TRUTH
"And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels." Ephesians 6:10-12 The Message
MY God is strong - i should run to Him all day every day.
His will is for me is strength - the creator of moons and stars wants me to be strong ... sounds easy for the creator of all things.
I should pick up what the Master has made for me - He has even provided me with the tools i need to live this little life.
Put them to use - i will be able to handle anything the devil throws my way
Remember, this is no afternoon picnic - life is a nonstop journey that is tough and requires us to fight.
Playing for keeps - everything i face today has potential for life and death ... i choose life!
the devil tries to kill me everyday. However, God brings life through grace and love. satan has no chance with me! i am determined to live the way God wants me to live and view this little dance through life as an adventure with the King! An adventure with the King ... a journey with eternal life and death at stake.
23.9.09
Taken from Louie Giglio's "How Great is Our God" talk
Taken from Louie Giglio's "How Great is Our God" talk
Post date: Wed, 09/23/2009
These words came during the last few minutes of this awesome message
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
the Lord is the everlasting God
the creator of the ends of the earth
He will not grow tired or weary
and his understanding no-one can fathom
He’s huge
He’s a star breather
He’s big
But
Listen to what He loves to do
That God
That creator of the ends of the earth
That I do not grow tired or weary
That my understanding is to great for you
That God
Here’s what He does
He gives strength to the weary
He increases the power of the weak
For even the youths will grow tired and weary
and young man will stumble and fall
but those who hope in the Lord
Those who wait upon the Lord
"Wait" in the Hebrew says
Those who stand right in the midst of the craziness
Those who stand right in the midst of the pain
Right in the midst of the chaos
Right in the valley of the shadow of death
And they don’t gloss over it
They are dealing with the hardest stuff in life
But standing in the middle of it —
They say
You know what?
I don’t see what God is doing
I don’t understand what the plan is
But i’ll tell you one thing,
I am not going to give up on God
I’m gonna stand right here in the middle of this moment
I’m gonna trust that God is sitting on a throne
I know that He has a purpose for my life
and a plan for my life
I believe I’m going to see the goodness of God in the land of the living and
I’m not gonna stop believing that no matter what
Here’s the promise
Those who wait upon the Lord
Here’s what I promise
I will renew your strength
When you think you can’t take one more breath
I’ll give you enough to keep going on
and enough to keep going on
and enough to keep going on
and to keep going
and to keep going
and to keep going
You keep hoping
i’ll keep causing strength to rise when you hope
and — you’ll keep going
and You will feel like you have been swept up on the wings of eagles
and you will run and not get weary
and walk through it all and ... not ... faint
I will hold you
even when you let go of me,
I’m not gonna let go of you
Do you know there are millions and millions and millions of microscopic crosses holding you together right now (Laminum)
and one giant glorious cross of Jesus Christ that’s holding everyone of us who has trusted in Him on to the heavenly Father and
and holding the heavenly Father on to us
and it’s gonna keep holding us on to Him - that cross
for ever and ever and ever and ever
We will never not be carried by the strong hand of a universe making God
and He will bring us through
That — is the promise of the everlasting God
Post date: Wed, 09/23/2009
These words came during the last few minutes of this awesome message
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
the Lord is the everlasting God
the creator of the ends of the earth
He will not grow tired or weary
and his understanding no-one can fathom
He’s huge
He’s a star breather
He’s big
But
Listen to what He loves to do
That God
That creator of the ends of the earth
That I do not grow tired or weary
That my understanding is to great for you
That God
Here’s what He does
He gives strength to the weary
He increases the power of the weak
For even the youths will grow tired and weary
and young man will stumble and fall
but those who hope in the Lord
Those who wait upon the Lord
"Wait" in the Hebrew says
Those who stand right in the midst of the craziness
Those who stand right in the midst of the pain
Right in the midst of the chaos
Right in the valley of the shadow of death
And they don’t gloss over it
They are dealing with the hardest stuff in life
But standing in the middle of it —
They say
You know what?
