tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57278878453535067502024-03-08T13:53:19.679-08:00BWsBLOGThis blog is about creating a dialogue with anyone who needs a voice. I intend to write to encourage those who need encouraging and to challenge those who need challenging.
So may you enjoy what you read, give feedback, and know that you have the freedom to be real and honest with your opinions and views without judgement or condemnation.
I will be transparent and I hope that you will be too.
BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-32132954731102755572011-05-10T12:02:00.000-07:002011-05-11T09:22:15.639-07:00"Don't Make Yourself Important"The title of this article comes from the little, non-inspired heading in my Bible that comes before <strong>verses 7-11 of Luke 14</strong>. Jesus is teaching on humility as he is watching people come into the home of a leading Pharisee and "were choosing the best places to sit." It seems that people were coming into this home and taking the best seats, so they could be recognized as someone who is important.<br /><br />The Pharisees loved to do this didn't they? They just loved to make themselves <em>look</em> important by the way they dressed. They loved to make themselves <em>sound</em> important by praying verbose prayers to God. They wanted to come across as <em>more spiritual</em> by announcing when they would fast or when they would do good deeds (see Matt. 6). And now here, in Luke 14, we find some of these "guests” scrambling for the best seats in this leading Pharisees house so they will be recognized as people who are important. <br /><br />Our society struggles w/ humility doesn’t it? How many times have we seen an athlete make a great play and then beat his chest, raise his hands in the air, or do some ridiculous dance, as if to say, “Look how great I am”? How many times do we hear of celebrities announcing a specific dollar amount that they are giving to charity? <br />Now perhaps we have come to expect this sort of thing from <em>those</em> people. But what about us? Ever get a little upset that your child’s name wasn’t spelled right in the paper? Or that some of the information about you in the article was a little off? Or that one team was on the front page and yours wasn’t? Perhaps at the core of your disappointment is the fact that you, your child or your team wasn’t being recognized as “great” like you thought they should be. <br /><br />The lesson that Jesus gives is that, <strong>“All who make themselves great will be made humble, but those who make themselves humble will be made great” (vs. 11).</strong> Once again, Jesus turns things upside-down as he redefines what true greatness is. It seems to me that true greatness is found in those who are humble and not in those who need recognition for their deeds, donations, or accomplishments. <br /><br />Jesus knows where our hearts are “sitting” and whether it desires the important seats that make us look great. Let us learn to be humble and take the seats of less importance so that “When the host comes to you, he may say, Friend, move up here to a more important place.” <br /><br />~ BrianBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-9695468041404757092011-03-30T09:21:00.000-07:002011-03-30T09:58:32.209-07:00That is what we do- Spring Break 2011, B La B“Want to thank our church family from Searcy, Arkansas for a great week of hard work and great fellowship. They worked in the community, worked with our children programs, and handed out food to the needy and so much more. Thanks again!” This is a wall post from the Hemley Road church of Christs’ Facebook page as they expressed their appreciation for us coming to Bayou LaBatre, Alabama to partner with them in their effort to make the good news known to the “B La B” community. While I am not exactly sure who posted it, it does speak on behalf of the church family, as a whole, in this small expression of gratitude. Yet, we cannot take the credit for what we did last week. We will not boast in ourselves for the yards that were mowed, the lots that were cleared of branches, for the cemetery that was cleaned, or the food and clothes that were handed out to those in need. We will not boast in ourselves for teaching the kids with a puppet show, for the love and encouragement that was offered, for the fellowship we shared with the Hemley Road family, or for the songs we sang in worship to God on a beach as the sun was setting behind us. No, we will not boast in ourselves about these works and the many other good things that took place last week in B La B. But with humility, we give thanks to God for allowing us the time, energy, funds, transportation, chaperones, food, and housing as all of the glory goes to him and not to us. Paul wrote, “God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing” (Ephesians 2:10; NCV). This past week was hard as some dealt with blisters, allergies, and fatigue. But this week was also fun filled as we laughed, played card games, made new friendships, and got to know one another better. And who can forget about the weeklong game of “Mafia?” All that said, we returned to Bayou LaBatre because “God made us to do good works, which God planned in advanced for us to live our lives doing.” In short, we were simply doing, what we were made to do. We were made to do good works. Sometimes that means we take a mission trip and sometimes that means we go get the mail for our neighbors. And however that looks in our individual lives or in the life of the whole Cloverdale family, we can’t deny that we are to live our lives doing the work God planned for us to do, not so we can boast in ourselves, but so the world will see how gracious and loving God is. That is what we do, BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-37880803668488345242011-02-16T12:41:00.000-08:002011-02-17T08:21:37.197-08:00"The Person Who Give Happily"Last Thursday, my son Lincoln found a dime somewhere in the house. He was so excited about finding it b/c he is beginning to realize the value of money and that he can buy stuff w/ it. So he kept track of it the whole day but b/c he is a typical 5 year, he set it down on the entertainment center and forgot about it.<br /><br />Sunday came and I knew he was going to want to put some money in the collection plate when it was time. So on my way out the door, I saw his dime was still sitting where he left it so I grabbed it to give to him.<br /><br />When we got to the church building, I had to run upstairs to do a few things for classes and Lincoln came w/ me. While were upstairs, I pulled out his dime and told him he could put it in the collection plate, giving it to God.<br /><br />This is when things got interesting b/c it seemed that Lincoln didn't want to give the dime away b/c it was his dime. Afterall, HE found it right? And that is exactly what he told me. However, w/ no time to explain the theology of giving in a way a 5 year old could understand, I was still able to convince him that he still needed to give it to God and put it in the collection plate. So we left it at that and went downstairs to take our seat in the pew.<br /><br />Then the moment of truth came. The plates were being passed and Lincoln, reluctantly pulls out his dime and stares at it, then looks at me and then looks at mom, and says w/ his bottom lip sticking out, "I don't want to give it away." Yet, when the plate stopped right in front of Lincoln, he dropped his dime in the plate. Needless to say, Lincoln was not giving happily. <br /><br />I wonder how many of us are like this? How many times do we either not give or if we do give, we don't have the right attitude. The "it" can be anything; money, time, resources, food, clothes, etc. But b/c we think it belongs to us, we don't give it away or we give with sadness.<br /><br />Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, <strong>"Each one should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give b/c you feel forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily" (2 Cor. 9:7, NCV).</strong><br /><br />When we arrived home, Lincoln came up to me w/ a dollar in his hand. Apparently, later that morning, a man came up to Lincoln and gave it to him. I'm not sure who it was but b/c he knew Lincoln's birthday was the next day, he gave him a dollar. WOW...a whole dollar!! You can imagine how excited Lincoln was to have it.<br /><br />So I tried to use this opportunity to remind Lincoln about how God blesses us w/ so much more when we give him the little we have. Paul said it better in verse 8, <strong>"And God can give you more blessings than you need."</strong><br /><br />Now, you and I know that it was just a dime.....not worth much. But to Lincoln it was money and he thought it was his. But the reality is, it wasn't ever Lincoln's dime, it was God's. In fact, nothing that we have is ours b/c it all belongs to God and he gives it to us, to use while we live here.<br />The question then becomes, if everything (i.e. money, time, homes, cars, food, clothes, etc) we have was given to us by God, then how would God expect us to use it?<br /><br />Paul continues his letter saying, <strong>"He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely...." (v. 11)</strong>. <br /><br />The answer is clear w/ what we are to do w/ the "riches" God has given us; "give freely." This means that if God gives things to us b/c we have a need, we ought to give them away to those who have a need. <br /><br />Guess what Lincoln found on Monday? You guessed it, another dime. Only this time he was the one who told me he was going to give it to God on Sunday. Lesson learned? Perhaps. <br /><br />How about us?<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-42539318063751868822010-12-08T08:32:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:17:51.369-08:00LukewarmIn <strong>Revelation ch. 3:14ff</strong>, Jesus tells the church in Laodicea, <em>"I know what you do, that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold! But b/c you are lukewarm- neither hot, nor cold- I am ready to spit you out of my mouth" (NCV).</em> <br /><br />I can understand why Jesus would want to spit a "lukewarm" church out of his mouth b/c, if you take the metaphor of water, lukewarm water doesn't taste good. And a lukewarm church isn't what Jesus wants. But what he does want is a church that is either hot or cold. <br /><br />Why hot or cold? Well, keeping w/ the metaphor, water that is hot or cold is more useful than water that is lukewarm. <br /><br />If you consider hot water, it can be used for cleaning wounds, scratches, and cuts. In other words, hot water can be the first thing that can help in the healing process. What if the church was the first thing in healing process for people? I mean, when the church is hot, we can be the first thing that helps people heal from their brokenness, hurts, and pain. <br /><br />If you consider cold water, it can be a great source of refreshment. In fact, studies prove that runners who drink cold water before they run and while they are running, can run longer distances. Why? B/c it provides a refreshing boast of energy. <br />We live in a crazy, hurried, fast paced world and everyone needs a "cup of cold water" (Matt. 10:42). What if the church was the place that provided the much needed refreshment this world desparately needs? In other words, when a church is like cold water, it provides, not only the church, a refreshing boast of energy to help "us run the race that is before us and never give up" (Heb 12:1) but it also provides the world a new, refreshing look at what it means to follow Jesus. <br /><br />So what will the church be? A hot, healing source for the broken and hurting or a cold, refreshing boast for the tired and burdened? Jesus gives us the choice in Revelation 3; we can be either hot or cold but may we never be lukewarm.<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-30129975697078850962010-11-17T09:03:00.000-08:002010-11-17T09:35:56.269-08:00Faithful PersistenceIn <strong>Matthew 15:21-28</strong>, Jesus has an encounter with a Canaanite woman, who's daughter is demon possessed. As this woman was crying out to Jesus, over and over again she is addressing him as "Lord" knowing that he is the only one who can help her. <br /><br />Now the strange thing about this story is that she calls out to Jesus four times, but after the first three pleas for help, Jesus doesn't respond like we would think. After her first cry to him, he just ignores her and then after the second, he tells her, <em>"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."