This past week has been one of those go, go, go... kind of weeks. I haven't had much time to sit and reflect and blog. Not that my blogs are deep, but I do like to take a second to write my thoughts.
I enjoy my work... I minister and I get paid. woo hooo! dream job. (for me)
Today and tomorrow however are going to be relaxing days. I will spend a great deal of time with my kids and my wife.
I say all of this because I dream of ministry being life changing, growing, and amazing... BUT, if I don't take time to spend with my family and my God... it's all in vain.
I want my God to know that I am in love with Him. I want my family to know the same.
Praise be to God for the life He gives us in Jesus Christ.
HAPPY 4TH of JULY!
we live in a great nation... thank God today.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
I AM THE QUESTIONER FOR SBS THIS WEEK
Below is my question for the SBS (Secret Blogging Society):
Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt 16:24) He also says, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
Most (American) Christians do not look any different from those who do not follow Christ. How do we follow Christ whole heartedly, a life surrendered to Jesus, giving up everything, and as Jesus says in Matt 16:25 we must "lose our life" to "find it"?
To shorten it: How do we look different from the world according to our faith in Jesus Christ?
Jesus said, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt 16:24) He also says, "Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
Most (American) Christians do not look any different from those who do not follow Christ. How do we follow Christ whole heartedly, a life surrendered to Jesus, giving up everything, and as Jesus says in Matt 16:25 we must "lose our life" to "find it"?
To shorten it: How do we look different from the world according to our faith in Jesus Christ?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday hangover...
Okay, I don't have a hangover... but, I always feel a little different on Mondays than any other day of the week. Why? Because of Sunday nights. Journey has become a major part of my life. Last night was great... It was fun to be in the coffee lounge again (but 3 or 4 times bigger!), it was great to see new people, and I love what I do... preach God's Word.
All that said, my mind doesn't shut off on Sunday nights. I don't sleep very sound because I'm dreaming of Journey.
I don't know what God has planned,but I know our God is BIG - HOLY - MIGHTY - and AMAZING! I want to be faithful to Him and see what He'll do.
If you come to JOURNEY, thank YOU for who you are and making Journey a great community.
All that said, my mind doesn't shut off on Sunday nights. I don't sleep very sound because I'm dreaming of Journey.
I don't know what God has planned,but I know our God is BIG - HOLY - MIGHTY - and AMAZING! I want to be faithful to Him and see what He'll do.
If you come to JOURNEY, thank YOU for who you are and making Journey a great community.
Friday, June 20, 2008
SBS QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Is it possible for us to have absolute faith? What can, or better yet should, we do to help us come as close as humanly possible to absolute faith?
The definition of faith:
faith* - [feyth]
–noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
faith**
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
I think the question above should be reversed. Faith is absolute... however what you have faith in is not always absolute. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we DO NOT SEE. Thus, any faith is absolute, however, not all that people have faith in is absolute.
For example, people have faith in each other. "I believe all people are 'good' and we need to try and nurture that." Well that is NOT an absolute thing to have faith in. It WILL fail you. Same thing with Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. They have faith in the wrong thing (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
The absolute thing to have faith in is Jesus Christ (This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22).
Jesus told his followers/disciples several times that they had "little faith." He didn't say that they had no faith, or wrong faith, but little faith. The good thing is they had FAITH, it was absolute. The greater our understanding of Jesus, the greater our faith. Does this mean we didn't have absolute faith, NO, it means our faith increases.
A great example is that of a child. Children have great faith, because they trust. listen to Jesus. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
I will close with this. Paul says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" Ephesians 2:8
God allows us to put our faith in Him... to trust Him, even when we don't see. What a gift!
Great verses: Luke 5:20, Luke 7:50, John 14:12, Acts 20:21, Romans 5:1, Romans 10:17, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 2:5, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 3:12, Philippians 3:9, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7
* Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
** N.I.V.
The definition of faith:
faith* - [feyth]
–noun
1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
faith**
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
I think the question above should be reversed. Faith is absolute... however what you have faith in is not always absolute. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we DO NOT SEE. Thus, any faith is absolute, however, not all that people have faith in is absolute.
For example, people have faith in each other. "I believe all people are 'good' and we need to try and nurture that." Well that is NOT an absolute thing to have faith in. It WILL fail you. Same thing with Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. They have faith in the wrong thing (2 Thessalonians 3:2).
The absolute thing to have faith in is Jesus Christ (This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22).
Jesus told his followers/disciples several times that they had "little faith." He didn't say that they had no faith, or wrong faith, but little faith. The good thing is they had FAITH, it was absolute. The greater our understanding of Jesus, the greater our faith. Does this mean we didn't have absolute faith, NO, it means our faith increases.
A great example is that of a child. Children have great faith, because they trust. listen to Jesus. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3
I will close with this. Paul says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—" Ephesians 2:8
God allows us to put our faith in Him... to trust Him, even when we don't see. What a gift!
