An honest look that isn't easy

What does God think about your life?

Better yet, what do you think God thinks about your life? 

Which of the following statements (if any) sound like you?

1.        I feel guilty about how bad I fail at obeying God.

2.       Sometimes I avoid prayer because I’m sure God is frustrated with me and I don’t want to deal with what it will feel like to be with him.

3.       I am scared of how mad God probably is with me

4.       I try really hard to make up for my inadequacies and my imperfect obedience to God

5.       I try really hard to do what God wants because I’m supposed to, but often wish I could just do what I want for a change.

Every felt any of those (or multiples) in your life?  How about within the last year?  Last month?

One thing that I love about working with students (that I think sometimes they get a bad reputation for) is their honesty and openness.   I asked them these questions just last night.  Now, I won’t reveal who said what (I told them I wouldn’t) but I will say that every point got at least one hand raised after being said.  So, how about you?  How many times would you have raised your hand if you were being completely open and honest? 

Does it make you feel frustrated?  Guilty?  Desire to try harder? 

What if I said God loves you so much he doesn’t want to see you that way?

So how does he want you to feel?  He wants you to love!  (See Galatians 5: 13-14)

The biggest question though.  How do you serve God?  Is it out of Love, or is it out of some “moral obligation”?  (Or some kind of combination of the two?)

Does your Christian life really feel free?  Or do you feel you are bound to obey some system of moral commands?

Do you have a best friend?  What makes them your best friend?  How long have you known them?

How would you compare your relationship with your best friend to that of God?  Are there things your best friend knows about you that Jesus doesn’t?  (Yes I know, Jesus knows all things, but I’m referring to what you have “told” your friend compared to what you have “told” Christ)

How do you show your love to God?

Love (of Christ/God/Holy Spirit) is the foundation of Christian life.  The “solution” on loving God is not to “try harder”, it instead requires letting God work in your heart.  Remember “Love” is one of the Fruits of the Spirit.”  More importantly to remember though (and it can be hard to think of this way) but, it is o.k. to ask God for more love.  We have plenty of reason to love God, but since we are depending on him for every aspect of existence, we still need to rely on Him.  1 John 4:19 says “We love because He first loved us.”  Instead of feeling guilty about any of the above statements, instead of vowing to try harder in the future, ask God to increase the Love in your heart.  He is a never-ending supply of love, he can’t run out.  He always has more to give for you and to you. 

It’s time to stop talking about loving God, and start spending time with him directly!  If we love completely, the frustration will melt away, the feeling of Guilt will disappear, and the need to try harder won’t exist because to love is to live as Christ lived.  And that is what we are all striving for.  Right?

Blessings in Christ.

"I really don't want to be spit"

So, apparently it's been about two months since i've posted on here, unfortunetly, I haven't had much chance to do any "writing"  In fact this is the only thing I've done and it was for the church newsletter for March, but for the 4 people who might read this, I wouldn't want to dissapoint you by not posting anything.  haha  anyways.....

Raise your hand if you love to drink water that has set out on the counter for a few days.

How about eating a slice of bread or a cookie that has set on the table uncovered?

I’d like to think the vast majority (if not everyone) are thinking that doesn’t sound very appetizing at all.  But why not? It’s still water, it’s still a cookie, and it’s still bread.  What’s wrong with a little staleness?

A few years ago, I first read a book called Crazy Love (I’m sure many of you have heard me reference it before) but it’s a book I loved so much that I have used it as a Graduation book, I’ve referenced it and read parts of it during churches services, I’ve given several copies away, and now it’s being used and studied in the Sr. High youth group on Sunday nights.

Why do I bring that up?  Because as I was sitting at my desk at 11 AM on Monday, the 27^th thinking about what to write for my article for the Unity update that was due on the 26^th (Sorry Glenna), I couldn’t help but think back to the chapter that we covered last night.  I think it was an eye opener for some of the kids, so, I’d like to share few sections of what we read last night, but there are a few blanks, let’s see if you can fill them in.

