Light's other quality...

What do you know about light? Some guy named Edison discovered it, harnessed it and produced it. It works by creating an enclosed area for a positive and neutral current to connect and burn, it closes the electrical loop. It is a contained shock. A fire waiting to happen. But light does something else. The lighthouse warned of impending danger. The bug zapper drew the pests to their demise so we could enjoy the outdoors, which we lit up, a little longer. Somebody with a bubbly personality we say, "lights up" a room. Light is pretty useful.

Do you leave a light on when you leave the house? When I was a child and would go away to church camp each year my Mom would deep clean my room. She often moved the furnishings, bed, dresser, nightstand. Cleaned the carpets, put on fresh clean bedding, dusted and straightened. Then she would turn on the light on my nightstand. It was a small bulb, low watts, soft light. I remember how excited I always was when I came home and that light was on.

Before "light" when the sun went down people went to bed. Which means they had to work hard while the sun was up and sleep hard when the sun went down. But since the invention of the light bulb people have been able to stay up. Light creates a place to gather. To share ideas. To enjoy company, read a book. Light enables me to see what would otherwise be unseen and I think it welcomes others to see as well. A light in the window is an inviting scene.

In Mark 4:21-24 Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead they put it on a stand for all to see. Of course Jesus was talking about a candle light - but the reference works now too. The purpose of light is to see. Why turn on a light and then cover it up? Surely your mom had many talks with you (as mine did) about turning off a light when you leave a room. There's no point for the light to be on in an empty room.

In another place Jesus calls believers the "light of the world." Here's my question, shouldn't light gather? Illuminate? Create a place to gather? If we are to be the light of the world then we should be drawing others, like moth to flame (or bug zapper). Our light should be a place to gather, safe, warm, understanding.

Can you think of ways in which the church, you and I, can be a light that draws others? I'd love to hear your ideas!

I'm percolating a thought... dangerous

Why are we so willing to excuse the past while being unwilling to deviate from it?
The religious leaders complained that the disciples were "working" by rubbing heads of wheat in their hands and eating it while walking through a wheat field. Jesus reminds them that King David actually went into the "house of God" and took the consecrated bread from the alter and ate it! So, the religious leaders had excused the acts of David while still enforcing the law of not working on the sabbath. They excused one act of lawlessness while upholding another law.

So I'm pondering and percolating this strange thing. Are there areas where we have excused the behaviors of certain people in the past, while at the same time holding others as law breakers in the present?

Not sure where this is going, maybe nowhere... help me out if you have a thought. Just seems strange to me. I think there might be a principle or an application here somewhere just not sure what it is, beyond the one plainly stated by Jesus - the law exists for people not people for the law...

behind the obvious, veiled perhaps...

Spirtual Espionage...

Reading Mark 1 today and I see something I've never noticed in all the times I have read it. And since I love a good action adventure flick... this intrigued me!

Jesus' ministry is just beginning, hasn't even called all the disciples to follow Him yet but He goes to the Synagogue in Capernaum (where they've been staying) and begins to teach the people. While Jesus is teaching and reading from the scrolls no doubt, a guy stands up in the crowd and shouts at Jesus, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!"

Pretty strange to have a dude stand up in church and begin to shout at you (though it has happened to me before!) but what makes this story so interesting is that in verse 23 the man is identified as, "a man... who was possessed by an evil spirit". Imagine! Having church and a guy stands up, demon possessed and begins to shout!

But here's where it gets really interesting to me! Didn't the people there know the guy? Wasn't he someones father, or brother, or husband? Wasn't he uncle Ben's best friends cousin? How did a demon possessed man get into church that day?!

And then I started thinking... if a demon possessed guy could waltz into church with Jesus, what's to keep them from coming into any church service? Who's to say that we don't have covert agents working for Satan infiltrating our services all around the world? Which begs the question, Why? Why would Satan care what goes on in church? And before you say something like, "the demon possessed couldn't possibly get through the doors of my church because (add whatever super theological argument you've got here)." Think for a minute. Satan is the master mind behind every evil, sinful, wrong thing that is done...correct? And you're gonna tell me that everyone in your church always and forever does the right thing all the time? You've had no affairs, divorces, offenses, etc. in your church? Come one now... it is Satan that can "look" like an angel of light.