</em> And then, after she falls to her knees in total desperation and asks for help a third time, he tells her, <em>"It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."</em> <br /><br />Wow! Really Jesus? Where is the love? Where is the compassion? <br /><br />Sometimes this is how we feel when we approach the throne of God in prayer and we don't get what we want. There are times when we are just begging and crying out to God over and over and it seems like we are just being ignored by God or that he has some more important people to help. But perhaps, this is just a test to see how faithful we will be. <br /><br />Finally, this woman tells Jesus, <em>"Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."</em> And it is in this moment that Jesus gets what he wanted out of this woman; a persistent faith. Jesus says, <em>"Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." </em><br />If this woman would of quit praying, her daughter never would have been healed. How many times have you quit praying to God?<br /><br />A lot of times when we don't get what we want from God we give up and stop praying. But we have to remember that when we pray, it's not just about what we want, but what God wants. And what God wants is for us to have a faithful, persistent prayer life. That means, God never wants us to stop talking to him, asking him for things, and being faithfully persistent in doing so.<br /><br />May we have a faithful persistence in our prayers to God,<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-3653070157020177432010-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:002010-10-12T10:03:15.847-07:00"Then they forgot me"<strong>Hosea 13:4-6:</strong> <em>"But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”</em><br /><em><br /></em>In Hosea 13:4-5, God reminds the people of Israel of five things, “I am the Lord your God”, He brought them out of Egypt, the command to “acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me”, He took care of them in the desert and fed them and they were satisfied.<br /><br />God is so good isn’t he? He has blessed us beyond what we deserve. I imagine that most of us reading this article have food, clothes, and shelter. I imagine that most of us have some kind of income or have parents with good jobs that provide an income.<br /><strong>Our God is so good!<br /></strong><br />We have been blessed to live in United States of America and all of the freedoms we enjoy. We have the freedom to come a building every Sunday and worship our good God. And because we live in this country, we enjoy the luxuries of good medicine, technology, and education.<br /><strong>Our God is so good!<br /></strong><br />Yet most importantly, we have been set free from sin because of the blood of Jesus Christ. It is because of the death, burial, and resurrection of God’s only Son, Jesus, that we are washed clean of our sins, have hope in eternal glory with the Father, and we can stand before him with confidence on the day of judgment, knowing that we belong to him.<br /><strong>Our God is so good!</strong><br /><br />And we like the Israelites have been reminded of the same things from Hosea 13:4-5. But a troubling thing happened to them that we need to be warned of today. God said in verse 6,<br /><br /><strong><em>“When they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”</em></strong><br /><br />It is hard to imagine that a people who have been incredibly blessed by a God who is so good could actually forget about the One from which the blessings come from. But this is exactly what happened to the Israelites and could very well happen to us to just as easy.<br /><br />We have been given everything we need by God. <strong>Let’s not forget Him.</strong><br /><br />We have been blessed to live in this country because of God. <strong>Let’s not forget Him.</strong><br /><br />We have forgiveness and are set free from our sins because of God. <strong>Let’s not forget Him.<br /></strong><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-81170375390649948762010-09-14T12:20:00.000-07:002010-09-15T09:42:29.823-07:00Time for an UpgradeI just got a new cell phone b/c I was eligible for an upgrade. Not only was I eligible for a new phone but I was in desperate need of one b/c some how at some point my old phone had obtained some water damage. I don't know how this happened b/c I am very protective of my phone. So needless to say, I was very annoyed that my phone was damaged b/c I couldn't hear people or they couldn't here me, my texts weren't going through or it was sending duplicate texts, and I found myself feeling some what disconnected not being able to communicate. So, my eligibility for an upgrade came at the right time.<br /><br />There are a lot of times when we need to upgrade our lives and I would say that most of us are very desperate and very eligible. First, I don't mean that we need to buy some new "thing" to make us feel good. We don't need to spend our time and energy pursuing status, recognition, and the favor of people so that we can have some kind of meaning in our lives. That "stuff" will only leave us more empty than we were before.<br /><br />What I mean by upgrading our lives is that we need to get rid of the old life we are living and live the life God made us for. In John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."<br /><br />There is one who has come steal away our joy, kill our relationship w/ God, and destroy our relationships w/ our families. But Jesus comes to give us a full life. This isn't the get rich quick or feel good gospel either. This is a life for those who are in Jesus, who know him, and are free from sin, guilt, and shame. Its for those who want Jesus as their shepherd, master, teacher, friend and will follow him where ever he leads.<br /><br />Yet, I believe that most of us aren't living the full life Jesus made us for. I see us sometimes just going through the motions in our lives, living day to day in our routines, and have become stagnant and complacent. We find ourselves living w/out purpose or meaning. We find ourselves bored and apathetic. We find ourselves drifting away from what God wants for our lives. We find ourselves complaining and being ungrateful for what we have. And we find ourselves sitting in worship just singing along, taking communion, giving our money, distracted while praying, and tuning out the preacher. And b/c of this, we find ourselves, like me w/ my phone: damaged and disconnected. <br /><br />Jesus has a word for this type of living. He called it being "lukewarm" when he addressed the church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:16a). The problem w/ the church there was they thought that b/c they were so rich and wealthy they didn't need anything (v. 17). And b/c of this Jesus says, "I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (v. 16b). <br /><br />There is something that God finds disgusting when we live "lukewarm" lives. There is something he finds repulsive when are stagnant, complacent, and just going through the motions. And when it comes to the way we treat worship it angers him when, "These people (<em>this would be us</em>) come near to me w/ their mouth and honor me w/ their lips, but their hearts are far from me" (Is. 29:13). <br /><br />Perhaps this is where you are and believe me, I've been there too. If this is the case, then we are long over due for an upgrade of our hearts. God doesn't want people who claim to follow Jesus, living "lukewarm" lives. He wants our hearts b/c only when He has it, will our worship be acceptable to Him. Only then will we have a sense of purpose, focus, and mission. And only then will we be so connected to God that we will begin to live the full life, he died for us to live.<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-43246818741795397022010-09-02T07:33:00.000-07:002010-09-02T10:26:57.019-07:00A Surpressed Hunger & ThirstI remember when I ran my first marathon I lost a lot of weight. I had actually lost about 20 pounds and got down to what I weighed all through high school b/c of the amount of running I was doing. I wasn't extremely thin, but let's say that most of my clothes kind of hung from me. <br />Now, when I started running it wasn't my intention to lose that kind of weight. Besides, at that point, I was eating everything in sight and still dropping pounds. So I wasn't all that concerned.<br /><br />Since then, I've run two more marathons but my weight has increased w/ each race and now I am back to where I was before I was training for my first race. I have always considered it as a "plateau" and I don't think much about it. But having done a little research, I have discovered that some runners actually gain weight while training b/c of the hormone "leptin." <br /><br />Leptin is a hormone in our bodies that is designed to tell us when we have had enough to eat. In other words, it is hormone that surpresses our hunger. The strange thing that science has found is that people who are obese have extremely high levels of leptin but are able to override the signals telling them to stop eating. And this is why people tend to eat more, when they shouldn't. Now the ironic thing is while those who exercise for long periods of time (i.e. distance runners) can actually decrease their leptin levels. So the conclusion, is if your leptin levels decrease, then there aren't enough to tell your body when to stop eating. <br />So, for a person like me, the theory is when I run I am eating whatever I want, but perhaps I am eating too much b/c my leptin levels are too low and I am not getting the signals to stop eating and this is why I've gained weight while running. I know, sounds strange. <br /><br />When it comes to our walk w/ God, we are told that we are blessed when we "hunger and thirst for righteousness" b/c we "will be filled" (Matt 5:6). So, while our bodies tell us when we are full and have had enough to eat, there is nothing in us that tells we have had enough of God. <br /><br />Have you ever had one of those feelings when you felt "spiritually full?" Maybe it was at some youth rally, conference, Sunday worship, etc and when the moment, event or weekend was over, you just felt completely full, spiritually. I have recently wondered about that feeling b/c it doesn't make sense. You see, when we are full from food, there is no way we could eat another bite (unless it's brownies and ice cream :). But is it really the same when we are spiritually full? I mean, when we say we are spiritually full, are we really saying that we couldn't take anymore God? <br /> <br />Leptin is that hormone God put in our bodies to surpress our hunger so we would stop eating. But God didn't put anything in us that tell us to stop being hungry and thirsting for him. In fact, it's just the opposite w/ God in that the more we hunger and the more we thirst, the more we will want God. Furthermore, while there isn't anything in us to surpress our hunger for God, God did give us something that would make us starve for him; His Spirit. <br /><br />So if that is the case, if God put his Spirit in us so we would want him more, then why do we have a surpressed hunger and thirst for him? Perhaps it's b/c when we think we are full, we really aren't b/c the fact is, we will never be full enough of God. That means, when we are hungry and thirsty for God we will always seek him and we will NEVER get enough of him. And that is what God wants. <br />God isn't like food b/c if he was, we would treat him that way. Meaning, sometimes we would over eat and other times not eat enough. Somtimes we would starve ourselves of God and not eat anything and sometimes we would binge and purge. But that's not the kind of relationship God wants w/ us. <br /><br />God wants us to hunger and thirst for him so he can fill us w/ blessings. So while we will never be full of God, God will fill us w/ what he wants.....his Spirit and his blessings.... helping us to stay in a realtionship w/ Him.<br /><br />So what's surpressing your hunger and thirst for God? Do you really think you are full ? Perhaps the best question is, are you being filled?<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-53113178084492409142010-08-30T10:29:00.000-07:002010-08-30T11:48:08.004-07:00Mind and BodyMaybe you've heard something along the lines of, "The mind is strong but the body is weak." This is a reality that we all face as our bodies begin to get older and break down. It's this reality that says, we just can't do the things we used to do when we were younger but our mind still thinks we can. I am not really sure why that is either. I mean, why can't there be some kind of impulse that our brain sends to our body warning us, "You better not play that, eat that, or drink that b/c if you do, you'll pay for it later"?