_____ attend church fairly regularly.  It is what is expected, it’s what “good Christians” are believed to do, so they go

_____ Give money to charity and to the church… as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living.  If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give they do so.  After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?

____ don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.  They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them.  ______ don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is much better than the old sinful one.

____ gauge their morality of “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world.  They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

____ will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give

____ think about life on earthy much more than eternity in heaven.  Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation.  Rarely if ever, do they intently consider the life to come.

____ do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling to guilty.  They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without it requiring too much of them.

____ probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever.  They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong

____ feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America.  Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation”

O.K. I’ll stop at that one, (there were, and can be, several more)  But have you figured out what the key phrase is yet that I left out of each phrase?  It is “Lukewarm People.”  The above phrases are things that can be associated with lukewarm people.  (I did not include the Biblical references for any of them, but trust me; they are included in the book and can share them with you if so desired) 

Now some of you may be thinking you remember reading some of these in an article of the past.  Good work, your memory serves you well, (Feb. 2010) but I thought it might be entertaining to revisit these.  But now I ask everyone to go back and re-read them all, but instead of putting “Lukewarm Christian” in the blank, insert your own name.  How many of the phrases can be considered true then after you do that?  I hope it’s none, but if we must be honest with ourselves, I’m willing to bet at least one of them is true for everyone, and yes, that includes me.

Why do I bring these all up?  Because we as Christian are all called to live a better life, to live a life worthy of the calling that God has placed on our lives, and to do “just enough” isn’t living that life.  We need to continue to live our life for the God that continues to pray for us every day.  (See Romans 8: 26-27)

It’s the season of Lent, the time year of giving something up (which like our New Year’s resolutions rarely works) let’s try something different.  Instead of giving something up for 40 days, let’s add something to our life for 40 days and see what happens.  Let’s add 10 minutes of prayer/silence to our day, let’s add 30 minutes of scripture reading, let’s add 15 minutes of _________ (Fill in the blank)

Let’s throw away the staleness of life and keep everything fresh!!

Whats your Resolution?

First of all – Happy 2012!  We made it through another year with the grace of God

Did you accomplish all that you had hope too in 2011?  Did you make some New Year’s Resolutions last year that you may not have quite accomplished that you are re-using as your resolutions this year?

What really is a Resolution?

Resolution:  “1. a resolve or determination, or, 2. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc…. 3.  The mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

I find the definition of Resolution interesting, don’t you?  So how many of you have New Year’s Resolutions?  How many of you are a part of the “99%?”  (No, not the occupy movement) but part of the 99% of people who all make at least one of the Top 3 Resolutions every year?  Can you guess the top 3?  (How about I just tell you what they are?) J 

1.  Lose Weight/Get Fit
 2.  Spend Less. Save More
 3.  Get Organized

Now those are all admirable (and important goals), and they are all ones that I have made myself at least once in some point of my life, but it’s give me something to think about.  As I am writing this, I am listening to Louis Giglio speak at the “Passion 2012” Conference in Georgia, and what he is talking about right now has gotten my mind wrestling with the idea of Resolutions and the Christian Life.  Have you ever made a resolution about your Christian life?  About your Relationship with God?  Did you this year?

In his book “Not a Fan” Kyle Idleman writes “The biggest threat to the church today are fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ.  They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.”

Is that you?  (I hope not) but that is honestly, a question I think we all need to ask of ourselves.  Are we just “fans” of Christ/Christianity/Church, or are we followers?  I hope we can all refer to ourselves as followers, but it’s hard.  It might have to be something that we make resolutions for every year.  So, as we have started into 2012 and we try again to follow some of the resolutions that will help us improve our Physical Life, let’s try to add 3 more resolutions that will help us improve our Christian Life as well (as taken from writings from Jonathon Edwards and Louis Giglio)

What are they you wonder?  I’m glad you asked!  J

1.      I will live for God (Jonathon Edwards)

2.      If no one else does, I still will  (Jonathon Edwards)

3.      I will embrace the Grace of Christ every day (Louis Giglio)

So as we continue on into the Year of our Lord 2012.  Let’s make it exactly that!  The Year of the Lord!

