We were created to be relational beings. I will be turning 26 in a couple of months, and the question or thought I've had is, "Will I ever find love?" Cheesy, dorky, sappy, whatever you want to call it, but how many times have you ever asked it yourself? It use to be that two people who may have never met before find each other at a store or a common place. One of the two would strike up a conversation trying to find a common interest and then build a friendship/relationship around it, then continue to get to know each other then possibly finding love. Today we use the internet to find love, we try to find love by rekindling old flames (if you have to make something from nothing, probably a reason why there was nothing in the first place, hence re-kindle), we also settle a lot of the time. Being 25 has been one incredible year of learning. Yes, I am single and haven't found the rib that was taken from me yet, but I know she's out there.
I have looked for love and come up empty, as most of us do or at least feel during this stage of our lives. Our friends are the ones getting engaged or married and here we are. A thought had crossed my mind today about love. And that is that what we are searching for called "love" isn't really what we are searching for in the first place. We search for security, protection, to feel wanted and appreciated, to feel worthy of someone's attention, we are looking for that emotional attachment.
In coming to understand that, I would encourage because I've been encouraged to really look for LOVE. God is LOVE! If I'm searching for Love and looking for Love, then shouldn't I be searching and looking for God? If your answer is Yes, but... my next question is when did His love become not enough?
We treat what we think we should call "love" like a game. Which game in particular? Marco Polo. We go around searching, Marco?! Marco?! Listening and looking with intent of someone to say POLO!!! Then we find them and discover that they aren't the last one, we date them and then break up with them. Again we go back to Marco?! Marco?! But see the objective of the game is to search after the last one, and most of the time patience runs out and we give up. Then the question pops back into our minds, will I ever find love.
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
If we are to truly seek after LOVE and search for it, then we will find ourselves seeking and searching after God. So, Ask (what is love), Seek (constantly pursuing), Knock (when you have found God) and it will be opened. If you have done this or when you will do this, no matter when you say Marco?! Marco?! God will always be the one to answer POLO!!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Words
Words are what we use to express what we want to say,
Yet a hand goes up with a hi or a hey
Actions are what we use to express how we want to act,
Yet emotions are the thing we lack
It's not that we don't try,
we just get caught up in life and the time goes by
Take a big breath and let out a sigh,
Try and remember you have Jesus by your side
If I go let in not be for my fame,
Help remind me that it's about your name
I hope I never make you ashamed of me,
Because I'm more than grateful for your mercy
Yet a hand goes up with a hi or a hey
Actions are what we use to express how we want to act,
Yet emotions are the thing we lack
It's not that we don't try,
we just get caught up in life and the time goes by
Take a big breath and let out a sigh,
Try and remember you have Jesus by your side
If I go let in not be for my fame,
Help remind me that it's about your name
I hope I never make you ashamed of me,
Because I'm more than grateful for your mercy
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Jesus died for you, just as he died for me
Justification is a Theological term that we use when talking about Christ's sacrifice. I believe, now I don't have a degree from Yale or any division 1 athletic school or anything, and I'm not the smartest guy you've ever met, that we as Christians have listened to the world's definition of justification. Yes, I did just put the world and Christians in the same grouping. The world says you as a Christian are justified to sin, to commit acts that are disobedient and bring negative reflection on God. Instead of justification being the instantaneous legal act of God in which he thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and declares us to be righteous in his sight. Jesus died so your sins would be forgiven and us to be righteous in God's sight. Not to say, "Oh, well me cussing or getting drunk is alright because I'm not a murderer or a rapist." Or I can do this because look at so and so over there he does that so it's alright if I do this.
Now, let's talk about standards. Jesus died for you just as he died for me. I am in ministry, training to be a Youth Pastor, but I was called to ministry way before I made it publicly known to my home church when I was 17. We as Christians miss this because we are scared to fail or screw up, I screw up a lot, just because I'm in ministry wanting to be a Minister to Youth does not make me God, does not make me Jesus does not make me flawless. HELLO I'm HUMAN, just like most of you, now there are those who are a bit questionable, but I love you and not judging. When at the age of 6 I asked Jesus to come into my heart, that I may live forever in Heaven with him when I die, at that instant I died to myself and the ways of the world and a new creature awakened with in me. Not saying I don't do worldly things, I'm human not perfect! But the things of this world do not appeal to me as they might you, or as it would appeal to other "Christians" because it is the new creation in me that lives.
