The more I read scripture, the more I believe that God has called the church to change! We are not called to stay the same way we were when we became a Christian! God has called us to be transformed.
After being in a leadership position at a church for about 2 1/2 years now, it makes me wonder if everyone believes this way who "sits" in a leadership position? It seems to me that every leader you see in the Bible sees an opportunity for something to be different (transformed) and takes it! Unfortunately, what we see now is that people get caught up in their own pride and selfish ambitions and vain conceit that they think their feelings are more important than reaching the lost with the Gospel of MESSIAH JESUS! It is not about maintaining a name or reputation but rather advancing the Kingdom for the sake of the Kingdom.
Don't think I am saying that I am not immune to this as well. I was at a conference last week and the worship leader, Justin Fox, was leading us into a time of worship focusing on our obedience to Christ, and led this song called "I will". I was doing fine, as I was thinking about the song as my prayer to God and I got to this line, and it stopped me in my tracks. I saw in me, something that needed to change and something that I could not sing right at that moment. It was a moment that doesn't happen to me very often, like almost never...I can only think of one other time where the words to a song stopped me, it was "Give me your eyes" by Brandon Heath.
So, this line in this song of prayer and obedience to God made me stop in reflection to what is going on in my life and something that just flat needs to change...here's the line
"I will lay down all my pride."
It hit me like a ton of bricks. I literally turned to Thomas beside me, and said, "I can't sing that line" Here's the deal, its not that I don't want to or don't try, but the flat statement that I WILL lay down ALL my pride...is just hard for me to do. Does that mean that I don't try for it or that I don't take steps to do it? Heck no, I move in a direction that I believe God is leading me on, one that leads me towards HIM not me. I am moving though, that's the point. If we who are called to be leaders are only sitting back and not moving, then we are flat wrong! This is why I always try to be growing, learning, changing, being transformed, because until I am in eternity with Christ, I will never be where I need to be.
It amazes me though that people who call themselves leaders, are still thinking the same way they did when they first accepted Christ, or submitted their lives to Him! If I still thought abotu God the way I did at my baptism, I would be a weak, sick and obese person who calls themselves a Xn and yet the way I'm living is still feasting on milk. Now I love a good glass of milk, but it definitely does not provide the nourishment needed to sustain me in my walk with Christ.
Here's the bottom line: I am really leaning toward this idea and I don't know what to do with it..."It is easier to give birth than resurrect the dead." How can we give or bring about new birth in the church, if we are stuck in a puny, little junior high romance with the creator of the universe? We must be growing and CHANGING, its not a bad thing, rather its for the sake of the KING and HIS KINGDOM!!!
ITS ALL BECAUSE OF HIM!!!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
What God is doing!
I am excited about what God is doing here at Davis Park! In the youth ministry, we decided we were going to take the idea of intergenerational ministry- or family ministry- (it takes a village to raise a Christian) as in the whole congregation working together and put it into practice! One of the ways we started this is by encouraging the youth to sit with adults in worship, rather than off in their own section segregated from everyone else. This was the first of many steps to come! I then contacted the small groups deacon, who is a guy that I love and respect! He takes Christianity seriously, and is always thinking of ways to be more effective. The cool thing about this is that when I emailed Glen, he had already been thinking about some different things and discussing them with small group leaders for several months! It was super cool to see God working on the same thing in different places in our congregation without any discussion of it. Glen's vision for small groups was that as seniors, five years from now, their right of passage as a senior is to join their own small group (not youth, but one of the adult small groups). The idea behind this is that the adults would now reach down to the youth and we would actually have contact available and that the teens would get to experience a connection to go with the "Bible training" they are recieving elsewhere. This would also provide a way to assimilate the teens into the larger context of the body of believers, so that when they graduate, they know how to function and already feel a vital and needed part of the body. There is much more to this than what I have just said, but the main idea is here. I hope anyone who reads this and has any ideas, or comments, leave them and I will try to respond as best as possible, it is just a way to open the conversation up to those interested and give some ideas about how get the youth connected in a better way than ever before.