Blessings in Christ

 

Christmas stuff already? Is that so bad?

So, I don't know if you have noticed (maybe you have, maybe you haven't) but there are a couple stations that are already playing Christmas music 24/7 and depending on who you ask, that may or may not be a good thing.  So how do you feel about it?  Do you enjoy it or do you think it's to early???

I used to think that Christmas music, decorations, anything else "related" to Christmas that was out before Thanksgiving was massive over kill and just shouldn't be done.  This year was no different, I'm seeing Christmas trees out in department stores,  Toys R Us just came out with their Christmas toy catalog, (don't forget the Christmas music) and anything else that Christmas has been "Commercialized" with.... but then literally, just the other day, something "hit me" while I was driving.  It had to be one of those "God Moments" where he just tugs at the strings of your hears and your brain and asks you a question that seems so absurd that it makes sense.....

"Do the retail stores and radio stations in a way have this whole Christmas season right?"

Make sense?  (If not, bear with me, I'll try to explain myself)

Now when I ask if all these stores have the whole Christmas season "right" obviously there is kind of a hidden meaning behind it.  I mean how can the idea of getting the best deals be a representation of what is "right" about Christmas?

No, instead, it is the idea of "expectancy"  Expecting something great, something big, something that will motivate them.... and then we sit here complaining that we just aren't ready for it yet.

How can we say that?!

If you think about it, are we as Christians in some ways being hypocrites?  Here we are coming up to this "human holiday" telling everyone what we are thankful for, how God has blessed us and provided for us and then in the next breath say "now if they would just hold off on this Holiday celebrating the coming of our Lord into the world until afterwards, when I'm ready for it, then we'll be set."

Are we in essence saying God, I'll let you know what I'm ready for you? 

When will we be ready then?  Shouldn't we be ready now? 

Now maybe this seems like a really big stretch just from the idea of Christmas songs before Thanksgiving, but it's what I came up with.  You can agree or disagree with me all you want, that's fine but if you get nothing else out of it, get this.

Are we coming into every day with a Holy Expectancy of something bigger then ourselves?  Are we ready for Christ's second coming?  Are we living like it?  Or are we saying "God, I'll be ready for it, but not until after....????"

I hope not, scripture says the second coming of Christ will come like a thief in the night.  Meaning, there really won't be any warning when it's going to happen.  It will happen when it happens and with that, we should be ready and Expecting it

So while the stores are ready and expecting a great return on their Christmas Advertising, while the radio stations are getting in the mood of the season.  Maybe we as Christians should be getting in the mood and to be ready and expecting the return of the greatest gift of all.   God's Son.

Quit Praying?

So it's been awhile since I've posted on here (exactly a month actually) not that anyone has really noticed that (ha-ha) but I still enjoy writing for the 2 people that may occasional read this ;-)

So whats new, well ministry is staying busy but that's usually normal isn't it???? But anyways...


Have we become  bored with this world?  Have we become bored with God?

What does that mean???

Does anything in this world impress us anymore???

Recently I talked with a few people about creation/the galaxy, after watching a short video about it and I asked them the question, "Isn't this just awesome?"   I was dumbfounded with the response I got "We've seen this video before, it's really not that impressive anymore."  Really, something can get to be less impressive if we've seen it before?

So then I wonder what does it take to impress us?

Are you ever impressed with the new iphone/pad/pop?  It's just the same thing with a couple of changes to it isn't it?

Does a sunset impress you?  isn't it just the same thing that happens day after day after day?

Does a new born baby impress you?  I mean, who hasn't seen a new born baby?  Don't they all pretty much look the same?  Two legs, to arms, a head etc.......?

When does something become not impressive?