<br /><br />Lately, my bones and joints do a lot of cracking and aching yet I am still convinced....in my mind....I can run for miles, play basketball all day, and work out 4 days a week. Oh and by the way, I still eat my share of brownies and ice cream through the week too. ; )<br /><br />That said, the frustrating reality that I'm beginning to face is that I am not as young as I used to be and while the mind is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">definitely</span> still strong, determined, and stubborn, the body is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">definitely</span> breaking down, getting tired, and growing weaker.<br />And I know there are some who are probably laughing about this and rolling your eyes b/c I am only 34 and you are thinking, "Just wait until you get to be my age!" But it doesn't matter what the age is b/c the fact remains, our minds always stay strong while our bodies grow weak.<br /><br />I can't help but wonder how this relates to our Spiritual lives. There is no doubt that the same frustration exist when it comes to our quest to do what is good and not do what is evil. I mean, in our minds/hearts, we know what we should be doing but b/c our bodies are weak, our flesh is weak, we find ourselves doing what we shouldn't.<br /><br />Paul faced this reality when he said in <strong>Romans 7:15ff</strong>, <em>"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."</em> <strong>Vs. 18-</strong> "<em>I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep doing."</em><br /><br />Clearly, Paul is struggling w/ wanting to do good, yet he finds himself doing evil. This is the battle that we face everyday. It's this battle against mind verses body or Spirit verses flesh b/c in our minds/Spirits we know what we should do but our bodies/flesh tell us to do the opposite. So what can we do?<br /><br />Here's 2 things we can do:<br />First, cry out to Jesus. Paul said in <strong>Romans 7:24-25,</strong> <em>"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our Lord!"</em><br />Paul knew that the only way he could do what is right is if he "got right" w/ God. And he knew that the only way to do that was through his son, Jesus. So Paul, calls out to him to rescue him from his sinful "body of death."<br /><br />Second, confess our wretchedness. Paul realized he was a sinner, he was broken, he was a "wretched man." He knew that he had to confess his sins to God so he could be forgiven of the things he had done. So w/ all <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">humility</span> Paul confesses that he is a "wretched man", acknowledging that it is only God who can and will forgive him.<br /><br />I am sure all of us struggle or will struggle, physically, to do things we used to do, yet our minds say we can still do those things. But this note isn't about what we can/can't do physically. This is about what we do Spiritually, as we struggle to do what is right but find ourselves doing things we shouldn't, things we hate, things we regret.<br /><br />So where do you find yourself as you read this note? Maybe you find yourself saying, as Paul did, "I do not understand what I do" and b/c of that, you need to cry out to Jesus and confess to him. And even now as you consider that, the mind is telling you, "do it...cry to him, confess to him." But your body is saying, "Forget that. You are fine. You don't need to do that."<br /><br />If this is you, may you find the strength to do what is right by calling on Jesus and confessing your sins to him. May this be the day you make a commitment to do what you know to do is right, and stop doing the things you shouldn't; things you know are wrong.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BW</span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-14198522731476328082010-08-26T08:49:00.001-07:002010-08-26T09:47:34.638-07:00Compelled and ConvictedWhy do you do what you do? What is your motivation behind doing it? What is that emotion you feel in your heart, running through your veins that is driving you to do what it is you do?<br /><br />What is the "IT" you are doing? "IT" can be anything. It can be driving, drinking coffee, playing guitar, listening to music, serving others, sharing the "good news", going to church, to a movie, to a concert, to hang out.....anything. But the question here isn't, "What do you do?" It's why do you do it? <br /><br />I believe, we don't do anything w/out something that is compelling us to do so. And nothing is going to compel us to do anything, unless we are convinced there is a bigger reason to do what we do. It's a reason or conviction that is bigger than ourselves. And it is so big, that we will stop at nothing to do it. So what is that conviction that is compelling you to do, what it is you do? <br /><br /><strong>2 Cor. 5:14-15 says, "For Christ's love <em>compels</em> us, b/c we are <em>convinced</em> that one died for all, and therefore, all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."</strong><br /><br />For Paul, he considered himself an "ambassador" of the "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:20). It was a ministry that God gave him and has given to all believers, those who would profess to follow Jesus, that not only brings <em>us</em> back into a forgiven, sins not counted against us relationship w/ God (2 Cor. 5:19) but it is an invitation for everyone as well. <br />Ever since Paul encountered Jesus, he made it his goal to tell the good news to as many Gentiles as possible so they could be reconciled to God. He would love, serve, teach, preach, instruct, correct, and do whatever it took to make sure the good news was spread to everyone in both word and deed. <br /><br />But Paul was compelled to do this b/c of what he wrote in v. 14, "For Christ's love compels us." And he was "convinced that one died for all." <br /><br /><strong>Compelled by the love of Christ</strong><br />There is no greater motivation to serve others than the love of Jesus. Sometimes we are compelled by a little "holy guilt" to serve others. Maybe we see starving kids in Africa, homeless people in the cities or our communities, the war, etc....and we begin to feel guilty about what is happening. So b/c of this guilt, we throw ourselves into serving others. <br />The problem w/ guilt is that after awhile, that guilt goes away. When we begin to see others getting well b/c of our service, we don't feel guilty anymore. Sometimes those we serve seem to be ungrateful and our guilt turns to anger. And sometimes we get so burned out from serving, that the guilt goes away. That's why guilt is not what should compel us to serve others. It simply goes away after while and so do we. <br />But when we are compelled by the Christ's love, we begin to see others a Christ did. We begin to love others no matter who they are and/or what they have done. We begin to serve and sacrifice for others no matter the cost or inconvenience. And just like the love of Christ lasts forever, we will too.<br />But here again, we won't be compelled by anything, unless we are convinced there is a reason to do it. <br /><br /><strong>"Convinced that One died for all"</strong><br />For many believers we understand what Paul is talking about here. We understand that the "One" is Jesus, the Son of God. The one who left heaven and came to show us how to live w/ and love one another. And we also know that Jesus is the one who came to take on the sins of the world by going to the execution cross. It was a sacrificial death that he didn't deserve but did it anyway b/c of love. And we understand that it was/is/will always be this love that will reconcile us back to God. <br />So for many believers we get that. We've heard the sermons, read the Bible, and have studied it in classes. But are we "convinced" of it? <br /><br />Paul was so convinced that he no longer lived for himself and what he wanted but began to live for the One who gives life....Jesus. Paul understood the fact that if Jesus "died for all", that means that GOD LOVES EVERYONE AND EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT TO GOD. <br />Paul got it! Do we? Paul was "convinced" of this! Are we? <br />We must be convinced that "One died for all"! We must be convinced that God loves everyone and everyone is important to God. <br /><br />Being convinced goes beyond just knowing and understanding. It must be a conviction. A conviction that gives us a greater reason to live for others and not ourselves. It must be a conviction that compels us to love others b/c God does b/c everyone is important to God, everyone should be important to us.<br /><br />So why do you do what you do? What is compelling you? What are you convinced of? <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-40098961481691542322010-04-14T07:54:00.000-07:002010-04-14T09:10:56.828-07:00Fringes and CliquesIt seems to me that in order for God's kingdom to be what it is suppose to be, it is going to require us to be in relationship w/ God and one another. But this isn't going to be just any relationship. It's going to be one that is built on the foundation that we are to love God and each other. <br /><br /><strong>"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." (Matt 22:37-40)</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Now over the years, I've heard quite a bit about people being either on the "fringes" or in "cliques." Call it personality differences but those on the fringes would be those who are more intraverted, keep to themselves, don't say much, sit on the outsides or towards the back of the classroom/auditorium, and usually don't participate in activities or events. <br />The flip side of this...sort of....are those who are in cliques. These folks appear to be more extraverted as they mix and mingle w/ people they are comfortable w/. They tend to be more involved and active but again....it's only w/ those who they are comfortable w/. <br /><br />Obviously, comfort plays a big role in both of these categories as those on the fringes keep to themselves b/c interacting w/ others is uncomfortable and those in cliques only interact w/ those they are comfortable w/. <br /><br />So I ask the question: Is this what God had in mind for his kingdom? Or was there something better? I would argue that there is something better. <br /><br /><strong>Acts 2:42-47</strong><br /><strong>"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."</strong><br /><br />Perhaps this is what God had in mind. People devoting themselves to God's word, fellowship, sharing meals, being together, having everything in common, taking care of each other's needs, meeting in the temple courts and homes w/ glad and sincere hearts and praising God and enjoying the favor of all people.<br /><br />When I read Acts, I don't see people on the fringes or in cliques. I don't see where people kept to themselves or only did things w/ those they were comfortable w/. And notice that God was "adding to their number daily those who were being saved." Why? B/c there was something so attractive and irresistible about this group of believers that people were drawn to want to join them. Can that be said about today's believers? <br />The kingdom is far different than any other kingdom in this world. And it's made up of people from different backgrounds, statuses, colors, beliefs, families, countries, where personality differences were considered gifts and not an excuse to not love God and your neighbor. <br /><br />It seems to me that in order for God's kingdom to be most effective in this world, people need to get off the fringes and out of the cliques. <br /><strong>Here's how:</strong><br />If you are on the fringe, get out of your seat and go talk to someone instead of waiting for someone to talk to you. Sign up for an event/trip/activity that the church or youth group is doing and get involved.