This also leads to the next thing, that we no longer have "youth mission trips", all of our mission efforts will be for the whole body to participate in, because it is super important that the youth see adults coming to work alongsided them, not just for them or watch from the sidelines...this is life (and a life called to live for Christ) not a football game! We still do age specific classes and activities, but the big spiritual formation stuff is congregation wide! In class we are changing the format, so that questions are readily answered...and asked. In fact, we are doing a class right now investigating how to find answers to questions the youth themselves asked. This will involve small group discussions, and different "encounter" type classes to help the youth understand how we get to the answers, not just fill their minds with our answers. Allow them to draw their own conclusions based on the facts rather than just giving them pat answers. This requires adult interaction, and the youth get to see the adults' faith played out right in front of them.
This is such an exciting time! The paradigm shift our church is going through is so awesome and I am excited that I get to be a part of it. Please leave any comments or questions and I will try to respond to them!
(I know my grammar probably isn't perfect, i typed really fast, trying to get my thoughts out and that will probably show here!)
Aaron Out!
This also leads to the next thing, that we no longer have "youth mission trips", all of our mission efforts will be for the whole body to participate in, because it is super important that the youth see adults coming to work alongsided them, not just for them or watch from the sidelines...this is life (and a life called to live for Christ) not a football game! We still do age specific classes and activities, but the big spiritual formation stuff is congregation wide! In class we are changing the format, so that questions are readily answered...and asked. In fact, we are doing a class right now investigating how to find answers to questions the youth themselves asked. This will involve small group discussions, and different "encounter" type classes to help the youth understand how we get to the answers, not just fill their minds with our answers. Allow them to draw their own conclusions based on the facts rather than just giving them pat answers. This requires adult interaction, and the youth get to see the adults' faith played out right in front of them.
This is such an exciting time! The paradigm shift our church is going through is so awesome and I am excited that I get to be a part of it. Please leave any comments or questions and I will try to respond to them!
(I know my grammar probably isn't perfect, i typed really fast, trying to get my thoughts out and that will probably show here!)
Aaron Out!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
You know, lately I have been busy, but not overly busy. With the struggles I had last year about this time from being too busy, I intentionally decided not to put myself in that position again.
That being said, I have though, had lots of time to think and pray about the direction of the youth ministry. I am excited about where God is leading us. This past November, we began a plan to intentionally get the teens involved in the lives of adults in the faith community. I knew though that this was not going to work ONLY from the bottom up, but it would have to have some intentional things coming from the top down as well. What I mean by that is the teens would not be able to sustain the effort on their own, rather we are called to work as a body, and so, we must have adults reaching down, to grab the teens as they reach up. What I didn't know was that Glen, our small groups deacon, was also talking on the other end to the small group leaders about how to get the teens involved in small groups! It is amazing to see God working through the church and helping us work together, and make the body function as a body, and not just a blob. One of the processes of this that I am implementing in this is expectations that a Christian should live up to. We have done poorly at letting the expectations Christ calls us to, be known, let alone ensuring that we are following them. I am reminded of something I read today in Rob Bell's book Jesus wants to save Christians, that the idea of taking the Lord's name in vain is really about misusing it, like saying we are God's people or nation or empire but not living like it. Misusing the name Christian, as we often do, is more about how we make the church or God look than anything. Yet, we in America are so bent on the things we are entitled to, rather than the things we have been blessed with, that we are to bless others with. So, I encouraged them that they needed to be in accountability with one another, be memorizing scripture, and hanging with God! What's funny is I heard groanings, and complaining almost immediately, and from MY LEADERS! What kind of church have we come to be? It seems as though we have become one that expects so much from people outside the church ie. the business world and such, that we think church is a place to come and relax. Don't get me wrong, I know that God provides rest and that we have the peace that passes all understanding, but that just means that we have even more responsibility to live in the word, and in the constant presence of God. We have homework and responsibilities for work, and school when we get home all the time, but the second a pastor or something asks you to actually be accountable to that, we balk?