Perhaps the same thing that is true about the angels in 1 Peter 1 is true about all spiritual beings, "they long to understand prophecy and the Word." Maybe there is spiritual espionage going on because Satan wants to know where to hit the church (where the weak links are) and find out if we know something spiritual that he hasn't figured out yet...

Maybe there are double agents, and war rooms, covert operations and black ops happening all time!

Perhaps this is why the disciples warned us to, watch ourselves, our doctrine, our friends, our lives, our relationship with our Savior, watch yourself or you may also be tempted...

Direction Motivation

Matthew 28:19-20 gives the marching order for the church from her captain, Jesus Christ. Jesus laid out the battle plan for the church to make a beachhead for inroads into the communities in which it exists.

Jesus said the job of the church was to:
1. Make Disciples. The word disciple means "learner" the 12 disciples were learners of Jesus, they were His students. Judas was one of those, though he didn't learn very well. We are to help people want to learn more about Jesus.
2. Baptize. Once a person becomes a learner they should learn about baptism and, if true learners, they will want to be baptized in obedience to Jesus. A learner wants to follow and obey his teacher.
3. Teach the new disciples the commands of Jesus. Baptism is not the graduation ceremony for the disciple (learner) it is the initiation into a new way of life. A new life that must be taught and caught. The church is to teach, those who follow, the whole counsel of God.

At Real Life we do a good job of creating an atmosphere and environment for making disciples and most of those respond in obedience to immersion. But I think we have failed in the "teach the new disciples God's commands" department. So I will talking and thinking about a way to remedy that situation.

I think it will begin with a greater push for Life Groups. That means we'll need people willing to host and lead these small home groups where we can facilitate the third part of our directive. I'm open to ideas and dialogue on this issue so if you've got a thought, please share it!

Take Heed!

If you didn't see it yet, you can now:
Email, blog, tweet, facebook and buzz these posts!

So if you like what you read don't be afraid to share it with others in your own social network! Just click on one of the links at the bottom of each post and share away!

(see, right over there ---> )

The pebble problem.

Have you ever heard it said of someone that they were, "too big for their britches"? I'd like to put a new spin on that from the life of the Apostle Peter.

In Matthew 16:16-18 Jesus is talking with the disciples about who other's thought Jesus really was. Everybody had a different idea about but Jesus asks Peter directly, "who do you believe I am?" And Peter responds, "you are the Christ (means chosen one of God), the Son of the Living God." This was obvious the right answer because Jesus tells Peter that he should consider himself blessed, since "this was revealed not by men, but by my Father in heaven." In other words, God revealed this to you Peter, you ought to be happy about that.

Here's where the problem starts. Peter gets an "atta-boy" from Jesus. You're catching on Peter! You're growing up Peter! In fact, this is where Peter gets his new name. The name he was born with was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter right here after this key truth is revealed, Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! Way to go, Simon, your name is now going to be Peter - which most language people believe means, "stone" or "pebble".

So let's recap. Peter makes a great spiritual statement about who Jesus was - the Son of The God. Peter gets a pat on the back and a new name (Peter). Then something happens...

Jesus goes on to tell the rest of the disciples, who were all standing right there, that on the truth of Peter's statement Jesus would build His church. And that's just what happened! The church today is built on the foundational belief that the historical Jesus IS, WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE the Son of the LIVING God and the Savior o fall who believe in Him! Which is pretty cool. But right after that Jesus starts talking about Him impending death on the cross. At which point Peter (the pebble) takes Jesus aside and scolds Him, (like a child) saying (in his best big man voice), "this will never happen Lord," you're talking crazy! Why, I'd die before I'd let anyone harm you, after all, I'm a boulder - the guy who came up with the truth on which your church will be founded! (okay, okay, I know I took some liberties there with the text, but you get what I'm saying, right?!)

Did you see how Peter is given a truth from God, claims responsibility for it and in just a few moments goes from a little pebble to scolding Jesus like he was a big boulder? I think a lot of us do that still in our lives. We are given a few pats on the back. A few Atta-boys. And pretty soon we've gone from a little pebble who just wanted to serve and be involved and help however we could... to a boulder that is telling others what to do and bossing them around, etc. I see it all the time. The problem for many leaders with giving people pebble responsibilities is that they soon start acting like boulders, immovable, planted, sturdy.

I always try to look for leaders who have no problem being pebbles. Those are the ones who can roll with the flow. Who will help build the wall, knowing they can't do it themselves, instead of standing on the sidelines telling everyone else how it should be done.

