Brad's Thoughts

The Beast Within

2011-10-01T21:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I feel like a queasy messed up combination of the wolf-man and the Incredible Hulk. There I am going along just fine and then something happens and this beast within me rages to get out. First my blood starts pumping, my eyes begin to narrow, everything starts looking red, my skin turns green, I grow twice my normal size, then comes the beastly grow from somewhere deep within that I can't explain, and then I since the fear of my pray.

Well OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration but I think we can all relate. In one form or another we can sympathize with Bruce Banner when he says, "You won't like me when I'm angry."

Today was one of those days. Everything was going well and then... (The clouds cleared from over the full moon) I was ready to break someone or something. I wanted to yell and scream and let the rage have it's way. At this moment I wanted to let people know exactly what I thought and how I felt and I didn't care what anyone thought about it, but I didn't.

Why? Why not just let the beast out? Isn't it better to deal with those feelings rather than hold them in?

One of my favorite books in the Bible is James. James is blunt a straight to the point, so as we look at the subject of anger I want to start there. In James 1:19-21 it says, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 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."

Though the Bible never calls anger a sin it does give some strong warnings about controlling our anger. One reason is because controlled anger can bring about some very positive changes in the world around us while uncontrolled anger can be very destructive. James says that a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires. I believe that this is because our anger is usually rooted in selfishness.

Today I could have let my anger burn and created a nasty argument, point fingers, and tore down someone because of a mistake they made or I could remain calm and set a precedence of dealing with conflicts in the future as well as setting an example for my children and anyone else that might be watching.

In Ephesians 4 Paul tells us, "In your anger do not sin" (vs. 26) Even though it would be great if we could purge our lives of anger, Paul acknowledges that anger is an emotion that we are going to have to deal with at points in our life. What Paul really cares about is what out reaction is when we are angry. Why must we control our anger? Because if we don't we give the Devil a foothold in our lives. (vs 27)

The Devil would like nothing more then to have you blow your top and destroy the opportunities that you have to show others the love, mercy, grace, and peace that can only be found in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is instructing us through the pages of scripture to be people of self-control not controlled by the whims of some emotional response.

In Proverbs 29:11 we are told, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." The fact is that no matter what we are facing or feeling at the moment we will accomplish much more with a calm, cool, and collected discussion than we will by yelling and screaming at someone. (Though it doesn't always seem this way. We are looking at a bigger picture here) In the end we will earn far more respect by remaining level headed then by raging out with our feelings.

Remember the advice from Proverbs 15:1, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

What is the end result that we are looking for? Do we desire to make the situation better or worse?

I have a friend that constantly fights to control his anger. He will blow his top and then quickly apologize. I remember one day hearing him tell someone that he was sorry for the way he responded and told them that would be praying for them. On this day I remember him being asked, "If your God is so great where was he when you were mad?" My friend just hung his head in shame.

Lord God, please give me the ability to have self-control when I am angry. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to forgive so that your righteousness may reign in me. I know I am weak and I can't do this alone. Forgive me and guild me, in Jesus Name.
Amen!

Hell is Real (But I Hate to Admit It)

2011-09-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is my first time writing a review of a book. The reason I chose this book to be my first is because the author Brian Jones was my very first mentor on my journey to serve God in the ministry.

Brain begins the book by sharing about his past. He shares about a time when he, as a pastor, didn't believe in hell. This is a story I haven't just heard but I also remember. I remember when Brian came before our church and asked for forgiveness and asked if we would allow him to remain as our pastor. This moment shaped me forever as a man of God. This moment taught me that God's word must be absolute for me as a pastor.

As the book continues Brian digs into what the Bible teaches about hell and why it is so important for Christians to believe what the Bible says. He goes into the reasons why we don't believe and the reasons why people don't believe in hell and looks at the reasons why those who do believe in hell don't respond it the apocalyptic urgency the a biblical understanding of God and hell should produce in us.

This book spoke deep into my heart, convicting me of my lack of urgency in leading people to Christ. I already had to repent 3 or 4 times before I got to the place in the book that Brian suggests that we repent.

What really makes this book a must read is the fact that Brian doesn't leave his readers with great knowledge and no application. Brian spends time helping his readers become effective at leading their unsaved friends to Christ. His advice is insightful and based on his real life experiences.

I highly recommend getting this book. It will challenge you to draw closer to God and encourage you to be able to share your faith with confidence knowing that God is in control.

One more step

2011-09-05T09:56:00.001-07:00

I must say I enjoy running (most of the time). The fact is that I am slow, overweight, and often lack the self motivation to get out and do it. But when I do, I find this rhythm in my step, this peace in my soul, though this usually doesn't kick in until after my legs and lungs stop burning.

As I am running, my mind is drawn towards my creator, towards the intricate way that He put my body together. I am often amazed to find that my body is far more capable than my mind would like to believe. This is a lesson I first learned while at boot camp. I was in the delayed entry program for a year where we trained to run a mile and a half in 13 minutes. (I know this is slow for you big time runners out there. But for someone who was never a runner this was pushing it.

Our first day of PT (Physical Training) at Paris Island we had to run 1.5 in 13 minutes. I had myself so trained to do this that I ran it in 12 minutes 49 seconds. I had this down. On our second day of PT they told us we were going to do a formation run of 2 miles in 13 minutes and 30 second. Now if your mind works like mine (which may not be a good thing) you are thinking how in the world can you expect to run a half mile in 30 seconds. The real kicker is that this is the difference between 8 minute 40 second mile and a 6 minute and 45 second mile. Not only is this a faster running speed but we had to maintain this speed for a greater distance.

The amazing thing is I made it. (of course I was in much better shape the, and I can't reach that time now) The reason I share all of this is because God formed our bodies to do so much more than we think we can do. He has granted us the ability to push further, and work harder to accomplish thing we can only imagine.

So the real question is, what if we exercised our spiritual muscles this way. What do we do when our mind tells our faith we can't take another step?

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul writes, " ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. ²⁷ No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. "

As I have learned while running the next step may seem like the hardest but it may be the one that teaches you that you can go one more still. I hope your faith can teach your mind that "with God all things are Possible and that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

???FREE???

2011-08-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Throughout my life there have been a few statements that I have heard over and over again. One of those statements is, "nothing in life is free." It is amazing how this statement has affected the world in which we live and serve.

Yesterday (Saturday, August 20, 2011) LifePoint Community Church
had its first outreach as a new church. All we did was simply give out popsicles (so named, "Project Popsicle"), for free.

It's amazing how many people don't know how to receive something for free. One man asked me three times if it was really free. We didn't even require that people learn about LifePoint, though when asked, we did share with them.

This outreach was about getting out into our community, meeting and serving the people.

We provided a cold refreshment on a warm summer evening. That was it, no strings attached. And as a result, we got to meet 100+ people right in our own community.

You may be wondering why we would chose to do our first outreach in a way that didn't draw everyones attention to our church. The reasons are simple. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't about our church. It is about God and His love as displayed through Christ Jesus. Jesus came into the world to give a free gift. He laid down His life that we may experience the blessing of a saving relationship with God the Father.

As we simply give out a cold treat...

...hearts will begin to be prepared to accept the greatest gift of all: eternal life through Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 it says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." There is nothing we can do to draw closer to God. Our salvation is a free gift of grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It is the work of the cross that sets us free from sins penalty.

May we learn to accept that the best thing in life is free, because it cost so much.

"I AM"

2011-08-10T18:08:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in my quiet time with God I like to reflect on a passage that I think I understand and I will ask God to move me into a deeper understanding of that passage. The other morning I woke up thinking about Moses and the burning bush. I was really drawn to Exodus 3:14.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

As I thought over this line again and again another verse came to mind. John 8:58 states, "“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

With these two passages on mind I thought back to Bible college where I was taught that God's introduction of Himself as "I AM" was a simple statement of God's eternal nature. The name "I AM" means the existing one. The one that lives from everlasting to everlasting. In college I learned that this statement was what separated the infinite from the finite.

As I was meditating on these passages I asked God what it means for Him to be the "I Am" feeling in my spirit that the simplistic view I had been taught in school was just that: too simplistic. (Though how simplistic is the concept of eternal?) As I was driving to work I began to feel a stirring in my soul. It was then that the Holy Spirit began to speak.

"I Am"

I Am goes so much deeper that just supplying an attribute of God. I Am defines who God is, in contrast to who we are. God is: our everything. He is our creator, our life, our breath, the food we need to live (the bread of life), our hopes, our dreams, our aspirations. He is the source of light, and rest. He is our comfort, our joy, our love (agape), our patience, our endurance, our strength, and our peace. God is all of this and much more.

He is a doctor for the sick, a Father for the fatherless, peace for the troubled hearted, assurance for the scared, courage for the fearful, justice for the downtrodden.

As I began to ponder the extent of who God is. (Knowing that I will never come close to rapping my mind around the depths of who God is.) I found myself in awe!

Then the Spirit spoke again and said, "but who are you?"

The fact is that the beauty of the "I Am" is who we are and can be in Him.

The truth is separated from God through sin we are nothing. We are dead. We are wicked and evil. But through the sacrifice that Jesus made on that cross we can become the very children of God, "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:13t us embrace all we can

Let us embrace all we can be in God!

Shifting Perspective

2011-06-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

I am often amazed by the self righteousness of people in general, especially by self-proclaimed followers of Jesus Christ. (I know that this might come across as offensive, but it is something we are all guilty of from time to time - myself included.)

The reason I wanted to write this is to share what God has been showing me and breaking my heart over in the church. God first began to open my eyes as I was around a large number of Christians (I won't mention where, out of respect for my fellow sinners). What God started showing me was how often we as Christians put on a show of great spiritual maturity followed by our ramblings of our sinful life while constantly condemning others for their ungodly behavior.

I recently was told that a group of people would put on a front and say how they were Christians though they didn't live it. (These are generally the type of comments I ignore.) The reason I share this is because two days later I heard this same person talking about the male stripper at the party she was recently at.

I have also recently overheard one lady condemning another lady for sleeping around, then had her talk to me about her boyfriend that lives with her. I have heard many Christians verbally attack homosexuality, yet they think it is just natural for men to lust after women and see nothing wrong with pornography.

As I think about this I am drawn to 1 John 1:5-10, "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

So often we like to come across like we somehow have got it all together. We want to spend our time looking at what other people are doing rather than looking at ourselves. I know that it sounds like I am doing that very thing right now, but just today I found myself getting upset because someone made a mistake and I just wouldn't let it go. I was letting it boil inside, I was angry and in my anger I was sinning because I wasn't forgiving the lady who made me mad even though she apologized. (Forgive me, Lord.)

Very few of us would ever "claim" to be without sin in our words, our attitudes say it clearly. We start looking at others as if our thoughts, our actions, our calling, our social class, our educational level, our moral fiber... is the standard that other people can't live up to. When the truth is that it is God's character that we can't live up to.

Everyday, in some way I fail to live up to God's perfect standard. Everyday, I fail to live by God's design and I sin in thought and deed. And trust me I would love to say it happens only once per day, but that would be a lie. All to often I feel like Paul as he in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want."

It is for this reason that Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1-5, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."

Jesus wanted us to focus on the sin in our own life before we start pointing the finger at others. When we do this we will be more honest, more transparent, more accepting, more loving, and more humble in our interaction with other people. We will also experience a greater dependency on Jesus. Our eyes will be on the cross not on other people's struggles. Maybe it is time that we shift our perspective.

It is on the cross that Jesus paid the price for our sins. The ones we committed before accepting Him as our savior, the ones we will still commit, and even the ones we are committing now. Jesus died for them all and conquered the grave that you and I might have a new life through Him.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

God's Apology - Are You Serious?

2011-05-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we were on our way to look at an apartment when we passed a church with marquee sign that said, "May is God's Apology for January" which is just a cute saying about being happy about spring.

Maybe I am too analytical but this sign really got me thinking about what that sign said about God. My first thought was why would God apologize about January? Was January a mistake? If so, has God continued to make the same mistake every year since 45BC when January was created as a month? Or what if, like my friend Dan and my dad, you live in Florida and January is a nicer month than May, does that mean that God is apologizing for giving you a nicer month and then giving you something worse? Or what does it mean if we get record rain fall in May?

Yes I know, right now you're thinking, "Brad you thought way too much about that sign!" However, let's take it a little further. What if we took a serious look at what we as Christians credit God for saying. Does God hate some people because of the sin issue in their lives? Would God not allow anyone to go to hell because of His love? Are the death of soldiers God's judgment?

These are all statements that people have given credit to God for. The question we need to ask is, do these statements that are accredited to God match what God says in His word? In Acts 17:11 the Bible says, "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

I love this passage. It tells us not to just accept what we are told is true by our pastors, teachers, priests, rabbis, or religious friends and family members, but to examine what we are taught. To study the scripture, to see if it is true. Not our thoughts, not our beliefs, our ideas, our hopes, but to examine the scriptures. Sometimes, this requires setting aside ourselves and taking up our cross and following Jesus even when we don't like what we find.

Let us be like the Bereans and be people of more noble character, studying the word of God, letting it shape our beliefs rather than letting our beliefs shape how we interpret the Bible.

When Words Are Not Enough

2011-05-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not there are times when I find myself speechless. Times when words "seem" so empty and meaningless even when you mean them with all your heart. It is at these times that I want to say something that will bring healing, comfort, encouragement, the kind of words that will take the pain away. It is at these moments that words are never enough.

Today is one of those days.

I have thought and prayed and cried as I searched for the words to bring comfort to others. Words to bring strength to others who are feeling so weak. Words that will bring hope in the midst of despair. Yet, the words do not come.

Suddenly I was reminded of a verse in scripture. The shortest of all the verses in the Bible. Just two simple words, "Jesus wept." (John 11:35) These words so profound, so deep, so moving. Jesus, the God-man, the creator and savior of the world, wept.

Sometimes, words are not enough, and it is okay. There is nothing wrong with not speaking at that moment and mourning too.

You see when Jesus wept with Mary and Martha, what everyone understood was that Jesus loved Lazarus. That was more important than any words of comfort. He loved so much that His heart broke too.

For those who are mourning the loss of a loved one, know that Jesus is mourning with you.

In Memory of Bette Haag, 10-6-63 ~ 5-14-11
Survived by her husband Allen Haag, Sons Jeremy and Erik Haag, sister Lisa Black, and countless other people who's lives were made better because they had a chance to know her.

Worship: The Hymnal Wars?

2011-05-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Warning! This blog post may (unintentionally) offend some people.

Ok, now that I have that out of the way, I want to just start out by saying, "I am a Christian - unashamed, and unrestrained, a Christian." I believe that the Bible is the word of God. I believe that Jesus is the only way for salvation and that apart from Jesus' death, burial and resurrection we are lost and trapped in our sins. I also believe that the world tends to view Christians as a joke.

Yes, I said it. The question is "why?" Why would I say that the world views Christians as a joke?

As I start this answer, I want to preface my answer by saying, I love being a Southern Baptist Pastor. I love the fellowship I have within my denomination. I also love my brothers and sisters in Christ that are in other denominations.

With that being said, it is time we wake up and look at what we are doing.

In John 13:35 Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Yet around our country and around the world, the church is so fractured, so split apart, that the world is laughing at us. We argue about doctrines, we argue about music, we argue about Bible translations, we argue about how to dress, what is ok to read, what we can watch, what we can or can't say, and on and on... Churches have split over the meaning and mode of Baptism and churches have split over the color of the carpet in the sanctuary.

The fact is we are called to love each other, but the divisions in the church have become so wide that we even have denominational hymnals. You can get: The Presbyterian Hymnal, Baptist Hymnal, The New National Baptist Hymnal, The Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal, The Pentecostal Hymnal, The Lutheran Hymnals in America, The 21st Century Universal Denominational Hymnal, The Psalms & Hymns Of Reformed Worship. We can even get The African American Heritage Hymnal if we would like to have our worship songs based on race.

Really? What if we were to put Pentecostal hymnals in a Baptist Church? Or we could put Lutheran Hymnals in a Methodist Church while putting their song books in a Presbyterian Church. Is one Hymnal somehow more holy or more sacred than another?

Wait! That makes me want to ask other questions: Do we even need a hymnal? Do we need music to worship God? Do the instruments used in worship determine the holiness of a song? If so, what about the rhythm or beat of the music?

Or maybe, the worship that God really desires is a worship that results in lives being changed for the good. Maybe God wants our very lives to be worship, our thoughts, our actions, our relationships, our jobs, our words, our deeds, our creativity, our play, our relaxation....

Maybe worship, true worship, won't build walls of separation but instead will tear them down. Maybe we can embrace our brothers and sisters rather than bash them. Maybe we can encourage, strengthen, and inspire one another.

Mark 7:6-8 says, "He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

Wow! Can you imagine what it would be like if we thought of these words as applying to us rather than "those guys". We read these words and think, "Way to go Jesus! Stick it to those Pharisees!" Yet, what if these words, that God put in the Bible for us today, were intended to open our eyes to our own flawed worship?

What if we began to worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)and truly embraced the words of Paul in Romans 12:1, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."

When we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice we won't be caught up in having to be right all the time, and we might just start reaching out to others no matter where they are in their spiritual journey and show them the type of love that stretched His arms from one nail to the other.

Jesus paid the price! Let us honor Him in all our ways!

final words part 5 / ?Christian?

2011-04-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

When you hear the word "Christian" what pops into your mind? I find it crazy how broad of a range of thoughts come to mind from this word. To some we think of Ned Flanders from the Simpsons and his great quotes such as, "Ok, boys, when you meet Jesus, be sure to call Him Mr. Christ." or "Now let us upload the holy Tweet of the Lord." or "No one comes back as anything, except for Jesus as bread, and that's it." Others might think of the guy on the corner of every event that requires a stadium with a sign that says "Turn or Burn" or of the people protesting soldiers funerals. Or we might take a completely different approach and think about christian books, christian movies, christian t.v., christian music or christian bumper stickers.

It amazes me what some people define as "christian" or what is even more amazing is what people call "not christian"

This makes me wonder, does putting the word "christian" in front of something automatically make it good? Does calling something christian make it godly? Does it make something evil if the most vocal christians are against it?

Let's think about this... In Isaiah 1:18 God says, "Come now, let us reason together..." You mean God wants us to reason, to think things through, to come to conclusions that make sense?

What is it that makes one thing secular and something else sanctified? As I think about this from a stand point of reason, it must have something to do with how it is used. For example, if I listen to a "christian" CD I am drawn to God, but when I listen to a "secular" CD I'm not. Right? So what happens if I am listening to a song by Simple Plan such as...

What happens if I'm listening to that song and find myself being drawn to God? What if, instead of being so focused on removing ourselves from the world, we were to start meeting God in the world we are in?

"Do you ever feel like breaking down?
Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you
Do you ever wanna runaway?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio on turned up so loud
That no one hears you screaming"

Then I remember Jesus, who knows what it is like to feel so utterly alone. To feel rejected, mistreated, abused, hated, mocked, beaten down, spit upon, broken hearted, abandoned, betrayed, despised, etc.. Who was in that Garden the night He was arrested "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" (Matthew 16:36-46) He asked His closest friends to watch over Him and they slept. He pleaded with the Father, "if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Jesus understands our pain, our suffering, and our heart aches, yet He goes on knowing that it will only get worse. This is a Jesus that can relate with me. Who is my strength. Yes there are times when I am drawn to great spiritual songs that inspire me to sing praise of victory to my God but there are other times that I am drawn to great spiritual songs (though not labeled "Christian") that draw me to a God who has experienced every temptation I battle with yet was without sin. Sometimes I need the Jesus who taught in the temple and sometimes I need the Jesus who ate with the tax collectors and sinners.

While Jesus was on that cross He cried out in a Loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

Father take it all! I don't want it anymore. My sins, my lust, my filth, my pride, my arrogance, my selfishness, my anger, my pain, my brokenness, my depression, my addiction, my loneliness...and the list goes on and on. And He took it all on that cross.

God is at work all around us, we just get so caught up in our idea of spirituality that we miss what He is doing. Jesus, while praying in John 17, said this, " My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

Christians, Jesus paid the price, and He chose not to take us out of the world but to send us into the world so that people can see Jesus in us!

Final Words part 4

2011-04-23T19:30:00.000-07:00

War, pain, suffering, hatred, political unrest, and natural disasters are the news of the day. It seems everywhere we look there is more bad news. IF you're like me you'd like to here some good news for a change.

Today, I want to examine three statements that Jesus made from the cross. These statements are so closely related that I wanted to share them together. These statements all come together to deliver some powerful good news for you and I.

These three statements are as follows:
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark 15:34

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” John 19:28

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

When we look at these three statements from Jesus we at first may ask what they have to do with each other. How do these words of Jesus bring hope and good news to the pain and suffering that I face?

To understand this we must first understand what is going on in this moment on the cross.
"At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The sixth hour, noon, the brightest and hottest part of the day, the Bible tells us that darkness came over the whole land. It is believed that it is at this moment that the sins of all people where put upon Jesus. For the first time in His life Jesus felt the pain, agony, guilt and grief of sin. In this moment Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" These words, to those reading them in English, show us the depth of pain and longing that we feel in our deepest moments of sorrow.

However, to those in ancient Israel it said much more. During this time, rabbis would use a teaching method to draw the attention of the people to a passage of scripture. They would simply quote a verse. When this verse was quoted the people where drawn to the passage. Then they would teach or illustrate the passage, and then quote the end of the passage.

As we study this statement from Jesus we need to allow ourselves, like the people who were there, to be drawn to the scriptures. Look with me at the 22nd Psalm which starts with this verse, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?" As we study this Psalm we will find the events of Jesus' death opened up for all people 1,000 years before Christ's death on the cross.

Jesus wanted everyone to know that God's plan of redemption for mankind was being fulfilled before their eyes. That this moment wasn't just a tragic event in human history but a moment that would forever shape human history.

As we continue looking through this Psalm we find ourselves coming face to face with verses 14 and 15 which say, "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death."