I don’t see what God is doing
I don’t understand what the plan is
But i’ll tell you one thing,
I am not going to give up on God
I’m gonna stand right here in the middle of this moment
I’m gonna trust that God is sitting on a throne
I know that He has a purpose for my life
and a plan for my life
I believe I’m going to see the goodness of God in the land of the living and
I’m not gonna stop believing that no matter what
Here’s the promise
Those who wait upon the Lord
Here’s what I promise
I will renew your strength
When you think you can’t take one more breath
I’ll give you enough to keep going on
and enough to keep going on
and enough to keep going on
and to keep going
and to keep going
and to keep going
You keep hoping
i’ll keep causing strength to rise when you hope
and — you’ll keep going
and You will feel like you have been swept up on the wings of eagles
and you will run and not get weary
and walk through it all and ... not ... faint
I will hold you
even when you let go of me,
I’m not gonna let go of you
Do you know there are millions and millions and millions of microscopic crosses holding you together right now (Laminum)
and one giant glorious cross of Jesus Christ that’s holding everyone of us who has trusted in Him on to the heavenly Father and
and holding the heavenly Father on to us
and it’s gonna keep holding us on to Him - that cross
for ever and ever and ever and ever
We will never not be carried by the strong hand of a universe making God
and He will bring us through
That — is the promise of the everlasting God
14.9.09
How's Your Offering
Malachi 1:6-12
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name.
"But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
7 "You place defiled food on my altar.
"But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?'
"By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
9 "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty.
10 "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
12 "But you profane it by saying of the Lord's table, 'It is defiled,' and of its food, 'It is contemptible.' 13 And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the LORD Almighty.
"When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. 14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name.
"But you ask, 'How have we shown contempt for your name?'
7 "You place defiled food on my altar.
"But you ask, 'How have we defiled you?'
"By saying that the LORD's table is contemptible. 8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty.
9 "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"-says the LORD Almighty.
10 "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
12 "But you profane it by saying of the Lord's table, 'It is defiled,' and of its food, 'It is contemptible.' 13 And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the LORD Almighty.
"When you bring injured, crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the LORD. 14 "Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the LORD Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations.
14.8.09
Start the weekend with something that will never end.
I was struck by two big phrases today. One — tagged on to the end of verses 43 and 44 of Mark chapter 12 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she gave out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on." The widow, according to Jesus, "put in everything." I have so much to learn!!! My offerings are weak!
The second phrase that got my attention was in Mark 13:31. Jesus is still speaking ... He said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Think about it. The words of Jesus will never pass away. On the other hand everything else will. Even heaven and earth. Every galaxy, star, moon, comet and meteor will be gone someday ... Gone. Only one thing will last. The Word. The words of Jesus will never go away. Our short little life is here and gone in a flash. We would be smart if we focused on the words of Jesus.
Today ... take a few minutes and let God's Word speak. Find something Jesus said and let it soak deep into your soul. Start the weekend with something that will never end.
12.8.09
He will have His way
I've been reading through the book of Mark for several weeks now. I am amazed at the profound truth I am reading and amazed at the things God is teaching me. Teaching me about me and teaching me about Him.
I'm going to try and start leaving a few thoughts from my study here ...
Today I was reading in Mark 12. Its the section of Scripture where Jesus told the parable of the vineyard. He built a vineyard, protected the vineyard, gave the vineyard all it needed, turned the vineyard over to farmers and left. After a while, at the time of the harvest, he sent people to go back and collect some of the fruit from the harvest. An interesting thing happened. The farmers ... the people who knew who the true owner of the vineyard was ... acted like fools. They beat the first messenger ... they beat many others ... I guess they wanted control. Power ... lust of the flesh.
Finally ... the Bible says, the owner of the vineyard sent his son ... the son he loved. The farmers went crazy at this point. They completely lost their minds. They said ... this is the heir. They knew who he was. The heir is a powerful person and one you wold think the farmers would want to make happy. But they did just the opposite. The were fools because they killed him. They were fools because in killing the heir they completely cut their own throats. The heir was their chance to have relationship with the owner. What drove them to this point? How could they be so foolish? I mean how can a group of people be so stupid and focused on lies????
The story goes on. The owner comes down and kills the farmers and gives the vineyard to other farmers. The desire for power was the crushing blow to the ones who had been given a trust.
Today as I read these words I am blown away with concern for my own soul. I wonder how many times I have tried to go for power and completely gone around God's desire. I wonder how many times I have beaten the messenger??? How many times have I acted like a fool and rejected God's perfect plan????
So for me today ... I want to embrace the messengers from God and listen to what they are saying to me. I've gone through a lot lately and I just want to hear God and do what He wants me to do. I know God takes these things serious. He will have His way with this foolish little world filled with finite people who think they are so smart.
This is where I am today.
23.7.09
Great Words from Tic Long
I was invited to visit my friend Tic Long's blog a few days ago ... I took the offer and was blown away. Read below and see for yourself.