If you read the rest of the story after Peter reprimands Jesus (I still can't believe he did that!) Jesus says, "get behind me Satan!" Wow! Peter goes from a pebble, to a boulder (in his own mind) to a grain of sand as he is called down by Christ.

When you get too big for your britches, the fall is often long and hard. Believe me, I know.

Are you stuck IN a trial or ON a trial?

I wonder how many opportunities I've missed in my life because I was too focused on the trial I was going through to see anything else. You may not know this but we (almost all of us) base decisions on what HAS been instead of what COULD be. What I mean is this. If you've been hurt in a relationship you are less likely to jump into another one because you will expect to be hurt again. So you're past experience may keep you from a future opportunity. I think we do that even "in the moment."

Matthew quotes Jesus as saying to the disciples, "you WILL stand trial...BECAUSE you are my followers, BUT this will be your OPPORTUNITY to tell...unbelievers about me." Jesus knew that His disciples would be punished and face trials for no other reason then their faith in Him. But, He also knew that the trials they faced would provide OPPORTUNITIES they might not otherwise have to share their faith.

You and I don't face judge and jury trials like the kind Jesus is talking about, but we do face hardships and temptations (we call them trials). In every trial we face there is opportunity. But these are so opposite from each other that we tend only focus on one or the other at a time. Like when Jesus said, "you can't serve two masters..." here, we tend to not see two sides.
Trials are difficult, opportunities exciting. Trials exhaust us, opportunities infuse us with energy. Trials take from us what we have, opportunities give us more. But when we focus on the trial we tend to forget about the opportunity! But don't lose hope! When we intentionally learn to focus on the opportunities, the trials begin to fade into the background.

I want to be more opportunity focused and less trial conscious. Let's face it, we could all benefit from that. I feel like we at Real Life are going through a "season of trials" - but I'm also beginning to see the many opportunities that exist, solely because of the trials! Let's take advantage of the OPPORTUNITIES for the glory of God and let Him worry about the trials!

character flaw...

I have this flaw in my character. If I decide to do something, let's say, exercise and lose some weight, and tell other people about it I am less likely to actually do it. But, if I don't say anything to anybody I am more likely to begin such a program. It's almost like just have the conversation gets me out of actually doing the thing I'm talking about! Stinks.

Jesus healed a man with leprosy in Matthew 8:1-3 but tells the man NOT to tell anyone. Instead he is to go show himself to the priest and offer the required sacrifice for being cleansed of leprosy (perhaps a thank or wave offering) and this action will be a public testimony that he had been cleansed.

Perhaps Jesus knew this guy had the same character flaw I do! Look at what might have happened. He is cleansed and runs through town telling everyone Jesus healed him. But, since he didn't go to the priest, he has no proof that he had leprosy and had been healed. And, he may have told a few people, been all excited and then went back to work, forgetting about it. By going to the priest he gets a record of his healing (because the priest would have had a record that he had leprosy and needed to be sent out of the community according to the law), he has the opportunity to offer a "thank you" sacrifice to God (according to the law) and everyone in the Temple would have seen it - a public testimony!

So, I'm exercising and trying not to talk about it too much. The public testimony comes when others notice the physical change in me and ask me what's up or tell me I look better. Then I can tell them what I am doing.

Maybe spiritually we ought to make those lifestyle changes first (instead of just talking about it) and then let people "see" it in our lives and ask, "what is different?" Then we can tell them, I've been cleansed. You've seen the proof.

God may have other plans... are you ready?

Every big thing in our lives certainly takes center stage in our thoughts and dreams. Marriage, the birth of your children, first job, etc. We've got it all worked out don't we.

I read a line in Matthew 1:18 the other day that got me thinking. Here's how it goes, "Mary was engaged, but before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin..."

One little sentence packed full of so many dreams and ambitions and interruptions and then a complete turn around...

Mary was engaged... Statement of fact. Her and Joseph were gonna get hitched. Surely she was dreaming about the wedding, their life, the children that would come. Joseph was a strong young man. Perhaps handsome. Maybe she considered herself lucky to have such a man. Well, one with a career any way. Everything was going great and moving, just as she dreamed it toward her ultimate marriage...

