Forward and Reverse

As I was reading the last few chapters of the book of Revelation, I had to smile and read a paragraph to Theresa: (Revelation 21:22-27)
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Without being weird or morbid, I can't wait for that. NO NIGHT! Sleep is such a a waste of time to me. Heaven will be amazing. Being in God's presence will be awesome in the truest sense of the word.
So, I look back over 2010. It was my first year at CCC and I analyze the impact on the Kingdom. I can try to see just how much I allowed God to be in control of my life and use me. Well, the church attendance grew by over a 100 people, more than that were baptized into the Lord, our family groups grew, we did several service projects, we adopted Feed The Heart, a ministry to feed people. 
In retrospect, it looks good. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! But I'm reminded of my favorite passage (Eph 3:20):
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 
I'm dreaming about 2011 and I'm dreaming BIG!
The bottom line is: I can't wait to see how God amazes me in 2011!

My influence

My recent study of the Scripture has taken me into the Old Testament. It's interesting to read the history of God's dealings with His people. 
As I have read, I've laughed at the stupidity of the human race; shook my head at the brevity of faith that some people have had following God doing amazing things; and ultimately my studies have caused me to contemplated my own part in the Kingdom.
It's easy to scrutinize the actions of others. I do it all the time. Watching football, driving, give advice. 
But today, I was challenged. Challenged by the Facebook responses to the death of a standout high school athlete. His friends reminisced all of the times that they had partied together, done crazy things while in a drunken stupor, etc. 
The legacy that this guy left behind following his drug overdose was sad, to say the least. 
So I ask myself a question: what would people post on FB about me? Would the posts read:
Matt was a good ole boy.
Matt loved BBQ.
Matt was funny.


That scares me. Scares me to think about what my God will say. Will He be proud of me? As I watch my life play back, will I have made a difference? Am I making the world a better place? But most importantly, do those in my life see Jesus in me?
The bottom line is, I want to make a difference. A positive difference.

Intellect

My 16 year old son has caused me to consider the place of intellect in my spiritual journey.  1 Corinthians 8:1 immediately comes to mind. "Knowledges puffs up, love builds up." I ask myself the question, Why would I seek deeper intellect? Motive is extremely important for me. Do I seek depth so that I can better love others and use it to lead them into a relationship with Christ or to draw them nearer to Him? So, I've meshed my ideals with the those of others to come up with some questions and conclusions. Is it about education? What credential enables someone to understand Scripture? Is a Ph.D. required? Clearly not, since some professors of theology and biblical studies use their knowledge to argue against the truth of God’s Word. What about a background in the sciences, in order to know the details of God’s creation? But some brilliant scientists conclude that the supernatural is absent from the natural world. In fact, We have the book of Acts 4:13 says, "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures" Is education necessary to advance the Gospel? NO! To go back to the passage in Corinthians, the Corinthian culture prized education. Now, learning is obviously not inherently evil, but the problem came when they valued it above the truth of God’s Word. Advanced degrees or high I.Q. scores are not the foundations for our spiritual growth. Plus, God's wisdom can be contradictory to earthly wisdom. So does all this correlate?   Three things that I see: First, God the Father has prepared great things for us, wonders beyond the scope of our imagination or scientific discovery (Isaiah 64:4). Second, we must have the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10-12). We are not left to our own limited devices—the Spirit has been given to us to enable us to know the words and deeds and character of God. Through the Spirit it is possible for us to understand spiritual truth and spiritual truth is the type of intellect we should seek. Third, we have the mind of Christ. The word mind encompasses more than just intellectual capability; it includes the motive and attitude. Philippians 2 describes Jesus’ humility and love in this way: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had". Here is the key to our growth in knowledge—love for others in obedience to God that reveals spiritual discernment of the indescribable love of God.  The bottom line is that we need intellect that will last for eternity.

"Why would we need to experience the Comforter if our lives are already comfortable?"