We Get To Choose
Tic Long
It seems like a lot of life comes to us or even at us, often leaving us with the feeling that we have no choice in the matter. Sometimes it’s little things like our kid gets on a lousy little league team, the restaurant runs out of the special of the day that sounded so good to us, some car wreck in front of us brings traffic to a crawl or a storm comes in and rains out our plans for a big day outdoors. We didn’t do anything to cause these things, they just happened to us. Other times however it’s big things, difficult things, painful things, things that can alter the course of our life. A loved one gets cancer, our pastor gets caught in an affair and our church is a mess, our child has a learning disability that makes school way too difficult and painful, or in my case your job comes to an end. It wasn’t my choice to leave YS, the choice was made for me. I wasn’t the only one involved in the “downsizing” but I had no say in the decision and in a sense it was done “to me”. Of course nothing is really that clear cut in real life. Very seldom are things completely one way or another. Seldom are any of us completely innocent or without any responsibility in a situation but we can still be left with a feeling or a sense that something was done to us and we had no choice. But of course that is not true. We always have a choice. WE ALWAYS GET TO CHOOSE! This was not how I envisioned leaving YS, this was not the time I would have chosen to leave YS but I do have a choice in HOW I leave YS. I get to choose my response. We all get to choose how we respond to something that comes our way. We get to choose our response and in the end that may be the most important choice of all.
In the difficult “big things” that come our way there are many questions that flood our minds and emotions. You know the “why”, “how”, “what”, “who” and “where” type of questions. Some questions come at you like waves on the beach one after the other while others you hunt down, sometimes in hot pursuit of them. For me I have found chasing the “why” question to be the least productive and in fact actually a waste of time. Do we ever get an answer to that question that is truly satisfying? I don’t think so and at least for me it often ends up an exercise in self -justification, self-pity or blame placing. Not a very healthy place to take up residence and not a place where I find God hanging out much. For me there are other questions that are much more powerful, much more life giving and more God finding. The “what”, “how”, “who” and “where” questions area much better place to live in. Chasing down answers to these questions are allowing me to leave the way I want to leave. I want to leave with integrity, grace and gratitude so these are the questions I am choosing to ask myself these days to help me stay that course:
What is God trying to teach me in this?
What do I need to lean about my myself?
What is going to be revealed in me?
What if all that God has taught me to this point has been preparing me for what is next?
How can I respond to this situation with integrity, grace and faithfulness?
How can I find God in this? Can I embrace that God is in the midst of this? Can I remember that it was God who brought me to YS so can’t it be that God is leading me away from YS?
How can I be anything but grateful for the wild and exiting ride it has been at YS?
How can I be anything but thankful that God has allowed me to minister to youth workers for 32 years?
Who am I going to become in this process?
Who is God bringing into my life right now and for what purpose?
Who can speak truth into my life that I need to listen to?
Where am I placing my trust?
Where am I finding my identity?
Where am I going to serve next and can I embrace this as an adventure with God?
These are the questions that bring me life, hope and faith these days. My guess is that in a difficult situation you might be facing it is questions like these that will bring light to dark places. Remember we get to choose our response. It is never helpful to play the victim, to think we have no choice in a situation. That posture gets us nowhere and in my case is an act of faithlessness. It is saying that what I am going through is outside Gods control. It’s denying, as crazy as it may seem, that God may just be in this after all. This does not mean denying the real pain of a situation or acting like it is all no big deal or playing some “happy Christian” game. It’s just the opposite, choosing these responses and ones like them allow us to embrace our pain and grow through it. My leaving YS is incredibly painful for me and I have been on an emotional roller coaster and imagine I will for a while. I don’t try to deny that. But, and it’s a big But, it’s not the end of the story. I get to choose how to respond to what God has put in front of me and to embrace the adventure. To me it’s all about the journey and we get to choose how to embrace that journey and that is a pretty awesome thing.
See what else is on Tic's mind here ... http://ticlong.wordpress.com/
20.7.09
45 Lessons from a 90 Year Old
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland,Ohio.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12 It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is
up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for
an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,
will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40 If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone
else's,we'd grab ours' back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12 It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is
up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for
an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,
will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40 If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone
else's,we'd grab ours' back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
14.7.09
A Few Thoughts from Someone I Deeply Respect
Ran across some notes I took last year at Catalyst ... thought I would pass them along
We fall in love with the way we do ministry
We keep doing it because we are comfortable and in love with it … not because the idea is effective.
No pain … No change
The great leader changes what the next person would change.
Where are we manufacturing energy?????? Where are things going on that we are not all that excited about them???? Where are we pretending.
Its not that easy anywhere …. Being a leader is not easy.
Acknowledge what’s not working and admit why you are not willing to do anything about it. Why am I unwilling to deal with this.
If you don’t make the changes the next person is going to anyway.
