Quick Reminder

Sometimes it seems as though I've already read this. Ever get that way? Deja vu in reading, learning, or whatever. Here it goes again, the same ole, same ole. Nothing different...maybe.

We are a forgetful people. I've played the same songs during worship services over and over again and still forget the lyrics or the next chord or riff, sometimes even the order of the song. It's frustrating. It's especially frustrating when I don't remember where I left my wallet and keys. And even more frustrating when I can't find the chapstick! I'm convinced it has legs that secretly come out of the sides to run and play tricks on me by showing up in odd places.

Paul begins chapter 3 saying that it's no trouble for him to remind them of the same things again. I don't like having to remind anyone of anything! We're supposed to be adults and remember things...right? How often to I have to teach the same thing over and over again to get it through people's heads?! It's frustrating sometimes.

Then he says it's a safeguard for them. That makes sense, since we can't even remember where we left our shoes, or our child's name when we call them. Hearing the same things over and over again help us remember. The stuff that sticks is repetitive. I know I've read the Old Testament and have wondered if I would have been the same as the Israelites, constantly forgetting God and His commands, even when His presence was visibly among them! We are a forgetful people. Why do we like routine? Because we can finally remember what we're supposed to do. Why does Paul not mind teaching the same things over and over again? Because it helps believers to remember why they believe and Who their Savior is.

Let's be honest. If we don't become more and more familiar with God's Word, the less we're going to remember it. History has a way of repeating itself over and over again. Why? Because we forget the lesson we should have learned. We forget that God is our Provider. How do I know this? Because money is what we've come to trust. It purchases everything for us, right? Not actually. God provides for us what we need. When go into debt, we didn't trust that He would and money has become our god. I'm guilty.

We forget that God is our Lord. How do we know this? Self-reliance is what we've been taught since childhood, or at least most of us have been. We honor and hold in high esteem the self-made man or woman. But God tells us to rely on Him to guide us. Our surrender to the cross should mean that Christ is living through us instead of ourselves.

We forget that God is the Comforter. How do we know this? When we're in trouble we turn to things to set us free and give us comfort. Habits of smoking, drinking, lying, violence, laziness, avoidance, shopping, and anything we do to give ourselves the comfort we think we deserve because it's been hard. We've come to trust in these "things" rather than the Creator of the things. He's the Comforter we long for. He alone can give us peace.

Martin Luther would teach his congregation the message of the cross every week. One week, a church member walked up to him and asked, "Why don't teach anything else?" to which Luther replied, "Because week after week you forget."

Our forgetfulness is seen in how we live. So I pray that I don't get tired or get frustrated at the same lesson again. It's a safeguard and helps me remember.

It's Convenient

Have you ever heard the phrase, "How convenient" used? I use it a lot, usually in a sarcastic term, like when I drop something and spill it all over the floor. Convenience is nice. It's nice that the grocery store is less than 2 minutes away. It's nice to have the theater just 3 minutes away. Internet access everywhere, 3G, smart phone, iPad, DirecTV (and the recording feature on that thing is awesomely convenient, especially when I know I'm going to miss my favorite TV shows), the Giants' win in the Super Bowl, a comfy couch, the refrigerator, a deep freezer, two cars, a paycheck, light bulbs, and you can fill in the blank for the other many things that are convenient for us. It's truly a marvel that we've come to have so many conveniences. Air conditioning is one that I wish I had during the summer months. But it sure is nice to have a wood burning fire place in the basement.

We've become reliant on these conveniences and can't imagine life without them. Seriously, what would life be like without a cell phone? I mean, how else would anyone ever get ahold of you when you're doing things that you don't want to involve anyone else in or let them know about? Share one car, for real? Are you serious? And how could I possibly give up Facebook?! It's my whole world! Get out of bed to go to church, are you crazy? I can just watch it over the internet in my bed! Why would I want to get up?

Convenience is overrated. Now we're so dependent on these things that we've given up personal responsibility and believe some one else owes us. Self-interest is the word.

I'm reading Philippians now and I've made it to the end of chapter two. Paul is getting ready to send Timothy to the church in Philippi because Timothy shares Paul's concern for the church, and he makes a statement about the other believers in that area that sounds pretty harsh. However, it leaves me wondering if I'm just like them.

For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 

Thanks, Paul. What a pick-me-up for the rest of us.

Let's set the stage for this comment. Paul is Rome writing this letter. Rome is on the east side of the country. A trip to Philippi would mean having to sail around the boot of Italy. Sailing anywhere in those days wasn't all that fun because it was based mostly on the wind. There were no motors other than raw man-power (slaves using oars) or wind to get them from one place to another. Trips like that take weeks or even months. It's not exactly how you would want to spend a season in the year, but it could just take that long.

Here's the point: what difference does it make when care about something? I would easily give up the time to go home to my wife and family, but what about taking a trip like that to encourage a church? The other believers wouldn't give up the convenience of their location and settlement to do what was important to Jesus.