When talking with people the more common topic or question that I'm asked is "What's your thoughts on drinking?" My thoughts are I choose not to, it's never appealed to me as a must or a need to or a have or a should do kind of thing. But that's the expected answer and adding to that "well, the bible doesn't say you shouldn't drink, just that you shouldn't get drunk." If when I ask them, why do you drink alcohol the common answer is I like the taste, and I can taste the difference between a virgin drink and one with alcohol and with alcohol it tastes better so that's why I drink. But of course not getting drunk just the 1 or 2 on a regular weekly basis. And I ask the next question which is to get an interesting question, why isn't ok if I were to drink or a lead pastor to drink? The responses are funny to me, but my favorite is, "But you're a minister and should lead by example, I don't think it's right for a minister or someone in ministry to drink." Shall we say double standard? My thoughts are this, Jesus says He has come to set the example, and that we should follow it. Christians say it's okay for them to drink but for someone who is in a ministry position it isn't or they shouldn't. Why? Is it because we are teachers of God's word and living out the example we feel called to? But to be Christian is to be Christ like/ to be like Christ. THE BIBLE IS NOT JUST FOR MINISTERS or PEOPLE IN MINISTRY it's for EVERYONE!!!! We are to follow the example Christ has set, the wine that Christ drank is not the same wine we drink. If you do use that to justify and blindly use justification in the worldly context to support you drinking alcohol at all then I say this, Jesus also healed a blind man with dirt and spit to make mud, if Jesus drank wine and that justifies you drinking alcohol then why aren't you healing the blind too?
Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;"
Romans 10:13 "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you have called on the name of the Lord and you are saved from the punishment of your sins, you have a new creature that lives inside of you. The Bible applies to Christians those who's spirit is now alive by God's spirit living inside of you. Honestly you, Christian, are in ministry if you believe the Bible is real and applies to you then you are told to LOVE and to GO, and share Jesus making disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Wake up LUKE WARM CHRISTIAN!!!!! That's ministry which makes you a minister!!!!! IF you said I don't think it's right for ministers or people in ministry to drink at all, then guess what?! You shouldn't drink yourself.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have eternal life."
Jesus died for you, just as he died for me. The WORD of GOD applies to you just as it applies to me. The COMMANDMENTS of God apply to you as the apply to me. I am no different from you, the only thing that separates us from being the same type of Christian is, ROMANS 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."
To blindly/ worldly justify your worldly actions as a Christian may be you picking and choosing what to read and believe in/from the Bible, that's also being ashamed of it.
"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Do things you say glorify God? How bout the things you drink, do they bring glory to God's name?
Live a life that follows the example of Jesus, we have a sinful nature so we are set apart from him. But please do not misuse justification to justify you're worldly tendencies as a Christian, but we should say "we are declared righteous in God's sight, because of what Christ has done for us, because of what he has done our sins are forgiven. I am not perfect no one is, God convicted me of my blind justifications and has brought me sight to them. Maybe this will bring sight to you so that you may no longer be blind by the darkness of the world, but to bring them into sight to see the light. Also, FYI we can choose to blind, but does that bring glory to God?
I am still learning and searching for light in every aspect of my life. I share what I wrote out of love.
Now, let's talk about standards. Jesus died for you just as he died for me. I am in ministry, training to be a Youth Pastor, but I was called to ministry way before I made it publicly known to my home church when I was 17. We as Christians miss this because we are scared to fail or screw up, I screw up a lot, just because I'm in ministry wanting to be a Minister to Youth does not make me God, does not make me Jesus does not make me flawless. HELLO I'm HUMAN, just like most of you, now there are those who are a bit questionable, but I love you and not judging. When at the age of 6 I asked Jesus to come into my heart, that I may live forever in Heaven with him when I die, at that instant I died to myself and the ways of the world and a new creature awakened with in me. Not saying I don't do worldly things, I'm human not perfect! But the things of this world do not appeal to me as they might you, or as it would appeal to other "Christians" because it is the new creation in me that lives.