Ran across these notes from a talk I heard Andy Stanley do last year at Catalyst ... thought I would pass them along.
When your memories exceed your dreams your end is near.
I want to be an expert on how to do ministry in the future. Am I willing to be more vision oriented than celebration oriented?
Create a church that un-churched people love to attend
Don’t let success overshadow your visions
Success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure
We are uniquely built to do something society can get nowhere else.
The problem with our nation is heart …. We have heart issues
Leaders need to lead with extradinary creativity and courage.
We fall in love with the way we do ministry
We keep doing it because we are comfortable and in love with it … not because the idea is effective.
No pain … No change
The great leader changes what the next person would change.
Where are we manufacturing energy?????? Where are things going on that we are not all that excited about them???? Where are we pretending.
Its not that easy anywhere …. Being a leader is not easy.
Acknowledge what’s not working and admit why you are not willing to do anything about it. Why am I unwilling to deal with this.
If you don’t make the changes the next person is going to anyway.
Ran across these notes from a talk I heard Andy Stanley do last year at Catalyst ... thought I would pass them along.
When your memories exceed your dreams your end is near.
I want to be an expert on how to do ministry in the future. Am I willing to be more vision oriented than celebration oriented?
Create a church that un-churched people love to attend
Don’t let success overshadow your visions
Success breeds complacency and complacency breeds failure
We are uniquely built to do something society can get nowhere else.
The problem with our nation is heart …. We have heart issues
Leaders need to lead with extradinary creativity and courage.
9.7.09
Changed Forever
In the movie Seven Pounds, Ben Thomas says, "I'm helping"when asked what he is doing ... his entire point is that he wants to change people's lives forever.
What a thought!!! What if we lived that way??? Are we supposed to live that way? I mean is the call of Christ on our lives a call to live in such a way that the people we meet are changed forever?
Because of Christ in our lives, the people we meet do have a chance to be changed forever. Think about it ... changed forever! I met a lady in downtown Ft. Worth yesterday. I shared with her what happens when someone who is a Christian dies ... I told her that when a Christian dies they are given eternal life with God in heaven. In a brief conversation, I helped this college age young lady get a taste of what God wants her to know and believe. All I did was a have a short conversation ... I was trying to point her to Jesus.
When I read the book of John ... when I learn more about John the Baptist ... I see a man who believed that Jesus would change people forever. John the Baptist really believed people needed to know Jesus. He believed and wanted others to believe as well.
Go check John 1 out sometime. Lets see a generation help people know Jesus and be changed forever.
What a thought!!! What if we lived that way??? Are we supposed to live that way? I mean is the call of Christ on our lives a call to live in such a way that the people we meet are changed forever?
Because of Christ in our lives, the people we meet do have a chance to be changed forever. Think about it ... changed forever! I met a lady in downtown Ft. Worth yesterday. I shared with her what happens when someone who is a Christian dies ... I told her that when a Christian dies they are given eternal life with God in heaven. In a brief conversation, I helped this college age young lady get a taste of what God wants her to know and believe. All I did was a have a short conversation ... I was trying to point her to Jesus.
When I read the book of John ... when I learn more about John the Baptist ... I see a man who believed that Jesus would change people forever. John the Baptist really believed people needed to know Jesus. He believed and wanted others to believe as well.
Go check John 1 out sometime. Lets see a generation help people know Jesus and be changed forever.
8.7.09
Losing Your Voice
When I was in Middle School it was fun to lose my voice. In fact, we would yell as loud as we could until our regular voices turned into something else. We thought it was cool to have a raspy, quiet, almost whisper kind of voice.
The difference between someone who follows God and someone who doesn't, is a commitment to the Word and to personal time listening to the King. The person who follows God is committed to both and the person who doesn't follow God is committed to neither. We should all be more committed to God's Word and personal time with Jesus.
These are difficult times. Lots of people are walking away from church. The institutional church in America is losing its voice.
The reason we are losing our voice is because it is — "our voice". It needs to be His voice. The way we stop using our voices and tiny little dreams and start using His is by spending lots of time with Him and His word.
Here's a good verse to start with ...
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
When we lost our voice in middle school, people listened to us in a different way. Our raspy new voices commanded attention. I think the same things happens when we lose our voices and start speaking with words from God.
Whose voice is coming out of your mouth ... yours — His
The difference between someone who follows God and someone who doesn't, is a commitment to the Word and to personal time listening to the King. The person who follows God is committed to both and the person who doesn't follow God is committed to neither. We should all be more committed to God's Word and personal time with Jesus.
These are difficult times. Lots of people are walking away from church. The institutional church in America is losing its voice.