Jesus was stretched out on that cross, His bones out of joint, His heart broken for the people, His strength draining away and He cries out, “I am thirsty.” Thirsty! The need for a drink. The living water experienced a thirst that goes beyond just a need for water but also a spiritual thirst, a thirst that comes from the sins of the world driving a wedge of separation between the Son and the Father.

As we continue through Psalm 22 we arrive to verse 31 that ends, "for he has done it." What is really amazing about this line is what happens if you were to translate the Hebrew to Greek and then to English. It would then translate, "It is Finished by Him." And Jesus cried out, “It is finished.”

These words are the best news for you and I. These word declare the finished work of salvation through the sacrificial atoning death of Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn't crying out for mercy. He wasn't crying out for pity. He was crying out "look at the salvation of God." Look at God's desire to sacrifice it all for our brokenness, our sinfulness, our pain, our filth.

It is finished! Thank you Jesus for taking the cross for me.

Final Words part 3

2011-04-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

I am often amazed by the lessons God teaches me in life. For example, God taught me a great lesson today that pulled my attention to the next words of Jesus from the cross that I want to look at. Let me explain...

So for the last few weeks at work they keep changing our bonus system. It seems that every time it gets changed it means that we get less money. Yesterday, when we received our bonus reports and learned that we are now making a quarter less per sale I was not happy. Okay, that might be an understatement. I was ticked off. While on break my supervisor asked me what was wrong. I vented my frustration and I must admit it wasn't very nice to see.

Today on my way to work I felt God press upon me the need to apologize for my poor attitude and for taking out my frustrations on my supervisors - afterall, they just have the job of bringing the bad news. After asking for their forgiveness they had the pleasure of telling a room of workers that not only were we now getting less for bonuses but some of the sales that counted toward bonuses before will no longer count.

This time I was able to remain calm, yet most the other people in the room did not. As I listened to this group of people venting their anger and frustration I thought of the scene at the cross where the people, who a short time before had welcomed Jesus into the city as a king, are now taunting and mocking Him.

In Luke 23:35-43 we read about the people mocking Jesus after He calls for a God to forgive them. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” It was so bad that even one of the guys crucified next to Jesus even joined in on mocking Him.

It is so easy to respond in these situations. It is so easy to join in with the crowd. But this story lets us see something else. 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

We see this other criminal go against the crowd and stand up for the innocent man. A man who at the end of his life realizes that Jesus came into the world to show us a better way of living. A way that doesn't kick a man while he is down. That doesn't join in the crowd in mocking, ridicule and put downs. He recognizes His need for Jesus before it is too late and Jesus responds, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Wow! Isn't it amazing that Jesus doesn't focus on all the negativity of the moment but focuses on the one man who has a need that only Jesus can meet?!

The question we need to ask is this, "Where would we be in this story?"

Final Words: Part 2

2011-04-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

I will be the first to admit that forgiveness isn't always the easiest thing to grant to those who are hurting us. Whether it is physical or emotional pain we are suffering, our natural reaction isn't to forgive the person who is inflicting torment on us. The natural reaction is to inflict pain back or curl in on ourselves and bottle up our pain or seek to run and hide.

For years I struggled with forgiving others, I held grudges, bottled my resentment, and retaliated with force. I was angry and resentful. Despite my unforgiving attitude the only one who continually suffered was me.

When I read Jesus' words in Luke 23:34 I am amazed by the depth of His forgiveness to those who put Him through so much pain. (By the way this includes you and me.) In Luke 23:34a we read, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This sounds like such a simple statement, but look deeper at what it took for Jesus to make this plea for forgiveness.

The true depth of suffering in a Roman Crucifixion is the fact that death came as a result of asphyxiation. When the person on the cross had their weight on the nails in their hands they hung in such a way that closed off their lungs so they couldn't breath. In order to take a breath they had to push up with their leg putting all the weight of their body in the nail driven through their feet.

Jesus felt such a desire to call on the Father for our forgiveness that He added to His suffering, pushing up on the nail in His feet, just to say these words, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

How often do we get angry and bent out of shape, desiring to get even with people who don't even know they hurt us? I remember a while back, I gave people the opportunity to let me know if I had hurt them so that I could apologize and ask for forgiveness. This was a humbling moment for me.

Most people didn't respond but I did have a couple people who where willing to share with me. I recall one person who had been hurt by something I said. I never even realized I had hurt her and her family. She shared how my words, that I thought of as words of direction and encouragement, had been received as words of ridicule. I didn't even realize the pain caused by my words or my actions. I need forgiveness for all the ways I hurt people and don't even know it.

I need forgiveness for all the things I know I do. (Now that is tough to admit.) Even after years of becoming more like Jesus I still mess up a lot. I need forgiveness everyday. If you are like me, the list of things you need forgiveness for is so long that if you focus on it you won't have time to hold a grudge against someone else.

As we think on Jesus' words of forgiveness we need to extend that same forgiveness to others. After all, their sins are not truly against us but against the God who created us in His image.

Luke 6:36-38 Jesus encourages us with these words, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Final Words part 1

2011-04-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

When we are hurting physically, emotionally or spiritually we tend to become very self focused. We tend to focus on the start of our pain and discomfort. We tend to be more abrasive, rude and selfish. We lash out and point fingers, we place blame and make accusations. Well, at least I know I can be this way. I'm not justifying it but just stating a fact about my failings.

I know on days when I have a bad headache or when my back is really hurting I am not the easiest person to be around. Knowing this about my self makes a study of Jesus' final words before His death that much tougher to look at. They challenge me to look beyond my natural reaction, that fight or flight response to the situation I find myself in and find a deeper more meaningful response that can forever shape the lives of other people for the positive.

In this study we will be looking at the seven statements that Jesus made from the cross. We will begin today looking at the words spoken by Jesus in John 19:26-27.
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Here we find Jesus after being beaten, mocked, spit upon and crucified not looking after his own self interest or filled with self loathing in His anguished state but looking to the best interest of others.

As the oldest son, Jesus was responsible for the care of His widowed mother. With His death Jesus knew that someone would have to care for Mary in His absence. This task would normally fall upon the next oldest son however Jesus could assign this task to another.

Jesus also looks deeper than the surface need of just making sure His mother was cared for. He knew that with His death there would be a whole in the hearts of both John and Mary. Mary would be devastated with the loss of her first born child. John, the disciple, who refers to himself as simply, "the disciple whom he loved" would have a huge hole in His heart with the death of his Lord.

So Jesus calls them to be there for one another. For Mary, He provided a new son to care for her. A son who was hand taught and trained to be like Jesus. For John, Jesus provide a mother to care for who would be able to tell him the stories of Jesus that he wouldn't have known before.

Jesus looked after the interest others over His own pain and His own suffering. His example here should motivate us to look beyond the situation we are in and seek to make others lives better. As I study this statement of Jesus from the cross I am challenged to live a life of encouragement to others despite the circumstances I am in though I remind everyone I am just a work in progress.

Mr. Cellophane

2011-04-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

I remember when I first saw the movie "Chicago" I was struck by the powerful performance of John C. Reilly as he played Amos Hart. In this song "Mr. Cellophane" he captured the depth and pain of the loneliness that so many of us have felt in one period of our life or another. To some of us this song could become the embodiment of our childhood where we just couldn't find the love we desired. For others this song radiates with our high school years when we felt that no one truly knew "the real me." For some it is their marriage or dating relationships where they sought after love and acceptance. For others this is the present reality. It is a life that feels empty and without purpose.

As I write this blog, I am reminded of all the people I know that have been hurt and scarred because no one was willing to take the time to notice. I think of an 8 year old boy that was addicted to drugs because that was all he really knew. I think of a teenage girl who was raped at home nearly every night and was told that this is what love is. I think of a teenage boy who lied, stole and fought because he wanted attention from his parents. I think about a single mom working two jobs and trying to raise her three children. I think of a woman who would go to the bar every night hoping to get picked-up by a man so that she could feel important for just one night. I can think of a man who is drinking himself to death because the drunkenness helps him escape the emptiness he feels inside. And these are all people I knew growing up. Some of them were friends, some were people who knew my parents, but I knew them. I can still see their faces, yet over the years I have lost contact with each of them.

Like them, I too know what it is like to be Mr. Cellophane.

Often times Christians hear about these people and we think, "if they would just get right with Jesus, they wouldn't have those problems," or "they just need God in their lives." And in a deep, powerful, and spiritual way we are right, but we are missing something!

The fact is a relationship with God Almighty through Jesus Christ is the answer. So what are we doing about it? Most Christians wouldn't be caught dead in a bar or a prison or a rehab center. Many Christians are so afraid that others will look down on them if they are seen hanging out with the town drunk. Many of us are more content to sit back and put down that poor mother's wild children than dare to step out and offer her some help.

As I was thinking about these people and so many more in the world that are struggling, hurting, weary, tired, and lonely I was drawn to Matthew 9:9-13 where we find Jesus at Matthew's house:

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In this passage we don't find Jesus sitting outside pointing fingers at these tax collectors and "sinners" (aka. this is referring to prostitutes). No, we find Jesus inside eating with them. If we understood their culture we might understand just how important that is.

In the time and culture that Jesus lived, dining with someone was considered one of the greatest forms of intimacy. You only did this with people you cared deeply for. They would recline around the table leaning on each other as they ate. It is here that we find Jesus. In the midst of the hurting, the hated, the rejected and the lonely. And when questioned about it He replies, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

This is the kind of God I serve. One that desires to bring healing into the lives of the hurting, love to the lonely, wholeness to the broken, the great surgeon of the heart.

In Romans 10:14 it says, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

The next time we see someone and think, "they need Jesus," maybe God is telling us it is time to introduce them to the Jesus who wants to eat with them.

Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

A Cross and A Splinter

2011-03-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

I love the way God uses little things to open our eyes. Take for example in Proverbs 6:6-8 we find these words, "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest."

Go to the Ant. Have you ever seen a lazy ant? Me either.

Well, this week God used a little thing to give me a perspective check. Let me explain.

First Baptist Church in Miamisburg is preparing for it's Easter drama called, "One Voice." I was asked to play the role of Jesus, a most humbling role to play. Think about it - How I portray Jesus could forever shape how some people think about Jesus. (God, I apologize now.)

So during practice this week, we were rehearsing the part where Jesus is carrying the cross. At one point in this scene, I collapse under the weight of the cross. When I did this I had a splinter from the cross stab into my thumb. It was about a 1/4 inch long and completely under my skin. (Yes, it hurt. No, I didn't cry or yell out.) As soon as that scene ends I have to get ready for my next scene. On my way to the right position I was complaining about the splinter. (Did I mention that it hurt and I was trying to get it out?)

It was at this moment that God, the Holy Spirit, spoke to me. I just stopped and looked at the girl next to me and said, "Am I really complaining about a splinter? After Jesus carried the cross He had nails put through both hands and feet." Wow! What a moment of humility. But that isn't all.

As I thought about this, I was reminded of the fact that the cross I was carrying was much smoother than the cross that Jesus carried. Not only that but part of the torture of of crucifixion was the fact that Jesus had been scourged before being nailed to that cross. His back had the flesh ripped apart as pieces of metal and bone dug into His skin and tore away strips of skin. Then, while on that cross, Jesus would have had to push Himself up on the nail in His feet in order to take a breath or speak. Then when the pain in His feet and legs was too much he would drop all His weight onto the nails in His hands, and when He does that, He can't breath. Then I looked at the splinter in my thumb and thought of all the splinters that filled the wounds on Jesus' back when He cried out, "Father, forgive them they know not what they do."

Thank you God for this reminder of how much you suffered for a wretch like me.

Question...Answer #1

2011-03-23T08:06:00.001-07:00

Back in my January 12th blog I gave each of you the opportunity to enter into the discussions for my blog. I thought I would get some questions right away but for a while none came. Now, here we are in March, and I finally got a question. Thanks Rachel!

Rachel said...

"John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

What happens to children who die as infants or were stillborn or aborted? Or those people who have truly never had the opportunity to hear the Jesus died to save us from our sins? Are they condemned to hell?"

These are great questions! I will do my best to answer them to the best of my ability. As we look at these questions, we have to answer some very basic questions and then look at the two situations presented here. 1. What happens to children who die as infants or were stillborn or aborted? 2. What about those people who have truly never had the opportunity to hear about the Messiah, Jesus, who died to save us from our sins?

Before we dig into these questions I want to look at a couple of biblical principles. These principles will help us understand the questions a little better.

A. The first thing that we need to ask is why do people go to hell? This question above all is foundational when it comes to answering these questions.

As we read the Bible we will quickly learn that every person, apart from Jesus Christ, is guilty of sin. Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We also know that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.") This death is eternal separation from God in hell. Revelation 21:8 says, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

While we are reading the Bible we will also read passages like these:
Romans 5:6 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Romans 10:13 "for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
These verses, as well as many others, talk about the simplicity of the salvation that we have through Christ Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the world. He paid the price for every sin - past, present and future. As John the Baptist proclaimed, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

So, why do people go to hell? As I study the scriptures and draw ever closer to God I find that God doesn't send people to hell, people choose hell by rejecting God's free gift of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

B. The next thing we need to consider is the nature and person of God. We often want to limit God by our own standards. We want an all loving God of mercy and grace but we want to leave out that He is holy, righteous, just, and perfect. We want to ignore the fact that God will accept no place in our lives but 1st place.

To expand on this, lets examine the person and nature of God. (This is by no means an in-depth study. I am making this as simple as I can.) God is Holy. Because He is Holy, He is righteous in all He does. In His righteousness God is without sin and perfect. In His perfection He will not associate with sin or allow sin in His presence. Because God is perfect, His standards is perfect and we as fallen people continually miss the mark. Because God is just, there must be a penalty for our unrighteousness. The only penalty that is acceptable to His Holiness is physical and spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.

This is where God's love comes into play. God doesn't just love us but He is the very essence of love. 1 John 4:8, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Because of God's great love, He paid the penalty to satisfy His own justice by sending Jesus to the cross on our behalf. Through the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus God gives us mercy and grace. Mercy is not giving us what we deserve (We deserve hell). Grace is giving us what we don't deserve (We don't deserve heaven).

C. The last thing I want to look at is the "Will" of God. We must quickly look at the three wills of God: His sovereign will, His perfect will, and His permissive will.

God's sovereign will (sometimes known as His Ultimate Will) is how God achieves His ends, given man’s choices, be they good or bad. He works all things together for the good of those He called, who love Him [Rom. 8:28]. This means He can ultimately get His good in spite of man’s bad.

God's perfect will (or intentional will) is the desires of God's heart. This is the ideal plan flowing out of His goodness. 1 Timothy 2:3-4, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

God's permissive will (or allowed will) is when God allows things to happen that isn't what He truly desires. For example God didn't desire for David to cheat with Bathsheba but He didn't stop it from happening.

Now lets look at your questions.

1. What happens to children who die as infants or were stillborn or aborted?
What makes this a great question is the fact that the Bible never deals with this question directly. So to answer this question we have to look at how it applies to the the three things (a, b, and c) that we looked at above.

The first thing we must look at is the sinful nature. The Bible says in Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" A lot of people use this passage to say that babies and young children are guilty and therefore deserving of death and hell, however I'd like to look at this passage a little closer.

Romans 5:12-19 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

A few things we need to notice in this passage.
1. From the time of Adam to Moses, death reigned. This is referring to the cursed state of man. That from the moment of birth we are in constant movement towards our death. Yet we know of some great patriarchs of the faith that lived in fellowship with God and were redeemed through God. The easiest examples to look at would be Abraham and Joseph. The key to this passage is "sin is not taken into account when there is no law" These men and woman will be judged on what the did with God's general revelation (we will look at this a little more later).
2. With Moses, God gave His law. The purpose of the law is to teach man of his sinful nature. (see Romans 3:19-20) The law cannot save anyone - it's purpose is to make us see our need for a savior.
3."how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" Christ's sacrifice on the cross is greater than death, greater than the law and satisfied God's wrath.

When we look at children who die as infants or were stillborn or aborted we must ask are they deserving of hell? My answer is no. Here is why: 1. They never rejected God through the personal choice to disobey God. They could not know the law, so they can't be judged by the law. They only know their needs at a very basic level. 2. As we looked at earlier God is just. Would justice condemn a small or unborn child for being born? (Or, in the case of abortion, for being conceived?) No this is not the child's choice or action. God is also a God of love and who needs that love more than a helpless baby. 3. God's perfect will is that all people will come to salvation.
1 Timothy 2:3-5, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"

The last thing that I want to point out is the words of Jesus when referring to the salvation of adults in Matthew 18:3, "And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." We must become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven!

Based on these things and many more I think we can see that these children will be with God in His kingdom.

Question 2: What about the people who have truly never had the opportunity to hear the Jesus died to save us from our sins?

This is a great question, this is where we will look at the general revelation of God. And we must look at the judgment that they must face before God.

The general revelation of God is what God has shown us about Himself through His creation. Romans 1:20-21, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

God has made it possible for all men to know Him and worship Him without a complete knowledge of Him. The Bible also teaches us that, outside of Christ, all men will be judged according to there actions. Revelation 20:13, "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done."

It is not my place to assign judgment to people, it is for God alone. Each person will give an account for their actions to God almighty and the only guarantee of salvation comes through Jesus Christ. For those who have never herd of Jesus Christ, I pray they will. I also know that God's judgment will be the right one.

I do want to share this quick story. When I was in Bible College a missionary shared a story of when he was in Africa and he saw a man looking at the ocean. He asked the man if he knew God. The man told the missionary "I know there is a mighty and powerful God who is bigger than all creation. A God of love, mercy and hope. I know this God has a son because of my own love for my children." The missionary asked the man if he would like to know about God's son, and told him about Jesus.

This story shows that it is possible for people to know about God through what God has created. Psalm 19:1-3 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard."

The fact is Jesus said that the road to heaven is a narrow one. Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Again Jesus says, (John 14:6) "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

We must remember it isn't our job to judge where someone spends eternity. I'll leave that up to our perfect, holy, righteous, loving God. Our job is to be the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus to a world that is as messed up as we are, yet doesn't know the forgiveness that is available through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21, "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

We need have a sense of urgency in our daily lives as we realize that we may be the only opportunity that people have to meet Jesus.

Super Hero!

2011-03-07T06:25:00.000-08:00

Right now there are 19 tentative superhero movies in the process of being made. These movies range from the start of another spider-man series, a reboot of the x-man series, as well as a few sequels such as Wolverine 2, Superman: The Man of Steel, another Ghost Rider movie, Ironman 3, and the third Batman in the Dark Knight Series. We will also see a few new heroes on the big screen such as Thor, Captain America, Deadpool and Green Lantern to name a few.

What is it about these movies that draw us to these characters? What is it about these heroes that speak to us?

Everyday we struggle with problems. We face moral and ethical decisions. We face choices about responsibility, belief, and basic struggles with knowing what is right or wrong. Superheroes face these same problems and choices, just in a bigger and more action packed way.

The big reason I feel we are really drawn to superheroes is that each one of us has a desire to make a difference in the world. We want our lives to have purpose and meaning. We long for a life of significance.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Did you catch that? You are God's workmanship! The New Living Translation says "we are God's masterpiece". However, this verse goes on to say more. You were created in Christ Jesus with a purpose, a mission. You were created to make a difference because God has prepared good things for us to do.

So often we get so caught up in what other people think about us. We start believing the lies that we will never make a difference in the world. We think things like, "I'm just one person, what can I do?"
The answer: "You can do more, and make a difference in the lives of people, more than you can imagine."

You and I are image bearers of God Almighty, we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Like the superheroes we are drawn to, we have opportunities all around us; opportunities to bring about positive life change in the lives of the people we meet everyday.

May you remember that God doesn't make junk. He created you with purpose and when we live in His purpose for our lives we just may become the superhero that someone needs to come and rescue them from the pains and heartaches of this life.

Sermon Notes

2011-03-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

I always love it when God works through a message. This morning at First Baptist Church in Miamisburg, Pastor Steve was preaching his second message on Ecclesiology. (Ecclesiology is Greek and simply translates as the study of the church.) We looked at three things about the church: 1-When the Church Began; 2-Who is Part of the Church; and 3-How Does a Person Become Part of the Church.

During the section on Who is Part of the Church, Pastor Steve had 12 quick points about the people who make up the church. Jessica (my loving, beautiful wife) was taking some notes beyond just filling in the blanks. Once I noticed the notes I pointed out that a message was forming. Now, Pastor Steve's notes were all in this format: The Church is made up of _________________ people. The blanks were filled in with the following words:
purchased
purified
predestined
placed
partnered
persistent
productive
persecuted
persevering
provisioned
promised
preserved

All of these points had scripture references and it was a great message. Jess' extra notes (mini-message within the message) came out as a paragraph, as follows:

I am not my own. I am called to be holy, chosen by Him, to be in Him. Joined together with brothers and sisters, constant in their walk with Christ. Bearing fruit under pressure by an unrepentant world, yet, standing firm. Given all we need by the One who made all, hope for our guaranteed salvation.

"Grenade"

2011-02-24T20:00:00.000-08:00

On the current (Week 8, 2011) Billboard list is the song "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. This song is about a man in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Check out the lyrics:
Easy come, easy go
That's just how you live, oh
Take, take, take it all,
But you never give
Should of known you was trouble from the first kiss,
Why were they open?
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked,
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same

No, no, no, no
Black, black, black and blue beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said “hey” when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman,
That's just what you are, yeah,
You’ll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Gave you all I had
And you tossed it in the trash

You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
Cause what you don't understand is
I’d catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same

If my body was on fire, ooh
You’ d watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me you're a liar
Cause you never, ever, ever did baby...
But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya
Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)
You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Oh, oh
I would go through all this pain,
Take a bullet straight through my brain,
Yes, I would die for ya baby;
But you won't do the same.
No, you won’t do the same,
You wouldn’t do the same,
Ooh, you’ll never do the same,
No, no, no, no

As I read these lyrics I was reminded of how often we talk to people who are hurting. We are surrounded by men and women who feel the pain of rejection, break-up, divorce, unfaithfulness, and all the countless other things that rip our hearts apart.