When talking with people the more common topic or question that I'm asked is "What's your thoughts on drinking?" My thoughts are I choose not to, it's never appealed to me as a must or a need to or a have or a should do kind of thing. But that's the expected answer and adding to that "well, the bible doesn't say you shouldn't drink, just that you shouldn't get drunk." If when I ask them, why do you drink alcohol the common answer is I like the taste, and I can taste the difference between a virgin drink and one with alcohol and with alcohol it tastes better so that's why I drink. But of course not getting drunk just the 1 or 2 on a regular weekly basis. And I ask the next question which is to get an interesting question, why isn't ok if I were to drink or a lead pastor to drink? The responses are funny to me, but my favorite is, "But you're a minister and should lead by example, I don't think it's right for a minister or someone in ministry to drink." Shall we say double standard? My thoughts are this, Jesus says He has come to set the example, and that we should follow it. Christians say it's okay for them to drink but for someone who is in a ministry position it isn't or they shouldn't. Why? Is it because we are teachers of God's word and living out the example we feel called to? But to be Christian is to be Christ like/ to be like Christ. THE BIBLE IS NOT JUST FOR MINISTERS or PEOPLE IN MINISTRY it's for EVERYONE!!!! We are to follow the example Christ has set, the wine that Christ drank is not the same wine we drink. If you do use that to justify and blindly use justification in the worldly context to support you drinking alcohol at all then I say this, Jesus also healed a blind man with dirt and spit to make mud, if Jesus drank wine and that justifies you drinking alcohol then why aren't you healing the blind too?
Joel 2:32 "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;"
Romans 10:13 "for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you have called on the name of the Lord and you are saved from the punishment of your sins, you have a new creature that lives inside of you. The Bible applies to Christians those who's spirit is now alive by God's spirit living inside of you. Honestly you, Christian, are in ministry if you believe the Bible is real and applies to you then you are told to LOVE and to GO, and share Jesus making disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Wake up LUKE WARM CHRISTIAN!!!!! That's ministry which makes you a minister!!!!! IF you said I don't think it's right for ministers or people in ministry to drink at all, then guess what?! You shouldn't drink yourself.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in him shall not die, but have eternal life."
Jesus died for you, just as he died for me. The WORD of GOD applies to you just as it applies to me. The COMMANDMENTS of God apply to you as the apply to me. I am no different from you, the only thing that separates us from being the same type of Christian is, ROMANS 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."
To blindly/ worldly justify your worldly actions as a Christian may be you picking and choosing what to read and believe in/from the Bible, that's also being ashamed of it.
"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Do things you say glorify God? How bout the things you drink, do they bring glory to God's name?
Live a life that follows the example of Jesus, we have a sinful nature so we are set apart from him. But please do not misuse justification to justify you're worldly tendencies as a Christian, but we should say "we are declared righteous in God's sight, because of what Christ has done for us, because of what he has done our sins are forgiven. I am not perfect no one is, God convicted me of my blind justifications and has brought me sight to them. Maybe this will bring sight to you so that you may no longer be blind by the darkness of the world, but to bring them into sight to see the light. Also, FYI we can choose to blind, but does that bring glory to God?
I am still learning and searching for light in every aspect of my life. I share what I wrote out of love.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Hungry
Have you ever not eaten before? I mean sure people skip breakfast because they rather sleep a little later. Have you ever chosen not to eat? You have the determination to just not eat so you can fulfill whatever it is you're trying to accomplish. Let me ask you this, have you ever not eaten but didn't choose to not eat? What I mean is have you ever been forced not to eat, like if it were your choice you would eat, however it's not your choice you are forced to not eat.