The reason we are losing our voice is because it is — "our voice". It needs to be His voice. The way we stop using our voices and tiny little dreams and start using His is by spending lots of time with Him and His word.
Here's a good verse to start with ...
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8
When we lost our voice in middle school, people listened to us in a different way. Our raspy new voices commanded attention. I think the same things happens when we lose our voices and start speaking with words from God.
Whose voice is coming out of your mouth ... yours — His
6.7.09
Follow Me
In these days filled with twitter hype and competition to see who can attract the most followers, the words of Jesus ring loud and true. He calls us to follow Him.
I was reading in Mark 1 this morning. The Gospel opens with the writer telling us about the mission and message of John the Baptist ... John the Baptist was sent ahead in order to tell people about Jesus. He was preparing the way!!! (I pray my message is the same as the message of JTB.)
Verses 9-13 tell us that Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness where He was tempted. After the temptation (vs14), we see Jesus going about proclaiming the Good News of God ... we want to be like Jesus right??? When was the last time we went through the city proclaiming the good news of God?
Verses 16-20 really got my attention. The picture we get of Jesus is that Jesus went about His life proclaiming the Good News of God and asking people to come follow Him.
Look at these words. Read them and ask God to tell you what you are supposed to take away ... Mark 16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
I can see it now ... Jesus, the messiah, the uncreated One, God Himself, walking by the lake, meeting people, telling people He crossed paths with that there is Good News ... and He even took it a step further ... He told them about the Good News and He asked them to drop their way of life and follow Him. That last part blows me away ... drop your way of life and follow ... Think about the ramifications ... drop your income, your rep, your family approval, your way of life and follow a man walking the streets of your city proclaiming the Good New of God ...
From this side of things following Jesus makes perfect sense. I mean I know Jesus is the Son of God. I have the Holy Bible sitting right next to my computer. I have years of life spent around people who believe. From this side of things, it seems like the only way for the disciples to respond was to say yes. Ask me, I say they would have been fools not to take Him up on His offer.
Anyway ... the call of Jesus went out ... Follow Me ... and they followed (go look at verse 18 again).
Its been fun studying this passage today. I love the message God sent me through these few short verses. The challenge He gives me is clear ... I am to point people to Jesus ... I am to live my day telling people the Good News of God ... I should do my part and ask people to follow Jesus ...
Its 11:42am ... I've tried several times to point people to Jesus ... a couple of really good conversations ...Can't wait to see what's next.
before I finish ... I wonder if Jesus would have used Twitter ... I think He would have. I also think Jesus would have used a Mac! haha
Have a great day!!!! Point people to Jesus.
I was reading in Mark 1 this morning. The Gospel opens with the writer telling us about the mission and message of John the Baptist ... John the Baptist was sent ahead in order to tell people about Jesus. He was preparing the way!!! (I pray my message is the same as the message of JTB.)
Verses 9-13 tell us that Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness where He was tempted. After the temptation (vs14), we see Jesus going about proclaiming the Good News of God ... we want to be like Jesus right??? When was the last time we went through the city proclaiming the good news of God?
Verses 16-20 really got my attention. The picture we get of Jesus is that Jesus went about His life proclaiming the Good News of God and asking people to come follow Him.
Look at these words. Read them and ask God to tell you what you are supposed to take away ... Mark 16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
I can see it now ... Jesus, the messiah, the uncreated One, God Himself, walking by the lake, meeting people, telling people He crossed paths with that there is Good News ... and He even took it a step further ... He told them about the Good News and He asked them to drop their way of life and follow Him. That last part blows me away ... drop your way of life and follow ... Think about the ramifications ... drop your income, your rep, your family approval, your way of life and follow a man walking the streets of your city proclaiming the Good New of God ...
From this side of things following Jesus makes perfect sense. I mean I know Jesus is the Son of God. I have the Holy Bible sitting right next to my computer. I have years of life spent around people who believe. From this side of things, it seems like the only way for the disciples to respond was to say yes. Ask me, I say they would have been fools not to take Him up on His offer.
Anyway ... the call of Jesus went out ... Follow Me ... and they followed (go look at verse 18 again).
Its been fun studying this passage today. I love the message God sent me through these few short verses. The challenge He gives me is clear ... I am to point people to Jesus ... I am to live my day telling people the Good News of God ... I should do my part and ask people to follow Jesus ...
Its 11:42am ... I've tried several times to point people to Jesus ... a couple of really good conversations ...Can't wait to see what's next.
before I finish ... I wonder if Jesus would have used Twitter ... I think He would have. I also think Jesus would have used a Mac! haha
Have a great day!!!! Point people to Jesus.