I am excited about where God is leading us, but I see in the near future a church that becomes much smaller, because we are not training them for the times of true battle, like when our freedom to worship is snatched from us, or our freedom to live and breathe as we please comes to a screeching halt! How will those who are ill prepared going to survive? What are we doing to prepare them for such times, when Satan takes our blind eye and shoves it right back at us, and says look where I have you now!
I pray that we no longer turn a blind eye to what Satan is doing. That we no longer allow each other to just exist in church but that we call each other to more! More love. More serving. More commitment. MORE CHRIST!
That being said, I have though, had lots of time to think and pray about the direction of the youth ministry. I am excited about where God is leading us. This past November, we began a plan to intentionally get the teens involved in the lives of adults in the faith community. I knew though that this was not going to work ONLY from the bottom up, but it would have to have some intentional things coming from the top down as well. What I mean by that is the teens would not be able to sustain the effort on their own, rather we are called to work as a body, and so, we must have adults reaching down, to grab the teens as they reach up. What I didn't know was that Glen, our small groups deacon, was also talking on the other end to the small group leaders about how to get the teens involved in small groups! It is amazing to see God working through the church and helping us work together, and make the body function as a body, and not just a blob. One of the processes of this that I am implementing in this is expectations that a Christian should live up to. We have done poorly at letting the expectations Christ calls us to, be known, let alone ensuring that we are following them. I am reminded of something I read today in Rob Bell's book Jesus wants to save Christians, that the idea of taking the Lord's name in vain is really about misusing it, like saying we are God's people or nation or empire but not living like it. Misusing the name Christian, as we often do, is more about how we make the church or God look than anything. Yet, we in America are so bent on the things we are entitled to, rather than the things we have been blessed with, that we are to bless others with. So, I encouraged them that they needed to be in accountability with one another, be memorizing scripture, and hanging with God! What's funny is I heard groanings, and complaining almost immediately, and from MY LEADERS! What kind of church have we come to be? It seems as though we have become one that expects so much from people outside the church ie. the business world and such, that we think church is a place to come and relax. Don't get me wrong, I know that God provides rest and that we have the peace that passes all understanding, but that just means that we have even more responsibility to live in the word, and in the constant presence of God. We have homework and responsibilities for work, and school when we get home all the time, but the second a pastor or something asks you to actually be accountable to that, we balk?
I am excited about where God is leading us, but I see in the near future a church that becomes much smaller, because we are not training them for the times of true battle, like when our freedom to worship is snatched from us, or our freedom to live and breathe as we please comes to a screeching halt! How will those who are ill prepared going to survive? What are we doing to prepare them for such times, when Satan takes our blind eye and shoves it right back at us, and says look where I have you now!
I pray that we no longer turn a blind eye to what Satan is doing. That we no longer allow each other to just exist in church but that we call each other to more! More love. More serving. More commitment. MORE CHRIST!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
So being married...
In these past few months, I have learned so much about myself that I haven't seen in the past few years. I thought I had seen this and didn't want to be like this so I stopped being like this. I see a reflection of myself and everything I do or say in my wife. This isn't anything bad or is it anything about her, rather about me. I am sitting here on my work computer at my house and I keep wondering what is it about me that keeps slapping me in the face?
I read on another blog one time, for ministers not to let anger be a pattern of our behavior. I remember this often, but usually after my temper has already been let loose. I find that even in little matters that don't matter at all, I get so upset and over what, a picture on the wall? (no, I am not speaking of a particular picture in our home, just referencing the stupidity of my anger) I find that I read things like, "You have heard that it was said, "do not commit murder, for anyone who murders will be subject to judgement" but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." and I am convicted to the core but how do I bring about change in my "pattern "of behavior? You see forgiveness is not an issue for me, but in the heat of the moment, my temper flies and I say things that I don't mean, or I talk to my wife in a way that no man should, and that bothers me!!!
I am being very transparent here, which to be honest with you is a little dangerous for me because of who I am, but its hard for me to find people to talk to around here without affecting what I do. So, as I say this, I ask that you hold me accountable, and treat me as a fellow sinner and not some high and mighty minister who never struggles with anything.