We see single moms that are working hard and barely able to pay the bills, struggling to raise her kids feeling that she is out of control and wondering when life will get easier.

We see a man who is working a job he hates that doesn't pay enough to provide for his family in the way he was taught he should. He is struggling day in and day out wanting to do more but doors keep slamming in his face.

We see a couple who appear to have it all but it is all an act. They don't want anyone to know that their marriage is falling apart. They constantly argue and fight. He drowns his pain in his favorite drink while she cries herself to sleep every night. They both are asking the same questions, "What did I do to deserve this?"

We may see a girl who never felt the love of a father desperately seeking the love of any man who will give her attention. Or the boy who was taught that real men are tough, so he bottles everything inside until he explodes in a act of aggression and rage.

We encounter people like this every day, we might even be these people. Like Bruno Mars we are looking for the love that is willing to risk it all for us. A love that isn't here today and gone tomorrow, an enduring love.

The fact is, people will always let us down. Sometimes in big ways, sometimes in small ways, but we will be let down. I remember when a friend and mentor of mine (someone who was helping train me for the ministry) fell in an adulterous affair. I was mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually crushed. I was ready to walk away. At first I tried to talk to him but he told me to never speak with him again. I just wanted to understand what happened.

During this time God began to show me that I had put my trust in the wrong place. I was looking to people as my source of security when God wanted to be my security. In Deuteronomy 31 we find Moses giving his farewell speech. He is telling the nation of Israel that he will no longer be leading them as they go into the Holy Land. It will be Joshua who will lead them as they cross the Jordan River. In this passage Moses encourages the people with these words, "the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

These words are still a comfort for us today. As we go through the trials of this life we can rest assured in the one who will never leave us or forsake us. Jesus said it like this in Matthew 28, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

May we remember that we never have to face anything alone; that we have a friend who is closer than a brother that loves us more than we can understand. Jesus wasn't only willing to lay down His life for you but He did it! He paid it all for you and for each and every person who is willing to let Him in their life.

NO Perfect People Allowed

2011-02-20T19:40:00.000-08:00

Earlier today I was thinking about the church. (I know this could come as a surprise to many, that a pastor and church planter would think about the church!) As I was thinking, I was reminded of a pastor who once said it always bugged him to drive past a church that had a sign that read, "New Testament Church", pointing out that most of the New Testament is made up of letters written to churches that are messed up. The Apostles were writing to straighten them out.

I have thought about this from time to time over the years, and I have a question that I would love to ask that pastor. "What kind of church do you want to be?" I kind of wonder if he wants his church to be the one that is not messed up? A church where everyone has it all figured out. This church wouldn't have people getting their feelings hurt, they wouldn't disagree on doctrine, everyone would be of one mind and one accord, generous, loving, giving, faithful, honest, and trustworthy. Sounds great, doesn't it?!

As much as I love the sound of this church, I see a problem in this church too - Where are the imperfect people? They can't be there!

A friend and mentor of mine has a sign in the entryway of the church he pastors at that reads, "NO Perfect People Allowed." This pastor understands that the church will not be perfect until Christ returns and removes our sinful nature. He realized that the church isn't about perfection but about the imperfect living life together, resting in the arms of a merciful God.

As I was thinking about this I began to think about the first three verses of
1 Corinthians.
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know this isn't a passage that many people focus on but it works for the purpose of this blog.

First a little background:
Corinth (Julia Corinthus - the true name of the city) was a center of trade and commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. It was populated by around 400,000 people and as a city of commerce it was also a religious center for many Roman deities. The main deity worshiped in Corinth was Aphrodite (Venus). The great temple of Venus was a place of ritual prostitution. At any given time there were approximately 1,000 priestesses who prostituted themselves for their faith.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth because these Christians were participating in both Christianity and the worship of Aphrodite. As worshipers of Aphrodite they had to participate in the ritual of prostitution. One day a year every follower of Aphrodite had to become a temple prostitute for any amount offered that day. For this day women where required to shave their heads, men were to grow out their hair and beards and wear make-up. These are the people Paul is writing to.

Let's look at haw Paul addresses this letter.

1. First he introduces himself. (Keep in mind he started the church in Corinth) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God

He is simply Paul (means "small") The little guy called to be something, an apostle of Jesus. Paul says this isn't by my design. It was Jesus who brought me to you so that God, the Father, would be glorified in Corinth (by the will of God)

And brother Sosthenes is with me. (Chief of the synagogue at Corinth). Paul is writing this with a guy they know well.

2. Who is he writing to and what does he have to say about them.
To the church.. (Greek the word "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.) The purpose of an "ekklesia" was to peacefully overthrow a corrupt government.
...of God... Paul stresses the ownership of the church. It doesn't belong to Paul or Sosthenes or to the elders of the church or even to the city. The church belongs to God and God alone. It exists for His purpose and His glory and His honor, not for anything else. This Group just happens to be in Corinth.
...to those sanctified in Christ Jesus... (Sanctification - The usually gradual or uncompleted process by which a Christian believer is made holy through the action of the Holy Spirit) Paul begins this letter by referring to them as they will be when Christ's work in them is complete. They are the ones, and called to be holy.
...together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: ... Paul then reminds them that they are part of something bigger. They a connected to believers everywhere.

3. Paul then finishes his introduction by calling for God's blessing to come upon them. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is a great reminder of what they can have by living life God's way and not the way of the people living around them.

Paul doesn't come out and slam this messed up church. He reminds them how important they are and then takes the opportunity to encourage, strengthen, teach, and guide them in the ways of God.

I don't know about you but I enjoy being with people who are willing to show me who Jesus is by loving me despite myself. On my own, I am unlovable, broken, beaten, battered and bruised, but in Jesus I am a work in progress and I will be clean, healed, strong. I will be Sanctified (made Holy).

If, like me, you don't have it all together or have it all figured out, let's join together trusting that Jesus isn't finished yet and help each other in this journey of life and faith.

The words we use

2011-02-10T07:57:00.000-08:00

More and more my eyes are being opened to the words that many Christians use in our day to day conversations. We speak a language that is as foreign to people as the languages of the ancient world. No, this isn't to make anyone feel bad or to put anyone down (I'm just as guilty as anyone else!)

For example, we often use words like "fellowship" yet before I was a Christ follower I never once said to my friends, "Hey, you guys want to come over and fellowship?" My friends would have just looked at me with a blank expression and then asked what drugs I was on. If you ask many Christians how they are doing they will respond with great spiritual words and phrases such as, "I am blessed" or "blessed and highly favored" or, in the case that things are rough at the moment, they may respond by saying things like, "I am under attack" or "I am in need of refreshing".

It's not that there is anything wrong with using these phrases and words, but I often wonder how often we speak this Christianese to make ourselves seem more spiritual than we are? Yet as a result we push away people who are in desperate need of "Sanctifying, regenerative begotten one." (Translation: The life changing son of God.)

Let us look at the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:19
But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. (New Living)

Paul expresses the importance of using words that people will be able to follow and understand. Words that will help people to understand the hope that we have in Jesus. A hope that draw others into the conversation rather than push them away.

May we use words that will invite people to talk with us. May we choose our words with care so others will see us as real people and not someone putting on a show. May we speak the words of the culture that we are in to be a voice for Christ.

Suffering

2011-01-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

One of the questions that I have been asked the most goes something like this, "If God is so good why is there so much suffering in the world?"

This is a great question that allows us to explore the depths of of the human condition. We must first remember that the suffering in our world isn't a result of God but the result of human decision.

In the beginning God created everything "good" - see Genesis 1. There was perfect balance and harmony in the universe. There wasn't suffering, pain, disease, heartache, or any of the countless other things that cause suffering in our lives. Suffering began as a result of man's rebellious attitude toward God.

God created man to be in relationship with God and in order to have this relationship, God gave man the free will to chose God or to reject God. The choice was simple. God provided everything man needed to live and the Bible even tells us that God walked in the garden with man. So that man could be free to choose God put a tree in the garden called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and told man that they could eat from any tree but that one.

Then the day came when the serpent (in Hebrew, the shinning one) came to Eve and tempted her to eat from the forbidden tree. Eve ate and then gave the fruit to Adam to eat also. This is the moment that suffering entered the world. By choosing to be disobedient to God, man brought the curse of sin into the universe. Part of that sin is suffering, pain, death, and disharmony.

As a result, all of the human existence is marred with sin, it is part of our very nature. We are consumed with selfishness, violence, anger and pride. We have brought devastation to the planet, upon people and upon ourselves.

God, however, in His great love, mercy, and wisdom uses this suffering to strengthen, motivate and inspire us to new heights and greater good. He gives us the opportunity to bring others a piece of God's kingdom by reaching out to those who are hurting. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins that by trusting in Him our sin debt would be paid in full.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

May we remember that God loves each and everyone of us and we have the opportunity through Christ Jesus to alleviate some of the suffering in the world.

??? Questions ???

2011-01-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest joys and challenges we can face as Christians is when we are having deep meaningful discussions with our people who want to learn more about what we believe or new believers. It is during this discussions that we are asked questions that challenge us to look deeper into our faith. We must look beyond what we believe and ask why we believe it.

In 1 Peter 3:15 the Bible says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"

This simple verse challenges us to to move deeper into the meat of what we believe rather than being content with the milk. To do this we must study and learn. We must spend time with God and God's people.

Over the years, I have had many people ask me questions about my faith and many of those people have been drawn to Christ Jesus as a result of those questions. Now I will say that when you are willing to answer people's questions you will come across the people who just want to see you fail and will ask questions in order to try and trap you so that they can mock you. That is the reason that we need gentleness and reverence in our approach.

What questions have you heard being asked? How did you respond?

Over the next couple of weeks I want to look at some of the questions that I have had to answer and I want to help you answer the questions you have or that people are asking you.

If you would like to join me in this journey please leave your questions in the comments of this blog and we will study and grow together.

True Power

2011-01-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

With the never ending fascination with superheros it is amazing how many thoughts people have about the power we would like to have. Power is an interesting concept to me. What it looks like and how someone gets it is as varied as the people who crave it.

Take for example a two year old who wants to exercise power of authority. They will throw themselves on the ground screaming in hope that they will get their way. One the other side of things we can look at a business executive that runs his business as a dictator and his word is law, and no one better dare to question what he says. I have seen people throw their education up as a symbol of power. "I am right because I have a Masters degree." I even once had a Dr. say I was faking my illness because I refused to take narcotics and he couldn't figure out what was causing my problem. And yes I have known pastors who feel that they are greater than other Christians because they are "PASTOR"

The fact is that many people crave power of one form or another. As I was studying the scriptures I was drawn to Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

True Power comes in living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. This type of power is different than the typical power that we crave in our sinful nature. We want power for selfish reasons but true power comes through selfless obedience to God the Father. When we surrender ourselves to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit we will find ourselves with the power to change the world. We will touch lives in a way that has meaning not just for this life but for the life to come.

This kind of power isn't controlled by circumstances, emotion, physical limitations. We will be able to endure more than we think possible and effectively change the world around us one life at a time.

I love the fact that this power was first given in a prayer meeting(see Acts 2)yet in churches across the country prayer meetings are the least attended services.

God began the church in a prayer meeting. He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit in a prayer meeting. So why do Christians avoid prayer meetings?

James 5:13-18 says Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

May we embrace God's plan for power in our lives and submit to the control of the Holy Spirit of God. And may we join together in prayer as the source of God's out pouring of power.

A New Focus for a New Year

2010-12-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

With 2the New Year rapidly approaching we often begin to ask ourselves what we want to change in our lives in the year to come. As I think about this I wanted to encourage my friends and family to embrace a new focus for the New Year.

So often our life gets caught up in our own little lives that we lose sight of the bigger picture of life. So times we even find ourselves detracted by all the good things we are doing that we fail to see the depth of the vision that God has put in our lives.

In Luke 4:38-44 we find the great illustration in the life of Jesus about the importance of gaining a new focus in our lives. Let's read this passage:

Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.

And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.

Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.

When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them.

But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose."

So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

What I love about this story in scripture is that Jesus illustrates the ease in which someone can be caught up in the good work they are doing while missing the best that God has called them too. (Not that it happened to Jesus but we can see the point in this narrative.)

When I read this account from Jesus' life it would be very easy to focus in on all the people who Jesus is helping. As the sun was setting people began to line up to bring Jesus all those who needed to encounter the life changing Christ. He healed the sick, cured the diseased, and cast out demonic spirits. All of these thing were good things and Jesus could have spent the rest of His life in that home serving the people brought to Him day and night and would have been seen as a great man of God who cared about all people.

However, the story doesn't end like that. We read that while it was still dark out Jesus got up early and went to a solitary place to pray. When the other people woke up the began to look for Him. There was so many people that needed His help. When Peter found Jesus he tried to persuade Jesus to coming back to the house but after spending time with God, Jesus has to refocus His energy. "But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose."

Jesus knew that if He stayed there that the true purpose of His mission would never be accomplished. This year we need to ask the serious question about our focus. Following God's plan for your life will not always be easy. In fact it may require us sacrificing good things in our lives but in the end we can state like Paul, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;" ~Philippians 3:8-10

May you gain a New Focus for the New Year as you grow deeper in your relationship to God in this New Year.

Christmas Update/December 2010 Newsletter

2010-12-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!!

I want to thank each of you for all of your prayers and support over the last couple of months. It has been amazing to watch God move in powerful ways!

With this being our first Christmas back in Ohio, things have been a little hectic but, as always, God is in full control. We are extremely excited about all the things that God is doing to get things going for LifePoint. God has provided for our family in ways that only He can. We have had loving brothers and sisters provide gifts for us when we needed it, as well as providing a second vehicle for our family. (It needs a battery and we have to get all the registration and insurance taken care of, but we have it!) This is a huge praise because we are putting a lot of miles on our one family van with my current work schedule.

We completed our Church Planters Assessment back in November, and we are excited to share that it went very well! After the first of year, we will begin the paperwork process so that we may begin to receive support from the SBC. That is a BIG praise and we are VERY thankful to have the partnership of the SBC as we begin this new church work in the area!

We are also excited to have our brothers and sisters at First Baptist Church of Miamisburg joining us this week of Christmas in a Christmas Light Prayer Drive. We are picking a night of the week to load up the car, drive around the city, looking at lights and praying over the city. Our hope is that God will prepare the hearts of this city to encounter our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As many of you know, my (Brad) Grandmother passed away earlier this month. This has been a season of mourning and remembrance for us. I would like to encourage each of you by sharing that we had at least 10 people accept Jesus as their personal savior at her memorial service. Thanks be to God for His faithfulness in the midst of times of pain!

I am also very excited to be preaching on Sunday, December 26th during the evening service at First Baptist Church of Miamisburg. This will be my first time preaching since October, as you can imagine, I have a lot to say!

Prayer Requests:

Please continue to pray for God to open up job opportunities for me. I am currently looking at two jobs that could work very well for us. One as a Special Education Teachers Aide in Miamisburg City School District and the other is with MRDD doing nearly the same thing I did in PA. Also continue to pray for Jess and her new home business with Lia Sophia. It is going well, and she really enjoys it!

Pray that God will provide the words I need on the 26th when I preach at FBC. Pray that His spirit will move in a powerful way to move people into a deeper relationship with Him.

Pray that God will move in a mighty way when we start up our Bible Study in the New Year. We plan to start off meeting in First Baptist and then moving it to a home study once we get our own home, or to another home if God puts it on someones heart to host the group.

Also pray that God will open up opportunities for us to share our vision, our passion and most importantly the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

We thank our Lord Jesus Christ for each and every one of you,

Thanks,
Brad and Jessica Herbst & family

Embracing The Unexpected Plan of God

2010-12-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

As we are all preparing to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, I wanted to spend a little time looking at a few elements of the Christmas story. Today, I want to think about a young teenage girl probably between 13 and 15 years old. (This story kind of hits home for me because my daughter is 14.)

As we examine this girl I am amazed by the depth of her faith. At a time in her life when everything was going well she embraced God's unexpected plan for her life. This all started one day when she was visited by an unexpected visitor.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. ~Luke 1:26-38

At the moment when Gabriel showed up, Mary's life was changed forever. By agreeing to God's plan for her life she risked it all. Her family would disown her. In the worst case, her fiance could have her put to death; at best case, she would be shunned by her community as a loose woman. Knowing this, this young girl agreed to accept God's plan.

Take some time this Christmas season to remember the faithfulness of a teenage girl who risked it all to bring us a savior. This took place to fulfill what was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." ~Isaiah 7:14

Because this young woman embraced the unexpected plan of God, we can experience the Immanuel, the God with us. Jesus came into this world to be the sacrificial lamb of God.

During this Christmas will you accept God's plan for your life by accepting the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ? Make this Christmas the most important of your life by embracing the greatest gift of all, the sacrifice of the Christ.

The Other Man

2010-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about this passage in 2 Samuel 12 last night while I was at work and I wanted to share it with you today.

1 The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.”

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

As I was thinking about this passage, my mind was drawn to verse 4 where it says, "Now a traveler came to the rich man..." I began to focus on this line because as we read about David's sin with Bathsheba the only other person we read about is Uriah, who is represented by the poor man in Nathan's story. So who is this other guy?

The traveler in this story is a personified representation on David's sinful lust and desire. A traveler that so often wants to visit each of us. In this story we find David, the man after God's own heart, welcoming the traveler in and desiring to fill this guy's appetite. David then had a choice. He could do the right thing and resist the urges of the traveler and could satisfy his desires with his own wife or he could give in to the passions of his sinful nature and progress in a downward spiral of sin. It started simple enough with a lustful longing that quickly turned into a covetousness of his neighbors wife, then progressed to a rebellious decision to act upon the lust in his heart, and then David moved to the physical act of adultery. After this he began to lie and scheme to cover up his sin and finally ended with him having Uriah killed.

The fact is each and every one of us has a traveler that comes to call. This traveler can come in many shapes and sizes but each and every time we are faced with an opportunity to appease the traveler or be obedient to God. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 we have this promise, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

It is great to know that we have a Savior who is greater than our darkest temptation and has the power to provide the way out if we would just turn to Him.

I don't know what you are battling today but I know this, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." ~ 1 John 4:4 So what ever it is that is pulling at you today rest assured that you need not worry, just lean not in your own understanding but trust in Him who has already gained the victory.

The Legacy We Leave

2010-12-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

With the passing of my Grandmother on Dec. 4, 2010 I wanted to write about the legacy that each and every one of us leave in this life. In James 4:14 we are told, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." There is great truth in that statement. However, as I remember my Grandma today I found myself thinking about a can of air freshener.

I know that might make me sound a little out of my mind but please bear with me. Every time you spray air freshener what happens? You see a mist or vapor that hangs in the air for a few seconds before it dissipates. This is what God calls our lives. Nothing more than a mist.

As I thought of this I was reminded of the fact that even though that mist may last for a moment, and then it is gone, it can leave behind a pleasant fragrance that can be enjoyed by others. Or it can leave behind a nasty smell that pushes others away. Each of us is like a can of air freshener. The question that we must ask is, what kind of scent will we leave behind.

As I remember my grandma I remember all of her mannerisms, her stubbornness, her certainty, but more importantly, I remember her love, her joy, her laughter and her hugs. I remember the weeks I'd spend with her as a kid and the times I'd show up with my friends as a teenager. I remember her baked Mac and Cheese that she made just because she knew I liked it.

The fact is we all leave behind memories, what will people remember you for? In Paul's second letter to Timothy he wrote these words, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." ~2 Timothy 1:5

Thank you Jesus for giving me a Grandma that left a legacy of love and joy. I look forward to seeing her again while we sit at your feet in heaven.

By Your Side

2010-12-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this song by Tenth Avenue North with all my readers today.

It seems like things can get so complicated in life, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas as we remember past loved ones and make new memories. I also know that this year is very tough on many people as we have had our economy crash down upon us. In these times of uncertainty we can find ourselves struggling with depression, anger, and frustration.

It is at these time that I find it helpful to remember that we have a God that is so much greater than our circumstances. One who loves us so much that He doesn't turn away from us but holds us close to Him. When we are sad, He cries with us. When we fall, He picks us up. When we cry out, He is there to comfort us. When we are broken, He picks up the pieces and makes them into something beautiful. He promises to never leave us and to never forsake us.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Matthew 28:20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

May you rest in the promise that His love for you is without limit. There is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less than He already does. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to pay the price for your sins, so that you can obtain the Life that is truly worth living.

Cause and Effect

2010-11-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I had the opportunity to discuss "cause and effect" with my son as part of his school work. At first he was having problems understanding how to determine which was which as he was learning of the uses of "because" and "so". We went through his story and he was still struggling so I put it into terms that he could understand. We began to talk about Star Wars. We went through the life of Darth Vader from a slave boy to Sith Lord. We examined the the causes and the effects of the choices that were made by Anakin and by others that lead him down the road to the darkside.

Then I pointed out that every book, every movie and every life is a series of cause and effect. This got me thinking about the state of man.
(Cause) In the beginning man was created good.
(Effect) God walked with man daily in the Garden of Eden.
(Cause) Man in his free will chose to be disobedient to God.
(Effect) Sin and death entered into all man kind.
(Cause) Man continued to rebel against God.
(Effect) God enacted the first part of His plan of redemption by establishing a people of His own and giving them the law.
(Cause) The Law of God is given to man.
(Effect) Man's sin is reveled by the perfect law of God.
(Cause) God is Holy and Just and Perfect.
(Effect) Man is separated from God due to the sin in our life.
(Cause) Man is sinful.
(Effect) We deserve eternal damnation in hell.
(Cause) No one is good, not even one.
(Effect) God must be true to Himself and deal out justice.
(Cause) God is Loving and Merciful.
(Effect) God pays the price for man's sin by sending Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice.
(Cause) Jesus is righteous.
(Effect) He lives a life without sin.
(Cause) Jesus is crucified by sinful man.
(Effect) Jesus pays the penalty for sin (the wages of sin is death.)
(Cause) Jesus dies.
(Effect) Sin can no longer separate man from God.
(Cause) Salvation is a free gift from God.
(Effect) All mankind can find salvation through Jesus Christ.
(Cause) Each of us has free will to accept or reject salvation through Jesus Christ...
(Effect) ...The choice is yours...