25.3.09
George Whitefield
George Whitefield (1714–1770) began preaching at the age of twenty-four and is the greatest preacher America has ever seen. He preached eighteen thousand sermons to over ten million people during the Great Awakening. He planted 150 churches in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. He preached in open air with crowds as large as thirty thousand people at a time. Amazingly, he preached to such crowds without a microphone and would cough up blood from the strain on his throat. It is estimated that most Americans heard him preach at least once. His farewell sermon on Boston Commons drew more people than Boston’s entire population and was the largest crowd ever gathered in America up to that time.
Taken from Mark Driscoll's Blog
Taken from Mark Driscoll's Blog
14.3.09
13.3.09
Penn Says: A Gift of a Bible
I've seen this several places lately and thought is was worth throwing on my blog tonight ... don't miss the responses below the video.
18.2.09
Check out this article from the Catalyst Blog
FEET & KINGS
By Brad Abare | Church Marketing Sucks.Com
"I have the shoes you gave her if you want them back," said the trembling voice on the phone.
Every fall for the past few years, my wife Jamaica and I pack our bags and make the long 12-mile car ride up the freeway to Pasadena, not far from our home in downtown Los Angeles. We check into the hotel for what will be a series of weeklong meetings for me. With a schedule that runs from early morning through late evening, I usually stay at the hotel, which provides a variety of conveniences, including a commute that lasts as long as an elevator ride. It's also nice when Jamaica can stay with me, which was the case on this occasion.
On one evening during the meetings last fall, I returned to the hotel room after a long day of deliberations. Jamaica had arrived a few minutes before me, herself returning from a home(less) group we're a part of. Our small group consists of people with homes and people without homes. A handful of us gather at a local McDonald's each week—a hub for many homeless in the area—to share fries and friendship.
One of our friends on this particular night was barefoot and had lost her shoes. In a blink, Jamaica took her shoes off and gave them to Medea. If you don't know my wife, this is the way she's wired. It's second nature for her to live and give sacrificially.
The funny part of this story is when Jamaica came back to the hotel. As she got out of the car and gave the keys to the valet (the only way to park at this hotel), the attendant noticed she was barefoot. "Are you a guest here?" said the inquisitive valet guy. "Yes, I'm in room 621." Jamaica proceeded to collect her things and walk through the fancy lobby, up the elevator and to our room. Barefoot.
We received the tear-filled call from Dottie the next day. Dottie and Medea are a regular part of our home(less) group that meets each week. Because of my all day and night meetings, I was unable to participate in the previous evening's assembly. I later learned that Jamaica and Medea spent an unusual amount of time with each other that night. Come to find out, giving her shoes to Medea was the culmination of a strong bonding time they shared through conversation and the care-filled presence of one another.
The call from Dottie, in a voice that choked with emotion, was to inform us of Medea's sudden death. Medea was found face-down in the dirt. She was still wearing Jamaica's shoes that she had received the night before. From what we can gather, Medea died of liver failure.
For reasons different than the passing of those familiar to our lives, it's challenging to mourn the life of an invisible person. Who witnessed her life? Where is her family? Who will miss her? What impact did she have on people for the last half a century? Was Medea even her real name?
Several of us gathered the next week in a small open field under some power lines. It was the space Medea called home, just a few feet from a major traffic intersection. Huddled around the glow of a few candles, we read Scripture and prayed. We shared memories of the Medea we knew so briefly, and ended with a group recitation of the Lord's Prayer.
Here in the U.S., we recently celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The annual holiday to honor a man who believed "that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." As I reflect on King and what his life meant to the marginalized, I can't help but think how much work still remains to be done for you and I.
For all the Medeas in the world, we need more Kings. We need more people who are summoned to action. "One of the great tragedies of life," said King, "is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying." "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be."
I end with a few choice words from the prophet Amos, words quoted many times by King himself. My prayer is that The Liberating King would continue to take residence in our doctrine and our deeds.
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice-oceans of it.
I want fairness-rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want."
-Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
Brad Abare is the director of communications for the Foursquare denomination, founder of the Center for Church Communication, Church Marketing Sucks and president of Personality, a consulting firm that helps organizations figure out who they are. He and his wife Jamaica live in Los Angeles.
By Brad Abare | Church Marketing Sucks.Com
"I have the shoes you gave her if you want them back," said the trembling voice on the phone.
Every fall for the past few years, my wife Jamaica and I pack our bags and make the long 12-mile car ride up the freeway to Pasadena, not far from our home in downtown Los Angeles. We check into the hotel for what will be a series of weeklong meetings for me. With a schedule that runs from early morning through late evening, I usually stay at the hotel, which provides a variety of conveniences, including a commute that lasts as long as an elevator ride. It's also nice when Jamaica can stay with me, which was the case on this occasion.