<br />If you are in a clique, go find someone on the fringe and talk to them. Make them feel welcome and valued. Help them to get involved and encourage them sign up for the trips/events/activites that you are part of. <br /><br />Let's seek to love each other and meet the needs of others by getting involved and using our differences to build bridges instead of using them as excuses to keep barriers between one another. <br /><br />For Him <em>only</em>,<br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-44432992048792251162010-04-06T12:11:00.000-07:002010-04-06T13:20:31.194-07:00Catch Our BreathMy whole life I've struggled w/ breathing. As long as I can remember I've had asthma and so whenever I would play sports or the seasons would change I would struggle to breathe and have numerous asthma attacks. I used to pray that God would take my asthma away b/c I've always viewed it as my "thorn" or my weakness. But God never did and today, I still struggle w/ asthma. <br />However, as years have gone by I've been able to keep my asthma under control w/ the help of inhalers that both help prevent attacks and bring relief when I have one. And b/c of these devices, I'm able to be as active as I want to be, even as the seasons change. <br />That said, even though I've have inhalers, breathing and keeping my lungs healthy is always a priority. This is why I try my best to stay in shape by running or playing basketball and don't smoke. Yet, as dedicated as I am to my physical condition and despite using my inhalers, I still have asthma attacks. And sometimes the only thing that rescues me from an attack is to stop and rest so I can get my breathing under control.<br /><br />I believe we live in a chaotic and wild world full of stress, business, and worry. We run at a fast pace, going from here/there, to this/that event, to meet this/that deadline. We go through fast food drive-ins for quick meals, consume loads of coffee, caffeine, and energy drinks that keep us hyped up and on the move. <br /><br />There was a time when we used to look forward to the weekends, but even these are full of all day sporting events and yard work, that leaves us tired and worn out by Sunday night. And call me "old fashion" but there was even a time when Sunday was a day of rest. You know, when grocery stores and restaruants weren't open? Where have those days gone?<br /><br />So we look forward to vacations. We look forward to that beach house by the ocean or the cabin in the mountains that is in the middle of nowhere, right? That is nowhere except our cell phones, laptops, television and all other technological "noise" we bring w/ us. Have you ever said or heard someone say something like, "I need a vacation after my vacation!"? Why is that? Some people save for months and years to take a great vacation and make all of the planning arrangments in advanced so all they have to do is get to where ever they are going. But, they end up taking "work" w/ them. Seems pointless doesn't it? <br />Sometimes vacations help, kind of like an inhaler helps w/ asthma. We are able to catch our breath for a little bit but it just doesn't seem to work all of the time b/c that trip away is full of more stress and anxiety than staying home.<br /><br />Life is busy isn't it? So busy sometimes that it's hard for us to breathe. We try to find relief on the weekends and/or on vacation but we just can't seem to catch our breath and we continue to be tired, worn out and full of stress and worry. So what do we do?<br /><br />NOTHING! What I mean by that is, just like when I have an asthma attack sometimes being in my best physical shape or my inhalers just don't seem to help and the only thing I can do is stop and rest. So when I say we should do "nothing", what I am saying is we need to stop doing whatever it is that is keeping us from catching our breath and rest. I believe that by doing nothing we are actually doing something. And it could be the very thing we need to get us through our stress and worry. Business isn't the problem. We will always be busy. The problem comes when we don't take the time to stop and rest so we can breathe better.<br /><br />There have been some scary times when I couldn't breathe b/c of an asthma attack and I've had to go the ER. It's b/c of these incidents, I've had to learn to stop and rest. I hope it doesn't take something awful, bad, or scary to happen in our lives before we stop and rest. Something like losing your family, your marriage, or you soul. <br /><br />Jesus reminds us, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt 16:26)<br /><br />May we get away from the business and chaos of the world.<br />May we stop and rest......do nothing.<br />May we catch our breath.<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-50342815509263339892010-03-17T09:38:00.001-07:002010-03-17T09:38:50.391-07:00Leave Your Life of SinIn John chapter 8:1-11, John writes one of the most famous stories in the Bible. It’s a story of a woman who was caught in adultery and is forced to stand in front of Jesus by her accusers, the Pharisees. This isn’t one of those stories where Jesus teaches with a lot of words because as this woman is brought to Jesus the Pharisees are trying to trap Jesus by questioning him about the law of Moses and whether this woman should be stoned or not. But Jesus doesn’t say a word to the angry mob and bends over and begins to write something in the sand; something scholars have never been able to figure out. <br /> But as the Pharisees kept questioning Jesus, he finally stands up and says, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”, then he bends back down to continue writing in the sand. As the story goes, one by one, from oldest to youngest, people in the crowd began to drop their stones and walk away, knowing that none of them could throw a stone at her because they knew they had sin in their lives. <br /> Yet, the drama doesn’t end there because as the crowd clears out, Jesus is still there with the woman. And so Jesus stands back up asking her if anyone was there to condemn her, to which she replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus says, “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin”, marking some of the greatest words of Jesus that ever been written. <br /> Now it’s here that we need to focus on these words because here is a sinful woman standing in front of Jesus, guilty, ashamed, embarrassed, and alone. And this woman is a person who represents all of us. She represents, the sexually immoral, the liars, cheaters, gossips, those who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, the pedophiles, abusers, murders, and all other sins and sinners. This woman represents you and I because we have all been there before, deserving to be stoned for our sins. Yet it is Jesus, who has every right to judge and condemn us, stands beside us loving us and forgiving us, encouraging us to “leave our life of sin.”<br /> We don’t know what this woman did after she left Jesus that day. But Jesus made it clear to her that she was to stop living a life of adultery and she was to make the decisions in her life for that to be possible. Too often we just accept the forgiveness of Jesus, yet don’t “leave our life of sin” and we find ourselves back in the same mess, with the same people, doing that “thing” we need forgiveness for. But the instruction is clear and we need to make choices in our life so that we can truly leave our sin. Perhaps that means letting go of some friends, leaving your job, throwing out the computer or television or moving all together. Whatever choices we have to make let’s make them and truly leave our lives of sin. <br /> This may be difficult and we may have to make some of the hardest decisions in our lives. But just as Jesus is there to stand by us in our time of guilt and shame, he also stands by us and helps us to have some of our greatest victories over sin. <br /> May God stand with us as we “leave our life of sin.”<br /><br />BrianBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-35379417133001803492010-01-14T09:01:00.000-08:002010-01-14T09:48:30.597-08:00TimeHave you ever thought about time? Just consider all of the of phrases we use that have to do with time. Phrases like, "I don't have time", "time slipped away", "it wasn't the right time", "what time is it?", or "how many times do I have to tell you.....?"<br /><br />We are a people that are consumed by time. We set alarm clocks, we have deadlines, appointments, we have places, events, and people to meet. Even on Sunday mornings, during worship 'time' we have a set times to begin and end and if we don't start and end on time we get annoyed don't we?<br />Do you ever wish you had more time? Ever find there are not enough hours in the day? Ever said this phrase, "I wish I had more free time?"<br /><br />In his book called "God's Blog: Insight from His Site", Lanny Donoho writes what he thinks God would blog about and says this about "free time." He wrote, "Here's a note: There's no such thing as "free time"! This will sound a bit weird, but 'time' is a gift I made for you so you could give it back to Me. The reason it isn't free is because for every second and minute and hour you use, you have to give something up. You are trading time for something else. Most of you wouldn't trade a thousand dollars for a dollar. Yet you trade time with your family for overtime at the office. You give up time to learn and grow and be with Me for time on your computers and your TV. You are sacrificing things that last forever for things that disappear quickly."<br />A few sentences later, Donoho writes, "Every second counts. Every day matters. So every action, reaction, transaction are of utmost importance because all transactions are final. You can't go back in time."<br /><br />The fact is we are people who are controlled by time and waste a lot of it doing things that just don't matter and won't last forever. If Donoho is correct in saying time isn't free and every second counts, then we aught to make sure we use our time wisely doing, saying, and acting in ways that are of utmost important.<br /><br />Time is gift. Let's not waste it because we are running out of it.<br /><br />BrianBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-90863999869074063742009-11-30T11:04:00.000-08:002009-11-30T12:51:31.994-08:00Gifts to JesusThe crazy holiday season is upon us! Having wrapped up Thanksgiving, we go full steam ahead into Christmas, which means we are in the gift buying season. And I'm not sure how many of us were brave or crazy enough to awake in the early morning hours of "Black Friday" to find that special gift, at the special price, for that special someone but what I am sure of is Christmas day will be here before we know it and all of the chaos will be over soon.<br /><br />Now if you are like me, most of us have a person or two in our life that is impossible to buy for. Perhaps it's your spouse, parents, in-laws, or a friend that you just can't seem to find a gift for because they already have everything there is to have. And so you are stuck with the question, what do you give to someone who already has everything?<br /><br />I am not sure what the answer is for buying that person a gift, but I do know that sometimes, that's how it is with God. I mean, when we consider our Father who is everything, gave everything, and has everything, the question remains the same: What do you give to the person who already has everything? To answer this we look to the Magi who traveled a long distance to see Jesus when he was born.<br /><br />In Mathew chapter 2: 1-12 and Luke 2:8-20, both authors tell of Magi or shepherds who visit Jesus and bring him special gifts to adorn this new "ruler" who was prophesied to come. And even though the text specifically names the three gifts of "gold, incense, and myrrh" (Matt. 2:11) that were given to Jesus, the Magi gave so much more than what was written.<br /><br />First, in all practicality, the Magi gave the gift of time. It would be silly for us to think that the only occupation these men had was to wander around, following a shiny star until it led to them to baby Jesus. No, these guys had real jobs, responsibilities, and obligations to uphold. Yet, when it came time to make their visit to Bethlehem, Luke says, "they hurried off" (Luke 2:16). <em>The Magi didn't waste time in giving their time to Jesus.</em> They didn't check the calendar, the planner, or the palm pilot to see if a visit to Jesus would fit into their schedules. They simply, "hurried off" and began their journey to see their new King.<br /><br />Second, they gave themselves as a gift of sacrifice. In Romans 12:1, Paul tells us to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" and this is what the Magi did. The back drop of the story of Jesus being born is the fact that King Herod wanted all of the baby boys to be killed because he knew that one of these boys was going to be the Messiah. And because this new King, Jesus, and His Kingdom posed as a threat to Herod and his kingdom, Herod wasn't going to take any chances of an uprising from this new King and his potential and have his own kingdom overthrown. <br />So when the Magi arrive, Herod calls them in, has them go out to find the baby, and wants them to report back to him for the whereabouts of the baby. The Magi do indeed, go and find the baby, however, the don't report back to King Herod and take another route home because of the risk that they might loose their lives if Herod finds out he's been tricked. <br />The Magi risked their lives, sacrificed their lives so that Jesus could live. They knew what the cost of deceiving Herod would be, yet they were willing to make that sacrifice anyway.