Here's the application for you and me: Let's ask ourselves, are our interests found in what Jesus values most? Or is our convenience more important to us? What if God calls us to something that we know would cause us to leave our convenience behind? Would we do it? Let's take a test and find out. I've said it before, if we're are willing, it's a nice thought and completely meaningless. But if we actually do it, it's meaningful and makes a difference. Let's ask God to lead us toward a concern for His Kingdom. Pray. Whatever comes to mind first, do it regardless of it's inconvenience. If it's local missionary work, get involved. If it's global, spend some time in prayer for guidance and begin to work toward the calling. If it's serving in the church, call your church and ask how you can serve and be sure to tell them what area you're thinking about. Let's look out for the interest of Jesus Christ.

Life Is...

Remember the Charlie Brown verbiage? Happiness is...a warm blanket. I'm reminded of that right now. But I'm going to change it for a few minutes to begin with "Life is..." instead of the happiness thing.

Think for a moment and fill in the blank: Life is _________. What is it?

I've been reading in Philippians now. It's taken me almost 5 days to get through with chapter one! I'm not quite sure why it takes me so long to read these things. Guess I'm just a little stubborn sometimes and don't understand. However, I have to share with you what I'm learning. God's Word is becoming more and more important to me. I'm finding that I can't move on to the next phrase or section without understanding what's going on. This is kind of new and exciting.

Paul is one amazing author! I read what he begins with and as he continues, he explains what we wrote from the beginning. He's in prison but it doesn't get him down. Paul talks about having joy even though he's bound in a cell. Conviction about his life's purpose must have been very strong for him to find anything worthy of joy in a dark muggy cell. Then he says it; "to live is Christ." Notice the verbiage? "Is." It's not "as." It's "is." He understands the importance of God and the relationship He's come to establish. Life is...Christ.

I've often wondered what it would mean to me if suddenly everything were taken away. The worst possible tragedy happens in life and, just like Job, I lose everything. (There's a huge difference between me and Job. I have a godly wife instead of nagger. If Job had her as a wife, she would have sat in sackcloth with him and poured out her heart to the Lord.) Would Jesus be enough? After all is "stripped away" and it's just me, would He be enough for me to live on? All it takes one incident, one thing to happen for the life we have grown so accustomed to, to just disappear and change. Is Christ enough? Honestly, I pray He is!

With everything given over to Him and His purpose for me, Christ becomes life because there is nothing else. The most important, most vital thing in life is relationship with Christ. Even myself must go to the cross and die. Christ must become life. The value, the mission, the priority, and everything safe is found only in Christ. And what it all boils down to is the safety of my soul found in Him. When my shell is faced with certain and unavoidable death, what difference does it make for "me" if it quits breathing? I'm found to be with Jesus, the Life!

Live in this shell and take over every part of this life, Father! I don't want to be found any more as Nate. Christ, be my life! Truly live! Overcome as I wave the flag of complete surrender!

Everything else is loss and holds us back from knowing the true God. Everything. Nothing can take the place of Christ as life within us. We cannot find life in marriage, children, a bigger house, a nice car (or even one that runs), the best computer or phone, careers, friendships, or anything. Life must become one thing: Christ. It doesn't mean that we are no longer responsible for parenting, our marriages, or responsibilities. It does mean that if Christ is life, He affects all those things for the glory of God.

Pass it on. Let people know what Life is. Begin to truly live.

The Peace

Yup, still in John. Now I've made it to chapter 20 which is where I'll be coming from today. There's so much in there I can't ignore but must share. Sometimes I think we look at the resurrection of Jesus and play it off. We pay much attention to Jesus' life, which is extremely important. From His life He shows us exactly what God wants, what He's been talking about from the beginning. The perfect example is found in Jesus. However, if He didn't rise from the dead, our hope would be in a good man instead of a Savior. He's done what no one else could ever do in His life. He's also done what is necessary to reconcile us to God.

The account of His resurrection shows me something, another truth about what Jesus came to do. Little phrases Jesus says during His first few appearances to His disciples and Mary Magdalene teaches and continues the work He came to do. Check it out.

Mary shows up at the tomb while it's still dark, early in the morning. Can't see very well, but does notice that Jesus' body is gone. She rushes and tells the disciples and John and Peter run out to see for themselves. John gets there and stoops in to look. One of the commentators I've read mentions something that gives a little more of a real scenario to me. "Are you going to go down into a tomb while it's still dark?" I'm thinking, not me. Let's face it, tombs and death aren't really things we like to hang around for long periods of time in the dark. It's creepy. But aside from that, the disciples didn't know if the supposed thieves were still around. Peter doesn't seem to care though. He goes right in. John lets him. It's more comfortable with two, so John goes in too and sees the cloths there and the face wrap folded nicely lying away from the rest of the grave clothes. I've got to tell you, that's weird. And I think if Jesus' body was stolen, the thieves wouldn't be so nice and polite as to fold the cloth that covered His face. The disciples leave without saying a word of comfort to Mary as she arrives once again.