Today was a day I was forced not to eat. Big deal 1 day whatever right ?! My day started early so I could be at church by 8am to help with Sunday School, I got to church when my E light lit up for my gas level. I had a little bit of money left on my debit card not really sure how much, and 6 bucks cash in my wallet. Doesn't seem like a big deal yet, keep reading this will get better. I'm sitting there in the main service worried about money, worried about how I was going to pay for gas or pay for food with such little gas in my car and such little money available to me without begging my parents or friends to mooch off of. I realized that I had been holding on to my money as if I were desperate to have it, God convicted me to let the hold or the desperate grasp I had on my money go, so I put it in the offering plate all $6 bucks. I said well I can let people know that I'm fasting, so they wouldn't ask me why I wasn't eating. In a since that's what I was doing, I fasted not primarily out of choice but force then by force/choice. Where was I to go after church service I didn't have enough gas to get home or go somewhere to eat with what money, so I put up my hammock at the church and chilled out for a bit. One of my best friends had a mission trip over view meeting and when he was finished asked me if I'd like to go to his place to hang out. I said yes and he drove.
My stomach from not having breakfast to missing lunch is rumbling and cramping and wanting food extremely bad. I kept telling myself Eric this is fasting now learn what God is trying to show you, you asked him for answers now listen and look. I was alright for a while, then we headed back to church and that's where I was really really hurting for something to eat. I figured when I could choose not to eat it's not so bad to wait, but when I had no choice in the matter it was something I longed for something I desperately wanted to have and needed to have. What about that little bit of money on your debit card? Well, like I said I got to church that morning on E, I drove to a gas station after church let out tonight and asked for 20 on pump 19. My card was declined, then I said try 15 and luckily went through. 3.83 is what I paid for per gallon, I was lucky to get really really close to 5 gallons. That was enough to make it home and make it to work tomorrow.
When I got home I walked inside and straight to the kitchen and I felt like an animal anything I could find I was shoving it in my mouth, some things I didn't even bother to chew just about choked it down. I asked God what was the real lesson I was to learn and it hit me.
We as Christians need the word of God, in our lives, to read it, to study it, to speak it. To be hungry for the Word of GOD is what we should be starving for. There are people in countries that don't get to have spiritual and biblical food not by choice but by force. And when they have to sneak to get a bit or a small nibble of spiritual food from the word of God, it's the feeling of gratitude, love, and fulfillment. It's the same feeling you get when you can't eat for whatever the reasons and when you take that first bite to relieve yourself from starvation it's a feeling that just takes over your whole being. It's delicious no matter what it is, you don't complain or try to inspect it to find fault with it, you just put it in your mouth and savor the flavor! Christians in other places get a little bit of spiritual food and they have to savor the flavor and make it last for a week or few weeks at a time.
Matthew 4:4 "But he answered, 'It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by ever word that comes from the mouth of God."
We need to be in the word everyday and eat of it, just as often as we eat food. The word of God can give you energy and strength when you are the weakest, when you don't have it as Christians we should crave it, and savor the delicious flavor, and satisfaction/ fulfillment it has to offer. Not saying to just eat eat eat and eat of it till we become biblically obese, but once we have enough for ourselves we are to pass it around and spread it out so that others may eat from the same source of truth that we have.
That is why we, Christians, should be HUNGRY!!!
Today was a day I was forced not to eat. Big deal 1 day whatever right ?! My day started early so I could be at church by 8am to help with Sunday School, I got to church when my E light lit up for my gas level. I had a little bit of money left on my debit card not really sure how much, and 6 bucks cash in my wallet. Doesn't seem like a big deal yet, keep reading this will get better. I'm sitting there in the main service worried about money, worried about how I was going to pay for gas or pay for food with such little gas in my car and such little money available to me without begging my parents or friends to mooch off of. I realized that I had been holding on to my money as if I were desperate to have it, God convicted me to let the hold or the desperate grasp I had on my money go, so I put it in the offering plate all $6 bucks. I said well I can let people know that I'm fasting, so they wouldn't ask me why I wasn't eating. In a since that's what I was doing, I fasted not primarily out of choice but force then by force/choice. Where was I to go after church service I didn't have enough gas to get home or go somewhere to eat with what money, so I put up my hammock at the church and chilled out for a bit. One of my best friends had a mission trip over view meeting and when he was finished asked me if I'd like to go to his place to hang out. I said yes and he drove.