On one evening during the meetings last fall, I returned to the hotel room after a long day of deliberations. Jamaica had arrived a few minutes before me, herself returning from a home(less) group we're a part of. Our small group consists of people with homes and people without homes. A handful of us gather at a local McDonald's each week—a hub for many homeless in the area—to share fries and friendship.
One of our friends on this particular night was barefoot and had lost her shoes. In a blink, Jamaica took her shoes off and gave them to Medea. If you don't know my wife, this is the way she's wired. It's second nature for her to live and give sacrificially.
The funny part of this story is when Jamaica came back to the hotel. As she got out of the car and gave the keys to the valet (the only way to park at this hotel), the attendant noticed she was barefoot. "Are you a guest here?" said the inquisitive valet guy. "Yes, I'm in room 621." Jamaica proceeded to collect her things and walk through the fancy lobby, up the elevator and to our room. Barefoot.
We received the tear-filled call from Dottie the next day. Dottie and Medea are a regular part of our home(less) group that meets each week. Because of my all day and night meetings, I was unable to participate in the previous evening's assembly. I later learned that Jamaica and Medea spent an unusual amount of time with each other that night. Come to find out, giving her shoes to Medea was the culmination of a strong bonding time they shared through conversation and the care-filled presence of one another.
The call from Dottie, in a voice that choked with emotion, was to inform us of Medea's sudden death. Medea was found face-down in the dirt. She was still wearing Jamaica's shoes that she had received the night before. From what we can gather, Medea died of liver failure.
For reasons different than the passing of those familiar to our lives, it's challenging to mourn the life of an invisible person. Who witnessed her life? Where is her family? Who will miss her? What impact did she have on people for the last half a century? Was Medea even her real name?
Several of us gathered the next week in a small open field under some power lines. It was the space Medea called home, just a few feet from a major traffic intersection. Huddled around the glow of a few candles, we read Scripture and prayed. We shared memories of the Medea we knew so briefly, and ended with a group recitation of the Lord's Prayer.
Here in the U.S., we recently celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The annual holiday to honor a man who believed "that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality." As I reflect on King and what his life meant to the marginalized, I can't help but think how much work still remains to be done for you and I.
For all the Medeas in the world, we need more Kings. We need more people who are summoned to action. "One of the great tragedies of life," said King, "is that men seldom bridge the gulf between practice and profession, between doing and saying." "I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be."
I end with a few choice words from the prophet Amos, words quoted many times by King himself. My prayer is that The Liberating King would continue to take residence in our doctrine and our deeds.
"I can't stand your religious meetings.
I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
your pretentious slogans and goals.
I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes,
your public relations and image making.
I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
I want justice-oceans of it.
I want fairness-rivers of it.
That's what I want. That's all I want."
-Amos 5:21-24 (The Message)
Brad Abare is the director of communications for the Foursquare denomination, founder of the Center for Church Communication, Church Marketing Sucks and president of Personality, a consulting firm that helps organizations figure out who they are. He and his wife Jamaica live in Los Angeles.
14.2.09
Thoughts After Reading Ch 1 of Crazy Love
I love AW Tozer. I started reading his work back in the late 80's. He says things that challenge me, inspire me, and urge me closer to God. It looks like he has an influence on Francis Chan as well.
I love the way Chan writes and the approach he has to the concept of love ... I mean how can you talk or write about love without putting things in perspective. To know love you have to know God. Until we truly understand God our view of love will always be messed up.
Thinking back through the following truths about God was really good for me
~ God is Holy
~ God is eternal
~ God is all-knowing
~ God is all-powerful
~ God is fair and just
I remember first learning this stuff back in High School. My pastor was a great preacher who took the Bible apart for me each and every week. He spent long hours preparing in-depth talks (he called sermons) (using the term sermon ... not cool anymore hahaha ... we are so goofy sometimes). These talks consumed me. I took notes and wrote down everything he said every week. I ate it up! He helped me begin the journey and I'm missing those days today.
I remember taking these big concepts, the same ones Chan is talking about today, and growing closer to God. Pretty challenging stuff.
I like the way Chan keeps pressing us into action. He doesn't want us to read the book just for the sake of acquiring more knowledge ... he's pressing us to read and do ... that's good.
My favorite section of the chapter was ... the entire chapter ... I looked back through it to pull one part out as a fav and couldn't find one. He set it up just right with the opening, gave us some real meat, and ended with application ... perfect.