<br />So not only did the Magi give their time to Jesus, but they gave the gift of sacrifice as well. <br /><br />Finally, the last gift the Magi gave was the gift of worship. When the Magi arrive at the stable, they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, as Mathew records their response saying, "they bowed down and worshipped him" (Matt 2:11). Not only do they worship Jesus upon arrival, but they continue to praise him when they leave as Luke wrote, "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all of the things they had heard and seen" (Luke 2:20). <br />Whether Jesus is lying in a manger, nailed to the cross, or sitting on the throne, there is no better gift to give Him than to bow down and worship. This was what the Magi did as they welcome the Savior of the world into existence. <br /><br />So what do we give to our God who has everything? Maybe the real question is, what do we give to our God who <em>gave </em>everything? I believe that just as the Magi gave the gifts of time, sacrifice, and worship, we ought to give the same. <br /><br />God gave and continues to give everything to us in all that Jesus was, is, and always will be. Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, our Redeemer, our Refuge, the one who has taken all of our sins away and has us washed clean, purified us, and has given us a new life free of guilt and shame. God gave us all of this because he knew we needed it most. <br /><br />So let's give God our time by giving our time to those who need it most. Let's sacrifice our lives for those who need it most. And let's worship our Lord and Savior because he gave it all for us, the world, who needs it most. <br /><br />~ BrianBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-49230399336746830172009-10-28T14:15:00.000-07:002009-11-02T09:38:17.562-08:00Are you bothered by this?<p><br />I am wondering if this kind of stuff still bothers anyone. We are still in a war. Did you know that? Or have we become desensitized to it and the fact that people are still dying b/c of it?</p><p>Here is the latest story from Pakistan.</p><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</a></p><p>Here are some highlights/quotes that I find disturbing. I am putting my comments in bold lettering afterwards.</p><p>"PESHAWAR, Pakistan – A car bomb struck a busy market in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing 100 people — mostly women and children — as visiting Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged U.S. support for Islamabad's campaign against Islamic militants."</p><p><strong>Note the fact that innocent women and children were killed. Are you bothered by this?</strong> </p><p>"Crying for help, men tried to pull survivors from beneath wreckage. One man carried away a baby with a bloody face and a group of men rescued a young boy covered in dust, but others found only bodies of the dead. A two-story building collapsed as firefighters doused it with water, triggering more panic."</p><p><strong>Not just children, but babies. Are you bothered by this?</strong></p><p>"I want you to know this fight is not Pakistan's alone," Clinton said. "These extremists are committed to destroying what is dear to us as much as they are committed to destroying that which is dear to you and to all people. So this is our struggle as well."</p><p><br /><strong>I wonder how Clinton would define the things that are "dear to us" and/or "that which is dear to you and to all people."<br />I wonder if she is talking about the "American Dream?" I wonder if she is talking about the egocentric and ethnocentric ways of America. I wonder if she is talking about living w/ 80% of all of the world's resources while the rest of the world only lives w/ 20%.<br />I wonder if she is talking about freedom; the kind of freedom that comes w/ the price tag of war, oppression, and the shedding of innocent blood.<br />She talks about "these extremists" but we are all extreme for something. The question is what are going to be "extreme" about?<br /></strong></p><p>"The resolve and determination will not be shaken," Qureshi said. "People are carrying out such heinous crimes — they want to shake our resolve. I want to address them: We will not buckle. We will fight you. We will fight you because we want peace and stability in Pakistan."</p><p><strong>Yes, "heinous crimes" are happening and it is a very sad thing. But to say, "We will fight you. We will fight you b/c we want peace and stability in Pakistan" is the wrong approach.<br />Jesus says to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" and later says, "Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." (Matt 5:44 & Matt. 26:52)<br />There will never be "peace and stability in Pakistan" or anywhere as long as we/they try to solve our/their problems w/ the sword.</strong></p><strong></strong><p><br />"Most have targeted security forces, but some bombs have gone off in public places, apparently to undercut support for the army's assault on the border and expose the weakness of the government."</p><p><br /><strong>Seems the bombs aren't exactly hitting the intended targets and are going "off in public places" where there are women, children, and babies."</strong></p><p>We are hitting them at their center of terrorism, and they are hitting back targeting Peshawar," he said. "This is a tough time for us. We are picking up the bodies of our women and children, but we will follow these terrorists and eliminate them."</p><p><strong>Qureshi is "Captain obvious" here saying they are "hitting back." Of course they are! That's how this world works. Someone hits you, you hit them back. </strong><br /><br /><strong>Jesus says, “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt. 5:39).<br /><br />“This is a tough time for us”…..DUH! “We are picking up bodies of our women and children, but will follow these terrorists and eliminate them.” <br />Good luck w/ that! It’s not going to work. <br /></strong><br /><strong>My take:</strong><br />If you are still reading this blog you are pretty stellar. I am wondering how many saw how long it was and decided not to read it. I wonder how many even went to the link and read the whole story I am referring to. <br />I wonder if what was reported and what I wrote bothers you. <br /><br />I don’t care if you are a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, activists, pacifists, serve in the military, a veteran, if you are from this country or from another. None of that matters to me. <br />What matters to me is that we follow the Way, Jesus Christ. <br /><br />True change in the world won’t come by the sword like so many believe. Like America believes. Name one conflict that has ever turned out good when our method of “peace” was to bomb another country. <br />If its freedom and peace we want, it will only come when we choose to follow the Prince of Peace and live in the freedom only he can offer. Further, it will only come when we choose imitate this Prince and say, do, and act as he did. <br /><br />He was loving, caring, just, fair, cared for the poor, needy, homeless, refugees, forgiving, healing, and giving. Are we? Am I? Are you? <br /><br />Does any of this bother us anymore? If so, then let’s do something about it. Let’s pray. Let’s speak out. Let’s love our neighbors that live across the street, the tracks, and the borders. Let’s love one another. <br />Let’s learn to disagree better. We won’t agree on everything but we can learn to work through it and still love each other. <br />Let’s encourage each other instead of tearing each other to shreds w/ gossiping words. Let’s be faithful, to Jesus and his church. Go to church, get involved, serve, teach, preach, sing, praise.<br />Love our enemies, go the extra mile. <br /><br />It’s time to stand. Stand for Christ, “the way, the truth, the life” (John 14:6). If you believe the way of America is best, you’ll be judged as an American. If you believe the way of Jesus is best, then don’t be afraid to say it and live it b/c you too will be judged. <br /><br />Our world needs change. It needs a better way…the Way. <br /><br />BW <br /></p>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-73734714534081451122009-10-26T08:32:00.000-07:002009-10-26T08:58:14.111-07:00Stop Complaining about the ChurchWe live in a time where it is easy to criticize the church. There have been books written that attack the church and the Christian faith. To a fault, a lot of Christians, including myself, have attacked the church too and haven't done much to promote the family. Since then, I've repented and have had a better attitude about things.<br /><br />In his book "Crazy Love", Francis Chan wrote, <em>"I think it's far too easy to blame the American church w/out acknowledging that we are part of the church and therefore responsible" (p. 19-20). A few pages later Chan wrote, "We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God."<br /></em>There is no doubt enough reasons for people not to believe in God w/out Christians giving people more reasons not to believe.<br /><br />In the books "UnChristian" by David Kinnaman (Barna Group) and "They Like Jesus but not the Church" by Dan Kimball (pastor) there were six negative perceptions that each other author gave for why people aren't choosing church.<br />From "UnChristian" people said the church is <em>"hypocritical, too focused on getting converts, anti homosexual, sheltered, too political, and judgmental."</em> From "They Like Jesus but not the Church" people said, the church is an <em>"organized religion w/a political agenda, judgmental and negative, dominated by males and oppresses females, homophobic, arrogantly proclaims all other religions are wrong and full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally."</em><br /><br />Perhaps you would agree w/ some of these perceptions and maybe there are some you would disagree with. But either way, we can't ignore what is being said about the church, especially from those who are not followers of Jesus. Therefore, as people who do go to church, we ought to do our best to live in such a way that promotes the "bride of Christ" and cast positive perceptions about the her. After all, this is still God's church and it is still God's way of bringing people to Him. If we complain about the church, we are complaining about ourselves and should take responsibility. And if we are the kind of people that "church hop" b/c we are unhappy w/ the congregation we attend, what do you think that says to non-Christians? Why would anyone want to go to church w/ so many unhappy people? They wouldn't and they won't.<br />I believe this world needs to see a church, who claims to be a "family", that sticks together through all of the disagreements and frustration we deal with. But too often, we have complained, hopped from church to church, and have cast a negative image of what it means to be a church....to be a family. <br /><br />In closing, I share this. Everyday I get what's called a "Play of the Day" from the website "All Pro Dad" (<a href="http://www.allprodad.com/">http://www.allprodad.com/</a>). The "plays" are interesting bits of information and/or just serve as good reminders for us who want to be better fathers, mothers, spouses, parents, friends, and overall, followers of Jesus. The "play" below is what came today....check it out and watch the video.<br /><div align="center"><br /><strong>Where will your kids be this Sunday?</strong></div>"Former British Prime Minister William Gladstone commented: "Tell me what your young men are doing on Sundays and I will tell you what the future of England will be." Over 100 years later, the same holds true for America. Making church a priority for your family instills in your children the central importance and benefit of faith and its superior moral teachings. Research shows that children who attend church regularly are less likely to get involved in drugs and alcohol and more likely to go to college. Couples who go to church regularly are less likely to get divorced. And, if drawing closer to God is what the purpose of life truly is, there's no better place to do it than church."<br /><br />This video is what we should be saying about the church.<br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/7104441">http://vimeo.com/7104441</a><br /><br />May we be people who take some responsibility, promote church, and start changing the negative perceptions that are out there. We need the church. The world needs the church.