I am reminded of a quote, a favorite one of mine, where Brennan Manning says this, "Living out of the false self creates a compulsive desire to present a perfect image to those around us so that everyone will like us but nobody will know us." (that's pretty close to the actual quote off the top of my head...since I don't have the book with me, nor the proper format to "officially" quote him) I don't want to be like this but I feel that I can't tell anyone because it will affect how they look at me and how they see me as a minister. Most people want to know that I am real, but not real enough to touch, or to know the real problems I have...I am a minister...I'm supposed to be above this...and yet I struggle with anger and so many other things.
I say all that to say that its hard living in a fishbowl and it accelerates the relationship I have with my wife, in a way that makes it hard for us to keep up. Everyone seems to want to see us have a perfect relationship...or at least that's what we're supposed to model, but we're trying to figure it out just like everyone else. Its not that I don't think we have a good relationship but when you're so out in the open, everyone sees everything , and even further than that, have an opinion about everything you do. This part really just SUCKS!!! Last night I probably walked about 3-4 miles after 12am because I needed to get out and clear my head and think about some things, and it felt great, but why do I have to do this when everyone else is asleep? Why can't I be able to get away even at church? Instead, I feel like people want to know that I'm real and broken but not totally...they only want to hear just that...but no details like everyone else. I almost wish, it was like the old times when you were 30 before you became a "man" and were able to work on your own and live totally independent and free from everyone else. This would give me time to figure everything out without being scrutinized for everything that I did. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed at the amount of "personal" responsibility that's thrown on a 24 year old just out of college trying to figure out how to do life in the real world and be the "perfect" model everyone wants.
So once again, I say that marriage has been like holding a mirror up to my life and saying hey stupid...look at you, you can't even fend for yourself let alone anyone else...so give up and depend not on you, but on God...for in my weakness God's power is completed...a better word than perfected cause we misuse perfect...but complete gives us the idea we are really told...
I pray that God will be the one in power in my life and not me, because in my power, I am a jerk and rude and inconsiderate, to those whom I love most. I pray that God helps me quench my anger and bring that peace which passes all understanding in every part of my life...not just the hurt but in my hurt of others, especially my wife. I love her with all my heart and am not big enough to treat her as the child of God she is on my own. So I ask for your mercy on me, a sinner, who truly wants to be done with this anger stuff.
I read on another blog one time, for ministers not to let anger be a pattern of our behavior. I remember this often, but usually after my temper has already been let loose. I find that even in little matters that don't matter at all, I get so upset and over what, a picture on the wall? (no, I am not speaking of a particular picture in our home, just referencing the stupidity of my anger) I find that I read things like, "You have heard that it was said, "do not commit murder, for anyone who murders will be subject to judgement" but I say to you whoever is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." and I am convicted to the core but how do I bring about change in my "pattern "of behavior? You see forgiveness is not an issue for me, but in the heat of the moment, my temper flies and I say things that I don't mean, or I talk to my wife in a way that no man should, and that bothers me!!!
I am being very transparent here, which to be honest with you is a little dangerous for me because of who I am, but its hard for me to find people to talk to around here without affecting what I do. So, as I say this, I ask that you hold me accountable, and treat me as a fellow sinner and not some high and mighty minister who never struggles with anything.
I am reminded of a quote, a favorite one of mine, where Brennan Manning says this, "Living out of the false self creates a compulsive desire to present a perfect image to those around us so that everyone will like us but nobody will know us." (that's pretty close to the actual quote off the top of my head...since I don't have the book with me, nor the proper format to "officially" quote him) I don't want to be like this but I feel that I can't tell anyone because it will affect how they look at me and how they see me as a minister. Most people want to know that I am real, but not real enough to touch, or to know the real problems I have...I am a minister...I'm supposed to be above this...and yet I struggle with anger and so many other things.