But before the marriage took place... something interrupted her dreams. Before she could get to that thing that had monopolized her thoughts for weeks, months, maybe even years, it all came crashing down. Surely you know what that's like. You've had unfulfilled dreams. Maybe it was while you were preparing to walk down the aisle when he or she bailed and left you standing there stunned. You found out your unborn child had a disability of some kind. Before you could really get your life going, something happened. You can relate to Mary.

While she was still a virgin... believe it or not this is my favorite part of this sentence! There is so much hope and faith and wonder tied up in this lost statement! Listen, if she was still a virgin then nothing that happened next should have happened! A virgin can't be pregnant. There was not way! How could the Savior of the universe be born to a virgin?! The only answer is God.

What is your obstacle to God birthing something wonderful in you? If a virgin girl can become the mother of His Son I can't see anything standing in His way! And while you go about making your life plans, completely incapable of accomplishing His will on your own, He is at work to bring about something incredible in your life! Something you can't possibly imagine!

So make your plans, but be ready, because God just may interrupt your life when you least expect and birth something incredible in you too.

Wait for the numbers.

Just a quick one today, but more to come! Lots of good stuff in Matthew 1 and 2!

Sometimes it is really hard to see how God could possibly be working in our lives (surely it's not just me). One thing after another happens and we seem to have no control and nothing is working right and we think God could not possibly be involved in our chaos.

While reading about all that happened to Joseph and Mary prior to and immediately after the birth of Jesus I am sure that they simply could not see the picture God had created for their lives. Just a bunch of random dots on one of God's activity pages. Then in Matthew 2:18 you read a prophecy from Jer 31:15 about death and mourning and weeping and Matthew says it was a prophecy about Herod killing all the baby boys while searching for Jesus.

Who would have thought or could have predicted that Jeremiah was talking about this event!? The readers in Jeremiah's day probably didn't even recognize that as a prophecy, but Matthew, through the Spirit saw it.

Here's my conclusion and then I've got to run; It's easier to connect the dots once they've been numbered. When you look at what God is doing all you may see is a random bunch of dots on a smudged piece of paper... wait for the numbers, then be amazed at how God has orchestrated the events of your life to reveal a beautiful picture you can not now see.

The POINT of prophecy.

I've been a little "off" lately in my blogging - no comments allowed.
Church life and ministry are often a blessing and often, nearly more than I think I can handle. The last few weeks have been some of the worst in my 15 years of ministry. Satan is certainly at work in the lives of people, relationships, marriages, etc. And we, by giving into our "desires" allow Satan to have victories that decay our spirit and tear down the Kingdom.

That being said, my Bible reading has been in the last book of the Bible and the most difficult to understand, Revelation. (if you comment and say you've got it figured out and it's easy to understand I just might call you a liar.)

But there have been some incredible passages in this letter that twists and turns and repeats and crosses stories. One of them I cam across today in Revelation 19.

John is in the midst of a bunch of symbolism here with animals and people representing a bunch of different things. It seems like there is prophecy within prophecy here - kind of a Matrix moment when your in the story your in... like when you look in a mirror that's reflected in another mirror and your image goes on and on. But in the midst of all this stuff the angel says something incredible to John.

It comes in verse 10 of chapter 19 and the angel says, "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." wow.

In the middle of the most prophetic book in the Bible with stuff happening all over the place the angel cuts right to the heart of it all! The point! The reason! The effort all finds it's purpose in focusing every one's attention on Jesus.

There are lots of people who claim to be prophetic or prophets today. Some of them may be legitimate but I fear most are phonies. How do you know? If they add anything to the ultimate prophecy found in the Words of the Bible they are fakes. There is no new prophecy. It begins and ends with Jesus.

But the point today is as strong as it was for John and as clear as it was to the angel. It's all about Jesus. There is no point in prophecy unless it points clearly to Christ.

So, I want to be more clear in my preaching so that people see Jesus. I want to be more honest in my life so that people see Jesus. I want to be more careful with my words so that people hear Jesus. I want to preach Jesus with laser accuracy so there is no doubt. No question. No mistaking who is the One who takes away sin and gives life. He is the only One that brings life change. Let's cut through the junk and be clear.

Does the Church need another CSI moment with Jesus?

I began my reading today in the book of revelation. Difficult read. So many things that quite frankly, without the benefit of "being there" we have a real disadvantage in understanding. Now, there will be those who tell you they have it figured out. Anyone who says that I pretty much walk away from. You could read 100 commentaries and each author will say "this is what it means" and no two commentaries will be the same. So, who's right?