Mary, a devoted follower of Jesus, her Master's body is missing. She just wants to keep the respect due her Leader. She looks in again and see two angels sitting in there and they ask her why she's crying. She wants to know where Jesus' body is. Jesus shows up, but through her tears and sorrow, and because it's dark and hard to see, she doesn't recognize Him. He asks her the same, and also a question He used earlier before He went to trial: "Who are you looking for?" "Just tell me where He is so I can go and get Him! Let Him rest in peace! I don't want any trouble." Jesus calls her name. She knows.

Now, the coolest thing about this is what Jesus says from then on. He says He is going to ascend to His Father and your Father, His God and your God. That's awesome! Do you see what happened? The way has been made to the Father! For the first time after His resurrection, Jesus is looking on a believer who's sin has been completely atoned for! Jesus' Father is our Father! Jesus' God is our God! The way has been made! Jesus just can't contain Himself! He has to say it! Some of His first recorded words after the work has been completed. "My Father and your Father, my God and your God."

A short while later Jesus shows up to His disciples in a room that was locked. His first words are also very cool. "Peace be unto you!" Wow. Again, so thrilled that the way has been made, He has come, grace is available, He declares PEACE!!! Jesus shows them who He is and that it's really Him, then He says is again. Then He sends them out with that message. "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Basically, peace is available to all who will believe, I've declared it, and now you will declare it! The way has been made! He has come to give us peace between the God of Justice, peace from the wrath we deserve, peace from the enemy we've created by our sin!

I've been reading another book alongside my studies to challenge my faith. It's called Radical by David Platt. Normally I'm not into books that spend time bashing the church because the church is the body of Christ. Us beating it up isn't going to help it get in shape. We are responsible for using God's Word for correcting and training in righteousness. Sometimes correction hurts, but if you come and punch my bride, think of the trouble you have brought on yourself! Now think about doing that to Jesus' bride! This one doesn't do it as some others that I've unfortunately read. David does a good job exposing truth and the difference between the principles of God and our failed attempts in explaining them to make them our own. I do agree that some of the basic principles found in God's Word have been dumbed down and reduced to something we want to digest instead of how God intended us to be different from the world.

In the second chapter of his book there's a statement that make things more plain to me about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It goes something like this: we can't get to God because He already came to us. Deep down, I think that's so very true of myself. I've been spending time trying to get to God when He is already here! He is living in me! Why am I still working to earn His grace? Why is my work not done just because of my love for Him and the peace that He's given? Do I even understand and realize what Jesus came to do? Do I value the peace as much as He does as shown in the account of His resurrection?

This Peace is great and worthy of attention! It is not to be taken for granted but built upon. If peace has been established with anyone, abandon all else to live in The Peace, Jesus!

The Side of Truth

What is truth? That famous question from Pilate to Jesus left unanswered in that moment. Just a few verses back Jesus tells us what truth is: God's Word. At the beginning of his gospel, John explains Who the Word is: Jesus. Jesus tells Pilate that He came to testify to the truth. Pilate asked for it, then walked away. He had opportunity to know for himself what (or Who) truth is!

The application point comes from the next sentence though. As a Christ-follower, the words are spoken through a megaphone: "Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37)

Well, I claim to be on the side of truth. God has made a difference in my life through Jesus. But there are those moments when I hear Him instead of listen to Him. The voices we become familiar with we can pick out of a crowd hearing just one tone. I know the sound of my children's cry, each individual differently. When one of them gets hurt and begins to cry, I can tell who it is. If I'm looking for my wife and can't find her, I can use my ears and tell where she is just by the familiar tone in her voice. Do I listen for Jesus the same way? Does the truth stick out like my child's cry amidst a crowd of children? Can I tell the difference between the truth and the lie? Am I familiar with that voice?

Jesus has already testified to the truth. We know it and can learn more truth by looking into the Word. (I think I posted something about the Word being Jesus before. But I couldn't find it to link to it here. Basically it goes something like this: if Jesus is the Word, and the Word of God is the Bible, can it be that every time we look into the Bible we are looking into Jesus' face?) Jesus set the perfect example of what truth looks like. The message of the gospel spells clearly what God intended from the beginning. The truth is that we're in desperate need of a Savior, and the Savior has come to save!

I believe. I'm on the side of truth. Now, being a part of this kingdom from another place, how familiar am I with the King's voice? Listen. Listen for Him. If I'm on His side then I should know what He says, how He talks, and should be able to tell the difference between His voice and the enemy's. Get familiar.

Psalm 16

Psalm 16

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 16

A miktam of David. ¹ Keep me safe, my God,
   for in you I take refuge.
 ² I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
   apart from you I have no good thing.”
³ I say of the holy people who are in the land,
   “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
⁴ Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
   I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
   or take up their names on my lips.
 ⁵ LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
   you make my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
   even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
   nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Jesus on Trial

Okay, I couldn't come up with any title that fit well with what I'm going to convey. All I can say is that when Jesus went to trial before Annas the high priest, I feel like Annas sometimes. This has everything to do with the trial Jesus had and what I'm learning about myself. John 18:19-24.