Robin is my closest friend of more than 30 years. He's challenged me lots of times in lots of ways. Most recently, he asked this question of me and the rest of the staff at CCC: "Why would we need to experience the Comforter if our lives are already comfortable?" 
That question relates to a passage in John 16 where Jesus promises to send the Comforter, The Holy Spirit. I had never thought about it that way...why would Jesus promise that if we weren't going to need it? 
When my walk with Christ is comfortable, what does that do to faith? In my estimation, it eliminates the need for faith. At least in terms of dependance. I suppose I could reword the question as: Do I live by faith? 
I continue the query to myself with questions like: Do I follow Christ in such a way that, without God's intervention, it will fail miserably? Do I seek God's will every minute? Are my thoughts towards my life with Christ "comforted" because I have sought His guidance throughout?
That passage in John 16 says that The Comforter will convict the world of it's sin. Ironically, last night Theresa and I talked with a young lady who needed comfort because her God-centered lifestyle had convicted those around her. Subsequently, she was experiencing persecution. 
Maybe that's why we don't need comforted, we aren't living lives that are pure enough to convict the world of anything.
We, as Christ's disciples, watch and listen to the same trash as entertainment, use the same vulgarities, struggle with the same sins as people who have never heard of Jesus. We are comfortable in our own little sloppy pens as so many pigs, awaiting slaughter.
When I am trying to live like Christ, I need comfort. When I'm living like the devil, I don't. And there's no "fence-riding" in between the two.
The bottom line is, sin is fake comfort resulting in eternal discomfort.  

What to Expect

Because of the way our services went on Sunday, I've had to do some reflection. Reflection on my own personal prayer life and reflection on my leadership focus. 
Several people were drawn powerfully into the Lord's presence, some for what they considered the first time. To that, I say, "Hallelujah!" We all need to seek God's face with that fervor all the time.
The direction that God's Word gives through the Apostle Paul is: "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done."
As I ponder my life, I consider the conversation that I enjoy with Theresa. I think about what she knows about the goings on in my life and then I compare it to what I've shared with my Lord. When I compare those, I realize why I'm so shocked when I encounter the Spirit of God as I did on Sunday. There are times when it would seem as though I don't even know him. Or I treat my Savior like the person wearing the headset at Sbux, I place my order and pull around expecting it to be filled. 
These observations are pointless unless it creates a change. And it has. I am walking this winding road, to the left and a step behind Jesus. Just like they taught me in basic training. The difference: I can talk all that I want and I'm telling Him everything. I'm telling Him my joys and pains. I'm probably telling Him about you.
I don't want to be shocked when the Holy Spirit moves in such a powerful way, I want to get to a point where I expect it.
The bottom line is that my spirit longs to be with the spirit of God.

what to do?

What do you do when a church grows to the point that there aren't enough rooms for all the classes? We have rearranged classes to maximize our space time and again. People seem to be agreeable, for the most part.
I talked with a teacher this morning about relinquishing the large room he meets in and meeting in the library so a larger group could use that room. He said he'd work with whatever we had to do. I love working with the folks at CCC who share the vision! But that doesn't solve the problem, it just postpones it. A large share of my prayer time is spent on what to do when the postponing is done. And that time is not far away. 
It's an awesome blessing. I wonder if God is testing my faith in His timing. I'm probably failing that test, to some degree. I'm nervous, as a minimum.
But, God has always been faithful. I trust him. I really do. 
Mostly, being a "planner" is a good thing. But not now. I'm comfortable when I have a plan. Maybe, just maybe, God doesn't want me to be comfortable.
Bottom line is, I love to see the church grow!

Arm-chair QB Love

Why is it so easy to se other people's issues? I guess it applies to good and bad. But I think that we tend to lean to that negative side. 

This phenomenon applies to all of the layers of our lives. The average salary of a professional football QB is nearly $2 million but we see his mistakes very clearly from our armchairs. Little Johnny's teacher couldn't teach him how to tie his shoe, but he could certainly master that in an hour under our tutelage. If everyone had my driving skills, the roads would be much safer. 

Jesus saw this happening. He addressed it like this: "why worry about a speck in your friends eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friends eye."