My stomach from not having breakfast to missing lunch is rumbling and cramping and wanting food extremely bad. I kept telling myself Eric this is fasting now learn what God is trying to show you, you asked him for answers now listen and look. I was alright for a while, then we headed back to church and that's where I was really really hurting for something to eat. I figured when I could choose not to eat it's not so bad to wait, but when I had no choice in the matter it was something I longed for something I desperately wanted to have and needed to have. What about that little bit of money on your debit card? Well, like I said I got to church that morning on E, I drove to a gas station after church let out tonight and asked for 20 on pump 19. My card was declined, then I said try 15 and luckily went through. 3.83 is what I paid for per gallon, I was lucky to get really really close to 5 gallons. That was enough to make it home and make it to work tomorrow.
When I got home I walked inside and straight to the kitchen and I felt like an animal anything I could find I was shoving it in my mouth, some things I didn't even bother to chew just about choked it down. I asked God what was the real lesson I was to learn and it hit me.
We as Christians need the word of God, in our lives, to read it, to study it, to speak it. To be hungry for the Word of GOD is what we should be starving for. There are people in countries that don't get to have spiritual and biblical food not by choice but by force. And when they have to sneak to get a bit or a small nibble of spiritual food from the word of God, it's the feeling of gratitude, love, and fulfillment. It's the same feeling you get when you can't eat for whatever the reasons and when you take that first bite to relieve yourself from starvation it's a feeling that just takes over your whole being. It's delicious no matter what it is, you don't complain or try to inspect it to find fault with it, you just put it in your mouth and savor the flavor! Christians in other places get a little bit of spiritual food and they have to savor the flavor and make it last for a week or few weeks at a time.
Matthew 4:4 "But he answered, 'It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by ever word that comes from the mouth of God."
We need to be in the word everyday and eat of it, just as often as we eat food. The word of God can give you energy and strength when you are the weakest, when you don't have it as Christians we should crave it, and savor the delicious flavor, and satisfaction/ fulfillment it has to offer. Not saying to just eat eat eat and eat of it till we become biblically obese, but once we have enough for ourselves we are to pass it around and spread it out so that others may eat from the same source of truth that we have.
That is why we, Christians, should be HUNGRY!!!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
What are you selling?
I have been watching a DVD recording of a series from several years ago that Brent Gambrell preached. It's called Mind, Body, Spirit, and it's awesome. Every time I watch it I get something different out of it. At the beginning he had some people fill out questionnaires some Christian some not, he had 2 stacks of filled out questionnaires, one set was from previous group who he knew were Christians and the other was from the group he was currently speaking to. The main purpose of the questionnaires were for the people to describe themselves positives and negative (I believe), it was also to identify habit patterns too. So, Brent begins to read off the list of things people see negative in themselves, he'd read a few then go to the next page and read a few and so on. Then he went to the group of Christians and read theres, and there wasn't much of a difference at all. (Get the dvd at www.brentgambrell.com)
I have had a wonderful time teaching my 8th grade Sunday school class. Most of the time students just sit there and space out because of the material or because of the teacher. My co teacher and I said we didn't want to be the sort of teachers who just read from a piece of paper say Amen and leave. We started asking them questions to where we would be the ones who needed to be taught so to speak. Teachers have said to me in the past that the best way to learn is to teach, it's not 100% accurate statement but occasionally it works. I can only say that things in our class have been awesome and ground breaking. We don't see a pick up in attendance or theses guys getting saved (yet). This past Sunday the 23rd of Jan 2011 was just dynamite. It was my turn to teach or lead, and something came over me and I just went with it. Not because I'm A.D.D. but something was moving. It's still on my mind and heart what all was talked about and so I shared it with a public school's christian club this morning and all I can say a room of 40-50 middle schoolers at 7:30 am totally quiet was mind blowing. Figured I'd share it with you and add somethin' somethin' to it.