This is the scene. Jesus has been arrested. He is taken to the Jewish high priest, Annas. He's being questioned about his teachings and disciples. I think Annas is looking for some way to trip up Jesus in His words because they have not ever been able to find anything wrong with Him. Jealousy has become a bitter friend to this guy. His Messiah was supposed to be pleased with all his efforts to live rightly. But Jesus, the true Messiah, rebuked him in public and exposed his heart. Anyone who's been exposed might have a similar reaction. But I believe deep down Annas knew exactly who Jesus was and didn't like it. When Jesus exposes something that needs changing in our lives, do we like it?

Jesus doesn't want anything to do with this ridiculous questioning but appeals to the way things should be done in the first place: testimonies of those affected by His teaching and miracles. He makes no secret, never has, and isn't about to be tried falsely for having some secret agenda. He's taught publicly. Everyone knows what He said.

The police in the court didn't like the way the judge was addressed and struck Jesus in face! I think we see in Jesus' response how He is still in control of the situation. Once again, exposing what the truth of this sketchy trial is all about. "If I spoke wrong, tell the court what it was. If I spoke what was right, why did you hit me?"

Annas is faced with an important decision. Jesus exposed him again. What to do with Jesus? Annas sends Him away to Caiaphas, the man the Romans appointed as high priest. (The Romans conquered Israel and one way for them to maintain control was to take over their religion. They allowed the Jews to keep their religion, but took authority as to who would be high priest. That's why there were two. The Law of the Old Testament gave the command that there should be one high priest. So the Jews recognized Annas as the high priest even though the Romans appointed Caiaphas. Weird, I know.)

Sometimes, I feel like I'm Annas. I look for anything in God's Word that will let me do what I want to bring myself a gratification. But when it comes time for the confrontation of Jesus, I arrest Him and put Him on trial before myself, as if I have any authority at all. Jesus has exposed my sin, the dark places in my heart, the real reason He's on trial today. I don't like it. I don't want to see those places. I would rather forget instead of deal with them. Maybe these efforts of mine is enough. Why does He have to be in control? But when He declares in the midst of my sketchy court, "I've spoken openly. You know what I said," I'm faced with a decision to make: what am I going to do with Jesus? Unfortunately, I respond and slap Him in the face. "How dare you talk that way to me! I'm in control of my life and can make my own decisions!" Jesus looks at me and says, "Have I spoken wrongly that you slap me in the face? Or did I tell you the truth?" I send Him away for a moment.

For a moment? Really? Is this the way I'm going to live this life, send Him away for a little bit and run back to Him once I've finished? So much energy wasted in myself! If I believe God to be true to His Word, why is Jesus on trial in my heart? Why do I spend time with the sin that distracts my pursuit of God? Either I'm all in with Him or not at all. Jesus asks for the whole thing.

Expose those dark places in my heart, Lord. Please, take over. You're not trial with me anymore. No more testing, no more looking for some hidden agenda when You've told me plainly. I know what You've asked for. I know what You've said! You're here to mess up this life I've called my own to bring in something much greater. Please, forgive me for striking You in the face over and over again. I repent! I want to... Please give me strength to repent, to quit it. I believe the message You've spoken. Now, Lord, I trust in Your strength through my weakness to overcome. You're in control.

Unwavering Unity

John 17 once again. I'm going through verses 20-26. Jesus' prayer is so important to me. We see here a glimpse of what He longs for in His church. I really want to understand what He is praying, and even for me in this passage, so that I can live up to what He desires. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I can answer His prayer. But God can work through me to answer what He prayed for. This is important and necessary as a Christ-follower to understand. With His prayer beginning by proclaiming the strong desire (and that word doesn't even give it justice) for God wanting a relationship with me, I can come to a point in understanding what He desires for His church and for me to do as His child, as one sharing in the glory of Christ, as one continuing His purpose and mission He began on earth.


Unity. We long for it. People do anything for it. And I think the church looks for it too. But the unity isn't found in the methods or styles, but in the relationship we share with God in Christ. We all have our likes and dislikes. There will always be differing opinions. And because of Jesus, we should all be on the same side. If unity fails in the church, so does our witness. People can't believe in a divided cause or find comfort from the hurt the world gives in a place where peace does not exist. Breaking off from what we don't agree on is an easy thing to do. It's tempting. But God calls us to live in peace with one another; to do all we can to live and establish the bond of peace. The church has long been known as the Bride of Christ. One Bride, not multiple. Even Jesus mentioned that divided kingdom cannot stand. Disrupting unity is a weapon of the enemy. We have something in common--relationship with Jesus. Focus on growing that and unity has more than just a chance. Could you imagine the witness and impact God's church would have on the world if we all held on to the unity of the Love of God?! 