I have often been asked how a loving God could send anyone to hell, but the truth is God isn't sending anyone - He has simply set two choices before each of us and gives us the freedom to choose.

Genesis 2:15-17 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Joshua 24:15, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Matthew 7:13-14, "“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Perspective

2010-11-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

I remember taking a trip with my Geology class where we were traveling through the Appalachia learning about various geological features. We were in a car caravan with CB radios listening as our professor gave lectures on the various "fingerprints of God" that encompass the world in which we live. I was driving along in my Jeep with Denford, a pastor from Zimbabwe who came to America to earn his degree before returning home. As we are driving down the road we began passing homes that were nothing more than rundown shacks. I remember this one home that was just in shambles, the windows where covered with Duct Tape and the car in the yard was covered with rust holes, and the yard was covered in thousands of various chunks of broken machinery. As we passed this house Dr. Bullard told us to look around so we could see the conditions in which the poorest people in America live.

This was a very somber moment, that was until Denford started to laugh. I was caught off guard, I looked over at him and asked what he found so funny. I will never forget his answer. "I find it funny that America's poorest people would be among the richest people in Zimbabwe." He continued, "Look at their home, they have a car, clean clothes, (as he pointed out the cloths hanging on the line) they have a t.v. antenna, and running water. In my country I live in one of the wealthiest families and in our family of 8 we have one car that will seat only 4 people. We must walk nearly everywhere and if we want to get there fast, we run."

That conversation taught me a valuable lesson on perspective. We get so caught up in ourselves, what we do or do not have. We get so caught up in our relative circumstances that we loss sight of the bigger picture.

As we enter into this Christmas season maybe it is time for a paradigm shift. Rather than being so concerned with all of the things we want or finding that perfect gift, our focus should be on the the Christ child who came into the world lowly, humble, meek, and mild born in a barn and swaddled in a blanket resting peacefully in a feeding trough (a manger).

Jesus entered this world poor to make us rich in Him. Our wealth is but garbage compared with the riches to come. May we remember those in need this season and provide for those who can't give back.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

So the Turkey Lives

2010-11-25T06:41:00.000-08:00

Interestingly enough there is a belief that every president since World War II has pardoned a turkey a few days before Thanksgiving every year. The fact is this tradition is far newer than this. According to snopes.com (http://www.snopes.com/holidays/thanksgiving/pardon.asp) this tradition can only be traced back to 1989 when then President George H.W. Bush officially pardoned the Turkey given to the White house. This tradition quickly became a yearly ritual that every President has maintained. Yesterday, President Obama followed suit sparing the life of two such birds with a pardon that will allow them to live out the rest of their days.

Now I write all of this because on this Thanksgiving day I see myself as a turkey. Due to my nature (a sinful man) I am destined to die. Like a turkey I am headed for a dark hot place where I will be cooked for all eternity and even though I don't deserve it, and I can not earn it, the King of kings and the Lord of lords has given me a full pardon.

The Bible is very clear that each and every one of us are guilty of sin and we deserve to spend eternity in hell. However, God loves us so much, that He sent His Son to die on our behalf that by His blood we could be declared free of our guilt and be granted a pardon for all eternity.

Let us be thankful today because we are the Turkeys that have received the pardon and as you sit down to eat with your family may the turkey on the table remind you that Jesus paid the price for you, and may you truly be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!

Time for a Change

2010-11-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

In this song my nephew sings a song he wrote about a man with no hope left in life that he played for us one Sunday morning when I was preaching in Venango Woods Church in PA. To me this song tells about a desperation that is deep within all people. A desperation that is calling out for something that makes this life have value.

Since that Sunday morning I have listened to this song often and every time I think back on my life. I remember all the times that I felt so broken and desperate. I remember walking down so many roads; drugs, sex, violence, ect.. just desiring something to sooth the pain, something to make my life more livable.

The fact is each of of has within us a God shaped hole that we just can't fill with anything else. Our lives are so full of junk. We carry around so much pain, heartache, anger, resentment, and guilt that we can easily become bitter and guarded in every area of life. We put up a front, a perception of who we want people to believe that we are but deep down we wish people knew the real me.

During Jesus' earthly ministry, He warned the religious leaders of the day about wearing masks (the Greek word hypocrite simply means "one who wears a mask")Jesus was telling the people that the Kingdom of God is a place that we can be real. A place where we can deal with all that junk that we try to hide and carry on our own.

Listen to these words of Master Jesus as He speaks to your heart today, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

The fact is Jesus doesn't want you to carry those burdens anymore but wants us to carry His yoke. A yoke in Jesus' time is a set of teachings that a rabbi teaches His disciples. It is the yoke that binds them together that allows them to carry the load of life.

Jesus was once asked what was the greatest commandment and He responded, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

When we come into God's Kingdom our only burden is a burden of love for all people. All the garbage that life throws at us just isn't that important any more. Our life has value and purpose and as we pour ourselves into others we find that our own problems are lightened. Ephesians 4:2 says, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."

Friends, God never intended us to go through this life alone. We are meant to live in community with one another. We are part of a "Kingdom". we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom that has a great way of living then this earthly kingdom we grew up in. It is time for us to get real, stop playing church and be the men, women, and children God created us to be. When we do we will find the healing and refreshing that our souls so long for.

LifePoint Community Church: Church Planters Profile

2010-11-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

Following you will find the profile that I sent out to many of our friends and loved ones about the church we are starting in Miamisburg. I would love to hear what you think. We are asking that you join us in prayer as we seek God's direction and provision.

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I would like to introduce myself: My name is Bradley Herbst. I am married to my best friend, Jessica. We have been married for 14 years and have 4 children together: Julie 13, Ruthie 11, Elijah 8, and Ellie 5. God has placed it on our hearts to begin a new work in Miamisburg, Ohio called Life Point Community Church.

The vision to plant a church was placed on my heart 12 years ago when God first called me to ministry. Over the last 12 years, God has shaped and directed this vision as well as developed in us the skills necessary for the task. Depending upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit we have had the opportunities to be shaped and mentored by various godly men and women as God prepared us for such a time as this.

The Journey to Today:

My journey with God began as a young child. I grew up in a broken home and though my parents both loved me in their own way, I never felt love or acceptance. At an early age I was introduced and engulfed into the world of drugs, alcohol, pornography and sex.

When I was 17 my sister invited me to go to a small, country church with her. Spiritual things fascinated me, though I didn’t believe there was a god or gods of any kind, so I agreed to go.

In this church the pastor began to talk about the sin that was oppressing the area. He spoke in detail about a party that I had attended on Friday night. While he spoke something happened. Tears began to run down my face as I was confronted with the darkness that was my life. I accepted Jesus as my savior that day and followed the Lord in baptism by immersion.

I was very hungry to learn more about God and Jesus but something was wrong. I had many conversations about what I should dress like, how I needed to shave and cut my hair, and about all the things I needed to stop or start doing. A few months later I left the church.

I tried to lose myself in the pleasures of the flesh more than ever before. I hurt more and felt more shame then I could ever remember. I hated myself for being weak. I became bitter and violent.

Over the next few years my life began to change. It was during this period that Jesus pursued me to bring about His will in my life. A new church started in Clayton, Ohio called Northern Hills Christian Church. This is where God first began to really teach me His word. He sent Jessica into my world to save my life. He gave us our first child, Julie, to teach me about a Father’s love. Life became bearable, and even though I still got drunk or high from time to time, I had goals and plans and people who loved me. And even more, I had people that I loved more than myself.
While attending Northern Hills Christian Church I began to see the beauty of Christian love and fellowship. Jessica and I wanted to raise our children to have these moral values taught in the church. God began to deal with me about some of the sin issues in my life. At the same time a guy I worked with started talking to me about Jesus.

During our discussions I had shared with him the story of my salvation, more in hope that he would leave me alone then anything else. After listening, he asked me a question that changed my life: “What about your relationship with Jesus, what does that look like?”

Over the next few weeks we discussed in depth what it means to live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I started reading my Bible, and more importantly, I began to understand it. God began to radically change me. He removed addictions and forgiveness issues from my life. He started a mighty work of sanctification in me. It was these changes that brought my wife to Christ.

Soon after, I was at work when I felt God call to me. When I answered, He told me to prepare because I was going to preach and gave me the desire to start a new church. I went to my pastor and asked what I was to do and he began training me as a pastor. Though it hasn’t always been easy I have never turned from that calling.

For twelve years God has moved us through seasons of our life, leading us to different places to teach us the things we needed to know for ministry. God surrounded us with godly men and women to help develop and grow us. At each point in our walk God has continued shape that vision for planting a new church.

While at Northern Hills, God taught us the value of love and acceptance. He also allowed us to see the pain of a pastor falling into public sin. God showed us how priceless a great support and accountability network is. While here I trained for 2 years under a godly eldership and was ordained as a pastor.

From Northern Hills God lead us to First Christian Church in Cookeville, TN where we got to see the importance of a solid foundation in the scripture. We also got to see the danger of church focused ministry (keeping the church in its four walls.) While here I worked with the Pastor of Education to develop and teach a bible survey class that taught Genesis to Revelation in 12 weeks.

From there God lead us to the River Community Church in Cookeville, Tennessee. This church has a heart and passion for church planting, missions, and community outreach. God used the River as a catalyst to teach us the power of true faith and the benefit of a debt free church. While here God allowed us to help with some of the groundwork on a new church plant, as well as help out in their children’s church. It is also at the River that we first became associated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

From the River Community Church God called us to serve as an associate pastor at Venango Woods Church, a SBC church in Northwest Pennsylvania where we have been for nearly 4 years. We moved to Pennsylvania with no income, to a church that couldn’t pay us, and God displayed His faithfulness for all to see by providing all of our needs. After being at Venango Woods for one year, the Sr. Pastor left to plant a church in Florida. After much prayer I agreed to be Interim Pastor. It was during this time that God made it clear that I was not to apply for the Senior Pastor position of this church.

During my time as Interim Pastor God did many things to move the church into a healthier condition. Through the study of scripture, the church structure and by-laws were changed from a pastor led body (where the Sr. Pastor was like a CEO of a corporation) to an eldership led body (where the pastor and elders of the church serve united to lead the church.) God has also used us to deal with some sin issues within the leadership that were causing strife and division in the body. While here God allowed us to establish a children’s worship service and a mid-week prayer and study service. We have seen addictions broken, shattered lives restored, and lives changed through the message of Jesus Christ. While here God taught us to endure, to stand firm and not be shaken. We have learned to communicate vision and direction to help others move into a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ. God has taught us to love even when we are ready to quit.

Now He is calling us to step out once more, trusting in His promises, to start a new work in Miamisburg, Ohio called LifePoint Community Church.

The Vision For LifePoint Community Church:
LifePoint is a progressive church in a rapidly changing culture. We are determined to remain real and relevant without compromising the truth of God’s word. LifePoint will
be a multi-staffed, contemporary church geared toward those who don’t feel comfortable
in most churches. LifePoint will be service driven, creating on ramps of service to draw people into a deeper relationship with God through Jesus Christ. LifePoint will focus on kingdom growth and will be committed to Church Planting.

Purpose: LifePoint exists to Engage people with the truth of Jesus Christ, Embracing them as part of God’s family, Encouraging them to grow deeper in their faith, Equipping them for service, while Exalting God in a way that is real and relevant.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 12:28-31; John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Mission:
To impact the world with the life-changing truth of Jesus Christ.

Values: P.U.L.S.E.

People Matter – Because people matter to God, they matter to us. Jesus came into a world full of darkness, pain and sin to reconcile people to God. He then sent us out as His ambassadors with the mission and purpose of reconciliation.
Luke 4:18-21; John 1:1-14, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Unity of Believers – As a new creation through Christ Jesus we are called to demonstrate our love for one another in a spirit of unity. Jesus entered the world to breakdown the walls of division in our lives and teach us how to love others with an active love.
John 13:34-35; Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
1 John 4:7-12

Living in Community – The world is full of people making their way through this life alone but God said it is not good for man to be alone. Jesus came to bring us into God’s family. As God’s children we are to live in relationship with God and our fellow man. We are a community of believers living together to encourage and strengthen each other in this life.
Genesis 2:18; Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35

Service Driven – Jesus did not come into the world to be served but to serve others. He set an example for us to follow. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and ultimately laid His life down for others. He taught that the greatest in the kingdom of God would be the servant of all.
Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:1-16; Philippians 2:1-11

Engaging The Culture – Jesus constantly took the everyday things of life and used them to teach the deep truths of God and His kingdom. He met people where they where not expecting them to become something else to meet with Him.
Matthew 4:18-19; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; see the parables of Jesus
Our Beliefs:
About God:
He is God and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. These three are equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26-27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1-5; 2 Corinthians 13:14;
1 Peter 1:2
About Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dieing on the cross. He rose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 1:3-4;
1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 4:14-15

About the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation and provides Christians with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. He gives every believer a spiritual gift or gifts when they are saved. As Christians we must seek to live under His control daily.
John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17;
Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18

About the Bible:
The Bible is a love letter from God to man. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote it. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian belief and living. God inspired it; therefore it is truth without any mixture of error from Genesis to Revelation.
Psalm 12:6, 119:105, 160; Proverbs 30:5; 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21

About Human Beings:
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates us from God and causes many problems in life.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23

About Salvation:
Salvation is God’s free gift to us but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can anyone be saved from the penalty of sin. The penalty of sin is death, which is eternal separation from God. Eternal life begins the moment that one receives Jesus Christ into their life through faith.
John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5

About Eternity:
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with God is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 14:17; Romans 6:23, 8:17-18

Our Goals:
LifePoint will seek areas of need in Miamisburg and the greater Dayton area with a seriousness to meet these needs and bring people the hope that can be found through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 4:10-11; Acts 20:35; Galatians 5:13-14; Mark 9:35

LifePoint will develop community by multiplying LifeGroups throughout the community. These LifeGroups shall meet in people’s homes and in places of business to foster relationships that lead to service in the lives of one another.
Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:3-13; Hebrews 10:24-25

LifePoint will remain mission focused in all we do. At LifePoint every member is a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. LifePoint will continually focus on discipleship and leadership development to equip people for the service God has called them into.
Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:7; 2 Timothy 1:6-8; Romans 10:14; 1 Peter 2:9; James 5:16

LifePoint will be a launch point for new ministries: locally, nationally and throughout the world. LifePoint will multiply by starting other churches. LifePoint will seek to help launch a new church within the first 3 years followed by a new church every other year for the next 10 years. After that LifePoint shall seek to help start a new work once a year.
2 Corinthians 9:6; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 13:2

LifePoint will engage in ministry along side other bodies of believers desiring to make a greater impact for the kingdom of God. LifePoint will not allow denominational difference to hinder the forceful advancement of God’s kingdom.
John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 4:20; Hebrews 10:24

LifePoint will constantly seek new and fresh ways to deliver the timeless truths of God’s word without compromising the integrity of that word.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 2 Timothy 2:15; Matthew 9:11-13

LifePoint will continue to grow as we daily take the hope of Jesus to a lost and dieing world.
Acts 2:47; 1 Peter 1:13-19; Ephesians 4:11-12; Matthew 16:18

LifePoint will be 100% debt free. LifePoint will be financially responsible not living beyond it’s means.
Romans 13:8; Proverbs 22:7; Luke 14:28; Luke 16:11

The Good News: The Holy Place

2010-11-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

I am often amazed how often we get the best news at the least expected times and often at moments that we don't think anything will cheer us up. I remember early in our marriage when Jess an I were struggling with finances and I was getting ready to start collage and we were living on love because there wasn't anything in the bank. I was talking to Jess about how important I thought it was for us to come up with money to get a computer so I could do my course work at home and she was more concerned about how we were going to pay for the apartment we lived in. Priorities!

I remember many times feeling like a failure as a husband, as a father and as a man because I couldn't provide for all our needs. I must admit I was frustrated and overwhelmed. I was 20 and Jess was 18 and I was absolutely clueless. It was at that time that I got a phone call from my dad. He told me to get a pen and paper and write down a # so I did. Then I asked him what it was about. His response was brief, "This lady has some money for you from where I hurt my back when you were a kid." then he got off the phone. Well of course I called her and she worked for Social Security and indeed she had money for me. Almost $10,000 worth. This money allowed us to get a computer and was enough to help us supplement our income as I started my time in school.

The reason I share this is because when we look at Mark 15 and we read about the events that lead up to the death of Jesus and the event of the crucifixion we are confronted with the total depravity of man. Jesus was mocked, beaten, spit upon, flogged and nailed to a cross. The flogging was done by a scourge that would have had pieces of metal and bone in the leather thongs that would have dug into Jesus' flesh and ripped of strips of skin. The art of crucifixion (yes, to the Romans this was an art) is still to this day considered the most painful and brutal form of execution. A person who was crucified was stretched out in a manor that made it very difficult to breath. So if they wanted to breath they had to push themselves up on the nails that were driven through there feet until the pain was so intense that they would drop their weight onto the nails in their hands which was bad enough but the moment that they did that the could no longer breath. In a few moments their body would start fighting for air and push themselves up again. (And don't forget that with every movement they are scraping their raw and bleeding back across a rough wooden surface.) This would continue until either the person suffocated to death or the guards broke the legs of the person forcing them to suffocate.

It is at this moment when Jesus when Jesus breathed His last breath that we find one of the single greatest moments in all the history of man. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The Good News:
To many people reading about this curtain, the image that first comes to mind is an image of intense morning - as well it should, but we can not miss the importance of this moment. We must understand the importance of this curtain. It was this curtain that was the entrance to the Holy of Hollies, the most sacred place. A place that only the High Priest could enter and then only once per year after being made ceremonially clean.

When this curtain was ripped in two from top to bottom God was announcing that there is no longer a barrier between man and God. By the death of Jesus all man kind is now able to walk boldly into the presence of the Almighty. The old system has been done away with a new covenant has come.

May you always remember that Jesus made a way for all men to be reconciled with the creator of all things. That by His death we to may die to our sinful nature and through His resurrection we are raised into a new life as a child of God.

John 1:9-13 says, "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."

The Good News: Three Strikes

2010-11-14T19:03:00.000-08:00

As I began blogging about "The Good News" while studying the book of Mark, I had intended to complete this study at the end of October. The most amazing thing about this study is that we can find the Good News of God's kingdom in every passage as Jesus exposes the depth and glory of the kingdom of God. I know that we could spend a lot more time exploring the depths of this book. However, God is leading me towards writing about other topics as well. My goal is to finish up this study in my next couple of posts, knowing I will never be able to examine the height or depth of the Good News we have through Jesus Christ.

Today I want to jump ahead to a passage in Mark 14.

Here we find Jesus talking to His disciples. Jesus knows that the time of His death is near and He wants these guys to be ready to take the Good News to the world. Jesus also knows their hearts, their fears, and their weakness. With all this knowledge, Jesus wants His disciples to know that He loves them, despite all of these things, so He warns them.

"You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered'" Vs. 27

The Jesus goes on to tell them, "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." vs. 28

Jesus wants them to know that even though these men will reject Him during His darkest moments that He will not forsake them. Yes, Jesus knows He is about to die, but He also knows that the grave can't hold him. So he tells them what is about to happen and of course they don't want to believe Him. Would you?

The great thing about this event in the life of Jesus and His disciples is the very fact that the God-man looks at a mans heart and not his outward appearance. Because Peter and the others were confident in who they wanted to be but they weren't there yet. Listen to Peter's response, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” vs 29 How often do we each get caught up in our own self righteous perceptions. We begin to see ourselves as more faithful, more holy, more righteous, more steadfast, more determined, and on and on. But the fact remains, none of us even know the depths of our own hearts.

Jesus goes then addresses Peter directly, “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

But you have to love Peter. He is so confident in his own resolve. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” vs 31a of course Peter isn't the only one because the rest of the verse says, "And all the others said the same."

Then we read about the events that transpire in the garden of Gethsemane and it looks like Peter is determined to prove Jesus wrong. When they come to arrest Jesus, Peter draws his sword and goes on the attack. (It is funny that Jesus teaches Peter that the way of the sword is not the way of the kingdom of God, but that is a study for another time.)

And the disciples fled. Though Peter followed at a distance. and then it happened. As Peter stood by the fire warming his hands, a servant girl saw Peter and made the dreaded statement, “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” vs. 67 and Peter denies it saying that he doesn't know what she is talking about. (Strike 1)

Now if we are going to be fair, Peter was surrounded by a hostile crowd. This was an illegal trial being held by people who wanted Jesus dead. (Often we deny Jesus by our actions when the crowd isn't hostile.) We become fearful of what someone might say or think about us - where Peter was afraid for his life.

Of course Peter goes on to deny knowing Jesus two more times - once to another servant girl (Strike 2) and once to one of the guys with him at the fire. (Strike 3) Peter is then consumed with the guilt of His failure as Jesus' words resounded in his heart. Three strikes and your Out!

The Good News:
If Peter's story ended there it would truly be tragic. We can see the completion of this story as it plays out in John 21:15-19. Here we find a resurrected Jesus confronting Peter once again.
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

The truth is, everyone of us has denied Jesus. Whether by thought or deed, both in our words and in our silence, we are all guilty, and despite our guilt Jesus has come back to us time and time again and asked, "Do you love ME?"

May you trust Jesus to take away your guilt. He already paid the price for it and it is no longer yours to carry. May you be ever drawn toward Jesus knowing that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you anymore or any less than He already does. And May you acknowledge Him in all your ways!

The Good News: Mark Part 15

2010-11-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Like most people my life can be much like a roller coaster. I can be at the top of a hill on moment and plummeting at neck braking speeds down a hill the next, followed by an endless series of twists, turns, loops, and corkscrews that can leave us dizzy and disoriented. This is life.

As we continue our study of the Good News in the book of Mark, I want to draw your attention to Mark 9:2-13. This event in the life of Jesus is commonly known as the transfiguration, but to me there is a beautiful message in this event that we pastors often overlook.