Some contend that Jesus was in essence saying, "Don't criticize" = "Don't judge". I don't see that. What I see is: Don't criticize an area of somebody else's life that you don't have in order in your own. Somehow, our culture has equated criticism with judgment and they try to back it up with this passage in Matthew 7. The key teaching is against hypocrisy. Jesus had a huge problem with the sin of hypocrisy.  

But...there's a way to deal with all this such that everyone wins. It involves the most outstanding quality of Jesus, love. Love for others and their well-being. 

I am encouraged by someone who has their family in order and they lovingly give advice from their experience on teen child-rearing practices. The desire to do better grows in me when a gifted speaker suggests that the number of times I use the word "ok" might be distracting to folks when I preach. 

God said it best through the apostle Paul, "...faith, hope and LOVE--and the greatest of these is love."

Discipleship

According to the Wikipedia dictionary, a disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other wise figure; and Jesus described what His disciples (followers) would do: Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me." 
He began with unselfishness. Selfishness is perhaps the greatest enemy of following Christ. 
I'm selfish in different ways at different times. I'm selfish with my time, I'm selfish with my stuff, I'm selfish with my money. Presently, I'm seeing the selfishness that I have with time.  Not that I want to spend all my time on myself but rather my lack of patience with others. The false idea that my time is more valuable than theirs. I'm really trying to give time to the ones that God has placed in my midst. 

Jesus set the perfect example of giving, His very life. 
As I look at my life, I am finding ways to give. To give it away, not to be self-less in the eyes of those who see, but to emulate the God that I have proclaimed to serve.

A well-watered Garden

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me.  ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers.  What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.  You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord?  “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.  Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!  Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. (Isaiah 58:1-12)

God has called His followers to be ACTIVE. Not politically active, but what I call "People Active". Our following of the Lord entails more than doing "religious" things. Specifically mentioned in this passage are: fasting, prayer, motions of penance. He had obviously looked around and seen people going through the motions without doing God's will. 

Our actions are judged by God on a rudimentary level...motive. When our motives (hearts) are right, we naturally do things that please God. Isaiah names a few People Active methods of worship: free the oppressed, be good to your employees, share with those less fortunate, help people, don't gossip...

And there's a promise, God will bless us. Like a well-watered garden, an ever-flowing spring, rebuilder of homes. 

There are a lot of homes that need rebuilt. Families in shambles. 

Church, it's our job to fix it!

Storms

I need to start out by quoting Joshua 1:9: "This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
There we have direction from the Lord. In fact, a command. There are no exceptions mentioned. Basically, we are to trust God...ALWAYS. And not just trust Him, but be strong in the process.
I think my communication process with God is the biggest contributing factor to the equation of courage. When I am constantly, intentionally in His presence, I am more apt to be courageous. When I spend time in real conversation with God.
That involves the way I approach his word. How I read it, if I gloss over words or if I read listening for God's small voice. It beckons response from me. I tell Him what hurts, I tell Him what's cool, I talk to my dad.
He loves me like none other, in storms and in good times.
It seems that I try to avoid storms. Crazy thing, when I look back at my life experiences, I know that the storms bring tremendous growth. The storms are the richest times. The trials are proving grounds for the relationships in my life. The storms reveal who the people are that understand what and who the church is; the people who desire to be Jesus.
The storms can be wet and cold and scary. The wind can blow so hard that I have difficulty hearing God's voice. I am often reminded that I need to constantly listen to God's voice so that I know it, that I recognize His voice when the winds blow. When I don't recognize His voice, it seems hopeless.
God's voice whispers hope.
Can you hear the whisper?

 

Busyness

Because of a meeting yesterday, I spent some time considering the culture in which I live. Southwest Missouri. Very rural, though some would like to think otherwise. I know urban, been there and this is NOT it. I'm glad. 

People here know about hay and cows and horses. They are football and baseball fans. They like get-togethers, cookouts, and Starbucks. They remover their hats for the National anthem and bow their heads during a prayer.

Most would say that they are Christians. Christian being defined as someone who believes in God and goes to church. 

That's what perplexes me. A biblical definition of "Christian" is to be a follower of Christ. That would mean to follow His example, obey His commands and grow in relationship to Him.