<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-22336817860132699092009-06-24T06:51:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:10:18.428-07:00Ekklesia in the ValleyTwo weeks ago a group of us went to Salida, Colorado to go to Wilderness Trek Christian Camp for a backpacking trip on Mt. Elbert. Yes, it was awesome! Yes, it was challenging physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, it was rewarding! Yes, repelling from a cliff 180 feet in the air was fun! Yes, our long hike day was hard, the weather was crazy (sleet, rain, snow, sun, etc...), and we went to the bathroom in the woods. <br /><br />It was an amazingly fun trip that brought us togther as we had to rely on each other to do everything. We helped carry meals, tents, backpacks and encouarged each other every step of the way. The theme was "ekklesia", which means "church" or "assembly." And I believe that we all found a new way to be ekklesia or at least, were reminded of what it meant. <br />You just can't go to the wilderness w/ a group of people, be challenged like we were and rely on each other like we did and <em>not</em> be ekklesia. <br /><br />Each night we would have devotionals. We would sing, read God's word, and process/apply the day and how it relates to our lives. But the one thought that I can't get out of mind didn't come during one of these devotionals. It came when we attempted to make summit. No, we didn't get to the top b/c of the weather, but we did get just under 14k ft.<br />But when we got as high as we could, we all gathered around making a circle like shape. Then one of our guides, Isaac, told us to look around. <br /><br />So we did...<br /><br />Then he began to point out the fact that it was rocky and dry w/ very little vegetation. He was showing us the that b/c we were so high in elevation, it was dry and rocky that it would be impossible to live on top of the mountain. And then he went on to say that we aren't suppose to live on the top of the mountain. <br />And that's what I can't get out of my mind: <strong>we are not suppose to live on top of the mountain</strong>. <br /><br />So then the question becomes, where do we live? The answer....in the valley. <br /><br />If it is impossible to live on top of the mountain, then that means there are no people there. And if there are no people there, then there is no point in living there. We were made to live in the valley where the people are, in community....in ekklesia.<br />Jesus prayed in John 17:15ff, "My prayer in <em>not that you take them out of the world</em> 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. <em>As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."</em><br /><br />Its not the prayer of Jesus that we live on the mountain. It's his prayer that we are protected from the evil one as we live in the vallies. In fact, when we read of the "mountain top experiences" in the Bible, at no time is there ever a plan to stay on the mountain. <br /><br /><strong>Exodus 19-</strong> the first of mountain top experiences. Moses goes to the top of Sinai, where God gives him the 10 commandments. But God never invites Moses to stay up on the mountain. He simply gives Moses the rules to live by and then told him to go down and share it w/ the Israelites so that they would no how to live in a community.<br /><br /><strong>Matt 5-</strong> the most famous of mountaintop experiences. Jesus gives the greatest sermon of all time as he tells us how we aught to live w/ one another in community. But here again, when Jesus is preaching to the "crowds" he isn't telling them, "Ok, now I am going to offer you the invitation to stay on this mountain and live this stuff out. No, now you need to go down into your towns, cities, homes....everywhere you are, and live and apply what I've just taught you."<br />Further, Jesus himself, even though he taught many things and performed miracles from a mountain, didn't stay on the mountain. So why do we think we can? <br /><br /><strong>Matt 17-</strong> the transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up on a mountain and changes his appearence to one that is exalted and glorified. And up on this mountain Peter, James, and John also see "Moses and Elijah talking w/ Jesus" (v.4). <br />Now Peter gets this great idea that they are going to stay up there and he even offers to build three shelters- one for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But this isn't what Jesus has in mind. In fact, on the way down from the mountain, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone until he has risen from the dead (v. 9). <br />Why couldn't they stay? They weren't supposed to. But why? B/c Jesus had other plans for Peter, James, and John that included telling about this event. Who were they going to tell it to? To the people in "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). <br /><br />3 mountain top experiences (btw-there are a lot more throughout the Bible) that deal w/ people being on top of the mountain.....on top of the world. But not one of them, Moses, Jesus, the crowds, Peter, James, and John were invited or commanded to stay. <br /><br />You've been there. We all have. We have just experienced something great. Its been a youth rally, small group, TREK, summer camp, Sunday morning worship, etc and you just wish it could last forever. Why? B/c there is nothing like being on top of the mountain. And just like on TREK, the higher you go, the more beautiful it is. <br /><br />But we are not meant to live there. We can go there.....no......we <em>have</em> to go there, but we can't live there. We are simply not invited to or commanded to. From the very beginning we were meant to live in a community. Community is people. People are ekklesia. <br />We were made to be church. And church isn't something that is supposed to be on top of a mountain that people can't get to. Church is supposed to be down in the vallies, in the cities, in the towns, in the grocery stores, in the streets, in homes at dinning tables, in the community w/ people. <br /><br />May we be a church that has a mountain top experience everytime we meet together. But may we also remember to come off our mountain and go to the vallies to be w/ the people. People are living in the vallies. As people who follow Jesus, we are called to live there too. <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-79084942476344034342009-05-26T08:10:00.000-07:002009-05-26T10:30:05.278-07:00A Rainbow in the ValleyThe other day I was running. It was a nice morning to run b/c it was cool, quiet, and breezy. There was a little bit of an overcast in the sky but I didn't pay much attention to it b/c that too made it a perfect morning to run.<br />But as I was about 2 miles away from finishing it started to rain. And my perfect morning began to become not so perfect. Why did it have to rain? Why couldn't it wait until I was done. I mean, 2 miles out....come on! <br />So as the rain was coming down, I began to pick up my pace so I wouldn't get soaked. There is nothing worse than running w/ wet shoes and socks. So here I am going as fast as I can when I begin to round a corner, which dips down into a valley. <br />And as I begin to go down into this valley, the rain stops and the sun comes out. I look around in the sky and see overcast everywhere except in this valley. But if that isn't amazing enough, right in the middle of the valley is the brightest and most radiant rainbow I've ever seen. <br />I mean it was beautiful and perfect in every single way. It was like God was there to remind me that he is w/ us in our valleys.<br /><br />Now in the Bible, the rainbow was God's promise to Noah that he wouldn't destroy the world again (Gen. 9:13). And so the rainbow is really a symbol of the fact that God keeps his promises and gives us hope.<br />But the irony is that when we are in our "valleys" we tend to think that this is when God is the most distant from us. Its in the valleys of sin, and guilt, and hurt, frustration, disappointment, and shame that we feel God has left us. Its the times when we don't want to get out of bed, feel unloved, and have no sense of purpose that we feel like God has turned his back on us.<br />Perhaps we feel like this b/c we think that's what God did to Jesus on the cross. In Matt 27:46, Jesus cries out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And its here that we have been taught that b/c Jesus took on the sins of the world and was so dirty and disgusting w/ this sin, that God turned his back on Jesus. <br />But there is something else going here....perhaps a different point of view. You see when Jesus cries out to God, he is quoting Psalm 22. Now its true that the Psalm starts out w/ David crying out to God to rescue him and save him. And just like Jesus was hanging on the cross in pain and agony, David is crying out in his pain in agony. <br />But in verse 24, the tone changes from hopelessness to hopefullenss. David writes,<br />"For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." <br /><br />When Jesus is hanging on the cross, he is being mocked and people are yelling out, "He trusts in God, let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God" (Matt. 27:43). But what Jesus is doing here is something that is very smart and very intentional b/c Jesus was responding to these mockers w/ this Psalm. Jesus knew that they would know Psalm 22 and he knew that it starts out w/ a cry for help but that it ends w/ a victorious rescue from God. And so Jesus knowing this, isn't crying out to a God who has left him but he is crying out and putting his hope and trust in a God who is right there beside him. Who, "has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help" and will deliver him (vs. 24). <br /><br />Jesus knew to cry out to the God who knows what valleys are. Who knows our pain and hurt. "Who is able to sympathize w/ our weaknesses and has been tempted in everyway...." (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is proving to us that God did not turn his back on him or "forsake" him. No, Jesus is telling us that when we are in our most painful times. When we are dirty and disgusting w/ sin. When we feel shame and guilt. When we are in our valleys. Jesus is telling us that this is the time when God is closest to us. Jesus is telling us to trust in his Father, our God, who is the rainbow in the valley.<br /><br />So may we be reminded that in our deepest times of distress and hopelessness, we can find hope in our God who is always w/ us, won't ever leave us, and will always love us. B/c God is our rainbow in our valleys. <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-28750405833378586832009-04-13T10:03:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:03:17.580-07:00More than a DimeThe other day when it wasn't raining I might add, I was shooting baskets in my driveway. It was warm and sunny, w/ a little breeze. It was the perfect day for being outside and getting a little exercise. <br />Its around 11:30 a.m. and our mail was on its way. Our mail man, driving his white pick-up truck was getting closer to our house. The way he delivers to us is he drives by our house and goes to those who live behind us first. Then makes his way back towards our house and mail box. So he drives by our driveway where I am shooting baskets. And so since I am outside, I stop him and receive my mail directly from his hand. <br />Well today was a little different b/c other than the usual "junk" we get in the mail he had a package for us. So he hands the envelopes and tells me he has something to give to me. He then gets out of his truck, makes a few comments about the weather, and goes to the back of his truck to get my package. I thank him for his work and begin to walk away.<br />As I walk away to put the mail and the package into the house, he says, "Hey it looks like you lost a dime." I explain I am not sure if it's mine but he can keep it if he wants. I mean its just a dime right? But then he says that he isn't sure who's it is and since its in my driveway, I aught to keep it. So he gives me the dime and I say thanks. <br /><br />Now, I am not sure whose dime it was. It could of been his and fallen out of his truck when he got out to give me my package for all I knew. Or it could of been mine and fallen out of one my vehicles at some point. I don't know. But what I do know is that, this is not really about a dime at all. In fact, this is about more than a dime. This is about being honest. <br /><br /><strong>Leviticus 19:11 says, "Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another."