Have we as Christians ever thought about that we might be the closest thing to Jesus that they ever get to see or experience? We are human and not Jesus, but the term Christian is to be of Christ or Christ like. Often we are the only representation of our God that people will see. If we were 1 in a group of 6 people could people tell that you are a Christian? Matthew 12:34b well the 2nd half of the verse says "from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." What do we talk about with people? Gossip by sharing the dirt from what we see and hear from others about certain individuals? Make a comment that may seem funny to you and others near you, about someone that wouldn't be a nice thing to say to their face? Make "that's what she said" or any type of comments like that? Locker rooms, sports teams, ever talk about stuff you shouldn't, the way we talk about people, and talk of people, and the language we use? I'm not condemning anyone here because I've done these things, we are human and live in a sinful world and sometimes we give in and say things that aren't pleasing to God. Let me ask this, have you ever heard anyone say that there is a God size hole in us that only God can fill? And that the only way we can fill that hole is by asking God to come into our hearts to live and take the title of "Christian"? So we pray the prayer and claim we are saved and Christians, well when you do that 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Let me put everything together for ya, we have a God size hole that only he can fill, God come into my heart and live fill the hole inside me, I am now in Christ so my old is gone and the new creation is now in me, from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Then I ask this, if a new creation is in you by Jesus living in your heart, and the words we speak are from the overflow of where Jesus lives, and we say and talk about people and each other and the things we do, and we aren't talking about God or love, then where is Jesus??? If we curse, slander, tear people down, tell perverted jokes, talk about women to the point of where they have no more respect for themselves and treat them that way, and like wise about men, and from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks CHRISTIANS where is God? If only he can fill the hole often referred to as our hearts, and we say ugly things, then is God even there? I was picked on most my life, for the way my hair was, my glasses when I was little, the space between my front teeth, the clothes I wore, the way I talked, the way I walked, the way I acted. Didn't matter what it was I was always a reject so it seemed. Christians here me on this, if we are the closest thing that the world or believe it or not our friends see or experience to Christ, what are you selling? Is there a difference? Why would someone want what you have inside of you to change their life if there's not a difference? If I was lost and paid attention to Christians today I'd ask if you had another God because the one you have isn't working so well. I'm presently reading a book by John C. Maxwell called Be A People Person, it says this: "A study by the TARP, Technical Assistance Research Programs, in Washington D.C.,
shows that most customers won't complain to management if something goes wrong
But TARP found out that, depending on the severity of the problem, an average
customer will tell between 9 and 16 friends and acquaintances about his bad experience.
Some 13% will tell more than 20 people! More than 2 out of 3 customers who've
received poor service will never buy from that store again and, worse, management will
never know why."
Here's the thing our God our management knows why, isn't that scary? What are we selling Christians? A God who is called the provider, the rock of ages, the King of Kings, Awesome, Wonderful, Powerful, Saviour, Redeemer, Amazing Grace, and yet no one can tell because of our words and actions. We honestly wonder why our world is so dark and gloomy, even our own country.
If we are, who people say are the examples of Christ, by watching and listening to you, would they want the life changing God who keeps you from the pits of Hell, who sacrificed his own son to take on the punishment that we should face, and see the love, mercy, grace, that he extends to us?
Only 2 questions left, What if you were the closest thing to Christ that people will experience?
What are you selling (Christian)?
I have had a wonderful time teaching my 8th grade Sunday school class. Most of the time students just sit there and space out because of the material or because of the teacher. My co teacher and I said we didn't want to be the sort of teachers who just read from a piece of paper say Amen and leave. We started asking them questions to where we would be the ones who needed to be taught so to speak. Teachers have said to me in the past that the best way to learn is to teach, it's not 100% accurate statement but occasionally it works. I can only say that things in our class have been awesome and ground breaking. We don't see a pick up in attendance or theses guys getting saved (yet). This past Sunday the 23rd of Jan 2011 was just dynamite. It was my turn to teach or lead, and something came over me and I just went with it. Not because I'm A.D.D. but something was moving. It's still on my mind and heart what all was talked about and so I shared it with a public school's christian club this morning and all I can say a room of 40-50 middle schoolers at 7:30 am totally quiet was mind blowing. Figured I'd share it with you and add somethin' somethin' to it.