Finally, at the end of the prayer, the mission continues in us as the revealers of God's love to the world. Jesus finished His work and now we are to continue it. We're not alone but united in the love of God. The relationship we share and that He came to establish with us through the cross is simply the greatest realization we could ever know. 


Jesus mentions something even more miraculous: God's love living in us. Jesus living in us. The deeper we get in our relationship with God, the love continues to grow and the more we become a true representation of the gospel to the world. I can see an example of this in my marriage. I love my wife and my wife loves me. The more we love each other, we become aware of likes and dislikes, of personalities and how we can bring joy to each other. And everyone around us can see the love we share with one another and that we belong to each other. Same with God. The more we love each other, or the more we come to understand God's love for us, the more we grow in our love for Him, and He becomes more evident in our lives. We learn how to bring Him joy and take joy in the gift He has given. The world can see that we belong to God. Imagine the church so lost in the love of God, found in unity because of Jesus revealing God to us!


One more thing before I end this post. I have to be honest. This whole prayer seems to stem from the first few sentences on the importance of the relationship with God. It's what God wants with us. It's why He created us. I'm not sure if I'm to a place where I completely understand its importance, but now I know. I've known for a while. I want to know more. 


It seems like the glory Jesus is talking about throughout this prayer is the relationship that has now been established because of the cross. Then He mentions seeing Him in His glory. I want that. But the glory we share because of the glory of the cross brings the display of faith, or evidence of faith, out to its fullest because we don't see Him now. What a reward to receive! To finally, after the grueling years of life on this earth, having spent a lifetime or just a few years in the glory of the relationship, can we see the glory of God in a physical way! I want that! Oh the sin that has entangled this life of mine from fully coming to a close relationship with my Father! It's time to grow! It's time! 

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1b-3 NIV)

When it gets tough, even though I'm still in the world, I must remember I'm not a part of it but separate. If I don't think it's possible to overcome, remember that Jesus went to the cross and overcame. If I think I'm alone in the struggle, remember there's a large group of people who've already gone through this and have now received the glory Jesus was talking about. When I lose my focus, remember that Jesus died for this relationship with me, and no one else has ever done that. If God valued me so much as to allow His only Son to go to the cross to pay the price for my relationship with Him, all the more should I value His love and purpose for me! I'm united with Christ! Church, unite in the love!

This Sanctification Thing

I'm getting lost in Jesus' prayer before He went to the cross (John 17). It seems like He's talking in circles. Maybe He is. The power of God's name intrigues me. It's powerful enough to protect, bring unity, give joy, and display truth. It calls us out of what we know into something we might not be too sure of.

My previous post talked about Jesus' definition of eternal life. It's knowing God and Jesus. Living eternally calls me out of things I know and am familiar with into a deep relationship with God, a relationship with Someone I can only see evidence of. The miracle of the cross has probably been taken for granted in a lot of ways. I don't think about it much. Jesus thought highly about it. He came to perform a miracle none of us can see the result of until it's all over. But we can know it. He says that He wants joy to be complete in His followers. Joy that comes just from knowing our relationship with God; that we have one.

Because I have a relationship with God, He has called me out of the world. I'm no longer a part of it. Things that once were important to me no longer have any value. What I value now above all other things is my relationship with God and to know Him and His Son, Jesus. I believe God sent Him to make the first move toward a relationship with me. True purpose comes to my life because now I see what I was truly made for; an unbroken and unhindered relationship with God. I'm also to remain in the world however long and not be a part of it.

One thing I have to ask. How does God's name protect us? What kind of "protect" is Jesus talking about? He says protection from the evil one. I wonder...when I make a claim to know God and to be building a relationship with Him, those moments I decide to be a part of the world instead of be apart from it, does the name no longer protect? The unity God so desperately wants between us and Him and His people, does it all break down when we look the same as the world instead of apart from it? I read something in my studies: "Loss of holiness is a loss of joy and truth, and too often results in a complete casualty in the battle." How can unity stand in the moments I fall down to the earthy things and worship them by desiring what makes me feel good for a moment, those deceivingly attractive lures of the enemy? What happens to the church? How can God protect me by the power of His name when I don't take joy in the relationship He came to establish with me, at the sacrifice He made for me? God forgive for spitting in your face too!

It's time to live differently. When the enemy is around the corner, I must attack him. Take joy in the relationship God paid for with His Son. Jesus set Himself apart from the world at the ultimate price so that I can be too. How can I get set apart? Well, sanctification comes from truth. God's word is truth. How do I know what God wants? Listen to His word. He tells me how to do it. His word sets me apart. And His word helps me develop that relationship He came to begin.

Living Eternally

Weird title, I know. But I can't help it. To be honest, I'm not quite sure what God has in mind for this blog as a whole, but I have to share with you more than just what's going on in my life. God is a big part of my life and I give Him total credit to who I am now. He has used many people as I've grown up and through work to guide me into a closer walk with Him. But it's because of Him that I'm here. Without Him I am nothing. I have found my identity in Christ so I must share what He's teaching me.