I say all that to say that its hard living in a fishbowl and it accelerates the relationship I have with my wife, in a way that makes it hard for us to keep up. Everyone seems to want to see us have a perfect relationship...or at least that's what we're supposed to model, but we're trying to figure it out just like everyone else. Its not that I don't think we have a good relationship but when you're so out in the open, everyone sees everything , and even further than that, have an opinion about everything you do. This part really just SUCKS!!! Last night I probably walked about 3-4 miles after 12am because I needed to get out and clear my head and think about some things, and it felt great, but why do I have to do this when everyone else is asleep? Why can't I be able to get away even at church? Instead, I feel like people want to know that I'm real and broken but not totally...they only want to hear just that...but no details like everyone else. I almost wish, it was like the old times when you were 30 before you became a "man" and were able to work on your own and live totally independent and free from everyone else. This would give me time to figure everything out without being scrutinized for everything that I did. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed at the amount of "personal" responsibility that's thrown on a 24 year old just out of college trying to figure out how to do life in the real world and be the "perfect" model everyone wants.
So once again, I say that marriage has been like holding a mirror up to my life and saying hey stupid...look at you, you can't even fend for yourself let alone anyone else...so give up and depend not on you, but on God...for in my weakness God's power is completed...a better word than perfected cause we misuse perfect...but complete gives us the idea we are really told...
I pray that God will be the one in power in my life and not me, because in my power, I am a jerk and rude and inconsiderate, to those whom I love most. I pray that God helps me quench my anger and bring that peace which passes all understanding in every part of my life...not just the hurt but in my hurt of others, especially my wife. I love her with all my heart and am not big enough to treat her as the child of God she is on my own. So I ask for your mercy on me, a sinner, who truly wants to be done with this anger stuff.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
God, the real picture
This probably will not be a long post although I may come back and add to it later.
You know what I have really noticed? I have noticed that what bugs me most about government, is that instead of looking to God or the church, people look to and trust the government for help, for security, for ideology, for morality and much more. These things are not what government is for. That is what God is for.
If people are looking to find a sense of security for whatever reason in government...it will fall
If people are looking to the government to help them with their problems...good luck
If people are looking to the government to bring a sense of "Christian" morality...yeah right
I know i sound pretty cynical, but this is where I believe we have fallen away from the way God created us. He is the one that should provide this, but with a government that will bail us out of any problem we have (or at least that's what is hoped for), or with Christians not wanting to live the way they should and PERSONALLY stand up for what they believe in, by developing relationships with people; allowing them to understand where we are coming from a bit more. Maybe the church could finally do what it was made for, to help the needy and get outside the walls, and find those who are sick and bring them to the hospital to be healed...then send them back out!!! Why have we gotten so caught up in our own lives that we won't take the time to help someone ourselves, but will gripe and complain until the government does. How did we get to here? How did we get to a place where God is not our sense of security, compass of morality, and our shelter in the time of storm? God should be who we go to when any of this is needed, not the government, that is the real picture we Christians should be standing for, not a government to fight for us.
To coin a cheesy phrase...Will the real Christians PLEASE stand up???
You know what I have really noticed? I have noticed that what bugs me most about government, is that instead of looking to God or the church, people look to and trust the government for help, for security, for ideology, for morality and much more. These things are not what government is for. That is what God is for.
If people are looking to find a sense of security for whatever reason in government...it will fall
If people are looking to the government to help them with their problems...good luck
If people are looking to the government to bring a sense of "Christian" morality...yeah right
I know i sound pretty cynical, but this is where I believe we have fallen away from the way God created us. He is the one that should provide this, but with a government that will bail us out of any problem we have (or at least that's what is hoped for), or with Christians not wanting to live the way they should and PERSONALLY stand up for what they believe in, by developing relationships with people; allowing them to understand where we are coming from a bit more. Maybe the church could finally do what it was made for, to help the needy and get outside the walls, and find those who are sick and bring them to the hospital to be healed...then send them back out!!! Why have we gotten so caught up in our own lives that we won't take the time to help someone ourselves, but will gripe and complain until the government does. How did we get to here? How did we get to a place where God is not our sense of security, compass of morality, and our shelter in the time of storm? God should be who we go to when any of this is needed, not the government, that is the real picture we Christians should be standing for, not a government to fight for us.