The priority structure in SW MO is all but Christian. Fishing and ball games trump church attendance. Is church attendance the end all for spiritual growth? Not necessarily, but it certainly is an indicator. 

Parents "encourage" their kids to be involved in extra-curricular activities under the assumption that it makes them better people. I beg to differ. Having worked with teens for 20+ years, I see the effects and they are not positive. They become obsessed with a sport that will mean zero in 10 years. They give up summer trips that can be life-changing.

For the adults, the schedules of the kids creates stress on marriages especially in multi-child homes. Dad is going one way while mom goes the other. Meeting back at home exhausted. 

A couple passages of scripture directly address the complexity, or lack of, in our lives: 1 Thessalonians 11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

The lifestyles aforementioned are not "quiet" or "peaceful". In fact, all of that activity leads to all sorts of issues. Issues that disagree with being a Christian.
This busyness creates problems within the church. Folks don't have time to serve, they don't have time to be involved in the things that draw others to the Kingdom. When unbelievers look at the lives of "Christians" they see no difference. 
Busyness, could it be the most powerful tool in Satan's arsenal against our culture?

Leadership

Leadership is not an easy task. I know a lot of people who look at those who are self-employed with envy. They say, "I wish I could be my own boss" or "I wish I was the supervisor". Unbeknownst to them, those jobs are typically very demanding and require a special gifting that not everyone has.

James 3:1 tells us, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." Obviously, teaching is a leadership position.

Leaders tends to take all of the criticism, as well. They are the folks who are willing to take a risk for the betterment of the organization. Risks can involve pain. 

In the church, that pain goes even deeper. It can cause some to misunderstand motive and, subsequently, leave the body of Christ.

Biblical leadership involves love and gentleness. It involves the reining in of our prideful tendencies. 

Blessed are the meek, Jesus said.

Lord, help me to be meek and yet lead like Jesus led. 

Life to the fullest

Almost done with our men's Bible study. Tonight's discussion was the best yet. Topic- Life to the Fullest.
It was Jesus' intent for us to live life to the fullest, but what does that mean? Does it mean that Jesus wanted me to have fun at everything and be on the go so that I could do and be it all? I doubt it. My reasoning? We have to mesh that statement from Jesus in John 10 with what James writes. James said that we would grow through adversity, not fun.
So, I led the guys in a discussion about that. Times of personal growth, here's what a few said:
"when my income went from $200,000 to zero following a heart attack"
"when I was electrocuted and nearly killed and couldn't care for myself"
"when I had a wreck and was paralyzed" (spoken from his wheel chair)
"when my wife was diagnosed with cancer"
"when I served people in a 3rd world country and recently in Nashville"
Nobody grew closer to God when they graduated or got a new job or bought a new car or new house or got married.
Strange. Seems backwards to me.
Oh wait, I forgot. The Kingdom of God IS backwards to the world.
I guess the real question is am I willing to grow?


If I say yes, there are some cool things that the Lord has done for me. Some scripture comes to mind: 
James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

Ecclesiastes 4:11-13 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 


When we persevere, we are strong TOGETHER and He is with us.


If I say no, only one scripture comes to mind:
Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.


Growth is good ;)

The Flood

Working with the flood victims in Nashville reminded me of the hurricanes and the damage they caused when we lived in Florida.
It's heart wrenching. We met a man and his teen son and helped them for a couple hours, they were moved nearly to tears because we helped them. We completely gutted an older, crippled man's house and there were so many things in there that I'm sure were meaningful to him that ended up in the trash heap. I was glad that he wasn't there to see it. It also helped keep our pride factor from swelling, purified our motives. We did it to be Jesus' hands and feet to hurting people. 
When the hurricanes ravaged Florida, people had insurance. So many of those affected by the flood didn't. David and I chatted as we drove home and I mentioned a potential threat to those uninsured flood victims- suicide.
There are so many people who have placed their hope in treasures of this world and a catastrophe is more than they can bear. I guess that's the fuel for my passion to go. Hope for hopeless people. The church being their in Jesus' stead, open-armed and willing. I am so grateful for people to serve alongside that encourage me and create the "cord of 3 strands" that is not easily broken. 
Sometimes I think a weak church is only strengthened through these "acts of God" as they are referred to by insurance companies. 
The flood, a weird kind of blessing or perhaps I should call it opportunity...