When did we come to the point in life where anything that happens is just in a normal day?

When was the last time you drove to work or school and when you got there you prayed to God "thank you for looking out for me and for having the hundreds of other people on the roads follow the same rules that I did so as not to get hurt"

Does the fact that nothing really impresses us anymore affect our relationship with God?

When is the last time you looked at the stars and just felt compelled to talk to God?  A Sunset?  A storm?  A butterfly?  Spring?  The fact that gravity exists and you are still standing on this world that is spinning in a circle at several thousand miles an hour?

With all the things that are going on in this world, with the daily miracles that we see (e.g. creation as a whole) why is it that we have quit praying?  Seriously? Do you feel the need to talk to God on a regular basis, or do you pray because it has become a habit?  (Either when you wake up or God to bed, (occasionally both) and a "Lord Bless this food and drink for Jesus sake Amen" at the occasional lunch time)  Do we really feel compelled to talk to God or do we just do it because..... (insert reason here)

Francis Chan in his book "Crazy Love" has the first chapter of his book entitled "Quit Praying"

I think he has a point.  Maybe we should quit praying.  And that's not a good thing.  But Jesus says in scripture that I would rather you be hot or cold rather then lukewarm for then I shall spit you out of my mouth  (that's the Brent Paraphrased version) 

What do you think? Are we at a stage where we should just quit praying?  I hope not, because if we are at that stage, I think we have some real problems.  How can we not just sit back and continue to be amazed at all that is around us?  Yes, we have finite minds and can't comprehend everything that is because of how great it is.  But isn't the fact that we can't comprehend everything, all the more reason to just be amazed?

Bi-Polar Christians?

Have you ever tried to define the term “Christian”?

Has anyone ever asked you too?

Do you know how, why and when we got the term Christian and who gave it to us?

All three of those questions were asked to the Jr. High youth group on Sunday nights and the Sr. High Sunday school class as expected, many different responses came out, not one of them which was wrong, but while the first two of those three seemed to be pretty easy to answer, the third one seemed to be a struggle.  So, without looking, I ask you the same question.  “How/why/when did we get the “name” Christian?

Give up?

In Acts chapter 11 verses 25 & 26, it says “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.  So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.  The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”  Now, popular belief and research puts this around 45 A.D. or around 10 to 15 years after Christ Ascended!  So, now that we know the when, let’s get to the How and Why.  It’s obvious (hopefully) that the term Christian came into existence because they were people that were now following the ways and teachings of Jesus, The Christ.  But why was it given?  Why are we referred to as Christians?  Why we are not still referred to as Jews or Gentiles?  Have you ever wondered that? (Maybe, maybe not) but it really struck me a couple weeks ago while I was preparing lessons.  So I did a little research on it and found a thought that really stuck with me, in my ESV Study Bible it says “…the fact that the disciples were first called Christian in Antioch probably reflects a label applied by the unbelieving public in Antioch and shows that the disciples were beginning to have an identity of their own apart from other Jews.”  Now some of you may know/remember that I do like looking up the literal definitions of words, so, according to the amazingly wise Webster, a disciple is “…a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another… “It also says “any follower of Christ.”  I hope I’m not the only person who likes those definitions.

So, what does that all mean?  They were called Christians back in 45 A.D. because they had a “different identity” then the common person (Jew or Unbeliever.)  They didn’t subscribe anymore to the idea that you could only take a certain number of steps on the Lords Day but instead they couldn’t help but go out and share how they were different, and how great it was to have a new identity in Christ. 

So, how is your indentity?  Better yet, What is your indentity?  Do we have an easily indentifiable one or are we just another "Bi-Polar Christian"  Having a great mood every Sunday morning for everyone to see, but then every other day of the week we are just like every other person.  Shouldn't the people we come in contact with on a daily basis say "man, that person is different, and it's a breath of fresh air."  Isn't that was Christianity should be?  A Breath of Fresh Air from the dirty, mundane experiences of the every day world?