This event transpires like this: Jesus takes His inner circle of disciples (Peter, James and John) up a mountain with Him. While up on this mountain Jesus reveals His glory by being transfigured. Then while they are watching, two of the great OT saints (Moses and Elijah) show up to talk with Jesus. I can't imagine what it would have been like at that moment, but the disciples are obviously overwhelmed and caught up in the moment. This is the moment of a life time.

At this moment Peter, caught up in the excitement of the moment says to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (vs. 6 tells us, "(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)"

Now lets step back for a second and examine what just happened.

The Son of Man has just exposed His glory as the one and only Son of God and great saints of old show up and Peter is ready to worship all three of them. Yes that is what it means by let us put up three shelters. This word for shelter is the word "Tabernacle" which is the tent that the Hebrew people used to worship God before the Temple was built.

We must understand that in Jewish faith there where no figures greater that Moses and Elijah. This type of worship is very common among people today. (If you don't believe me look at what happened when little girls found out Justin Bieber shared that he had a girl friend)

As if this moment isn't amazing enough. As soon as Peter says that they can build three shelters a cloud covers the whole area and God the Father speaks, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

The Bible then tells us that when they looked around they saw no one but Jesus!

The Good News:
Many times, like Peter, we get so caught up with the events going on around us that we lose sight of what is important. When we do we begin to divide our focus and we don't focus on what is truly important. As I read this passage I am filled with a since of peace by seeing God's gentle and loving rebuke to His disciples. He doesn't scold them or strike them down when they lose focus. He simple states, "This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him."

Focus! Look to Jesus alone! There is no one else!

May you remain focused on Jesus no matter what is going on around you. Whether you are sitting on the mountain top or walking in the Valley of the Shadow of Death may your eyes remain on the one and only Son of God who can and will see you through. May we always pay attention to the gentle rebuke to "Listen to Him!"

The Good News: Mark Part 14

2010-11-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

I am simply amazed by how often we put on this act like we have it all together when in reality we are far from the mark. It seems like everyday I meet a new person who is determined to convince me that they are a spiritual giant. (By the way if your wondering, I am no where close. Just ask anyone who knows me, I am all messed up)The reason I share this is because in today's study we are going to look at what it means to be a follower of Jesus and embrace the heart of what the kingdom of God is all about.

Look with me at Mark 8:31-38
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

In this passage Jesus starts out telling His disciples in plan words what He would have to suffer so that He could bring the kingdom of God to fulfillment. Peter, ever the first to stick his foot in his own mouth rebuked Jesus. (I love that God can use someone like this to do great things, it gives me hope)

After this Jesus speaks to the crowd and His disciples with this great proclamation, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." This might sound like a great poetic statement to many of us today but in Jesus' day in the ancient Middle East this statement carried a great weight to it.

Let's break this down some

Whoever wants to be my disciple: Being the disciple of a rabbi was the greatest honor a person could have in their culture. If you were a rabbi's disciple it meant that he believed you could do the things he is doing.

Must deny themselves: This is the heart of being a disciple. You say, "no" to your own way of doing things and say, "yes" to your rabbi. This wouldn't have been a very unusual saying for a rabbi. Self denial is a great means of growing deeper in ones faith.

Take up their cross: WOW! Now this would have turned some heads. The "CROSS" was and instrument of torture, pain and death. A form of execution set aside for the most grievous of criminals and political rebels. To this day it is viewed as one of the cruelest forms of death man has ever devised.

Follow me: A rabbi's statement of total acceptance.

The Good News:

The most beautiful thing in this passage is the overwhelming reminder that God's kingdom isn't limited by our goodness. In fact, none of us are good enough for the kingdom of God. Jesus brought us God's kingdom in His very life and in His teaching and in His sacrifice on the cross and in His resurrection.

What Jesus is telling us is that as we surrender ourselves to God that we too will bring God's kingdom to people here and now. It isn't something that people need to sit around and wait on. God's kingdom is here.

May we stop waiting for a kingdom that is to come and embrace the kingdom that has already came and is here and is to come as we take it to others. This is the kingdom that Jesus spoke about. One that transcends all the junk we deal with everyday and produces a better life, one that is worth sharing with others.

This is at the heart of the great commission, that we take God's kingdom to the world as we are going!

The Good News: Mark Part 13

2010-11-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

I remember my trip to Washington DC when I was in High School. During that trip I got to explore the nations capital with a bunch of crazy high school students while learning about leadership. During this trip I also was moved by the countless numbers of disabled vets that lined the streets of our nations capital. I remember this one man in particular. He sat in a wheel chair, both legs were missing and he had a nasty scare down the side of his face. Yet, despite all the things this man had suffered he sat there smiling sharing stories with anyone that would listen about the joy and pride he had for the service he gave to his country. Though this man never asked for a dime a few of us were moved to buy this man lunch and spend a little time listening to his story.

I had almost forgot about this event till I was reading in Mark 6 today. As I was reading I came across the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 with a couple fish and a few loves of bread. As soon as I started reading this passage I was struck by the power of Jesus' miracle. However, what I found to be most striking in this passage isn't the miracle but the compassion in our Lord Jesus.

You see, while Jesus' disciples were ready to send everyone away Jesus wanted to meet their most immediate need. The reason Jesus wanted to meet this need was because He knew that He was their greatest need and that by showing them this compassion that He could show them the good news of God's kingdom.

Much like this old vet I meet in DC we all are in need of some compassion from time to time and Jesus wants to supply our greatest need. The fact is each one of us has a God shaped hole in our hearts and no matter how hard we try, we just can fill it.

The Good News:

As with this crowd, Jesus doesn't just meet the need we have at the moment but He exceeds our need in such a mighty way that He leaves enough leftovers for the doubting hearts of His followers. I love the fact that Jesus created enough for each disciple to pick up a basket full of the leftovers.

May you remember that Jesus knows your needs and that when He sees you struggling He doesn't look upon your need and send you away but He will meet that need with abundance. May you know that you have nothing to worry about if your life is in His hands.

The Good News: Mark Part 12

2010-10-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that when people first get saved they have this zeal and excitement about there faith and the first thing they want to do is take the good news of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God to their family and friends. This excitement is beautiful and powerful but seems to fade so quickly.

As I was reading in Mark 6 today I was amazed by this event when Jesus goes to His home town. Jesus and His disciples go into the synagogue where Jesus starts teaching. His teaching and passion and knowledge of God's word amazed the people. But no matter what Jesus did or said He was view as nothing more than the kid who grew up down the street.

"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him."

Many of us tend to lose our passion for sharing our faith because we are rejected by those that we are the closest to. Jesus responded to this with this statement, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." Jesus knew that this would be a great challenge in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The Good News:

What I like most about this event in Jesus' life isn't what happened at this moment but the bigger picture of Jesus' ministry. I don't believe that it was just by chance that two of our New Testament books where penned by two of Jesus' younger brothers. First we have the letter from James. James called himself, "James, the lesser," because he saw himself as the lesser brother of Jesus. The other book is the book of Jude. Jude was written by Judas who refers to himself as, "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James" ~Jude 1:1 Judas didn't even consider himself worthy to be called the brother of our Lord so called himself the brother of James.

The fact is Jesus knew His brothers would come around, you and I don't. We need to remain steadfast, knowing that God will richly bless those who take Him to others, even those who reject Him.

May you hold on to the zeal and excitement of your salvation. May you never be discouraged when you are rejected for His name sake. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD." ~Psalm 118:26a

The Good News: Mark Part 11

2010-10-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

As we finish up Mark 5 (verses 21-43)we find two powerful stories in Jesus' life wrapped together in a beautiful tapestry of love and power that can shouts the good news of God's kingdom in a way that is so often over looked by many of us. In fact the beauty of this passage is something that I had missed until I was studying this passage for this blog.

As I began reading this passage, I felt God really impress upon me the fact that this event had everything to do with the fact that God's kingdom is not a kingdom based on gender, age, or race. (Though race isn't in this passage, it can be spelled out clearly with a study of John 4)

As I read this passage from Mark 5 I find in it mainly the story of a sick little girl and a tortured woman. First lets understand the right's of women in the society in which Jesus grew up:

Through Jewish laws and customs (more so customs) women had very little to no rights. For the most part they could have little to no authority. Even in their personal lives they were largely confined to their father's or husband's home. As such the were viewed as vastly inferior to men. "By the time of Jesus, women no longer had the freedoms and status they had enjoyed in the Old Testament era. Jewish society had become very much male-dominated. Women were considered to be inferior beings and were assigned almost the same status as slaves. They were not educated, not allowed to take any leadership roles, and confined to mostly domestic duties." http://www.twopaths.com/faq_womensrights.htm

At the time it wouldn't have been a big deal for a rabbi to go and pray for or bless a religious leaders son but not his daughter. For many a daughter was another mouth to feed until you could get her married. But Jesus saw value in Jairus' daughter. This in its self was a great declaration of God's invitation to women as important members of His kingdom but what follows was even more amazing.

Now if we think back to part 5 of this study when Jesus healed the leper how we discussed the way in which Jesus handled the issue of being unclean, here Jesus does it again. This time it is with a woman with an issue of blood. According to the Jewish law a menstruating woman was ceremonially unclean.

When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening.

" 'When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the LORD for the uncleanness of her discharge. ~Leviticus 15:25-30

This woman had been considered unclean for twelve years! This woman then did the unthinkable: she reached out and touched Jesus. Now according to Leviticus 15 this act should have made Jesus unclean, but something happened. Instead of Jesus becoming unclean this woman was made clean, instantly.

The Good News:

Jesus is willing to go and heal the young girl while healing the body and heart of a woman who is called unclean. Woman, Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God to you as well as to men. You are just as valuable and important. As Jesus' ministry on earth continued some of His most dedicated disciples were woman and some of His great leaders were influenced and brought into faith because of the legacy of godly woman. In fact God used woman more than once in the Old Testament used woman to save the nation of Israel.

May you remember your place as a child of God. May you remember always the value that God has placed on you. A value not based on how you may be abused or miss treated. A value not based on your looks or your success. It is a VALUE based in the price that He paid for you sins when He sent His son Jesus to die for you. You are loved by Him who created all things, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Ladies may you stand proud as a daughter of the KING and know the value your Father has in you, His Princess!

The Good News: Mark Part 10

2010-10-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today I want to draw your attention to the passage of Mark 5:1-20. In this passage we find Jesus and His disciples arriving in the region of the Gerasenes, a place on the east of the Sea of Galilee. When they arrived they were meet by a naked man who was possessed by many demons. This man was so feared by the people of this region. They found that they couldn't restrain him even with chains.

Jesus commanded the spirits to leave the man and the begged Him not to torture them. They asked Jesus to send them into a herd of pigs. Jesus agreed and the pigs ran into the sea killing themselves.

We then read about the town people coming to see what happened and there reaction. The scriptures say, "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." vs. 15

I find it very interesting how people respond to change, even positive change. It seems we get so comfortable with the way things are that the very notion of change scares us.

The Good News:

What I really love about this event in the life of Lord Jesus is the fact that it didn't matter to Him how messed up this guy was. Think about it. What would be your reaction if a naked man covered in cuts and scars and broken pieces of chain came walking to you from a tomb? How many of us would have got right back on that boat and sailed away?

But not Jesus. Jesus looked at the man and saw great need. This gives me hope! Like this guy I come with a lot of baggage. I come before God with everything exposed, He sees my nakedness. He sees all my cuts and scars. He sees my chains of bondage and all the filth of the grave, in and on me. He also sees the "Legion" of darkness in me. He sees it all and doesn't turn away. He knows my need and He acts, casting away all of these things that corrupt me before Him so that I too may be found, "sitting there, dressed and in his right mind"

The Good News we have is that God doesn't want us to get our life straightened out so that we can come to Him. On the contrary, He bids us to come to Him and then He will straighten out our life. It is this kind of love that set me free from the bondage of addiction. It is this kind of love that cleansed me of the filth of my sin. It is this kind of love that healed my broken heart and mind.

May you come to Jesus as you are, knowing that He loves you and accepts you.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" ~2 Corinthians 5:17

The Good News: Mark Part 9

2010-10-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

Since our last study Jesus has continued traveling around and teaching the people about the kingdom of God. Though they can be a fun study I don't intend to go through all the parables in this series. So we will be jumping ahead to Mark 4:35-41. This event in the life of Jesus' disciples opens our eyes to the fullness of who Jesus is.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

In this narrative we find Jesus and His disciples climbing on a boat to sail across the Sea of Galilee. It is prefaced with Jesus telling them, "Let us go over to the other side." These words are quit possibly the more important then the rest of the events that happened in this event, but we will get to that more later in this blog.

So these guys set sail and Jesus goes below deck to sleep. As they are sailing a fierce storm hits. Based on the geographic location the Sea of Galilee it is subject to sudden, violent storms that could capsize a ship in a mater of minutes. Many of these guys on the ship had been fisherman, they knew this body of water well. They had seen these sudden storms rise up many times. They knew how to handle a ship in a storm. This is important to note because this particular storm was so bad that these experienced sailors where afraid.

Life is full of storms! It seems all through life we find ourselves in situations and circumstances that are greater than we are. Life is full of these storms! Sometimes they are related to our jobs or families. It could be financial or relational, these storms fill us with dread. We cry out, "why me!" or "What did I do to deserve this?" We throw our hands up knowing we are in a situation we can't escape.

That is where these disciples found themselves. They were in a situation that all their knowledge, experience, and skills couldn't get them out of. Here they were fearing for there lives the cried out to Jesus, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

How often are we guilty of this?

We find ourselves in a tough spot and we think God doesn't care. We feel that we are unworthy of His notice or that He has far more important things to worry about than our problems, but the truth is we missed something.

Remember the words Jesus had spoke, "Let us go over to the other side."

Jesus had already provided assurance for the conclusion of this journey. He didn't say, "Hey we're going on this boat and we might make it through." No, He said they were going to the other side.

The Good News:

As we are going through the storms of life we can be assured that we will make it through because of the words of God Almighty, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Again we are told, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58

May you trust in the one who can take the storms of life and make them calm. May we trust Him when He says we will make it to the other side, and trust that He will keep us safe in the midst of the storm.

The Good News: Mark Part 8

2010-10-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

I sometimes look at God's people and think, "why do we do that? Why do we say the things we say? Is this the way God intended us to be or have we become so caught up in our traditions that we have lost sight of God's intention for the church?"

This is the heart of our passage today. Our text will be Mark 2:18-3:6 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202:18-3:6&version=NIV

In this passage we see a few things going on. First we find Jesus in a discussion about fasting, then we find two encounters where the sabbath is being disputed between the Pharisees and Jesus. In all of these passages we find Jesus or His disciples going against the grain of the religious norm.

In the first incident we find Jesus' disciples daring to eat while the rest of the people are fasting. (It might be important to note that Jewish Law only required one day of fasting every year but tradition at that time had instilled many more days of fasting.)

It is during this account that we find the point of our good news today. It is found in Jesus' response in Mark 2:21-22 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.

Jesus wants these people to know that God is bringing about something new. That by Jesus being here all of these man made traditions don't matter any more. As we saw with Jesus and the tax collectors Jesus isn't interested in man's ways of doing things He wants to see God's purpose and design to be fulfilled.

This point is then illustrated in two back to back narratives.

The first account has to do with His disciples picking off some grain and eating it while they were walking and the second has to do with whether or not it is ok to heal on the sabbath. In both of these places Jesus challenges the traditions of man and the standard intent of God.

To properly understand what was going on we have to understand what sabbath tradition looked like. Teachers of the law had bogged the sabbath down with so many regulations that it had become a burden. In fact there was specified 39 areas in which a person was prohibited to work. These are:

1. Carrying
2. Burning
3. Extinguishing
4. Finishing
5. Writing
6. Erasing
7. Cooking
8. Washing
9. Sewing
10. Tearing
11. Knotting
12. Untying
13. Shaping
14. Plowing
15. Planting
16. Reaping
17. Harvesting
18. Threshing
19. Winnowing
20. Selecting
21. Sifting
22. Grinding
23. Kneading
24. Combing
25. Spinning
26. Dyeing
27. Chain-stitching
28. Warping
29. Weaving
30. Unraveling
31. Building
32. Demolishing
33. Trapping
34. Shearing
35. Slaughtering
36. Skinning
37. Tanning
38. Smoothing
39. Marking

This doesn't even touch the areas that they had made restrictions for such as walking. On the sabbath a person was only allowed to walk approx. 3/4 of a mile.

The Good News: Jesus isn't interested in us following a long list of do's and don'ts. He desires to see us being drawn closer to the creator of all things. Jesus wants us to know that the law has a purpose but not to drag us down. the purpose of the law is to show us the depth of our sin and our need for a savior. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:20-26

Jesus wants us to throw off the heavy burden of sin and accept His yoke upon us. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

Jesus also tells us this, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40

May you remember that Jesus isn't wait for you to get you life straightened before you come to Him but He calls you, "Come Follow Me." Jesus loves you as you are right now and He desires to show you a better way. You can embrace the kingdom of God in your life today through Jesus.

Intermission: the two things

2010-10-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

I am feeling a little like Jude today. I sat down to continue in our study of Mark and just couldn't focus on it. The fact is I just have a lot on my mind and heart today. I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

When I am feeling overwhelmed I like to think about the Sermon on the Mount. I particularly like to focus on Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus' message is simple, "Do not worry."

"Simple! Simple!," you may be yelling at me right now, but yes "simple." The fact is we expend a lot of energy worrying about all kinds of things that we have no control over. We get stressed out over all kinds of things. Money, sex, food, money, sex, traffic, money, sex, house repairs, money,ect... and on and on it goes. (The reason I kept listing money and sex is because psychology tells us that they are the two things that people worry and stress out about the most.)

Jesus tells us that there is an answer to the problem of worry. "Seek first..." The simple answer to dealing with worry is to put first things first. The fact is when we worry rather than seeking God first, we are expressing doubt in God's plan for dealing with the things a head of us. When we focus on God first we will find that these other things in our lives that are fighting for our attention don't seem to matter as much anymore.

Are you trusting in God's plan and provision for you? Philippians 4:6 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

The fact is when we focus on God, we will be forced to see ourselves in light of who He is. When we do this we will begin to see how blessed we really are. This my friend is the simple way to handle your worry.

An old man once told me that there are two things you should never worry about. First never worry about anything you can control because the situation is in hand. Second he said that we should never worry about anything we can't control because there isn't anything we can do about it anyways.

May you seek God in your moment of worry and bring all things to His feet and leave it there.

P.S. God loves you!

The Good News: Mark Part 7

2010-10-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to look at Mark 2:13-17. In this passage we find Jesus calling another disciple Levi son of Alphaeus, who is later called Matthew. Levi is a tax collector and believe it or not in Jesus' day they were more disliked then they are today.

In fact a Jewish tax collector could assign his own wages. It worked like this. If it was tax time and the tax collectors came to your town they could say, "you owe $10,000 in taxes." The problem is that they knew how much you really owe and you don't. So you might only owe 5 or 6 thousand but they are charging you more.

These guys were not very popular. This disciple being called is a big deal. Jesus calls to Levi, "Follow me." And he does.

After this we find Jesus in Levi's house eating diner. And in this house we find Jesus, Levi, Jesus' other disciples, other tax collectors, and "sinners". (Historical oral tradition suggests that this reference to "sinners" may have been a denotation of loose women or prostitutes.)

This is a huge deal because in the ancient Middle East the sharing of a meal was one of the greatest symbols of intimacy. When they sat at a table they would sit on the floor or on cushions, they would lean on their left hand and eat with their right. Each person would lean on the person sitting next to them. So to say the least you only ate with people you really cared for.

Well it is no surprise that Pharisees became indignant. They couldn't believe that a rabbi would dare to eat with the likes of this crowd. How dare He surround Himself with this kind of filth.

The Good News: When Jesus heard about the complaints of the Pharisees, He responded with these words, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

This is great news for you and me. We have sinned, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. Jesus came to help and call people like you and me. He knows how messed up we are and He still desires to come in and eat with us. Listen to His words in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

May you open the door of your heart to Jesus today. knowing that there is nothing you can do to make Him love you any more or any less than He does right now. May you rest assured that Jesus loves you so much that He gave His life that you would be saved.

The Good News: Mark Part 6

2010-10-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Continuing or study of Mark we will move to chapter 2 where we find Jesus returning to Capernaum after preaching throughout the Galilee region. The people are excited that Jesus has returned and they begin to crowd around to hear Him teach.

Now there was at that time four guys who had a paralyzed friend who believed that Jesus could help there friend so the picked him up and carried him to the house where Jesus was. The house was so crowded that the couldn't even get to the door.

I don't know about you but when I look at the world all around me and I see all the problems and suffering going on, I wonder how in the world does Jesus have time for me? These guys could have just given up. The could have told their friend, "sorry there are just to many people here." but they didn't.

Look at what they did, "Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on." Mark 2:4 The faith of these men was so strong that were willing to do whatever it took to get there friend to Jesus.

Now lets look at Jesus' response, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Jesus saw their faith! James 2:18 says, "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

Now as the passage goes on some of the teachers of the Law got angry because Jesus said the man's sins were forgiven. So Jesus to prove that He has the authority to forgive sins heals the man.

The Good News: Jesus will always reward sincere faith. May you be willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus. May we believe that Jesus has the answers to both our physical and spiritual needs. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for your sins and want to heal you, so that you too may walk boldly in front of everyone so that they will be amazed and praise God because of His greatness.

The Good News: Mark Part 5

2010-10-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today we will be closing Mark chapter one looking at the healing of a man with leprosy.

"Leprosy is an infectious disease that has been known since biblical times. It is characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation." health.google.com

In Bible times leprosy was incurable and fast spreading and any who contracted the disease was made an outcast of society. The were forced to leave their family, friends, jobs, and places of worship. They were considered "unclean." If you were to touch a person with leprosy you would be considered unclean and where treated as if you had the disease as well.