Perseverance

We are promised in God's word that we will be persecuted. I hear those who preach the "health and wealth gospel" and wonder if they have ever read the book of James. 
That promise of persecution isn't punishment or payment, it's preparation. It is the thing that makes our faith strong. I'm reminded of the Damascus type shotgun barrels that received their strength from heating, beating, bending and twisting...over and over. Ironic that the name sake for those old barrels is the place that Saul was headed when he met the Lord. 
In that encounter, Paul was blinded, made weak. Led by the hand into town. Through this shaping set of circumstances, he was to be the most influential writer in history. 
So, PREACH IT! JAMES, tell the world of the strength that comes through being weak, persevering, and being molded into God's image.   

The Flow

I am daily trying to better understand and live in God's flow. I guess I could also call it "God's Will for Me". It's about being who he intended me to be, influencing people for Him, living for Him... being Him, in my personality. Using all the weirdness of Matt to be Jesus today.

I know that when I am most like Jesus, I am most content. I am most happy. I am most productive.
I keep trying harder, but I read a new term yesterday...Try SOFTER. Hmmm, maybe I try too hard at times. 
I remember playing music with a guy who would say, "Relax, we are playing like we are constipated." It was funny, but I knew what he meant.
Maybe God is telling me that I am living like I'm constipated. Trying too hard. 
I want to be able to live effortlessly in God's flow.

Near death...

Well, as I encountered what felt like the threshold of death, I was thinking: will I be scared when I actually face death face to face?
Right now, I joke and say that I can't wait. But will that be the case? Will my faith prove strong in that moment? I think so. I have faced many scary things in my life but the power of God always wins the battle.
Jesus promised that. He promised that he would be with us always. Fear isn't always the sign of a lack of faith. 
I think back to when Jessica was little. We would ride the 4-wheeler out in the woods and there was this one tall stump, maybe 5 feet tall. I would stand her up on it and she would jump into my arms. I could see the fear in her little eyes, but she jumped. She had faith in me.
I'm pretty sure that God is much more deserving of my trust than I ever could be, even for my own child.
Maybe I do look look forward to jumping out of this world into His arms.

"love one another"

I'm sitting here with the breeze blowing through the living room thinking what a beautiful evening it is. My heart and mind are taken back to the Thursday before Jesus' crucifixion. 
Many refer to it as Maundy Thursday. It's a day that is celebrated a couple different ways.Through feet washing and/or meals shared together. Maundy meaning "to love one another". 
In the realm of Christianity we celebrate a lot of things. But I'm not sure that there is a time that should evoke celebrating more than this. 
As this marvelous wind blows through, I reminisce the good times and all of the incredible people that God has allowed to accompany me on this winding road. 
I am blessed. 

Grace

God's grace. What is grace? I would define it using the level of intellect that I possess as "the taking away of deserved consequences". That definition works when I get stopped by a policeman and he lets me off. It works when Jeremiah doesn't complete an assigned shore and I don't punish him. It even works if I don't pay my electric bill on time. 
How does it work for a God that created everything, becoming a man, walking in absolute perfection, being tortured, dying, resurrecting Himself and returning to Heaven...so that I can do wrong and be forgiven do wrong again and be forgiven and again and again? 
How does that work? In my own mind that factors things against fairness, it doesn't work. It's not fair. I was taught as a youngster to play fair. I expect the judicial branch of our government to be fair. Employers to treat their workers fair. 
Grace isn't fair. Not to God. Grace isn't fair to people. I know some people who are followers of Christ that are "good" people. Haven't done much of anything wrong. They were obedient children, good students, hard workers, church-attenders, on and on. I know others who have awful pasts. Murderers, drunks, child-molesters, cheaters. All of the above are equally forgiven and grace covers them. 
Nope, grace isn't fair. But as a middle-of-the-roader on all of this "goodness", I'm glad. 
I smile, look to the heavens and sing almost daily beaming with gratitude that my God loves me enough to allow me access to grace. Grace that I cannot nearly define.  
  