</strong><br /><br />Certanily the Bible has a lot more to say about lying but looking at this passage, God is serious about being honest and the way we aught to treat each other. I mean, my mail man could of lied and taken the dime. But what good would it have been for him to steal a dime? Would it really be worth disobeying God for a dime? <br /><br />But this about more than a dime isn't it? Is there really anything worth lying about and disobeying God for? No.<br /><br />But we see this all of the time right? Politicians lie. Celebrities lie. Buisness men lie. Athletes lie. Christians lie. Its not uncommon to see something in the media about someone getting caught in a lie. And the sad part is that we are so used to it, that it doesn't even matter anymore. <br /><br />Is the dime really worth it? Is what you are lying about really worth hurting someone? Is it really worth hurting God. <br /><br />Trust is something that is so fragile.....something that isn't easily given..... and is something that is easily broken. My mail man showed me that he could be trusted. He showed me by giving me a dime that neither one of us knew who it belonged to. <br /><br />But this is about more than a dime. Its about being honest. Its about being trustworthy. Its about being obedient to God. <br /><br />So may we be people who are honest w/ our lives, trustworthy w/ our words, and obedient to God in our actions.<br /><br />B/c <em>it is</em> really about more than a dime. <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-62299908792715474482009-03-10T07:24:00.000-07:002009-03-10T09:33:19.216-07:00"Fix it Daddy, it's Broken"Yesturday Lincoln, my 3 year old son, came to me w/ a toy. It was a motorcycle that he has had for....I don't know......about a year? It was one of those little "Hot Wheel" type motorcycles that was small and easy to lose. In fact, when he brought it to me its the first time I had seen it in a while. Lincoln is your typical boy who will play w/ a toy for a few days, lose it, then find it and play w/ it like its the greatest thing ever.<br />Something else Lincoln does is play rough w/ his toys, which is what he been doing w/ his motorcycle. So when he brings the toy to me, its not completely together or even remotely close. Its just the handle bars and the front wheel. I have no idea how he broke it or where all of the pieces were. All I knew is that Lincoln wanted it put back together. And he insisted over and over that I could do it.<br />There is something that I love about my kids that causes them to think that I can do anything, fix anything, take care of anything. Little do they know most of the time I have no clue what I am doing. But here, Lincoln just had his mind made up that I could fix his motorcycle and kept saying over and over again, "Fix it daddy, its broken!"<br />And as much I as I tried to reason w/ him he couldn't rap his mind around that it just couldn't be fixed. So finally, I told him sternly, "Lincoln, it is impossible to fix something that is broken into a million pieces." And as those words came out of my mouth, he put his pouting face on.<br />Every kid has one. Its the face that they make where there eyes go to the floor and begin to tear up and the lower lip pops out. Lincoln has always had the cutest pouty face, which makes it hard to enforce any sort of discipline. But here, he wasn't making it b/c he was being disciplined. He was making it b/c he was hopeless. He finally understood that the his motorcycle just couldn't be fixed; it was too broken, too shattered for repair and really, just needed to be thrown away.<br />How sad it was for my little man to realize that his favorite toy (at the moment) couldn't be fixed.<br /><br />And so my thoughts go to this world. As I told Lincoln, "It is impossible to fix something that is broken into a million pieces", I wanted to grab those words and take them back like I never said them. And the reason is b/c God, who nothing is impossible for, has been trying to fix this broken and shattered world ever since sin entered it. And I know as impossible as that seems, one day it is going to happen.<br /><br /><strong>In Revelation 21: 1-7 John saw this happen. He says, he saw "a new heaven", "a new earth", and "the Holy City, a new Jerusalem." John heard a voice saying, "God is going to dwell and live w/ men, he will wipe every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain." The voice continued w/, "I am making everything new!"</strong><br /><br />This is the perfect picture of our Father fixing a world that has been broken into a million pieces. He is going to put it all back together. He is going to fix it......he is going to make "everything new."<br /><br />In verse 7, the God promises, <strong>"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will by my son."</strong> God is saying that he promises a time where there will be no death, tears, mouring, pain, brokeness, for those who "overcome."<br />This is comforting and this gives us hope. And not just hope, but the assurance that God will do the impossible, and fix this broken world.<br /><br />Ok, so you might be reading this and saying, "But, this is for future events. And I understand that I need to endure, persevere, and overcome so that I can have this inheritance. But how does that help the world today? What do I do w/ the brokeness of today?"<br />And I would say that these are good questions. There is no doubt a lot of pain and suffering in the world. There are millions of starving, orphaned children dying everyday. There is war that we are in, internationally and wars going on in homes across the country. People are dying of AIDS and Cancer everyday. There are people living in fear and living w/out hope.<br />And its easy for us to shake our fists w/ anger and question God, saying, "Where are you?", "When are you gonna fix this?", or "What are you going to do about this?"<br /><br />But perhaps God, who time and time again blesses us, restores us, forgives us, fixes us, <em>sent his only Son to die for us</em>, is asking us, "What are going to do about this?"<br />Its not like God is on vacation or taking some time off and expects us to fix this world ourselves. But he does expect us..... he does call us, to try.<br /><br />In Matthew 6:10, Jesus prayed, <strong>"Your kingdom come, your will be done ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN."</strong> Jesus is praying that the very promise of no tears, pain, suffering, mourning, death, etc, "as it is in heaven" be lived out "on earth."<br /><br />Do you believe you are part of a bigger picture, a bigger plan? Do you believe you are part of God's plan to fix the world and make all "everything new?"<br /><br />While I believe that God has already started and is going to ultimately fix this world, and that our best efforts to do it will pale in comparision. It is still our responsibility to bring heaven to this earth. Meaning, it is still our responsibility to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to those who thirst, love our neighbors that live across the street or on foreign soil, and ultimately, give hope to the hopeless. Jesus showed us how. Its now up to us to do it.<br /><br />I tried to fix Lincoln's motorcycle, but there wasn't enough glue or duct tape.....just kidding. There was just no way to fix it. It was too broken and too shattered. But one day, God is going to take all of the shattered pieces and put them back together making "everything new."<br />And God has a way to fix it; you and me. Its through us he is going to fix the world. Its through us he will spread his "good news." Its through us that His light and love will shine. Its through us that he will give hope. Its through us that he will bring heaven to this earth.<br /><br />So He invites us to help him. We may not get it right or do it just how he would. But, instead of shaking our fists at God in anger, let's join God in his plan to bring heaven to this earth and do our best, for Him and/ Him, to make "everything new."<br /><br />So as we cry out to God saying, "Fix it Daddy, it's broken". Let it also be our prayer, "God, use us to do whatever needs to be done to fix it."<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-80804571857939966752009-03-09T09:32:00.000-07:002009-03-09T10:56:57.344-07:00"4 Ideas of Worship"Let me just say at the beginning of this blog, that I am tired of all of the complaining about worship that is done by either myself or others. There is way too much time and energy given to critiquing the song leader and song selection, critiquing the preacher and the sermon, getting started and ending on time, and making sure everything is done "decently and orderly", etc, etc, etc. So w/ that, I am done.<br /><br />However, I am going to focus on Ike Graul's "4 Ideas of Worship". Ike presented this/reminded me of this at a youth rally and I'd like to throw it out there for you. <br /><br />1) <strong>You never know who might be listening- so sing like you mean it.</strong><br />This is true b/c you might not always know what the person sitting next, in front, or behind you is going through. Maybe they woke up in a bad mood. Maybe they got in a fight w/ a friend or a parent. Maybe they are distant from God. Maybe they don't even want to be in church.<br />That said, you might be the one to encourage them. You might be the example they see as having joy in Christ. So sing out b/c you don't know who is listening.<br /> <br /><strong>2) You <em>always</em> know who is listening- God.</strong><br />Ok, so this is pretty straight forward. If you don't know think anyone cares if you sing or not you are wrong. Don't think that it's ok for you not to sing b/c you don't know the song or like the song. Don't think that its ok for you not to sing b/c someone starts clapping or raise their hands. Don't think that its ok for you not to sing b/c a song is off key, too fast, too slow, or you don't like the words. <br />Worship is not about you! Its about God. He is the audience and he is listening. So when you think no one is listening, remember that God is.<br /> <br /><strong>3) God gave you the voice He wants you to sing w/.</strong><br />Let's face it, not all of us can sing like Alicia Keys or Justin Timberlake (might not be your favorite artists but you have to admit they've got skills). But that shouldn't keep us from singing out like we are driving alone in the car, listening to the radio, and singing our faces off. And you know you do this! <br />There was actually a show on VH1 called "Motor Mouth" where secret cameras were put in cars to record people singing. Now the people being recorded were set up by their friends as a joke and you can imagine how embarassing they felt when they found out. Perhaps this is a bit cruel but for those who were watching it was hilarious. But it clarifies my point that when we are in the car we sing our hearts out. And it doesn't matter if we can sing really good or really bad we just sing.<br />The same aught to be true for worship. God gave us a voice to sing w/, so we aught to use it to sing to Him. <br /><br /><strong>4) God never asks to make beautiful music but always asks us "sing joyfully" (Ps. 33:1).</strong> <br />Now I am sure we can look back into a study of music and see how music has evolved over the years. And how in the middle ages it was more of a chantting style of singing but now today it is, well, amazing w/ all of the different genres. But the point isn't for us to make beautiful music and keep evolving it into something that is perfect. The point is "sing joyfully" no matter what it sounds like. <br />There are some who know a lot about all of the mechanics of music but can't carry a note. And there are some who don't know anything about music but have the ability to sing anything. <br />So the point is when we come together its not about perfect pitch or tempo, its about singing w/ joy no matter what the song is or how its lead.<br /><br />I end w/ this question: If a nonbeliever (i.e. someone who doesn't know anything about us, Jesus, God, the church, etc) walked into to our building and worshipped w/ us, would they know by our worship, that we are a joyful people blessed by God? If we answer, "No" to this, then perhaps we need to stop complaining, consider these "4 Ideas of Worship" and direct our worship to God, w/ thankful and joyful hearts. <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-53678223728601705392009-03-08T13:02:00.000-07:002009-03-09T08:51:55.834-07:00The MatThere is a great story of forgiveness and healing told in Mark 2:1-12, Matt 9:2-8, and Luke 5:18-26. It starts w/ Jesus entering Capernaum and going to a home. And when people heard that Jesus was there, they came from all of over to listen to him. Some of these people were Pharisees and the teachers of the law.