To coin a cheesy phrase...Will the real Christians PLEASE stand up???
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Living the life
One of the things that seems to be the hardest thing to do about ministry is living what you teach! Last night, Sarah and I were talking about something going on, and she asked, "Are you living what you teach?" Like are you praying for them? Are you truly forgiving them? Are you really ready to let God have control? Are you ready to focus on HIM rather than let this get you off track?
If there is something that will drive me to anger more than anything else, its someone telling me to do what I told them to do with their life!!! Last night however, this didn't happen! I actually felt this sense of relief come over me as Sarah reminded me of what I have taught and said! Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to deal with this situation though. I struggle with people who claim to live by scripture and say that they want one thing, but do something totally different. I was ready to crucify this person, when I realized maybe my focus has been too much on everyone else rather than on God! When we take our eyes off of Jesus, we start drowning in the muck of the world, in the muck of other people. My job IS people but I have to learn not to get caught up in it myself. I have to do exactly what I teach, to keep my eyes so focused on Jesus, that when other stuff starts coming in the way I push it out and keep my eyes on HIM.
Paul talks in Romans about being obligated and eager at the same time. I often feel obligated, and I often feel eager but rarely at the same time. How does he do this? He realizes that as the world closes in around him, that His love for Jesus has to be what gets him through. That his love for Jesus tells others that they are important. His love for Jesus will confront sin in his life and other's. You see, sometimes people get caught up in themselves, even when they try not to be. My job is to live the life for Jesus, because He was faithful to me and I am called to live faithfully to HIM!!! Not to my own wants or desires, or job, or anything else.
What is it that we teach? What is it that we live? Are we living what we teach or talk about as Christians? It sure is easy to talk about it, but I sure have a hard time living it! I get lost in me and forget to keep my eyes on Jesus. It is not about me!!! It IS about Jesus and spreading His love and forgiveness to others, while making sure they know the power of His grace! There is a song, a friend of mine wrote, that I think is fitting here...
My life was empty, my heart was sad, life was a burden, no joy I had.
Jesus you loved me, my sins you bore, give me a heart to love you more!
Now I see Jesus, there on the cross, He paid the ransom at awful cost,
No greater love have I seen before, give me Jesus Whom I adore.
Give me a heart, to love you love you more, Give me Jesus, whom I adore, Give me grace to live without sin, Give me the courage, more souls to win.
I'm living better than I have before,
Still the tempter knocks at my door,
Lord I've come so far from where I've been,
Give me grace to live without sin.
Jesus I know you live within me, And I want others your light to see, Help me to tell them you save from sin, give me the courage more souls to win.
Give me a heart, to love you love you more, Give me Jesus, whom I adore, Give me grace to live without sin, Give me the courage, more souls to win.
I think this song says it all, that as we live we need the power of grace to overcome ourselves so that we can win more souls to Jesus!!! That is my only job!!! Sound like what I said last time?
Lord, help me focus on you in the middle of all that I do. Teach me to live fully focused on you! Help me not let people keep me from following you, but help me not to turn my back on them either! Give me the strength to live as Jesus did, fully devoted to you but fully self-sacrificing so that what I do glorifies you!!
If there is something that will drive me to anger more than anything else, its someone telling me to do what I told them to do with their life!!! Last night however, this didn't happen! I actually felt this sense of relief come over me as Sarah reminded me of what I have taught and said! Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to deal with this situation though. I struggle with people who claim to live by scripture and say that they want one thing, but do something totally different. I was ready to crucify this person, when I realized maybe my focus has been too much on everyone else rather than on God! When we take our eyes off of Jesus, we start drowning in the muck of the world, in the muck of other people. My job IS people but I have to learn not to get caught up in it myself. I have to do exactly what I teach, to keep my eyes so focused on Jesus, that when other stuff starts coming in the way I push it out and keep my eyes on HIM.
