ministry opportunities into bridges of salvation, healing, restoration, and reconciliation.

Look for the back door this week,

Shawn