Have we as Christians ever thought about that we might be the closest thing to Jesus that they ever get to see or experience? We are human and not Jesus, but the term Christian is to be of Christ or Christ like. Often we are the only representation of our God that people will see. If we were 1 in a group of 6 people could people tell that you are a Christian? Matthew 12:34b well the 2nd half of the verse says "from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." What do we talk about with people? Gossip by sharing the dirt from what we see and hear from others about certain individuals? Make a comment that may seem funny to you and others near you, about someone that wouldn't be a nice thing to say to their face? Make "that's what she said" or any type of comments like that? Locker rooms, sports teams, ever talk about stuff you shouldn't, the way we talk about people, and talk of people, and the language we use? I'm not condemning anyone here because I've done these things, we are human and live in a sinful world and sometimes we give in and say things that aren't pleasing to God. Let me ask this, have you ever heard anyone say that there is a God size hole in us that only God can fill? And that the only way we can fill that hole is by asking God to come into our hearts to live and take the title of "Christian"? So we pray the prayer and claim we are saved and Christians, well when you do that 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" Let me put everything together for ya, we have a God size hole that only he can fill, God come into my heart and live fill the hole inside me, I am now in Christ so my old is gone and the new creation is now in me, from out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Then I ask this, if a new creation is in you by Jesus living in your heart, and the words we speak are from the overflow of where Jesus lives, and we say and talk about people and each other and the things we do, and we aren't talking about God or love, then where is Jesus??? If we curse, slander, tear people down, tell perverted jokes, talk about women to the point of where they have no more respect for themselves and treat them that way, and like wise about men, and from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks CHRISTIANS where is God? If only he can fill the hole often referred to as our hearts, and we say ugly things, then is God even there? I was picked on most my life, for the way my hair was, my glasses when I was little, the space between my front teeth, the clothes I wore, the way I talked, the way I walked, the way I acted. Didn't matter what it was I was always a reject so it seemed. Christians here me on this, if we are the closest thing that the world or believe it or not our friends see or experience to Christ, what are you selling? Is there a difference? Why would someone want what you have inside of you to change their life if there's not a difference? If I was lost and paid attention to Christians today I'd ask if you had another God because the one you have isn't working so well. I'm presently reading a book by John C. Maxwell called Be A People Person, it says this: "A study by the TARP, Technical Assistance Research Programs, in Washington D.C.,
shows that most customers won't complain to management if something goes wrong
But TARP found out that, depending on the severity of the problem, an average
customer will tell between 9 and 16 friends and acquaintances about his bad experience.
Some 13% will tell more than 20 people! More than 2 out of 3 customers who've
received poor service will never buy from that store again and, worse, management will
never know why."
Here's the thing our God our management knows why, isn't that scary? What are we selling Christians? A God who is called the provider, the rock of ages, the King of Kings, Awesome, Wonderful, Powerful, Saviour, Redeemer, Amazing Grace, and yet no one can tell because of our words and actions. We honestly wonder why our world is so dark and gloomy, even our own country.
If we are, who people say are the examples of Christ, by watching and listening to you, would they want the life changing God who keeps you from the pits of Hell, who sacrificed his own son to take on the punishment that we should face, and see the love, mercy, grace, that he extends to us?
Only 2 questions left, What if you were the closest thing to Christ that people will experience?
What are you selling (Christian)?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Fighter
In my life there has been many times, where a fight would take place. Not saying a physical fight, or a verbal fight, but the fight you can't see. There is a movie on Hulu.com called Ink, it does have language in it, but it's a great movie. In this movie it shows forces of good vs evil, the forces that fight over us humans while we sleep. Yes it sounds cheesy but if you watch the whole thing you will at the end see the reference and connection between that movie and God. It helps illustrate and visualize the fight that goes on around us each and every day. The fight of Satan trying to neutralize Christians with the famous words I Feel with added words ugly, fat, stupid, not good enough, dumb, and more. It's a battle we go through every day with trials and temptations. When we ask Jesus to come into our hearts to live, by doing that we have enlisted into God's Army (Army of the ONE). We are given orders to GO and do what? Make disciples of all nations. Jesus said that he has set an example that we should follow. We as Christians cannot deny that spiritual battles are being fought for us in the name of Christ. We as fighters (Christians) are to tell others about Christ and what God has done for us, to spread the LOVE. By doing what we are commanded to do and the orders we've been given we are waging war on Satan and sin/evil.