Paul talks in Romans about being obligated and eager at the same time. I often feel obligated, and I often feel eager but rarely at the same time. How does he do this? He realizes that as the world closes in around him, that His love for Jesus has to be what gets him through. That his love for Jesus tells others that they are important. His love for Jesus will confront sin in his life and other's. You see, sometimes people get caught up in themselves, even when they try not to be. My job is to live the life for Jesus, because He was faithful to me and I am called to live faithfully to HIM!!! Not to my own wants or desires, or job, or anything else.
What is it that we teach? What is it that we live? Are we living what we teach or talk about as Christians? It sure is easy to talk about it, but I sure have a hard time living it! I get lost in me and forget to keep my eyes on Jesus. It is not about me!!! It IS about Jesus and spreading His love and forgiveness to others, while making sure they know the power of His grace! There is a song, a friend of mine wrote, that I think is fitting here...
My life was empty, my heart was sad, life was a burden, no joy I had.
Jesus you loved me, my sins you bore, give me a heart to love you more!
Now I see Jesus, there on the cross, He paid the ransom at awful cost,
No greater love have I seen before, give me Jesus Whom I adore.
Give me a heart, to love you love you more, Give me Jesus, whom I adore, Give me grace to live without sin, Give me the courage, more souls to win.
I'm living better than I have before,
Still the tempter knocks at my door,
Lord I've come so far from where I've been,
Give me grace to live without sin.
Jesus I know you live within me, And I want others your light to see, Help me to tell them you save from sin, give me the courage more souls to win.
Give me a heart, to love you love you more, Give me Jesus, whom I adore, Give me grace to live without sin, Give me the courage, more souls to win.
I think this song says it all, that as we live we need the power of grace to overcome ourselves so that we can win more souls to Jesus!!! That is my only job!!! Sound like what I said last time?
Lord, help me focus on you in the middle of all that I do. Teach me to live fully focused on you! Help me not let people keep me from following you, but help me not to turn my back on them either! Give me the strength to live as Jesus did, fully devoted to you but fully self-sacrificing so that what I do glorifies you!!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
You know...that thing we call a right!
In many places you hear people talk about "their rights", their own personal right to do...you know whatever they want. We have our right to vote, our right to say whatever we want, unless its against something someone else doesn't like, or our right to bear arms. I hear this too much, when what we should be saying is what can I do for you? What can I do to help you in life, or in your walk with Christ. Instead we are too busy worried about ourselves and what we want.
The other day I was talking to my wife (kinda crazy me saying wife) about something that happened that day, and she kept asking questions, because she was curious and wanted to help, and I in my own sorrow got mad that she was offering advice, or even asking more questions. I, key word there, I was upset because of what happened and didn't want to talk about it much more, but she kept asking questions. Instead of me realizing that she was concerned for me, cause she loves me, and wants to be there with me and help me through whatever comes my way, I got mad! This showed me one thing...my rights are not mine anymore, the only right I have now is to be Jesus to everyone I come across, EVEN my wife. Unfortunately, I don't always do this. I'm not trying to say that I'm supposed to be perfect, but man I sure could handle myself differently!
What is even more important to me is that I don't even like America. I hate the values, arrogance, attitude and overall direction this country is taking. I am realizing more and more though, how Americanized I really am and I hate that too. This whole idea about my rights and my whatever comes from this way of life I have been born into and I can't stand it. How is it that we got to a place in our thinking that we equate the American government with Christianity, or that we feel the need to tell people they have to vote a certain way to be Xn (that means christian, and no it doesn't take Christ out because in greek christ is spelled Xristos (that's a phonetic way of doing it)). Since when did being Xn have anything to do with being so blessed to be in a country where we are not persecuted. I pray that we are persecuted and soon. The church in America is dying and its because its too easy. We have it so easy and its so tolerable to do whatever you want that we don't stand for anything unless there's an American law to back it. This way of thinking is what got us here in the first place. Paul never said look forward to the day when you can preach Jesus without being persecuted, rather he said, "to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain" but we are so afraid of dying because WE won't get to be here anymore, or I won't get to be with...you get the picture. Why do we do such things? How do we get off saying, "thank you God for allowing us to worship you without being persecuted"...Church if we aren't being persecuted...we aren't living right!!!!!!! I can just imagine God hearing us say that and say, "what do you mean thank you, I sent my son down there and EVEN HE was persecuted, and you think you get off easy...how dare you" Now, don't get me wrong by reading that and thinking that I believe God wants us to suffer, but I believe that's how we are tested, proved and grown, and if we aren't being persecuted then its just too easy. How can you ever know how smart you are if you don't stretch and test your abilities. How will an athlete ever break records, if they don't put themselves to the test...people please.