This knowledge will help us to better understand the Good News we have in Jesus Christ as we look at Mark 1:40-45. Here we find Jesus as He and His disciples are traveling through out Galilee spreading the message that the Kingdom of God is at hand when a man with leprosy comes and knells down before Jesus saying, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

Now the custom of the time was this, if you saw a person with leprosy you would point and yell, "UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!" to run the person off and let others know that the leper was there and they too would take up the call, "Unclean,unclean..."

It is an understatement to say that lepers suffered. The disease it's self effects the sin and nerves in such a way that it deadens the nerves causing people to get cuts and infections. The infections cause their skin to rot which attracts rats and insects to eat their flesh while they sleep, but on top of that the would be void of human contact. The lost everything.

The Good News: "Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Mark 1:41

Jesus did the unthinkable, He touched the man. This single act was greater than the fact that Jesus healed the leprosy. Jesus looked at this man who had lost it all. Who had dropped to his knees before Him and call out for help and say his greatest need. This man needed to the loving touch of another person. So Jesus reached out His hand and touched the leper.

In that one action Jesus declared, "I will become unclean for you." This News is the heart of the message we have in Jesus Christ. Every one of us have become "unclean" in our sin. Our sin is more infectious, more deadly, and more offensive then the worst case of leprosy the world has ever seen. And Jesus is willing to make us clean. More than Just wanting to make us clean, He is willing to reach out and touch us in such a way that takes our filth and grime upon Himself and leave us clean.

May you come to the feet of Jesus, hit your knees and cry out, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Knowing fully that Jesus loves you so much that He took your filth with Him upon the cross and in Him you too shall be clean.

The Good News: Mark Part 4

2010-10-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the delay in this study, we lost internet for a couple of days.

As we continue our look at Mark (Mark 1:21-39), we find Jesus in Capernaum, a fishing village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. While there Jesus goes into the synagogue to teach. The Bible tells us that the people were amazed because Jesus taught as one with authority. Jesus' authority was so great that a demon cried from a possessed man, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus then rebuked the demon, and freed the man from it's presence.

After Jesus leaves the synagogue He went to Simon and Andrew's home where He finds Simon's Mother-in-law sick with a fever. Jesus heals her sickness. That evening the whole community shows up with their sick and demon possessed looking to Jesus for the answers to their problems.

Jesus worked late into the night healing the sick and freeing the possessed. I can imagine an exhausted Jesus climbing into be. Everyone counting on Him to fix their problems. The people sleeping on the ground around the house waiting for Jesus to wake up.

Then we read the most interesting thing, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."

The Good News:
There are three things that we need to focus on in these passage. The first two I will just briefly look at because we will look at them later the third is the main focus of today's blog.

1. We have a teacher in Jesus who isn't like the other teachers. He has authority over every created thing, both physical and spiritual, and at His very word the demons tremble. James 2:19 says, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."

2. We have a Lord who cares deeply about His people. He is concerned about all of our problems. Whether we are dealing with sickness, disease, demonic influence, depression, addiction, or a host of other problems that we face in this life freedom is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Who will always bring blessing to His people. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

3. This is the main point that I wanted to share today. When we find Jesus going to pray and then telling His disciples that it is time to go somewhere else, it might catch us off guard. What about all those people that are looking for Him?

The beauty in this passage is that Jesus goes to pray. This gives us a great example for handling the stresses of life. It is easy to get caught up in all the needs surrounding us. And we could spend our lives in one place dealing with one need after another, which would be a good thing. But in the end we could miss God's best for our lives. Jesus could have stayed in that little fishing town healing the sick and casting out demons but then the greater work that God called Him to do would have been sacrificed to the needs of the masses. Jesus' mission was to preach the good news and to ultimately become the fulfillment of the greatest news of all. Your sin debt is paid in full.

Jesus wants us to know that no matter what is going one in your life, we have a friend in Jesus who is always looking out for our best. We may not always understand what is going on around us but we can be sure that Jesus is in control.

May you rest in the good news that Jesus finished is finished the work He came to do. While He was on the cross, He declared, "It is finished." The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom freeing us all to have full access to the Holy of Holies.

The Good News: Mark Part 3

2010-10-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

In Mark 1:16-20 we find Jesus as He calls His first disciples. This is where we get to the heart of the Good News. Now you may be thinking, "Brad isn't this early to be calling it the 'heart of the Good News'?" Just bear with me.

In Jewish society, the greatest thing that could happen was that a rabbi would pick you to be a disciple of his. Jewish education worked like this:

First one would have to go through Bet Sefer, meaning the house of the book. As a boy at the age of 6 you would begin your training in the torah, the first 5 books of the Bible. You would study in bet Sefer for about four year in which you would memorize the entire text, word for word.

Now if you were the best student, at age 10 you would move into Bet Talmud, the house of learning. It was here that a young man would memorize the rest of the scriptures. The Idea was that by the age of 13 or 14 a young man in Bet Talmud would have memorized the entirety of the Hebrew scriptures.

Once you completed Bet Talmud if you were the best of the best you could then go to well, known and respected rabbi to apply for Bet Midrash, the house of Study. During this stage a rabbi would ask questions, if he thought you were good enough. Then based on the answers to you questions, the rabbi would either answer, "Lech Acharai" – Come, follow me. or "Go, home to your village. Make babies. Pray that they become rabbis. Go home and learn the family business - fishing, farming, carpentry. Because you won’t be studying to be a rabbi."

What is so great about Jesus' disciples are the fact that they had returned to their homes and were working in the trade of their fathers. They were not good enough.

The Good News:
You and I are not good enough to be a disciple of Jesus, but He bids us to come and follow Him. Jesus wants you and me even though we don't have it all together to be His disciples. When Jesus says, "come follow me" what it means is that He believes that you and I can do the things He is doing.

May you delight in the fact that the greatest Rabbi ever has called to you, "come, Follow me." That He sees so much potential in you that He has decided to make you His own. May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi, Jesus, in such a way that people do not know where He stops and you start.

The Good News: Mark Part 2

2010-10-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's study we glanced over a couple verses at the end that I want to focus in on today. These verses are found in Mark 1:12-13.

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

These two verses are huge in our understanding of the depths of the Good News we have in Jesus. Many people in the world today struggle to find connection with God. He is so much greater than we are, it is hard to connect. How can we connect with a God who doesn't understand our weakness and struggles? How can we draw closer to a God who doesn't understand our dependency on food, drink, social interaction, and all the things that fulfill our daily lives?

In steps Jesus. When the light of the world came in human form in the man of Jesus, He limited Himself to be subject to all the needs, hurts, and struggles of the human life. Through His life he dealt with the same things we do. He experienced the dependency that a child has on his or her parents. He experienced what it was to be hungry and thirsty. He knew what it was to morn the death of a friend, to be betrayed by someone close to Him, to be rejected by those He loved, to be mocked, to be slandered, to be ridiculed, and ultimately killed.

The Good News:
Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Jesus Christ has faced every test and trial the you and I will ever face and He was victorious. He understands what you are facing today.

God wasn't content to sit on a lofty perch and watch and wait for man to struggle fruitlessly to crawl to His thrown. God stepped out of His thrown and into the human experience in order to meet us where we are. God isn't waiting for us to get our lives together so we can come before Him, but He comes to us in the midst of our failure and says, "Follow me. I will show you a better way." God desires to work in your life right now.

May you embrace the Good News that God wants to meet with you right now. He loves you! He desires to do a mighty work in your life today.

The Good News: Mark Part 1

2010-10-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Gospel of Mark starts with a beautiful statement that we sometimes breeze through to get into the heart of this book. "This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God..." Mark 1:1.

As we begin to read about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we must first realize that we are reading, "Good News". So often we find ourselves reading the passages of scripture seeking our flaws, our failures. We look for judgment for our selves and others but John Mark wants us to look for something else, he wants us to find Good News in what he is telling us.

Being that this is how the book of Mark starts out I have challenged myself to go through the book of Mark and share the "Good News" in this blog. I am sure I will not write on every verse but I will be looking a sections of this Gospel account in hopes that we can grow deeper in our understanding of the Good News that God has given each one of us today.

Part 1:

As we begin to look at the writings of Mark we find Mark leading us to the pages of the Old Testament. He wants everyone to know that God's plan for the redemption of mankind has been planed and promised by God. This wasn't just a momentary choice but a well thought out plan. God had planned our redemption before the beginning of the world and at various times relieved bits and pieces of this plan to His prophets who He called to share His word and love with others.

I also love Mark's approach, he says look what Isaiah said and the prefaces Isaiah with a quote from Malachi 3:1 in which Malachi tells us the same thing then quotes Isaiah 40:3.

Malachi 3:1 says, "Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies." - Be ready, there is a messenger coming and when he shows up the messiah is coming soon.

Isaiah 40:3 says, "Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,“Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!" - Isaiah tells us about the very teaching of this coming messenger.

Mark then tells about the coming of John the Baptist, who showed up preaching this message of repentance, yet with these great words of hope, "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

John is announcing to everyone that will listen that the power of sin is about to be broken, that salvation is near at hand. One is coming who will bring the very Spirit of God to the masses. No longer will human tradition and man made buildings be needed to draw men to God. There is one coming that is so great and so mighty that we are not even worthy enough to be His slave yet He will immerse (baptize) us in the Spirit and Power of God Almighty.

The Good News:
"At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
The Calling of the First Disciples
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"” - Mark 1:9-15

Jesus came into the world and John the Baptist told us this is the one. The God-man who will take away the sins of the world. Salvation has come.

When Jesus came on the scene His message was this, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" In the King James Translation it says, "the kingdom of God is at hand" What Jesus is telling us from the very beginning of His earthly ministry is that the Kingdom of God is attainable. That is can be reached, NOW! It is now longer something we have to wait on.

Jesus came that you can experience God's kingdom in this life and in the life to come. We have a God who is active, now. He desires to give you blessing now. He desires you to experience the Fruit of His kingdom today. His Love, His Joy, His Peace, His Patience, His Kindness, His Goodness, His Faithfulness, His Gentleness, and His Self-Control.

May this Good News encourage you today as you draw deeper to God through the free gift of salvation found in Jesus, who is both Christ and Lord. Amen

Provision

2010-10-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

There is this great story of God's provision found in the Old Testament. The prophet Elijah was called to confront Ahab, King of Israel, for his worship of the false god Baal, a Canaanite deity of rain and weather, called the "Life-Giver".

God had Elijah go to Ahab and tell him that there would be no rain until Elijah told him it would rain. This was a statement in direct conflict with Ahab's faith in Baal. If Baal was in-charge of rain then who was Elijah, as a servant of the Lord to say it would not rain.

God then told Elijah to go into hiding and in 1 Kings 17 we read these words, Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

God tells Elijah, because you are faithful and trust in me, I am going to take care of you. Hide yourself from Ahab and I will provide for you. Though there will not be rain I will provide you with water to drink and I will even send you food. And God provided. Twice a day Elijah received meat and bread.

This story draws me to the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34. In this passage Jesus tells His followers not to worry because God knows and will provide everything you need as long as we "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness"

I discovered this truth first hand when we moved to Pennsylvania. We moved a family of 6 to a place in long term economic collapse to serve in a church that couldn't afford to pay us. Within a couple days in PA I had a job. A job that I kept until God called us to leave.

Now I have moved to Ohio, called by God to launch a new church. Once again God has asked us to trust Him to provide for our needs. This area has seen an 18% unemployment rate over the last year. After being in town for 1 day God has provided me with an interview for a job. I don't share this to draw attention to myself but to the faithfulness of God. God has promised that if we seek Him. (If we place His plans above our own) and His righteousness (If we desire to draw closer to Him in thought, deed, and morality) He will provide.

What is it you are trusting God for today? Are you drawing closer to Him? Are you trusting God's plan for your life?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Think Church

2010-09-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

When you here the word "church" what images come to mind? Do we start to think about the place we meet to have our services each week? Do we think of music and preaching? Do we think of the children's classes and programs?

In the early church they thought of people. In fact the word church in the New Testament "EKKLESIA" literally meant "a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place"

In Jesus' time a ekklesia was a gathering of Roman citizens that gathered together to peacefully over throw a corrupt government. It is people first and foremost. But a ekklesia isn't all people is it made up of only citizens. In this case citizens of a heavenly kingdom. Called together through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross to overcome the "ruler of this world" with the peace and love we have through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The time to rise up in now! God is looking for men and women who are willing to stand in the gap for the poor, weak, hurting and oppressed. Ezekiel 22:30 says, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none." If He looked today would He find us standing in the gap?

So Much Left to Do

2010-09-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

With less than two weeks till we move there seems to be so much left to do. It would be very easy to become overwhelmed by all the things left to do. It is times like this that I am reminded of the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Jesus knows that we have the tendency to focus the to do list that we have that we become paralyzed at the moment. We worry and stress out about the things a head rather than taking care of the here and now. Jesus wants to remind us that God knows all our needs and tells us not to stress out about things.

His answer is simple, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you. Could it really be that simple? Yes! It can.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God has such great plans for your life, don't get yourself all worked up just because you don't have all the details.

The Reaction of a father

2010-09-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was startled out sleep last night by the most blood curdling scream I have ever herd. It was the voice of my five year old little girl. To make matters worse it wasn't coming from her bed room. As a father my brain only registered two things; Move and protect. My legs where moving carrying me toward me toward her before I even realized I was out of bed. It didn't matter that it was dark or that I was running into an unknown circumstance. My daughter had screamed and it was urgent.

Now what happened was that she had a bad dream and was still half asleep and had made her was to her older sister's room and when my oldest asked her what was wrong it startled her and she screamed.

My reason for sharing this however isn't so you will think anything about us but because it got me thinking about my heavenly Father. If I, as a human, imperfect, father react like this to the cry of my child, how much more does God react to our cries.

We have a Father in heaven who loves us and desires to keep us safe. He guards over us while we are sleeping and protects us from those who would do us hard, and yes, some times he allows us to stumble and fall. Sometimes we get startled and scream though we are safe. He allows us to experience growing pains in our lives that will build morals and character in us, but He never leaves our side. We are always under His watchful eyes and He is always ready to spring into action.

Psalm 18
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave [b] coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded. [c]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop [d] ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Praise the love of the Father!!!

Faith in Uncertainty

2010-09-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

As we prepare to step out on faith to move to Ohio with the mission and vision to start a new church, we are surrounded with the uncertainty of not having a job or a home yet. To me this is part of the beauty of God's timing. God desires us live live by faith not by sight. It would be easy to move with everything in place, but resting in the arms of a loving God when facing the unknown stretches and grows us. We learn to depend on Him rather than self.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

As we seek to move deeper in our relationship with Jesus Christ it will take faith. Jesus tells not to worry about our needs, because our Father in heaven knows about them. Instead we are told to seek first, His kingdom and His righteousness and He (God)will provide our needs.

What are you facing today that you need faith to get through? Let me pray with you and together we will trust God to help you see what isn't there yet.

Not skilled to understand

2010-09-05T05:03:00.001-07:00

"I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior"
~My Savior My God by Aaron Shust

I woke up this morning with these words flowing from my heart. The fact is life is full of things we simple humans will never understand. If you don't believe me have a conversation with... well anyone.

I remember years ago, when I was working security at a movie theater, a girl started asking me questions about my belief in God and Jesus. Some of these questions that she asked where things I could reason through in my mind but it seemed no matter my answer it always fell short of giving a glimpse of the truth of God. "I am not skilled to understand."

What I know is that I live in a world that has a problem. It is full of pain, suffering, greed, anger, lust, hunger, loneliness, abuse, addiction, affliction, despair, and darkness. Every where we look our hearts, minds, and souls are assaulted by things the world would be better off without.

In this world we find ourselves so caught up in the rat race of life that we mindlessly flow from one activity to the next. Most of have in us this since of a deity, "there has to be more to life then this."

We have this longing in us, a longing to live a life of purpose, a live of significance, but how can we even hope to make a difference in a world that needs so much help. "I am not skill to understand, what God has willed what God has planned"

If we allow ourselves, we will quickly find ourselves overwhelmed, "where do I even start?"

"I only know at His right hand, Stands one who is my Savior" Jesus came into this world to show the effect that one man, motivated by God can do. He came as a man full of grace and compassion, and during the three years of public ministry changed the course of human history. We can't even say the year without acknowledging Him.

It is this Jesus that offers the hope that the world needs. It is this Jesus that set an example for us to live by. It is this Jesus that paid the sin debt for you and me. It is this Jesus who poured out His life that we may live. It is this Jesus who conquered death and the grave. It is this Jesus who walked out of the grave to give you new life, and ascended to heaven to sit at God's right hand.

It is Jesus who sent the Holy Spirit to guild us and teach us the things of God. It was this Spirit that guided men of God to write the Bible to give us the very word of God.

Through the Storm

2010-08-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

So, there is this story in scripture where Jesus tells His disciples that they are going to go to the other side of a lake (Luke 8:22-25). The lake in this passage is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples get on a boat and set sail. Jesus goes below deck and goes to sleep. His disciples (many of which where fishermen) were up on deck taking care of the task of sailing and navigation.

While Jesus was sleeping a huge storm came upon the Sea. These storms are known to be so violent that small ships caught out in them were capsized and sunk by the ferocity. I remember a professor I had, who owned a home in Israel, telling our class that these storms could produce 30 foot swells.

"Such storms result from differences in temperatures between the seacoast and the mountains beyond. The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where they reach 2000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air."

"In contrast, directly around the sea, the climate is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large temperature and pressure changes. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills."

"The Sea of Galilee is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without warning. Small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger." www.christiananswers.net

When this storm came up these disciples began to panic. They couldn't conceive how they would survive, yet Jesus slept peacefully. In their moment of fear and weakness they abandoned the rigging,the rutter, and the sails. They went below deck a woke up Jesus.

These guys had abandoned hope. We see this in their words to the Lord, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" or as Matthew records it, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

Like these guys so many of us get caught up in the storms of life. They seem to overwhelm us as wave after wave crashes over us threatening to sink our ship. We may feel as though God has abandoned us, that he doesn't care that we are going to drowned.

In our panic, weakness and desperation we call out to Him like the psalmist, "Listen to my prayer, O God,do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me." Psalm 55:1-5

The beauty of this story isn't the sheer desperation of these men, it isn't the panic, it isn't the storm. LIFE IS FULL OF STORMS. The beauty is that the Lord was with them in the storm. Jesus wasn't worried because He had already told them the outcome of the trip. In Luke 8:22 Jesus had told them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." He wasn't worried about the storm because He knew it wasn't going to stop them.

After waking Jesus, He got up and walked up on deck and rebuked the wind and the waves and they became still. The Bible says, "...ALL WAS CALM." The Storm was calm, the wind was calm, the disciples were calm, Jesus was calm!

Jesus then questioned His disciples, "Where is your faith?" I can see it now... Guys, don't you understand, I will never leave you or forsake you. Storms will come and go, sometimes you won't see a way out but I have already declared the outcome, "You win." Trust me, I am the good shepherd, I will surrender my life for you and you will still make it to the other side.

The fact is that many times God allows us to go through storms because it is during these turbulent, uncertain times of our lives that we develop character. It is when things get tough that we are faced with the depth of who and what we are. It is during these times that we find out what we are made of.

Whatever storm you are facing right now, remember this. You are not alone, God is right there, He is cheering you on as a Father watching His son on the ball field. "you can do it! Your my child and I made you to be victorious! I have trained you with hours of practice, now give it your All. I love you and I am right here with you. Just trust me."

Jesus died for your sins and He conquered the grave to give you VICTORY!

God's Artwork

2010-08-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

Art is often considered one of the greatest forms of expression. In art the masterpiece is limited only by the medium and the imagination of the artiest. This got me thinking about God as an artiest. With His infinite mind and infinite power and infinite knowledge I would expect to find to find art that is beyond our thoughts and imagination. This got me thinking about the complexity of the universe. God's canvass if you will. So I thought it would be nice to look at some of God's artwork in this blog.
(from http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/space/)

(from http://www.star.ac.za/)

(from http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/astronomy-terms/space-collision.htm)

(From http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/bruggers/2007/04/out-of-this-world.html)

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Psalm 8:3-4 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"

Defeated

2010-08-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Defeated! This one word speaks volumes to countless people all over the world. It is a word that is not limited to race, gender or economic standing. It is an overwhelming feeling that people carry with them. I see and hear it in the lives of non-Christians and Christians alike. We feel stuck or trapped walking aimlessly through this life searching for some meaning or purpose to the things we do.

For years I saw life as a continual chain of one disappointment and heart ache after another. I was searching for anything that could bring me a little comfort to suppress the pain I carried day after day. Now, I see a world desperately seeking after instant gratification. We want it NOW. We want something to take away the edge of defeat in our lives. We see this in the form of drugs, alcohol, smoking, pornography, casual sex, adultery, violence, and thousands of other ways that people use as a form of escape. At first these escapes may be great but as time progresses we need more and more to satisfy the beast within that craves something real and meaningful.

Proverbs 19:3 says, "A man's own folly ruins his life,yet his heart rages against the LORD." The fact is our life is the sum of the choices we make. So many of us open our eyes one day and ask how we got to the place where we are. We begin to blame God for our problems and carry around an anger that is waiting to be released.

Proverbs 21:21 says, "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." Jesus came to be an example for mankind, demonstrating a life that constantly sought after righteousness and love. His demonstration was so powerful that it left a rippling effect that changed the world. He gave His life so that you and I would never have to carry the burden of our failed choices. He made a way for us to have a peace that is greater than all our circumstances.

Jesus came to give you freedom from all the junk you are carrying around. He died that your life might once again have a purpose greater than the sum of all that you are. Through His death He accepted all your hurt, all your pain, all your guilt, all your loneliness and all your weakness. Then He walked out of the grave that you could walk in a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Walk now in the newness of life you can have through Christ Jesus! Ask Him to take away your guilt and pain and to give you a life full of purpose. Live in the victory you have in Christ Jesus!