Me

God has created me to be a specific way, a one-of-a-kind person. A little more energized than the average guy, a little louder, more emotional, less than timid, compassionate on occasion...me.
Today, I long to take all that I am and be the best me that I can. I can't do it. I have to enter into God's flow and be swept to it. I have to allow Him control.
I believe that there are some people in this world, though I don't always know who they are, that  only I will be able to influence for the Lord. Some people that will respond to the person that God has created me to be.
I need to be me.

Who I Am

I am:
the son of a good ole boy and an old-fashioned gal...
the brother of a red-neck and a metro...
a lover of a Proverbs 31-caliber woman...
father of a soft-hearted angel and a mischievous missionary...
a connoisseur of beef...
a preacher of the Gospel...
mentally mechanical...
sensitive to people.


This is who I am. 
Lord, take all of me and make me into something better than before.


"Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all I that do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!"  

Tell them

Good friend of mine is now mourning the death of his mom. I know that he told her of God's love and the saving grace of Jesus. She made her decision, and only God knows what the outcome is.
Today, I watched as a family planned a funeral for their sister. It was pretty obvious that she didn't know Jesus. I had an immediate gut reaction, TELL THEM! A gut reaction placed in me by the Holy Spirit: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
There's no "do overs" with eternity. People may only have one chance to hear. But am I taking advantage of that chance and telling them? 
Sobering.

Mighty

As I've been preparing to speak on David's Mighty Men, I've given much thought to "mightiness". As a follower of Christ, the world is backwards compared to The Kingdom of God. What made Jashobeam, Eleazar and Shammah so noteworthy as being mighty? Was it their amazing battle records? Was it David, their leader? 
I think the that their base strength came from their dedication to the Lord. That fleshed itself out in their actions. Much like Paul's instruction to the Roman church: Don't be conformed to this world. Think differently, think the way God thinks and that will change how you act. Nonconformity will make you a mighty warrior. That will make you wrestle in prayer as Epaphrasis did for the Colossians. When I'm wrestling for people and factor myself out of the equation, God's will becomes clearer. Wow, sounds just like Romans 12:2. Crazy how God is true to His word. As I wrestle in prayer for people that I love, their future places in ministry, their health, their salvation God speaks to me and it's REALLY cool. 
So I have to ask myself, why don't I reserve more time in my "busy schedule" for wrestling, the very connection to God's might? A primary goal for my life, wrestling. 
God give me the guts to wrestle as Jacob wrestled, seeking your blessing in the form of guidance. 

Hatred

Just watched an old documentary about Hitler. It makes me nearly sick. How can a man be so filled with hatred that he would murder millions? 
Then my mind wandered to "Germany has such deep spiritual roots." ands then I thought "America has such deep spiritual roots."
Makes me wonder if there's any possibility that we, as a nation, could follow suit. On that rabbit trail of thought, what group or nationality would be the hated lot? Could it be Christians? 
That would make a great Tim LaHaye book.

Action="Friend of God"

The Creative Church Conference was a huge encouragement/learning experience for me. 
The speakers that were there, all men who've pastored churches through strong growth, shared advice about growing a healthy church. Healthy churches should grow. People in healthy churches share Christ, they excitedly invite others to church services and events and then the Holy Spirit does only what He can do: convicts their hearts and some concede to His calling. The church grows.
During the growth process that God has called me to, I have to be evert mindful of His direction. Listening, tuned in and not "bull-dozering" ahead as I am so inclined to do. UGGGH, my personality weaknesses make me crazy sometimes! But then God speaks to me through another staff member, it's so cool...the Church.
At any rate, lots of ideas swirl through my head as I contemplate ministry. Through this, I strive to remember that ideas are great but I believe James said it best in James 2, 


"Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone."