So, if we are about to call ourselves Xn then we need to get off of this idea that we have rights, and get to thinking about our responsibility to Jesus! I'm tired of seeing mediocre Xns getting away with stuff Jesus would've called them on. Its not about us anymore!!! We need to get out there and love people, not just give them a hand out. We need to show people we love them in order to have them live to our standards, not give them a law that says you have to live that way. People are going to make decisions on their own and will do whatever they please, but when we encounter Jesus, we cease that way of thinking and way of life. In order to do this though, we have to be in people's lives who don't know Jesus, cause "if we tell those who already know, are we any better than the Gentiles?"
The other day I was talking to my wife (kinda crazy me saying wife) about something that happened that day, and she kept asking questions, because she was curious and wanted to help, and I in my own sorrow got mad that she was offering advice, or even asking more questions. I, key word there, I was upset because of what happened and didn't want to talk about it much more, but she kept asking questions. Instead of me realizing that she was concerned for me, cause she loves me, and wants to be there with me and help me through whatever comes my way, I got mad! This showed me one thing...my rights are not mine anymore, the only right I have now is to be Jesus to everyone I come across, EVEN my wife. Unfortunately, I don't always do this. I'm not trying to say that I'm supposed to be perfect, but man I sure could handle myself differently!
What is even more important to me is that I don't even like America. I hate the values, arrogance, attitude and overall direction this country is taking. I am realizing more and more though, how Americanized I really am and I hate that too. This whole idea about my rights and my whatever comes from this way of life I have been born into and I can't stand it. How is it that we got to a place in our thinking that we equate the American government with Christianity, or that we feel the need to tell people they have to vote a certain way to be Xn (that means christian, and no it doesn't take Christ out because in greek christ is spelled Xristos (that's a phonetic way of doing it)). Since when did being Xn have anything to do with being so blessed to be in a country where we are not persecuted. I pray that we are persecuted and soon. The church in America is dying and its because its too easy. We have it so easy and its so tolerable to do whatever you want that we don't stand for anything unless there's an American law to back it. This way of thinking is what got us here in the first place. Paul never said look forward to the day when you can preach Jesus without being persecuted, rather he said, "to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain" but we are so afraid of dying because WE won't get to be here anymore, or I won't get to be with...you get the picture. Why do we do such things? How do we get off saying, "thank you God for allowing us to worship you without being persecuted"...Church if we aren't being persecuted...we aren't living right!!!!!!! I can just imagine God hearing us say that and say, "what do you mean thank you, I sent my son down there and EVEN HE was persecuted, and you think you get off easy...how dare you" Now, don't get me wrong by reading that and thinking that I believe God wants us to suffer, but I believe that's how we are tested, proved and grown, and if we aren't being persecuted then its just too easy. How can you ever know how smart you are if you don't stretch and test your abilities. How will an athlete ever break records, if they don't put themselves to the test...people please.
So, if we are about to call ourselves Xn then we need to get off of this idea that we have rights, and get to thinking about our responsibility to Jesus! I'm tired of seeing mediocre Xns getting away with stuff Jesus would've called them on. Its not about us anymore!!! We need to get out there and love people, not just give them a hand out. We need to show people we love them in order to have them live to our standards, not give them a law that says you have to live that way. People are going to make decisions on their own and will do whatever they please, but when we encounter Jesus, we cease that way of thinking and way of life. In order to do this though, we have to be in people's lives who don't know Jesus, cause "if we tell those who already know, are we any better than the Gentiles?"
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