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." ~1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Your Lost Son

2010-08-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

I recently was thinking about the passages of scripture that God has used to guide me toward church planting. One of the passages that jumped into my thoughts was the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. This story is one of the best known stories that Jesus told to teach people about the kingdom of God.

The great thing about parables or mashalim is that they are stories to make us think. There isn't just on clear meaning but multiple meanings wrapped into a story that we can relate with.

This story is most often told from the view of the son that asked his father for his inheritance and blew it all on wild living and then returned to his father's home looking to be a servant and his father embraces him as a son. Sometimes it is told from the view of a loving father who's son took off. This father is seen standing outside everyday looking for his son to return home. And every once in a while we will hear this story from the view of the other brother who is angry by his fathers response to his brothers return.

We can take so much from these views. We can see ourselves as either or both of these sons. We see God as this loving Father that is always look for us to turn back to Him and who constantly shows us loving kindness when we get wrapped up in our own way of thinking.

As I was thinking about this passage I began to see a story in this parable that I had never herd taught before. What if God desires us Christians to put ourselves in the place of the father? How should we react if our son (child) took off? Would we just sit and wait for him to come home or would we be out searching for our child day and night?

When God called us into His family He called us to be Christ's ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 says, "16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Maybe the next time we are around a lost person we will seek them as if they are our lost children in need of our love and acceptance. Rather than sit back and wait for them to come home.

Growing Pains

2010-07-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

So we see Jesus as he walks with His disciple. They are passing row after row of grapes. They can see the care takers of the Vineyard as they are busy tending to the plants. They rise up branches, prune others and even cut some of the plants to barely anything left all to maximize the production of the grapes. They want the biggest, sweetest, healthiest grapes that these plants can produce, but they know something that the plant doesn't. If these grape plants are left on their own the will grow big and dense but their fruit will be small, bitter and hard. The other thing is there will be very little fruit.

It is in this place that Jesus looks at His disciples and says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Jesus, the true vine is the source of everything we need to bear fruit for God. We can't find the strength, character or energy to maintain (or even grow) in our walk with God.

God the Father is the gardener. He desires to make us the best us, we can be. This process isn't easy. God must cut off that which isn't producing fruit. He begins working in the areas of our life that are the most dead. These lifeless, thoughts, attitudes and actions must be removed before we can flourish as productive members of God's kingdom. These dead areas rob the healthy areas of sustenance needed to bear fruit. These sin issues are things that God deals with in a mighty way. He sent His Son to pay the cost and now He is removing them. This can hurt or scare us as God shows us the depth of out wickedness and solidifies our absolute dependence upon the True Vine.

After God cuts away the big dead things in us He will start the pruning process. Pruning involves cutting away the excess in our lives. As a grape vine grows its branches and leaves will grow so dense and tight that they will start choking the life out of good branches. This is much like the business of many Christians today that can't seem to find any extra time in their day to give to God. We find our lives consumed with good things that we never experience the best that God has for us. We are bearing fruit but they are few and far between.

God's desire for you and I is to bear much fruit. This is why James could write, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Paul also wrote about the Fruit that God desires to harvest in our lives when he wrote to the Galatians. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

These 9 qualities are the product that God desires in the lives of all his children. What parent wouldn't?

These qualities all together make one fruit, a disciple of Jesus Christ. Where are you today? Is your life full of dead stuff and in need of a gardener to take control? Or are you producing some fruit and in need of a loving God to set you free to bear more fruit? Or maybe your bearing good fruit but just haven't reached the place where you can say you are bearing much fruit. In this case you need a God who will take you deep into what it means to walk in the Spirit.

God desires to do all of this and more for you. Jesus came to offer a hope of a better today and a brighter tomorrow as He seeks to be the source of your life.

Dealing With Doubt

2010-07-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

In Mark 9, Jesus comes upon a group of disciples arguing with with the teachers of the law. The text indicates the argument was about Jesus' ability to heal this boy who is demon possessed. Jesus' disciples had been unable to heal the boy. When the boy is brought to Jesus the spirit in in the boy responds by throwing him into convulsions. He fell and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.

The boy's father then pleads with Jesus, "if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

"IF YOU CAN"

Many times our walk with God is challenged with a nagging doubt that God won't or can't act in our situation. For some reason our faith is challenged and we desire for God to intervene on our behalf but we lack the true faith that God desires from us.

Let's look at Jesus' response in verse 23, "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Jesus is basically saying that our faith in God directly correlates to how God will choose to respond to our prayers. Look at: Matthew 8:9-11, Matthew 9:2, Matthew 9:22, Matthew 9:29, Matthew 13:58, Matthew 15:28, Matthew 21:21, John 14:12, Acts 3:16, Acts 14:9, ect...

Faith is so important in our walk with God that Hebrews 11:16 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

So how do we deal with these lingering doubts that war against our faith. The answer is found in Mark 9:24, "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'"

HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!

This man started out saying "I believe" but then he got real with Jesus "help me overcome my unbelief!" He knew that if he wanted to see God work in the life of his son that he needed to get real with Jesus. I can see it now:
"Ok, I confess, I don't believe. I want to believe but my son has been suffering for so long. I have tried so many things to get him help and nothing seems to work. My situation is some overwhelming. It seems every time I get my hopes up they get crushed over and over again. Please Lord! I want to believe. I really do but I have put my hopes in so many things before and I just don't have any faith left. Help me Lord Jesus. Help me to believe!"

I don't know what you are struggling with today but maybe it is time we get real with God. God loves you where you are right now. He doesn't want a show that looks like you have it all together, He wants you to simply come, as beaten, battered and bruised as you may be and He will help you with your unbelief.

Romans 3:3-4 says, "What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written:
"So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge."

Today

2010-07-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

I remember visiting this church on time as a candidate to possibly be their pastor. As I was getting to know them one of the elders was telling me how they were primed and ready for God to do a great work in their church. This loving brother continues to tell me how the church had over $2,000,000 sitting in the bank. Wow! I began to share with them some ways in which they could use some of those resources that God had provided to reach the community and open peoples eyes to a God that loves them and sent His Son to die that they might get saved. I was then delivered the unexpected blow. "Oh no, pastor, that money is for the day that we need to build a new sanctuary." As the discussions continued, I discovered that this money had been sitting in the bank for nearly 25 years while this church had been sitting and waiting for God to grow the church. (the building they were in could sit around 200 and on their biggest Sunday they once ran 152 people; average weekly attendance was about 45)

This church, like many others, is stuck in wait mode. Waiting for the day that God is going to do something great. Their faith is something that will someday be great but not today. I need a God that is TODAY!

When Jesus started His sharing the Good News, He started with a simple message, "The Kingdom of God is near." (or at hand) In this little statement Jesus was saying that God and His kingdom are NOW! Stop waiting for a God who will do great things and start living for a God who is doing great things. God wants to be part of your life today. He has great things for you today.

When we live a life waiting, we fail to actively participate with God to bring resumption to to the world. God never called us to wait. It is His desire to use us as Christ's ambassadors to let others know that they can obtain God's kingdom NOW!

How about you? Are you waiting for a God who will someday do something great or our you living with a God who is working in your life right now?

James 2:14-26 says,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

God loves you today! He wants to be part of you today. Will you live for Him today?

Good News

2010-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hope! How often do we encounter people with no hope for tomorrow? Some are down on their luck, in need of a job. not sure how they are going to pay the bills and put food on the table. Some people are overwhelmed with depression, feeling that they have no value or self worth. Some are dealing with issues of heartache and pain, their marriage is falling apart, they are watching their children making poor decisions that could hurt them in the long run. Others are caught up in various sin issues that have some how managed to take control of their lives. This can show up as drugs, alcohol, pornography, violence, gluttony and so on. So many people are without hope today.

In Luke 4:18-19 we find Jesus sitting in a synagogue reading from the scroll of Isaiah. He reads these words, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL (Good News) TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." Then Jesus makes the the great statement in verse 21, "TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING."

This Good News is no longer something we have to wait for. It is here, Now! Jesus came to give us a better life. To the poor, He says you you can be rich in God. To those chained to addiction or sin Jesus says you can be free now. To those who can't see beyond their circumstances He will grant a glimpse of the God who is in control. And if you are oppressed by man or demon to brings you favor of the God who is greater than all things.

This is the Good News, You can have HOPE TODAY! What ever the circumstance, what ever the pain, the God of the universe is saying to you come and I will give you rest. Jesus laid down His life that you may have peace. Jesus rose from the dead so that you may have a new life in Him.

Stepping Stone

2010-07-02T14:56:00.001-07:00

So there was this day when Jesus was talking to His disciples that I find very intriguing. Jesus asks, "Who do people say that I am?" Now at first glance we might think Jesus is concerned about other peoples opinion of Him, but He isn't. He is opening up a discussion that will set into motion the greatest movement the world has ever seen. A stepping stone that will shape everything His disciples will do.

Though His disciples, jump right in telling Jesus who people think He is: Teacher, prophet, Elijah, John the Baptist. So Jesus makes it more personal, "Who do you say that I am?"

This question is the stepping stone that we each need to ask. Who do we say that He is? The way we define Jesus, will directly effect the way in which we respond to Him.

If He is just a good teacher, we might study his life and teachings to grow in our intellectual pursuits, believing that they will make us a better, well rounded, person.

If He is just a savior, we will see Him will be someone that is there when we need help and is standing on the sidelines waiting to be called into play to save the day at the last moment, but doesn't seem to have a place in our normal every day life.

If He is just a judge, we will see Him as the black robed, gavel totting keeper of the law. Who walks around with His list of do's and don'ts just waiting to bust us for the smallest infraction.

Maybe we have the "Doggma" view of Jesus smiling with two thumbs up that says, "It's all good" as long as we are showing love in our own way we're fine.

Peter's response was, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

This answer was so profound that Jesus called it the ROCK on which He would build His church and the gates of hell would not over come it. (Matthew 16) What did Peter say? What was so profound that would change the face of the world.

By acknowledging the Christ, Peter, was saying that Jesus is the anointed one. As the "Anointed One" Jesus was The Prophet like Moses, The King like David, The Immanuel (God with us) from Isaiah, The Suffering Servant, The Son of Man and much more.

Peter continued to call Jesus the Son of the Living God. This is a reference to the deity of the Christ. That He is fully man yet fully God, that He is the great I AM. The wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ever Lasting Father and the prince of peace. He isn't just a king but the KING of kings. Not just a lord but the LORD of lords.

How should our lives reflect the Jesus we serve? What do you call Him?

Decisions

2010-06-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Life is nothing more than a series of choices with each moment defining and setting a path in place for the next one. This is one of the greatest mysteries to me. That not only does my every decision affect my next but each choice we make has a ripple effect that impacts the decisions of others.

As a parent I make decisions for and about my children daily. In turn my choices build the values and principles that my children will use as a framework for the choices that they will make.

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus has this to say, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction and there are many who enter though it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Jesus is telling us that we have to watch the choices we make. The easy way isn't usually going to be the best way. The tough choices are usually the ones that will build integrity and shape us as better men and women of God.

It is easier to respond in anger than to turn the other cheek. It is easier to Join the crowd then stand alone. It is easier to surrender to the flesh then be lead by the Spirit.

God desires to make you the best you that you can be but He isn't going to force your hand. He sets the path before you. He has provided His word as a lamp to guild your feet. His ways are not always easy but they always have the best result.

Church Like Usual

2010-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get stuck in the motions of your worship experience.
Watch this video

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

God desire an intimate personal relationship with you. Not just a routine of events that make us feel good. It is time to break the mold. Time to step back and look, and ask and pray does God desire more?

Examples

2010-05-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting in a third grade class when the teacher handed out a paper that dealt with role models. This paper told about the lives of two iconic sports figures. The first was Michael Jordan and the second was Tiger Woods. Instantly the children began talking because they knew why Tiger has been in the news. After reading this paper the children had to answer a few questions, one of which was, "Which of these two men would you want as your role model?" Instantly a class full of hands went up...

The problem was that many of these children don't really know who Michael Jordan is, but they all know who Tiger Woods is and they had difficulty seeing him as a role model.

This got my attention! Children are watching, looking for someone to step up and be an example for them to follow. They want someone to look up to who they can trust to be an example in every area of life.

In John 13 we find this very humbling story of Jesus as He takes on the role of a servant and washes the feet of His disciples. Then Jesus says these words, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." Verse 15.

Jesus came to be an example in this life. Showing how we should and can live. Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:16 says, "Therefore I urge you to imitate me." We can also read in Hebrews 13:7, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

As the children of God, we are called to a higher standard. We are to be the example for others to follow. Paul tells Titus in 2:7-8, "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

2010 Venango Lock Up: Bradley Herbst

2010-04-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

2010 Venango Lock Up: Bradley Herbst

Help me raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. I will be arrested and need to raise bail.

Laughing Matter

2010-04-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

This morning was just another day that God taught me just a little more about Himself. We were getting ready to leave the house when my 4 year old is making a big deal about how smart she is. She would write a letter of the alphabet and then sing her ABC's then right the next letter then break into song once again. My lesson started when her 8 year old brother joined in singing the ABC's. I expected an argument but none came. The two of them sang the ABC's together from A to Z.

It was at this moment that the 4 year old looks at her 8 year old brother and say, "ALRIGHT! YOU GOT IT!!" Of course we all had a good laugh. (including the 4 year old though I think her laughter was out of pride for teaching her brother the ABC's)

This got me thinking today about the beauty of God that we have in laughter. (and how often we must make God laugh)Those moments when we are so serious and think we just discovered some great treasure that God has known all along.

Psalm 126:2 says, "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Jesus came to turn this world up-side-down. He came to break down strong holds, free the captives, fill the hungry and transform morning into laughter. Take the time to laugh today it is a gift from God.

Here are a few youtube clips of Tim Hawkins. One of the funniest men alive. Enjoy!!!

Not The Christ They Were Looking For

2010-04-13T09:04:00.001-07:00

As a small group sat in my living room looking at the word of God. We opened up the book of Matthew and began reading. As we were reading and studying this account of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ we came to this passage in Matthew 16:13-20.

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ."

The question was asked, "Why would Jesus tell His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ?"

This is a great question! It hits a very important point in understanding a lot what happens in the pages of the new testament.

The Jewish people at this time in history as well as many still today were looking for a certain type of Messiah. The were looking for a priest-king would would rise up a Jewish military and lead Israel into victory. Overthrowing the oppressive pagan governments and establishing a kingdom of peace. If the people of Israel would have seen Jesus as a Messiah they would have rose up in rebellion and started trying to overthrow the Romans who where ruling the world. They were not looking for a suffering servant to bring God's kingdom into their everyday lives.

The Hebrews expected the kingdoms of this world to pass away as the Messiah ushered in His reign of peace.

Jesus came to bring peace but not by the sword. Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Matthew 26:52 Jesus brought a peace that transcends all understanding. A peace not controlled by our circumstances. He brought a kingdom that is available to all people. By His death He became the final passover lamb. As John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world."

Jesus understood the need for people to be able see the scriptures fulfilled before they could understand who He is. Just look at the cross. While Jesus was nailed to that Roman death pole He cried out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46

This saying from the cross is pivotal to knowing who Jesus is. Let me explain:

During the time of Christ Rabbi's would teach great truths about God to both their disciples and any who would listen, "let he who has an ear hear."

What Rabbi's would do is this: they would call out a line from the Holy Writings so that other would know what scriptures this teaching was clarifying. Jesus using this rabbinical formula is urging people to see that He is fulfilling what God had reveled about Him.

Let us look at some of them:

Psalm 22:7 - the people will wag their heads at Him - Matt. 27:39; Mark 15:29 - the people wagged their heads at Jesus on the cross.

Psalm 22:7 - He will be mocked - Matt. 27:31; Mark 15:20; Luke 22:63; 23:36 - Jesus was mocked.

Psalm 22:16; Isa. 53:12 - He will be numbered with the transgressors - Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32; John 19:18 - Jesus was numbered with the transgressors by being crucified between two thieves.

Psalm 22:16; Zech 12:10 - His hands and feet will be pierced and they will weep for the first-born - John 19:23,34,37 - Jesus' hands and feet were pierced and his followers wept for Him, the true first-born Son of Israel.

Psalm 22:17 - they will stare and gloat over Him - Matt. 27:36; Luke 23:35 - the people stood by and stared at Jesus on the cross.

Psalm 22:18 - they will divide His garments among them - Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23 - they divided Jesus' garments among them.

Psalm 22:18 - they will cast lots for His garments - Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:24 - they cast lots for Jesus' garments.

Here are 7 prophesies fulfilled in one day! Had something to say. Look to the scriptures. Everything written about me is taking place. Turn your hearts toward God. Accept His Son. "Father Forgive them they know not what the do!"

A work of Art

2010-04-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is important to remember that God isn't finished with us. As for me I am sick of talking! I am sick of making excuses! I am sick of me! Chisel me my King, my God. Make me more like you.

Ressurection Sunday

2010-04-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

Hope!This is the beauty of Easter morning.

Jesus had told His disciples that He would raise from the dead. At times they didn't understand, they saw it as some deep spiritual truth but not a physical reality. They are afraid and confused. This Rabbi, Jesus, had chosen them to be His disciples and now He is in a tomb.

In John 20 we read, "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)"

Even at this moment when Jesus' words as recorded in Matthew 17:9 and 17:22-23 had been fulfilled, they still didn't understand. Death could not hold Him.

The price was paid in full. No longer is man stuck in slavery to sin but can now embrace a new life through Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1-17 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Happy Easter!!!

Black Saturday

2010-04-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Jesus lies in a borrowed tomb, His disciples are hiding in fear for their lives. Satan is rejoicing, the Son of God is dead. Mary is in morning and John is trying to comfort her. Peter is battling with depression knowing that at the darkest moment for his friend, teacher and Lord, he had denied even knowing Him.

The tomb is quite. Roman guards posted at it's entrance.

The Chief Priest and Teachers of Law along with the Pharisees and Sadducee stand in the Temple looking at the torn Veil, wandering what it could mean. The Holy of Holies is open for all to see.

People are in the streets trying to put their lives back together after the earthquake the previous day.

It is a dark day. That goes without saying.

As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus on this Black Saturday keep in mind that though Satan was rejoicing he lost the battle on Friday and on Sunday Jesus will walk out of that grave.

Don't let today get you down as Satan tries to distract you from remembering all that Christ did for you. He, Jesus, is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one can get to the Father except through the Son. The price is paid and the victory is won!

Today is the day that the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!

What's So Good About Friday

2010-04-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

For years "Good Friday" made no since to me. I couldn't see anything "Good" about this day. Many of know that this is the day that Jesus died on that cross for all the sins of the world and that is why it is good. Today I would like to reflect on that day.

To start I think it is important to note that in Israel in Jesus' time Friday would have started at sun down on Thursday. This is the 5th day since Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as the coming king. Things have turned around, the priests have turned the people against Jesus.

Thursday night (their Friday)Judas Iscariot one of the 12 betrays Jesus and makes a deal to give Jesus over to the Temple authorities. Judas has been traveling with Jesus for 3 years and is part of Jesus' inner circle of friends. Jesus knew the betrayal was coming and chose to do nothing to stop it.

In Mark 14:32-52 we read about Jesus going to the Garden of Gethsemane. Where verses 33 and 34 says, "He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

Jesus the King of kings and the Lord of lords was distressed, troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow. He knew that this would be the day that His mission on Earth would be complete. In just a short time Jesus would be arrested His friends would abandon Him and before the day was over He would die. This doesn't sound like the start of a great day to me. Though Jesus is emotionally spent He knows that peace will only be found in the hands of the Father.

Jesus asks Peter, James and John to go with Him to pray. Telling them to keep watch. Here at the climax of His life, when everything He has said an done will be solidified, Jesus wants to let His closest disciples see the depths of surrendering ones self to God and they keep falling a sleep. A great day indeed.

Then Judas shows up with soldiers, Jesus is arrested. Peter responds in anger and attacks a soldier. "Peter has forgotten that Jesus wants him to be a peace maker.

Jesus is taken to the Temple where an illegal trial takes place. Mark 14:53-72 - According to Jewish law a trial had to take place during the day not at night. While Jesus is being falsely accused Peter is so afraid that he starts denying he knows who Jesus is. Once even to a servant girl and one time he denied Jesus so furiously that the Bible says, "He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about.""

What's so Good about Friday?

At Dawn (Our Friday morning) Chief priests call for Jesus' death (Mark 15:1-15) but due to Roman law they don't have the power to enforce this verdict so they drag Jesus before Roman officials to be crucified. It is here that the people who had just heralded Jesus as king now cry for His death. "Crucify Him!" the shout, "Crucify Him!" Pilate tries to dis-sway them, "Crucify Him!" they chose a murder over Jesus, "Crucify Him!"

What's so good about Friday?

Jesus is handed over to Roman soldiers to be flogged. Romans would beat someone with a Scourge. A whip with 9 to 12 leather straps each strap had pieces of metal and bone in them. These were designed to rip of strips of flesh causing intense pain and agony. They would whip Him 39 times because 40 would put Him in shock and kill Him. He was then taken by a company of Roman soldier (most likely between 30 and 200 men)where He was mocked, spit upon and beaten in the head and face by fist and rod - Mark 15:16-20. And after being beat down they lead Jesus to be Crucified.

This is looking to be a great day. Good Friday right?

On the 3rd hour of the day Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross. A type of death that causes more pain than any type of death recorded. You would be nailed to to the wood through your hands and feet in such a way that the only way to breath would be to push up with your legs putting all your weight on that nail. And when you could hold yourself up no longer you would drop down putting your weight on the nails in your hands. But suddenly you are unable to breath. And when your lungs start burning because they are starved for air you would push up with your feet once more. And every time Jesus raised or lowered His body on that cross splinters of the wood would dig into the raw bleeding flesh on His back.

What's so good about Friday?

Darkness fall on the land for 3 long hours (from the sixth to the ninth) It is believed that it was during this time that all sins past, present and future where laid upon Jesus during this time. At the ninth hour Jesus pushed Himself up and cried out, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani” - "my God, My God why have you forsaken me?” (the first verse of Psalm 22 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2022&version=NIV) Jesus says look and know who I am.