Imagine

Fireplace is crackling in the background, just prayed for my son before he went to bed. Theresa hit the hay about an hour ago and Jess is snuggled away in her apartment. My sleep patterns are messed up. I sleep well about every third night and tonight isn't that night. So I took a couple OTC sleeping pills that have made me a little drowsy, which helps an ADHD guy like me focus enough to write.
God is good, all the time. Even when those terrible things happen. I've lived long enough to trust him in tragedy, I've seen "things work together for good". 
On occasions like this, I feel his presence in that still, small voice kind of way. It's very comforting to know that He reigns while I sleep and He protects me to the degree that He is glorified. I'm still on the brink of grasping that. 
Jeremiah and I discussed heaven the other night and came to the conclusion that we can't fully comprehend it, He doesn't want us to. He wants us to listen to the soothing voice of His spirit and imagine... 
I can only imagine. What it will be like, when we walk by His side. Will I stand in is presence or to my knees will I fall, I can only imagine.
And anxiously await the day.
Come quickly Lord.

People

I wonder, am I sensitive to the needs of people? I struggle with being sensitive to their feelings, as in, I say stuff that comes out wrong. But do I see their needs? 
Jesus was hyper-sensitive to those needs. It's thick in the Gospels. Health needs- He healed the sick and lame, daily needs- He fed the crowds and paid taxes, leadership needs- He taught classes on prayer and giving and exhortation, spiritual needs- He forgave sin. 
Then there's the example of Paul. Much of the same. Especially the leadership side. He taught how to be a pastor, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
So I guess the question I am asking myself is, "Am I looking at people and thinking, What can I do to help them serve to build the church?"
I'm in over my head! Praise God, He showed that I'm inadequate :P

Sold Out?

I have heard lots of people use the term "Sold Out" as they describe their walk with Jesus. Meaning that they had given it all to Jesus, but last night I walked past the now closed B. Dalton Bookstore, I reconsidered the phrase.
I remember going past the store, when it was open, and seeing thousands of books on most every topic. Books about cooking, racing, self-help, religion, SAT/ACT testing, How to, you name it, they probably had it. But as I looked inside last night, all of the shelves were empty. It was sold out. Empty.
I've heard lots of people claim being sold out, but the number of them that had emptied themselves to that degree is much smaller. We all seem to want to hang on to our "pet sin". We compartmentalize that thing, claim complete surrender to Christ, and the church suffers.
The book of Acts records a few of the amazing things that happened with the early church. People coming to Christ by the thousands from one sermon, people giving up their possessions for the needy, miraculous healing, people being martyred. Things that are seldom witnessed in the current American church. 
Sold out. I wonder... if we emptied ourselves like B. Dalton and presented God our entire self what would happen in the American church. 

Simple Obedience

Simple obedience. That's all God wants. It's always been what He's wanted. The crazy problem is that obedience is the way to experience life at the extreme level that God wants for us.
In my life, the mountain-top experiences have come when I was obedient to God's guiding. The things that I would never have imagined happening, the relationships that have carried me in bad times, the people that make my life amazing...all of these are connected to simple obedience. Maybe obedience to the call to GO, maybe obedience to the call to SERVE, perhaps the obedience to LOVE. 
Yep, the amazing things in my life are all tethered to obedience to The Creator.

Not even a hint...

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
"Not even a hint" wow, that's a tall order. That would include every aspect of my life: what I watch on TV, movies, music, etc. 
Not even a hint...

Last July, Tommy Oakes challenged me to pray and ask God to send workers for the harvest, daily. Well, I haven't done that but I am praying alot for workers.
God has already started to answer my prayer as I have seen Ashley and Jeremiah commit to doing missions work. I've also witnessed how families have been "the workers" as they, along with the church, share the Good News of Jesus with children and spouses.
The harvest is obviously plentiful. The workers are few, but it is awesome to see God using us.  

New Year

Well, it's a new year. The YMCA parking lot is full. All those New Years Resolutions that are bound for failure. Not pessimism, realism. Happens every year.
I wonder, with all the problems that people are experiencing in their relational world, why weren't the worship services packed out on Sunday? 
Why do we care more about our physique than eternity? Age-old question, I suppose. 
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord...in 2010. Oh yeah, I'm gonna be under 200 by the end of February, too :)