My study today has let me to John 17. I only got through the first five verses. There's too much to ignore and not say anything. I'm going to attempt to not get into a huge theological discourse on some of these statements, but keep to what must be done as a Christ-follower. Even though we might not agree on some of what these phrasings mean, we can agree on our purpose. So lets not spend time arguing but rather living and doing the Word. But if we have to talk about some of these things, I'm not opposed.

Jesus mentions that He will give eternal life to all those given Him. What I want to point out is what He says eternal life is. Verse 3:

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Wow. I thought eternal life was living forever and never dying. I'm sure that's part of it. But there's something awesome about this. We can start living eternally right now! Here we are, living in this world, not even noticing God but seeing with our eyes and believing through our actions and thoughts that this all we are. We live for the next paycheck, the promotion, to have children, for relationships, for the job, for a phone call, to please someone else, in pursuit of happiness and we miss what's truly real because all we can focus on is the material, what we see and touch. Eternal life is given to me and to you, if you believe, because Jesus completed His work. Eternal life is access to something we've never had access to before: a real relationship with God. A One on one time with Him anytime of the day as often as we want.

I have had a struggle this past year with materialism. I wanted to move to a nicer house, something that I think would fit our family better. In one month we doubled our debt because life got in the way of us getting out. Our basement flooded, our windows broke, and my grandmother passed away. All of these things caused stress. Wouldn't they to you? I could justify it that way, but then I ready that I am not of this world. Why should I stress? Sorrow comes and goes and so does happiness. But the joy that runs deeper comes from my focus on the eternal that has been given to me because I believe in Jesus Christ. I know Him! And if that is eternal life, then I can start now living eternally and not focusing on these earthly pains.

This is so very real.

Someone Else Is Speaking

Wow, it's been a long time! This new year has gotten a lot of new things on my mind. One in particular is this blog. It will be moving. I have a domain name that I'll be using for this and I'll announce it when it gets moved. The design work for the new site isn't complete yet, so I'm going to work with this one for a while.

I remember posting something about that prayer we all pray and it goes something like this: "Jesus, show me more of You. I want to know more of You." Normally we pray that prayer and do nothing about it. We don't look into the Word of God to see Jesus, and we often pray it after we're done with our quiet time (if you have one) or during communion. Don't get me wrong, it's a legitimate prayer if you mean it. It's necessary and important that we all pray that. But what we doing to get to know Him better?

John 16 has a neat account of Jesus with His disciples. It's almost time for Jesus to make His move on sin and death to conquer it. He begins talking about the Holy Spirit, the Helper He'll send after He goes back to the Father. One verse rings out a little more to me with what I'm resolving to do this year in my relationship with God. Verse 14:

He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

Are we asking God to speak through His Holy Spirit into our lives? If it's through the Holy Spirit He makes Himself known to us, why haven't I prayed that prayer? I spend so much time talking about Jesus and He's told me His method of revealing Himself to me, and I haven't asked Him to do that. You can call it splitting hairs, but aren't we all a little guilty in putting the Holy Spirit in the back seat, not giving enough importance to Him as the revealer of Christ and God's will for our lives? His role is glorify Christ. That's why Jesus sent Him. He is to help us glorify Christ. If that power is living within us, have we suppressed it by not asking God to use Him to disclose the Father to us? Have suppressed the Holy Spirit because we want to do things ourselves instead of stepping out in faith, obeying God because it's the right thing to do? We know what He wants, but we're not really listening. We're Americans. We're independent. We're right. We've messed up.

Well, my prayers have changed. It's why I'm blogging again. Before I spend time reading and searching God's Word, I'm going to ask God to speak through His Holy Spirit so He make known to me more of Himself. Join me in listening for Him.

Happy Thanksgiving!

During this season of the year, it can seem like Thanksgiving gets passed right on by and Christmas begins. Already there's a station on the radio playing just Christmas music. Black Friday is advertised as some huge deal of deals day. Sometimes it seems like the Friday after Thanksgiving receives more attention than the Holiday itself! Just makes me wonder why we have a difficult time to take time to truly be thankful for what God has given us.

There are so many things to be thankful for. So many people and circumstances and blessings. Let's take moment, a long moment and turn off the football game, the Macy's Parade, and sit down and tell God just how thankful we are. Truly.

Thank you, Father, for this opportunity. May we never forget that You are the source of all we have and all we are. We praise you. May this Thanksgiving day we celebrate be a moment of true thankfulness that's never taken for granted.

Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Crazy Love Book

Do you ever wonder what it'd be like to live life the way God intended? To see what it really means to clean house, fear and trust God for real, to leave everything and follow Him? And to know what it means to be loved by God?