Great verses: Luke 5:20, Luke 7:50, John 14:12, Acts 20:21, Romans 5:1, Romans 10:17, Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 2:5, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 3:12, Philippians 3:9, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 4:7
* Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
** N.I.V.
Friday, June 13, 2008
SBS question
Question of the day:
My question, dear friends, is twofold: can too much of a morally neutral thing be eternally bad; and are there morally neutral things in your personal life that Christ is asking you to get rid of, or remove - things he just wants out, even though there is nothing evil about it?
I'm going to be blunt... and I'm going to sound a bit harsh... so here goes.
I think the Devil's greatest desire is for us to be half-hearted people that think we are doing "all right". There is NO WHERE in Scripture that says, "get comfortable." Satan's lies say, "you can be okay, you work hard, you deserve it, you aren't that bad..."
The Bible says (paraphrased), "you suck." or "you have fallen short of the glory of God." ie. you sin.
The only way to reconcile your suckyness is to live a sold-out life for Christ. On my heart right now is Matthew 5,6, & 7.
Your thought life is as important as your actions. Thus, what is moral neautrality? Is it based on the actions of ones external accomplishments.... not doing wrong?
Well, if you are not pleasing God, YOU ARE WRONG! (Matt 5:20)
These words haunt me... so I will let them finish my thought today.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:26-27)
The above is answer to the first half of the question... my answer to the second half of the question is: EVERYTHING. I need to rid anything and everything that doesn't allow me to live 100% for God.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
My question, dear friends, is twofold: can too much of a morally neutral thing be eternally bad; and are there morally neutral things in your personal life that Christ is asking you to get rid of, or remove - things he just wants out, even though there is nothing evil about it?
I'm going to be blunt... and I'm going to sound a bit harsh... so here goes.
I think the Devil's greatest desire is for us to be half-hearted people that think we are doing "all right". There is NO WHERE in Scripture that says, "get comfortable." Satan's lies say, "you can be okay, you work hard, you deserve it, you aren't that bad..."
The Bible says (paraphrased), "you suck." or "you have fallen short of the glory of God." ie. you sin.
The only way to reconcile your suckyness is to live a sold-out life for Christ. On my heart right now is Matthew 5,6, & 7.
Your thought life is as important as your actions. Thus, what is moral neautrality? Is it based on the actions of ones external accomplishments.... not doing wrong?
Well, if you are not pleasing God, YOU ARE WRONG! (Matt 5:20)
These words haunt me... so I will let them finish my thought today.
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:26-27)
The above is answer to the first half of the question... my answer to the second half of the question is: EVERYTHING. I need to rid anything and everything that doesn't allow me to live 100% for God.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
prayer tonight?
7pm @ the church...
Why do we get excited to go the movies and not talk to the KING?
Why do wait for fast food and not on the LORD?
Who is the most valuable person in your life?
When is the last time you found joy in talking to your DAD?
Let's get real with Him tonight.
come as you are.
JUST PRAYER.
Why do we get excited to go the movies and not talk to the KING?
Why do wait for fast food and not on the LORD?
Who is the most valuable person in your life?
When is the last time you found joy in talking to your DAD?
Let's get real with Him tonight.
come as you are.
JUST PRAYER.
Monday, June 2, 2008
JOURNEY LAST NIGHT
Okay... Journey hit an all time high... numerically that is.
Crazy night.
Between 70-80 peeps.
very cool.
My prayer is that God would do something great...
JOURNEY: A COMMUNITY ON A MISSION
Internal righteousness
Psalm 40:10
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
Being a follower of Christ (a Christian) is not about doing anything... it's about what's been done for us (for you). - Romans 3:24
God is in the business of changing hearts... it's starts with the heart.
Rather than criticize something today, you fill in the blank what you are criticizing... try prayer! Check your heart and ask God to intercede...
What happens when God's righteousness leaks out of our hearts?
What happens when you speak of God's faithfulness and salvation?
What would happen if you spread God's fame and His Truth?
What would happen if we WERE the Church?
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
Being a follower of Christ (a Christian) is not about doing anything... it's about what's been done for us (for you). - Romans 3:24
God is in the business of changing hearts... it's starts with the heart.
Rather than criticize something today, you fill in the blank what you are criticizing... try prayer! Check your heart and ask God to intercede...
What happens when God's righteousness leaks out of our hearts?
What happens when you speak of God's faithfulness and salvation?
What would happen if you spread God's fame and His Truth?
What would happen if we WERE the Church?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
inside of me
"In this marriage of the heart... there is no death do us part" - Sanctus Real (song: Eternal album: We need each other)
Lord help me.
Forgive me.
I'm a pathetic love partner.
You however are overwhelming. You bring me to my knees in adoration.
I sing a love song.
In humility I speak to you.
With a willing heart I listen (I try, I try, and I try).
Teach me to pray.
Teach me to be more like you!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
tough stuff
Do you believe this? C'mon... let's get serious about God's Word.
47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. - Luke 12:47-48
47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. - Luke 12:47-48
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