And Mark 15:37 says, "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last."

What is so good about Friday?

To understand what makes Friday so good we must understand who this Jesus is. He IS: The incarnate Word of God ~ John 1:14, Psalm 49:7-9
The Lamb of God (the sin bearer) ~ John 1:29
The Savior of the World and Son of God ~ John 3:16-18
The Way, the Truth and the Life ~ John 14:6

Jesus is all of this and more: He is creator and sustainer of all things, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Alpha, Omega, beginning and end, the Great Shepherd and the Great “I Am”, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace, He is Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of my life and it is at the Name of Jesus that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that “Jesus is Lord” So….

What’s So Good About Friday?

Matthew 27:50-54
~The Curtain was TORN! - All people Now Have access to the Father

~The Earth was SHAKEN!! - The old sinful nature is defeated and we can live in victory

~And SUNDAYS COMING!!! - The story isn't over yet!!!!

Strawberries

2010-03-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

I can remember spending time out on my Grandpa's farm as a kid. Whether it was time to plow, time to plant, time to weed or time to harvest there was always something to be done. Grandpa always had a way of making sure that everyone had a job to do. And every job big and small was important. (at least in his eyes)

Thinking of those days on the farm I can see God's hand teaching so many lessons. I can remember as a young boy around 4 or 5 years old planting rows of strawberries in a freshly plowed field. I got to take a hand shovel and dig a small hole. One of my sisters would put the seeds in the hole and my other sister would cover the seeds. We would the water the row of planted seeds.

I remember standing there looking at the row. A stick at both ends marked Strawberries. I waited. I wanted to see that first plant burst through the ground but it didn't happen that day. I have to admit I was a little disappointed.

A few weeks later, we were about to pull into the farm we I looked out the window and saw little bits of green all around the strawberry rows. I was excited. It was time for strawberries.

When we got out into the field Grandpa showed me that there wasn't just strawberries but that there were weeds sprouting out too. He explained that the weeds will grow up and croak out the strawberries unless someone who cares about the strawberries will carefully pick the weeds so that the strawberries can grow big a juicy. So it was back to work.

After the weeding was done I stood and looked at the neat little row going down the field. I could almost taste those strawberries now. But at last we had to go home and still no strawberries to eat.

In time those plants grew bigger and stronger until one day we pulled into the farm and Grandpa walked up to the car and as we piled out he handed each of us a basket. A we walked out to the field Grandpa told me it was time to pick some strawberries. He showed me the difference between a fully ripe strawberry and an immature strawberry and with a smile he whispered to me, "try not to eat more than you put in the basket."

This memory makes me think about how God acts in my life. He desires my life to produce plump, ripe fruit, strawberries if you will. But before these strawberries are ready there is a lot of work to be done. The field of our lives will have to be plowed, rocks and sticks and trash will need removed. Some holes may have to be dug and filled with the seed of God's word. We will have to sit in the heat of the sun and be drenched by the rains and battered by the wind. The weeds of our sin must be rooted out and removed.

And there sets God at the end of the row that is your life, waiting to taste the freshest, plumpest, reddest, sweetest strawberries ever seen.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

What kind of field will you be?

Weakness

2010-03-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Many times as Christ followers we seem to run from our weakness. We only want to do what we are good at or what we find lingering in our comfort zone. This seems counter productive to me. Where is the faith in that?

In 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 it says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

In this passage God tells us that He wants to use the weak things to prove Himself. So it seems only logical that God would call us to step out of our comfort zones in order to show His greatness through us. Have you ever considered the victory you have in your weakness?

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 says, To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Did you see that Paul says that God allows him to struggle because it is in that very weakness where God will make Paul strong.

Satan wants to remind you of your weakness. He wants you to know that you just aren't good enough, that you can't live this Christian life. That you will stumble along the way and you are going to fall.

And God responds, When your are at your weakest, when you realize that you don't have the strength to stand then," I will stand" says the LORD. His strength will be your strength, His joy will be your joy.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Lets boast in our weakness, so that God's strength will reign in us.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

The Details

2010-03-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Today I spoke with a friend of mine who felt God's calling to go overseas for Christ. He was so excited about what God wanted him to do that he jumped in with both feet without looking to God for all the details. It became what he was doing not what God was going to do through him.

It seems that so often we get caught up in the big picture that we lose site of the details needed to reach that goal. A lot of times as Christians we feel God is only interested in the big things, but this isn't true. Look at Exodus 25-28. God is calling the people to build the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, the emblems used in worship and the Garments of the priests.

God sets out so much detail that some are forced to ask, "why does that mater?"

For example, in Exodus 25:10 God says you are going to build an Ark. Here are the details from this verse: acacia wood (not just wood but a type use for luxury furniture) It must be an exact height, length and width (2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide and 1.5 cubits high - a natural cubit is about 45 cm or 18 inches.) In the following verses God continues to add one detail after another until the result is all God's design not ours.

How much simpler would life be if we let God be in charge of the details?

Living In Victory

2010-03-06T07:42:00.001-08:00

So often believers in Jesus get caught up in this lie that we can't make a difference in this world we live in. In 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 the Bible declares that we already have victory through Christ Jesus. So what is victory? Dictionary.com defines victory as: "1. a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war"

We have an enemy, the devil, who goes around like a lion seeking those that he can devour. If you ever study lions you will realize that they attack the weak and the young. If we as the children of God walk around with a defeated attitude we become spiritually weak and are more vulnerable to Satan's attacks.

So how do we turn this around?

I believe the answered in Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

The 1st key to Victorious living is realize in who's power you live! (vs 10-11)
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." ~1 John 4:4

The 2nd key is to realize who you are fighting against. (vs. 12)
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." ~1 Peter 5:8

The 3rd key is be prepared! (vs. 13-18)
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." ~2 Timothy 4:2

Finally brothers and sisters: PRAY! PRAY! and PRAY some more!!!! (vs. 18)
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." ~1 Timothy 2:8

Stress Management - Jesus Style

2010-02-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

After being around so many disciples of Christ I am perplexed by how many Christians struggle with with depression and anxiety. For years I was a chronic worrier and stressed out about everything. I tended to bottle up my feelings until I became explosive or implosive (which is just as dangerous).

When we do this we become depressed or anxious. We tend to be harder to get along with and become more isolated from others. At this point we lose our effectiveness for God's Kingdom. This is scary!

As I think about this I am reminded of a time when Jesus was with His disciples at Simon and Andrew's house.(Mark 1:29-39) Simon's mother-in-law was sick and Jesus healed her. It tells us that that evening after the sun had set people "brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed" Jesus began healing them and casting out demons. It says the whole town was there. Jesus was pouring Himself out for these people again and again.

Can you imagine how draining this could be?

I can picture an exhausted Jesus climbing into bed feeling the weight of the world setting on His shoulders. If you are like me you might think I just want to sleep in. I need a day off, or we might yell to any who will listen, "I NEED A VACATION!!"

Mark gives us a different picture. Instead of sleeping-in Jesus got up (while it was still dark) and went to be alone with the Father. (went off to a solitary place, where he prayed)When this happened Jesus was revitalized, He found the rest that only the Father can provide. (I see this as one of those great human moments in Christ's life)

The other thing that happens is Jesus is able to refocus. When the disciples found Him they were all set on Jesus going back to the house and get back to healing and casting out demons but Jesus was focused on the mission at hand. vs 38 "Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.""

Jesus set aside the stresses of the night before and focused on God's design for today. Do we need to sacrifice a little shut eye so that we can get focused on God's plan for today?

Using the Name of God

2010-02-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

As a pastor I love it when God revels His truth to me not while I am preparing a message but while I am speaking. As I was preaching this morning, God not just changed the direction of the message but used it as a teaching moment for me as well as those listening.

As I thought my message on Ethics: on the job was near it's conclusion God pointed me to the 10 Commandments and had some very tough things to share. While looking at peoples moral character it is always discouraging to see that there is virtually no difference in behavior between those who claim to be Jesus' followers and those who don't. Christians are as likely to lie, steal, cheat and engage in sexually immoral practices as there unsaved counterparts.

In Exodus 20:7 it says:
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." KJV

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." NIV

“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name." NLT

The fact is that a countless number of Christians are taking the Name of God in vain daily by miss using it, not in words, but in the way we live our lives day in and day out. We tell people we are Christians and then live as if Jesus is still in the grave.

Isaiah 29:13 says, "The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."

May God be honored by your whole being, not just in what you say. May He take captive our every thought and feeling for His glory. Amen!

A Crazy Kind of Faith

2010-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

I remember when I first received my calling to ministry. God didn't tell me to go preach but instead told me to go and prepare because I was going to preach. This was a moment of decision in my life. One I must admit I failed.

Instead of jumping right into God's plan for my life, I told God that I was going to go to school and become a History teacher first and if He still wanted me to preach after that then I'd study His word. This attitude was the result of years of rebellion. I had hardened my heart until I wasn't about to let anyone tell me what I was going to do.

God, however, had a different plan and started me down a journey about faith and maturity and after just two semesters I started Bible College. As a Christian, God has allowed me to go through many different things but also put men and women in my path to teach me and train me up in His word. Who do you have in your life to train you?

In Matthew 14:22-36 there is this event in which Jesus comes to His disciples walking on the surface of the Sea of Galilee. Peter gets this crazy idea. "If Jesus can do that I can too!" Jesus calls to Peter, "come" and Peter does the unthinkable and climbs out of the boat. Instead of sinking, he starts walking on water.

We can go on to see how Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to look at the wind and waves around him and begins to sink, but that isn't what I want to focus on.

How do we get this Crazy kind of Faith?

This type of Faith is not something we have on our own, it is a gift from God. It is something He teaches as we trust in Him for one small thing after another. It is also taught through the testimony of God's people. God taught me a lot about Faith through the work He was and is doing @ the River Community Church in Cookeville, TN. God did so many great things there that when we were called to a church in NW PA that could pay us, we went. I quit my job and moved a family of 6 with out a job that paid, knowing that God would provide. And He has!!!!!

Looking back I see what Peter saw while sitting on that boat. He saw Jesus!

Nothing mattered beyond being more like Him. Doing the things He is doing, saying the things He is saying, loving the people He is loving and offering the hope He is offering.

At times, like Peter, I too get distracted and start to sink but when I cry out to Jesus, He takes my hand and instantly I am back on the boat and Jesus is saying, "Brad, why did you doubt. Oh you of little Faith. Did you not know that I'd take care of you? Why are you worrying? Don't you know how much you mean to me?"

The truth is, Jesus gave everything for you! As He was accused by false witnesses, He thought of You. As He was beaten and mocked by Roman soldiers, He was thinking of You. As He stumbled under the wait of the Cross through the streets of Jerusalem, He was thinking of you. As He was nailed to that Cross, he was thinking of you. And before He gave His life, for you, He cried out on your behalf, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do!"

That is the Crazy kind of Faith that I want. Faith that will stretch arms wide and say, "I Love You!"

How to Live Under the Warning

2010-02-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

This morning I herd a message from a brother named, Jerry. Jerry spoke about living your life as if Christ's return is any moment. A message which fit right into the series iLife I am currently preaching.

2 Peter 3:1-13 says,
"1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.[a]

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b]That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

If we are living in expectation of the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus then we need to be ever mindful of these 6 principles laid out by the Apostle Peter:

1. Remember: The words spoken by the prophets - We must spend time in the word of God; Reading it, Studying it, memorizing it, applying it and living it!

2. Return: Jesus is coming back - This time as Judge of the living and the dead. Are you living in a manor that His return is something that you look forward to or that you will dread. We need to deal with this now

3. Reject: Reject the Mockers - We live in a time where many mock the Living Word of God as found in the Bible. We should expect it, over look it and pray for them as we ask God to use us in a mighty way.

4. Recall: Recall the Flood - This is a call to look at the examples that God has given us in the past, that though He is patient the day will come when God will again pour out His wrath upon a sin-filled world.

5. Reserved: The world is Reserved for Fire - God has already ordained the method of His judgment. Everything will be destroyed by fire. What is in-store for your destiny?

6. Repent: Turn to God While You Can - When Christ returns it will be too late. Jesus Christ, who was born in a stable to a virgin mother, grew into a man of wisdom and stature, lived a life free of sin as an example to all mankind, was crucified upon the Cross at Calvary, laid in a borrowed tomb, rose on the 3rd day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, paid the price for your sins that you may have a relationship with the God and Creator of the Universe. Will you accept Him?

In conclusion Jerry said we must:
Run the Race: 2 Peter 3:17-18
"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
- How will your life be different TODAY?

Eyes on the King

2010-02-13T15:54:00.001-08:00

Yeah I know, it has been a while since I lost wrote, but in all fairness I have been in the hospital. For me this has been a great time of reflection. While I was in the hospital I asked God, "What do you want me to learn in this?"

For me God has made it clear the need to focus on my health. Though I had recently started an endeavor for a healthier life style God's message was clear. It came in the form of my 3rd roommate who while we were discussing spiritual maters commented about the thought process of many Christians.

He asked, "Why is it that as Christians, we are so focused on our spiritual health yet many of us ignore our physical bodies?"

Romans 6:11-12 says, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires."

Is it that this passage could have a lot to say about how we care for ourselves physically as well as spiritually? For example, how many of God's children are destroying ourselves because we are obeying the evil desires of our body.

How many times I have said, "Super Size that!" Food has a way of controlling us if we let it, yet the Bible tells us to be people of self-control. God has made this point by allowing me to have a condition that will be maintained by having a strict healthy diet.

As a child of the King are your eyes on Him when it comes to the things you are putting into your body? It is just something to think about as you seek to draw closer to God through Jesus Christ.

iWork

2010-02-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

Starting a new mini-series this Sunday and thought I'd bring the idea here.

How do we see the jobs that we have? Are the means to an end, something to just pay the bills and get us the things we desire or is it something else? For years I struggled with the mundane task of going to work day after day. Caught up in the routine of a boring job and feeling like there has to be something more.

As I look back I can't help but see all the opportunities I missed. God places each one of us in a career or on a job site for a divine reason. We become His hands, His feet and His mouth to the people we work with. We are His witness in word and deed.

If your job is a burden to you, maybe it is time to infuse it with the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit. In Colossians 3:23 the Bible says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men"

Can you imagine how different work would be if we saw Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords as your boss, as your commander and chief as your CEO?

So I will ask the question, "Who do you work for?"

Silence

2010-02-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

Shhhhhhhh.

Do you hear the silence around you? Yeah, probably not. For the past few days I have been overwhelmed with how much noise is around me all the time. It can be anything, the sound of children, the soft hum of a computer, the TV in the background, the sound of a car driving past or even the over abundance of mundane thoughts penetrating my mind.

There is this story in 1 Kings 19 where Elijah is hiding to try and save his own neck. He feels like he is the only man of God left. He is lonely, tired and afraid. Like many of us, Elijah needed to hear from God. He needed that reassuring presence to remind him why he is doing the things he has been doing.

God shows up and gives Elijah this great visual lessen. In 1 Kings 19:11-13 it says, "The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?""

See those words "gentle whisper" in Hebrew it can also mean "silence". God is in the Silence. It is funny that when we seek God we spend most of our time speaking and so little time listening. We want to here from God but He doesn't interrupt us He hears our every word and then when He is ready to speak to us we say, "Amen" and leave the conversation.

We can fill our lives with so much noise that we miss what God is saying in the silence. What is causing so much noise in your life to day? Will you meet God in the Silence?

What More Did He Have To Do?

2010-01-30T18:24:00.000-08:00

How Often we forget the cost that God paid when Jesus went to that Cross. It is at the foot of the cross that we are set free. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

Jesus came into this world as a helpless infant, for you. He grew into a man of wisdom and stature, for you. He was mocked and persecuted, for you. He was arrested. He was whipped. He was struck in the head with fist and rod. He was spit upon. He was betrayed. He was condemned. He was rejected. He was hated. He had 3 inch thorns shoved on His brow. He had nails driven into His hands and feet. He hung upon that cross - FOR YOU!!!!!

What more did He have to Do, For You?

But that isn't all. He died for you and now HE LIVES FOR YOU! This is Jesus! The King of kings, the Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, First and the Last who the grave couldn't hold and the devil can't stop. He who sits on the right hand of the Father, for you.

What more did He have to do?

Leftovers

2010-01-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

When thinking about time, money and resources I often wonder. Do we truly give God the first and best of our lives or do we give him the leftovers? This is usually a question that is presented before a discussion on tithing but tithing isn't the main point in this subject.

In Matthew 22:35-40 it says, "One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

In essence Jesus wants us to hear 2 things: 1. Make God first in your life! 2. Stop focusing on yourself and put others before you.

These two things sum up the entire scope of scripture. God desires to be first in every area of your life. In your marriage - God first. With your Children - God first. Your friends - God first. Your Job - God first. You free time - God first.

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
~Luke 14:26-27

This dramatic statement by Christ illustrates the importance of loving God so much that by comparison all other relationships don't come close. Will you give God your best and first in all things?

Control

2010-01-23T09:30:00.001-08:00

One of the things that seems to come to my attention again and again is the control we allow things to have in our lives to have over us. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." As I seek to grow and be more like Christ I must ask what is controlling me? Am I controlled by selfish desire or the Spirit of God. Does some substance control me? Is there something in my life I feel I must have? How about you? Is your life controlled by alcohol or nicotine? How about caffeine? Does your day depend on that cup of coffee first thing in the morning? How about other people? Is your self worth dependent on how others view you?

These are some tough questions. Over the past few months God has been dealing with me about issues that are controlling my life. The first one I had to deal with was caffeine. I found myself at a place where I would have a headache until I had some caffeine. It was shock to realize I was being controlled in such a simple way. Yet, it was much the same influence that drugs had over me years ago. Sure I could function without but the day seemed better with my fix. Now the great thing is that through the power of the Holy Spirit I am now caffeine free for about 4 months.

Now God has shown me the control that I have given food in my life. So I am determined with God's help to take back control of the things I eat.

1 Corinthians 6:12 says, "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything." What must we surrender to the cross today?

Peace and Equality

2010-01-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

It is only fitting today to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As Civil Rights leader Dr. King was and is an example of a godly man with a godly mission. He lived a life of purpose. Infused with the Holy Spirit Dr. King understood that one person can make a difference. "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." He was not content to be ruled by the status qua, but was determined to create a new one.

Jesus Christ was his example in word, deed and character. He understood the need that this world has for men of moral fiber to stand up and be heard. "A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan."

Hebrews 10:39 says, "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

Our lives need to be so infused with the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit of God that Jesus' words in Luke 6:27 resonate through our being, "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" This was Dr. King's vision of Peace and equality, "At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love."

iLove-Marriage

2010-01-16T21:22:00.000-08:00

In the beginning God created.....and it was good.

This phrase "it was good" appears after every area of creation but one. In Genesis 2:18 God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." God saw the beauty and need to create families as the building block for all human civilization. God knew that Adam would need a helper, a friend, a mate and a lover. It is here that God brings every animal before Adam to be named and the Bible stats, "But for Adam no suitable helper was found" then God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. When he wakes up he finds himself looking at Eve...

At this point God institutes the first marriage, " For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." Gen 2:24-25

Marriage was never intended to be shameful yet many marriages are full of shame. This brings me to the point of this blog. How do we infuse our marriage with the power and purpose of the Holy Spirit?

C.S. Lewis once said, "When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now."

If we lean on the Holy Spirit as our guiding force and rely upon God's design for marriage we may find that our witness to others may have a greater impact on others. In Ephesians 5:22-32 God lays out His amazing design for marriage that in many disregard today.

In the first part God addresses wives followed by His message to husbands.

To wives God says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord." This passage is one of the most controversial passages we hear about today. (many women are thinking, "I don't think so" and many men are thinking, "that's right"

The word submit means "to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another" Does this mean that a wife should listen and obey her husband? If she is serious about living by God's design, then yes. It means that a wife can now longer live for self but she needs to live for her husband. Her desire should be to see his wants, needs, goals and dreams fulfilled rather than her own. This is contrary to how the world operates.

Now let's look at God's message to men! " Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" Husbands your responsibility and headship in the marriage does not ever give you the right or authority to "lord" over your wife. God did not make woman from man's head so that he can lord over her or from man's foot so she can be trampled on but woman came from his side so that she can walk by his side.

Men you are charged to LOVE. This word love is the greek word AGAPE, the word for divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. This means that if you want to be a godly husband, you have to stop living for your self. You have to give your life for her. That doesn't just mean being willing to die. Jesus loved us so much. "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7) Jesus made Himself nothing for your behalf. Husbands will you make your self nothing for your wife? Your desire should be to see her wants, needs, goals and dreams fulfilled rather than your own. This is contrary to how the world operates.

Infusing your Marriage
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

God must be the 3rd and binding thread in your marriage.

iLife

2010-01-15T20:44:00.000-08:00

If we are going to be serious about living this year as if it is the last one Christ is going to give us with out looking back with regrets then it is important that we allow our lives to be infused with the purpose and power of the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV)

If we allow our lives to be guided by His plans through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit then we will have the kind of abundant living that Christ intended us to have. Therefore, it is important to note that God not only has an over all plan for my life but He has a plan for every area of my life. He has plans to prosper my marriage. Plans to bring both hope and a future to me as a parent. His plans involve my job and my home. Work time and play time. He has plans for my time, my money and my resources. In fact none of it is actually mine.

It is His time, His money and His resources.

As I take this journey I need to allow the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to infuse every area of this life.

The Challenge

2010-01-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

Started 2010 with a challenge! To live this year as if it is the last year that Jesus is going to give the church. This challenge requires examining every area of our lives and asking is this what I want to be doing when Christ returns?

I am praying and asking God to show me the areas in my life that I need to turn over to Him (which will include every area) knowing that their are far too many times that I live for self rather than for Him.

It is my hope that as I take this journey that others will join me. I have set this challenge before my congregation and now I am putting it out there for all to see. I am tired of going through the motions and wondering what would be different if the church were to rise up and be the people that God intended us to be.