Lately I've been reading a book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love". I suggest you pick up a copy of this book. It has really challenged me to go deeper, to become the radical Christian God wants me to be and has designed me to become. It's very inexpensive, and if you have a digital book reader, you can download it from the amazon kindle market for a little over $5. At most book stores you can pick it up for around $10. It's worth it! But I warn you, after you read one chapter you won't be the same.

The Center

It sure has been a while since I've posted anything. Hope I can get into the habit of sharing more with you. Today marks a turning point for my life. For a long time I've wrestled with a certain passage in the Bible: Philippians 1:21a "For to me, to live is Christ..." That means life is Christ. Are you confused? How can life be Christ? 

Over this past weekend I went with the Meridian Point youth group to the Desperation Conference held at New Life Church. Needless to say, it was an incredible conference! God really did some awesome things there. It was humbling to see such a large group of teenagers cry out to God out of desperation to know Him more and in worship!

During one of the seminars, I went in to listen to Glen Packiam. God has truly blessed him with an ability to understand His Word. What I'm really thankful for is that he doesn't keep what God's revealing to him a secret. Anyway, he talked about Dagon and God from 1 Samuel 5. Take a moment to read this story. One of the things countries used to do when they went to war and plunder the cities was to take their enemies gods away so they could worship them too. The were collector's items and the more of them you had the better. Glen explained that Dagon was a god that symbolized success, or fame and wealth. What the people in didn't understand was that their god wasn't a god at all in comparison with the Lord. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if the Philistines realized that and started worshiping God because He beat up Dagon, proving that no other god compares to Him. Instead, they sent the ark back to Israel. 

Here's the deal. The very first commandment in the Ten Commandments states that you shall have no other gods before God. That doesn't mean we can have gods after Him. God can't be categorized like a baseball card, or rated on value. He doesn't want to be first in our lives, He wants to be the only One. Making Him first implies that there are other things after Him. 

Did you know that no where in Scripture is there a reference to having a spiritual life? Our lives becomes transformed and should change. We've divided our physical life from our spiritual life and we're all only one person. There is no separation. God wants to be the center of your life. God wants to be the Core of our very being, to affect everything we do...like a red shirt in a white load of laundry. He wants to bleed out into every area of our lives. He needs to infect us to affect what we do, say, think, look at, speak at, work, husband, wife, parent, live as a son or daughter, and everything. I'll admit that I've not been very good at this at all. And I imagine that most people haven't either. But now I understand that life is Christ. There is nothing else. There should be nothing else. I've also come to grips that if I have a second place I'm confining God to be only what I want Him to be instead of trusting Him because of who He is. 

Purpose with me to make Christ the center of our lives. Let's let Him be the one and only. Let's stop categorizing, containing, and rating God. He is all there is.

A New Ministry

We've started a new ministry at our church I'm really excited about. This new ministry is a way to help us worship every day. Too often we find ourselves simply reading God's Word without doing anything with it. God's Word should be revolutionary in our every day life! Worship is our response to Him.

Most Sundays are viewed as a time of "worship". And it seems that the primary meaning of the word pertains only to the Sunday morning gathering. But Romans 12:1-2 says that it involves more than that. It involves sacrifice on my part. I need to be a living sacrifice. Daily I need to offer my life as worship to Him. When I do that, my outlook on things should change, my response to situations change, my decisions change, and what God teaches me when I listen to Him does not and will not return void. My life changes. The way I'm living changes. My purpose of living changes.

This new ministry is called "Worship: Unrated". It's meant to get all of us thinking outside the box of Sunday morning worship to worshiping daily throughout the week with our lifestyle. It's like getting a movie but the Director's Cut, or the Unrated version, the kind of stuff the director wanted to originally put in the movie. God wants us to worship beyond Sunday morning. Check it out and sign up for a week and see what it's like! Leave me a comment!

Knowledge Gets In The Way

Have you ever come across those people who seem to know everything about everything? They always have an answer. Don't you just want to slap them?? Just kidding. However, "knowledge" can get in the way of relationship and enjoyment.

Read this.

So, my knowledge and understanding of God's Word can actually hinder people from growing in their relationship to God. It's like this; we know that the Bible is silent in some areas and speaks in others. Those "silent" areas, or gray areas, give room for personal interpretation. But what could be a liberty to me could even cause someone to sin! My knowledge of the Bible then becomes a hindrance to relationship with God instead of a freedom I can enjoy. A young Christian struggling to know what God desires or anyone who looks to me as a leader deserves an unquestionable example. I cannot allow my knowledge to ruin the enjoyment of pursuing Christ. If I do, I deserve to be slapped.

Plainly said, if what I "______" causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never "____________" again, so that I will not cause him to fall. You fill in the blank...

Leave me a comment!

The Gift

So my wife got me one of the greatest Christmas presents ever! Yes, I know it's early. And I'm not going to tell you what it is. Good luck! I already opened it. She let me. I just figured out some things about it that will be even more helpful in the future. Can you guess? Probably can. Still not going to tell you.