Are we helping others discover a new identity by showing ours? or re-discovering a past identity?

I hope we are...

I truly hope I am

But we just don't have anything in common.....

Acts 2:42-47

New International Version (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

 ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This section of scripture hit me like a ton of bricks this weekend.  Sure, I've read it plenty of times, (what church worker, let alone any person, hasn't heard dozens of sermons from Acts chapter 2?)  But for lack of a better way to put it, I've always kind of by-passed this last part of the chapter.  Until now.

Christianity in today's world is a tricky thing.  It seems that so many people have in their minds that as long as we go to church once a Sunday (or every other Sunday) we should be good.  But yet, have you looked at the churches and Christian faith of the Western Civilization compared to that in places like Africa?  Why is it growing in leaps and bounds in 3rd world countries when it seems to be stumbling in places like Europe and America?  I'll give you a hint.  I believe the answer is in the passage.

I'll get back to that in a minute...

What is one of the biggest excuses/reasons you might hear when it comes to a relationship ending?

"We just don't have anything in common"

How about when it comes to someone leaving the church?

"They just don't play the music that I like" or "I just don't like the Pastor who may be there"  All having to do with stuff in common with yourself.

Have you ever noticed that the people who seem to be the most reliable people in the church are the ones who have the desire to be a part of many different things?  Ever wonder why that is?

I think it is because they try to be in fellowship with the fellow Christians as often as possible.  Have you ever noticed that they just seem to be happier, and have an easier time dealing with situations that life might seem to throw their way?  Do people like that just seem to bug you?  Have you ever thought that maybe there is something more to it than them just having an "annoyingly perky personality"?

Verse 44 says "All the believers were together and had everything in common"  Umm, this is Acts Chapter 2, and the same chapter where “all of a sudden” all the disciples could speak in tongues that were not natural to them.  This means that people from all backgrounds, nationalities and ways of life were all together at this point in time.  Jews, Greeks, Romans, Samaritans, all people who didn't get along before, and now, all of a sudden, we read "all believers were together, and had everything in common."  

Wait, Huh?  How could that be?

If we believe that God/Jesus is greater than all things, then how come we don't act like it?  How come we don't want to spend concentrated time with him?  Western culture has set the standard that you only need to worship/Fellowship with believers once a week.  Actually, you don't even have to do that, it's perfectly o.k. to go to the beach on a Sunday instead of church, as long as you are focusing on the creation that God has given you to enjoy.  Right?

Why do we in Western Culture dread going to church?  Why do we not want to join a Sunday School class?  Why do we "forget" to pray before or after a meal?  Or even pray at all?  Why is that Pastor or that "one crazy guy" always so overbearing to me when it comes to getting right with God?  That's just not the kind of Christian I am

No, I'm not saying going to church is going to save you (hopefully the 3 people who might read this know me better then that) But I am saying, there is something to this "church thing" How many times have you caught yourself wishing over the course of the week that you wish you were doing something with a group of people rather than sit in an office by yourself?  How many times have you spent a Friday or Saturday evening at home by yourself because there was "nothing going on"?     How many times have you found yourself at church on a Sunday morning, wishing you were at home lying in the sun instead of at church?

Why the sudden reversal on Sundays?  All week long we spend our time wishing we were hanging out with our friends.  Why do we wish that?  Because we have spent a lot of time with them and have discovered a lot that you have in common!  But then Sunday comes along and you may be with 200 people that you only see for an hour on Sundays (or every other) and you can't wait until you can get out of there. 

"...every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people...."

Amazing huh?  You want your church to really mean something to you?  You want to make it be "worth it"?  You need to put the work into it.  Put a desire into it.  Because when you do, you will discover that when it comes to defining the relationships, that any personal differences you may have with one another, doesn't mean squat, when it comes to the fact that we are "all one in Christ"

Let’s stop cheapening the idea of worship and fellowship, believe it or not, it really is worth quite a bit, someday, maybe we will figure that out...