<br /><br />As Jesus was preaching, he begins to feel tiny pieces of the roof fall on his head. Perhaps at first he thinks, "It's just an old house. No big deal." But then the pieces get larger until its too much of a distraction to keep on preaching. So as Jesus looks up to see what is going on, he notices a man laying on mat being lowered down to him.<br /><br />You see there were so many people gathered to hear Jesus that the only way to get to him was, well, through the roof. So there were four guys who had a friend that was paralyzed and knew that Jesus could help but the only way to get to Jesus was to lower him down through the roof.<br /><br />So as the preaching stops, Jesus looks up, and a paralytic is being lowered down. The man finally reaches the floor and is laying right in front of Jesus. You could hear a pin drop as all eyes are on Jesus and the paralytic. The Pharisees and teachers begin to murmur and wonder what Jesus is going to do now. And Jesus doesn't dissappoint.<br /><br />Jesus looks down at the man, looks up to the hole in the roof and peering down at Jesus are the man's friends. The text says, "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."<br /><br />I told you he didn't dissappoint the Pharisees and the teachers. B/c just as they begin to wonder what Jesus was going to do, he does it....he shows himself to be God. And this drove them nuts as they began to talk among themselves and question and accuse Jesus of blaspheming. But Jesus knowing this, questions right back at them saying, "What's easier to say, take your mat or say your sins are forgiven?" But so everyone would know that Jesus is the "Son of Man" he tells the man, "Get up, take your mat, and go home." And just like that, this paralyzed man, who could do nothing for himself, and had to be lowered through the roof of a house just to get to Jesus, was forgiven of sin and healed of his paralysis.<br /><br />Now there are about a billion different ways to apply this whole scene to our lives. But I am choosing the part where Jesus tells the man to "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the reason is b/c I believe this man and his situation draws a good metaphor for our lives and our sin.<br /><br />You see, what we need to know about forgiveness is that when God forgives someone, it is final. When Jesus forgives and adulterer, its final. When Jesus forgives a murderer its final. When Jesus forgives a liar, its final. There is no waiting to forgive until the person proves him/herself, no record keeping, or holding grudges. Just plain, unconditional forgiveness.<br /><br /><br /><br />W/ Jesus, forgiveness is immediate and the sin is forgotten.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now, likewise, what we need to know about the healing miracles of Jesus is that when he performed a miracle it was final. Meaning, when Jesus healed someone that was blind, they didn't go back to being blind a few days later. When Jesus cast out a demon from someone, they aren't filled w/ a demon a few days later. And here, when Jesus heals this man of his paralysis, he doesn't return to his mat b/c of paralysis. Rather, when someone is healed the healing is forever and its final.<br /><br /><br /><br />No one returns to their mat after being healed.<br /><br /><br /><br />Last, when a miracle happens, people are amazed. In this text, Mark says, "This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this before!" You've heard the expression, "It'll take a mircale to........" There is just something that is amazing about miracles. Perhaps its b/c they are so unexpected. Perhaps its b/c they seem to happen when we find ourselves in our most desparate of times, w/ nowhere else to go and turn to. Or maybe its b/c they are unexplainable.<br /><br /><br /><br />Whatever the reason, the miracles of Jesus are amazing.<br /><br /><br /><br />So what's the big deal? First, I believe that we need forgiveness of our sins. There are things in our lives that have separated us from God. Some may be reading this dealing w/ an addiction. Some may have been lying or stealing. Some are dealing w/ purity issues. Whatever it is you are dealing w/, you need to be forgiven.<br /><br />But know that when Jesus forgives you he won't bring it back up, hold it against you, or wait for you to prove yourself before he forgives. He just forgives you right away and forgets it, every single time.<br /><br /><br /><br />Second, the reason we need to know that Jesus forgives and forgets our sins is b/c he doesn't want us to sit around on the "mats" of guilt and shame. Jesus doesn't tell the man to take his sin and go home, he tells him to take his mat and go home.<br />Now, we don't what this man's sin was. All we know is that he was a sinner, he was paralyzed and laying on a mat was the result. And just like this man we are sinners and any sin that goes unforgiven is like a life of paralysis, not in a physical way but in a spiritual way. Further, when we live life unforgiven and in a state of spiritual paralysis, all we have is a mat.<br /><br />But when Jesus forgives us......he heals us. And we are in no need of the mat. When Jesus forgives us and heals us, there is no reason to have guilt. There is no reason to have shame. There is no need for the mat. So just as Jesus tells this man to "Get up, take your mat, and go home", Jesus tells us, "You are forgiven, you are healed, you don't need to feel guilt."<br /><br />Last, the only thing we need to do is be amazed and praise God b/c there is nothing in this world that can forgive and heal like God. So just as the crowd was amazed and praised God, we aught to do the same. Why? B/c its a miracle. Its a miracle that our God would forgive us w/ all of our messes and our junk. Its a miracle that God would restore us from our paralyzed and sinful lives, to lives that are forgiven and healed. And its a miracle that God would tell us to take our mats and go home b/c you won't be needing them.<br /><br />When we are forgiven, our sins are forgotten.........when we are healed it is immediate.........when the guilt and shame are not necessary, we don't need the mat.<br /><br />So may we ask God forgive us when we need it but know that it is forgiven and forgotten.<br />May we be healed of our sinfulness and know that this healing is immediate.<br />And may we leave the guilt and shame......may we leave the mat and go home.<br /><br /><br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-45896942867580115822009-03-04T10:32:00.000-08:002009-03-04T12:00:04.383-08:00"Are You Coming Back Daddy?"This morning as I left for work, Lincoln, my 3 year old son, asked me, "Are you coming back daddy?". It seems he is in the habit of asking this everytime I leave the house to go somewhere. And of course I don't mind b/c it speaks volumns of our relationship together as a son and a Father. <br />We love to be together. We wrestle, dribble basketballs around the house (not sure mommy likes that too much), play outside, and do all of the things fathers and sons do. He's become my little side kick as I've taken him to some ball games so we can be together.<br />But something else comes out of his question as I leave the house. It's his need for me to be around. He relies on me to be there, to hold him, to play w/ him, to comfort him, to teach him, to trip him when he walks by (ok so he might get annoyed w/ that), etc. <br />He has come to realize his need for me as a father but more importantly that he needs me to come back. <br /><br />Something about this has helped me to realize what the disciples felt when Jesus began predicting everything he was going to suffer in his last days and how he was going to be w/ the Father. John 13:33- Jesus tells the disciples, "My children, I will be w/ you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come." <br />Its here you can see the disciples hearts begin to drop as their Rabbi, their best friend begins to start saying good-bye. And its here that perhaps the disciples want to ask the question, "Are you coming back?" They recognize their dependence on Jesus, their need for Jesus. Do we? <br /><br />But this was hard for them to hear. So Jesus knowing this says, "Do not let your heart's be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be w/ me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-3).<br />Just as the disciples hearts begin to break and wonder if Jesus will come back, Jesus promises them he will. <br /><br />Jesus did return. He went to the cross, went to the grave, and rose again. He came back! In fact, Acts 1:3 says, "He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of heaven." The gospels record who he spoke w/ and what he said, but the point I am making is that Jesus promised the disciples he would come back. <br />Now shortly after this 40 days of teaching, Jesus leaves again to be w/the Father. But as he promised in talking about end times in Matt 24:30, Jesus says, "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, w/ power and great glory." <br />So its hear again that Jesus tells us that he is coming back. Just as he went to the grave, he was resurrected. And just as he ascended to the Father, he promises he will return. Jesus will come back. <br /><br />Maybe as you read this, you have a troubled heart. Your family is a mess, you've been through a divorce, your kids are out of control, you are a single parent trying to make it work, you struggle w/ depression, you have suicidal thoughts or are cutting. And you are wondering, "when is Jesus going to show up?" <br />Maybe you are reading this and looking around at the social crisis of our world. People are starving to death, orphans need parents, people are losing their jobs, and the needs of the opressed continue to go unmet. And you wonder, "when is Jesus going to fix this and right the wrongs of this world?"<br />Maybe you are reading this and are looking at the church. And you wonder, "why is the church not being the body of Christ." And you ask, "When is Jesus going to come back and fix his bride." <br /><br />First let me say, that while Jesus promised to return, he never left us alone. In John 14:25-26, Jesus says, "All this I have spoken while still w/ you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everythng I have said to you." <br />Jesus promises that when he leaves to be w/ the Father he is going to send the Holy Spirit, a Counselor to be w/ us to teach us and remind us about his teachings. So its important for us to know that we are not alone as we eargerly wait for Jesus to come back. <br /><br />Second, we must never lose hope in His return. I know it seems like he will never come back. I know there are those who say he isn't coming back. I know that when Peter writes, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10), meaning, we won't know when he is coming, it doesn't mean he will never come. <br /><br />So the promise is this: Jesus will return. Our call is this: Faithfully follow him w/out losing hope. When I left the house this morning, I told Lincoln I'd come back. When Jesus went to be the w/ the Father, he promised he would come back. <br /><br />So may we not let our hearts be troubled knowing that Jesus has prepared a room for us. <br />May we endure the hardships and frustrations of our world w/ an unwaivering hope.<br />And may we believe the promise of Jesus that one day, he will come back. <br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727887845353506750.post-17868613261766713622009-03-04T10:04:00.001-08:002009-03-04T10:09:39.242-08:00Introduction to my BlogSo this is a intro to what I am doing w/ this blog. Basically, its for anyone to read and comment on and basically begin to discuss things w/ honesty, integrity, and love. <br /><br />This is a forum that is safe. Meaning anyone here has the freedom to express thier views and opinions w/out judgement and condemnation. And I am expecting full and well that there will be differences of opinions. But may we approach these w/ open minds and hearts striving for unity, to learn, and to gain a new perspective. And if we have to agree to disagree, may remain friends. <br /><br />So let's be real and authentic w/ what we have to say. Let's listen w/ the goal of understanding. And may we be able to encourage each other to live a life worthy of the call of Christ.<br /><br />BWBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03742384860638259415noreply@blogger.com0