Is that going to drive you crazy? I mean, don't people normally boast about one of the greatest gifts they received for Christmas?

Why do we treat grace like that? We have been given THE greatest gift ever; grace, God's unfailing grace. Instead of telling everyone we know about the most awesome gift we've ever received and ever will receive, we're quiet about it. Why? Because of His grace we have been saved! The promise of eternal life is awesome! So what's the deal?

And I know that this will throw some of you for a loop. Do we really believe that people can simply figure it out just by observing our actions? How are they going to know if we don't tell them? Our actions should prove what we say. We can't have one without the other. Charades is fun, but without the ability to use words sometimes the guessing game can get pretty tough. It's definitely easier to figure out the right answer when words are allowed. We need to understand that people can see the gift without realizing what it is or what it does. People can hear about the gift without seeing its affect on our lives. That's why we want to do both when we receive anything. We tell them and show them.

As we come into the Christmas season and the day gets closer, let's make it a point to realize what the greatest gift is and Who it came from. When people ask us, "What did you get for Christmas?" our answer should be, "A Savior."

Leave me a comment!

Thankfulness

Just this week I went to a local area minister's breakfast. This happens on the first Thursdays of the month. It's been awhile since I've gone, but I came away with something that I have to share with you.

After the meal, while we were all sitting at our tables, we finished our "get-together" with a prayer time. They told us to share what we are thankful for with the rest of the group at our tables. For some reason I thought about it.

Do you ever do that? Shouldn't our response to a question like, "What are you thankful for?" be very immediate and resolute? I actually had to think about it for a little while before I had an answer. I felt ashamed. God has given me so much, but there's nothing that quickly comes to mind to be thankful for? Am I serious?!

I apologized to God in my prayer. I realized something that morning that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. If I don't take time to be thankful every day for what God has given me, I won't be content or satisfied. My eyes will lust for more and my fleshly nature will come to life. I don't want to be a person who requires material to satisfy my wants. I want to be content with what God provides for my needs. Paul says in Philippians 3:7-11 that everything has become a loss for the gain for knowing Christ. When we're not thankful for what God has already done for us those things which were counted loss suddenly become a gain again and the value of Christ falls in our hearts.

Please join me in purposing to be thankful daily for what God has and is giving us so He will always remain the most valuable to us.

Leave me a comment!

Competitive Shopping

When I shop I look for the lowest price with the greatest value. Right now I'm looking for a good camera. Our video camera is beginning to slack in it's purpose. It won't automatically adjust it's focus as efficiently as it used to which can create problems when I want to see what I'm filming. So it's time for replacement. I've been looking around for a good, small, HD camcorder with an internal hard drive. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, I just want something current and overflowing with quality so I won't have to replace it for at least another 8-10 years. But the better the quality the more I'm going to have to spend. Let's face it, you get what you pay for. I'm looking in the ads, going to stand in line all night for Black Friday all to make sure I can get exactly what I want for a really good deal. And when I find the greatest deal on earth, I'm going to brag about it. I'll tell you for sure what I find.

It's funny how much effort we put into things like this. Either we save up or charge a card for exactly what we want when we want it. We want the best. We can live without it for a short while but it keeps nagging at us until we satisfy that "craving".

Think of people who shop for that fix, the fix that only God can settle for us. We put a heavy price tag on grace, but God gives it to us freely. Romans says in 6:23 that if we want to earn something we can earn death because we naturally want to do the wrong thing until Christ steps in the picture. We work hard at being a good person all on our own without giving God a chance to work through us or for us. Redemption is not something earned and doesn't have a price tag that's completely out of reach. God says all we have to do is believe (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9). That's the price. God does the work. He's paid the price once for all on the cross. Now all we have to do is accept it. He gives it to us freely. It's a free gift! It's FREE!!!

Now the big question for me is, "Why am I not boasting about a free gift that's completely out of this world, AWESOME?!" So here I go: I've found the greatest thing ever and it's forgiveness. It's grace. It's completely taken away all the things that weigh me down. I've been promised an eternal life if I believe and God never breaks His promise. I believe. It's a done deal. God paid my price and I don't have to worry about it. Jesus paid the price for my mistakes. The only thing I owe God now is my love and it's totally worth it.

Leave me a comment!

Beginning Again

Well, it seems as though over a year has passed since I've paid any attention to this blog. And it has been over a year. Now I'm merging my blog with Meridian Point Church. Hopefully this will help me stay on top of things for a while in getting my thoughts published more regularly.

My goal in continuing this blog in this new format is to encourage us to grow in God, to pursue Him, and to strive together to live a life of worship. May this blog challenge you in your faith. And as always, please leave comments! Proverbs says that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. If you see something from a different angle or have something else you'd like to say about what gets posted, don't hesitate to share with me!

In the meantime, take a look at some of the other insights and lessons God has taught me in the past. Some of these things I've even forgotten so I'll be reading them too.

Looking forward to beginning again!