Today I want to sit and think about the great God I was put on the planet to love and serve.
I love the way Chan writes and the approach he has to the concept of love ... I mean how can you talk or write about love without putting things in perspective. To know love you have to know God. Until we truly understand God our view of love will always be messed up.
Thinking back through the following truths about God was really good for me
~ God is Holy
~ God is eternal
~ God is all-knowing
~ God is all-powerful
~ God is fair and just
I remember first learning this stuff back in High School. My pastor was a great preacher who took the Bible apart for me each and every week. He spent long hours preparing in-depth talks (he called sermons) (using the term sermon ... not cool anymore hahaha ... we are so goofy sometimes). These talks consumed me. I took notes and wrote down everything he said every week. I ate it up! He helped me begin the journey and I'm missing those days today.
I remember taking these big concepts, the same ones Chan is talking about today, and growing closer to God. Pretty challenging stuff.
I like the way Chan keeps pressing us into action. He doesn't want us to read the book just for the sake of acquiring more knowledge ... he's pressing us to read and do ... that's good.
My favorite section of the chapter was ... the entire chapter ... I looked back through it to pull one part out as a fav and couldn't find one. He set it up just right with the opening, gave us some real meat, and ended with application ... perfect.
Today I want to sit and think about the great God I was put on the planet to love and serve.
31.1.09
20.1.09
Rick Warren's Prayer Today at the Inauguration
I thought this was fantastic ... way to go Rick Warren
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
18.1.09
Today at Connect
I got to preach today at Connect. As I prepared the talk, I had this clear message from God. He wanted me to share a simple truth from Proverbs 3 and Psalm 90. I struggled with it. I had a lot of questions. I just wanted to make sure it was from Him and not from me.
So ... after over two weeks of preparation, I delivered the talk and I believe God was honored. I'm sure I did what He wanted me to do.
I shared truths out of Proverbs like
... do not forget my teaching. I particularly struggled with this part because so many times I forget God's teaching and cram though life on my own teaching. Not what God wants!
... do not let love and faithfulness ever leave you. I told a story about a gang member at Francis Chan's church. I read it this week on the Catalyst filter. It was a moving story about a gang member who got more out of gangs than he did the church. He said that gangs love more than two hours a week.
... trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. What does it look like for a person to trust God with all their heart? I struggled with this one too. I want to trust God with all my heart. I want Connect to trust God that much as well.
... do not be wise in your own eyes. This one was yet another hard phrase to talk about. I mean, we Americans are so guilty of this one! We think we have so many things figured out! Only in God will things ever be right.
... honor God with your wealth. We are so rich! God wants us to honor Him with our wealth. He gave it to us in the first place. He wants us to honor Him with it. What does it really look like to honor God with our wealth?
Speaking in public makes me really nervous. It always has. I have to trust in God to ever get anything said worth saying. It is painfully hard for me to hear God and deliver His message. I hope I did today.
On a personal note ... I love God! I love the way He works. I love His mystery. I love the way He chooses to do things and I love the fact that He doesn't tell us everything He's up to. Praise Him. He is before all things and worthy of my praise forever and ever and ever!!!!!!
So ... after over two weeks of preparation, I delivered the talk and I believe God was honored. I'm sure I did what He wanted me to do.
I shared truths out of Proverbs like
... do not forget my teaching. I particularly struggled with this part because so many times I forget God's teaching and cram though life on my own teaching. Not what God wants!
... do not let love and faithfulness ever leave you. I told a story about a gang member at Francis Chan's church. I read it this week on the Catalyst filter. It was a moving story about a gang member who got more out of gangs than he did the church. He said that gangs love more than two hours a week.
... trust in the Lord with ALL your heart. What does it look like for a person to trust God with all their heart? I struggled with this one too. I want to trust God with all my heart. I want Connect to trust God that much as well.
... do not be wise in your own eyes. This one was yet another hard phrase to talk about. I mean, we Americans are so guilty of this one! We think we have so many things figured out! Only in God will things ever be right.
... honor God with your wealth. We are so rich! God wants us to honor Him with our wealth. He gave it to us in the first place. He wants us to honor Him with it. What does it really look like to honor God with our wealth?
Speaking in public makes me really nervous. It always has. I have to trust in God to ever get anything said worth saying. It is painfully hard for me to hear God and deliver His message. I hope I did today.
On a personal note ... I love God! I love the way He works. I love His mystery. I love the way He chooses to do things and I love the fact that He doesn't tell us everything He's up to. Praise Him. He is before all things and worthy of my praise forever and ever and ever!!!!!!
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