Scary to think about but do think about it.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 and implementing the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 goes like this:
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue (a word we can use to associate with pursue is to stalk) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith (Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."). Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
We are told to fight, the good fight of faith, and to take hold or embrace eternal life which we are given when we made our good confession (when we say God I am sinful not by your design but by your creation 'Adam and Eve' I can not stand alone I will fall. I need to be saved from this world of sin and hatred. Jesus come into my heart, and kill me, so that you may have a place to live. God I choose you and follow your commandments.) in front of many witnesses this means make it PUBLIC.
Isaiah had the right attitude, Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!"
Notice the exclamation mark at the end, he wasn't saying if you have to or have no one else I reckon you can send me God. Isaiah makes his presences known by being willing to serve God and to do what God commands him to, so he says "Here am I." and with what I'd consider passion and excitement "Send me!"
Hebrews 11 the whole chapter talks about faith and what it is and who has lived by faith and what they have done by faith. In verse 16b "Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
We are FIGHTERS!
You can ask yourself, is God ashamed to be called my God? Do I fight the good fight of faith? Do I carry out my orders? Do I know the truth so it can set me free when I'm held captive by the enemy?
*Know the truth Christians not the paraphrase or something that was said a lot once when back then. Is a half truth a truth? Is a half lie still a lie" Yes it's still a lie and no a half truth isn't THE TRUTH. Know it Christians it will save your life, so that you can sacrifice yourselves for the every day people next to you, so they may hear about God's glory and truth through your life, keeping them from spending an eternity in HELL! In the movie Black Hawk Down in one of the ending scenes it was said by a soldier no one well understand why we do what we do, it's about the person next to you. If we Christians had the same type of mentality of obedience and devotion to God where no one will understand why you talk about Jesus the way you do and why you live for God the way you do, can you imagine what our country what our world would be like. For the simple fact that it's about the person next to you. God is love, so be love!
Scary to think about but do think about it.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 and implementing the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 goes like this:
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue (a word we can use to associate with pursue is to stalk) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith (Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."). Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
We are told to fight, the good fight of faith, and to take hold or embrace eternal life which we are given when we made our good confession (when we say God I am sinful not by your design but by your creation 'Adam and Eve' I can not stand alone I will fall. I need to be saved from this world of sin and hatred. Jesus come into my heart, and kill me, so that you may have a place to live. God I choose you and follow your commandments.) in front of many witnesses this means make it PUBLIC.
Isaiah had the right attitude, Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!"
Notice the exclamation mark at the end, he wasn't saying if you have to or have no one else I reckon you can send me God. Isaiah makes his presences known by being willing to serve God and to do what God commands him to, so he says "Here am I." and with what I'd consider passion and excitement "Send me!"
Hebrews 11 the whole chapter talks about faith and what it is and who has lived by faith and what they have done by faith. In verse 16b "Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
We are FIGHTERS!
You can ask yourself, is God ashamed to be called my God? Do I fight the good fight of faith? Do I carry out my orders? Do I know the truth so it can set me free when I'm held captive by the enemy?
*Know the truth Christians not the paraphrase or something that was said a lot once when back then. Is a half truth a truth? Is a half lie still a lie" Yes it's still a lie and no a half truth isn't THE TRUTH. Know it Christians it will save your life, so that you can sacrifice yourselves for the every day people next to you, so they may hear about God's glory and truth through your life, keeping them from spending an eternity in HELL! In the movie Black Hawk Down in one of the ending scenes it was said by a soldier no one well understand why we do what we do, it's about the person next to you. If we Christians had the same type of mentality of obedience and devotion to God where no one will understand why you talk about Jesus the way you do and why you live for God the way you do, can you imagine what our country what our world would be like. For the simple fact that it's about the person next to you. God is love, so be love!
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