But in reading the first 3 chapters this am I'm wondering if the Church again is in need of a CSI moment with Jesus. CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigator and you can totally see Jesus playing that role in his letters to the 7 churches. He's investigated them. He knows them. He's uncovered every stone and looked around every corner.

In most of the churches He's found the good and bad. Where's He's found bad He rebukes and calls to repentance and where He's found good He encourages. Some of the churches have nothing good going on but only the church in Smyrna seems to be doing everything right. Perhaps because they are being persecuted and even killed for their faith.

What would happen in your church, in my church, if we had a CSI moment? If we really looked at our church as Christ might to see the good and the bad. What do you think our letter would look like? Would it resemble Smyrna or maybe (and more likely) Laodicea.

What's love got to do with it?

Reading through 1,2 and 3 John today. One over-riding thought; love. Here's how I would break down these letters.

1. If you've got love, you've got Jesus.
2. If you've got Jesus, you've got the Father, God.
3. If you've got God, you will obey His commands.
4. His commands are that you love

Rinse and repeat steps 1-4.

In contrast:

1. If you don't have love, you ain't got Jesus.
2. If you don't have Jesus, you ain't got God.
3. If you don't have God, you ain't got a prayer.

Those who love others are obeying God's command and have the Son and the Spirit. Those who teach false doctrines (specifically that Jesus did not come in a human body) do not have love, or God or the Son or the Spirit. Don't listen to them. Don't support them. Don't encourage them.

But, love all believers. Your love proves you have the Father, Son and Spirit just like your deeds prove your faith (see James).

I want to prove my connection with God so I want to obey Him so I choose to love. Help me Father to love.

Finding a sandbar.

My family and I recently got back home and back to work after a quick vacation down to the Gulf Coast. Namely, Padre Island. We got about 4 hours of solid swimming in the warm ocean waters (no oil) and a good seaweed bath.

It was so cool to be out in the water and I had this crazy idea of getting out as far as I could and then letting the waves carry me back to shore. I even got Trevor (my oldest son) to go with me. I thought we could swim out and then get on the tube and just float back to the beach. If you've never swam in the ocean you aren't aware that once you get out so far the water actually carries you farther from shore, not closer! After a few moments of panic we got it figured out and made it back in.

After a few minutes of recovery we headed back out. This time were were just going out to neck deep to jump over and swim through the waves as they came in. But this time we found a sandbar that jutted out from the coast line another 20 or 30 feet so we got a quite a distance from the shore but were still standing up at about neck deep. It was really fun! Until we found one of the sides of the sandbar and started to slip down. On either side of this sandbar the water was well above our heads. After the swim out to sea and back we were pretty tired but still wanted to play. After all, Trevor had never swam in the ocean and I had only done it in the cold waters off Oregon.

Having that sandbar to stand on allowed us to feel like we were way out in the ocean waters but still have the comfort of a relatively sure foundation. As long as we stayed on that sand we were okay. 1 Peter 5:10 says this, After you have suffered a little while, the Lord will restore, support and strengthen you and He will place you on a firm foundation." In the ocean as in life there are lots of times when we get in over our heads. Maybe it's the job, relationships or just a mixture of all that life can throw at you. We call it stress and it can be overwhelming and exhausting. But our God knows what is going on in our lives. He is aware when we can't take it anymore and need to rest.

He provides the firm foundation. You can't get out of the ocean of your life, but you can find a place to rest. A place to stand. A place to keep your head above the water. A place to regain your strength. Find some balance. And have your faith restored.

Thank You God for allowing us to enjoy the excitement of life, even with it's troubles and struggles. And for placing the sandbars right where we need them.

Remember, God may not take you out of your situation but He can deliver you through it.

Can I have some more suffering please?

I have yet to meet a believer in Jesus who actually wakes up in the morning and says, "today is going to be a great day! I get to suffer for Jesus!" Nope, never heard it. But I have heard lots of these prayers, "God, keep me healthy and happy today, keep me from suffering and help me to have a good day." That's the prayer of the average believer, including me all too often.

We Christians tend to think that if we are suffering something must be wrong in our relationship with God. If I'm suffering I must need to pray more. Go to more church services or read my Bible longer. If things are going well for me then God must be happy with me. If they are going poorly He must be angry.

It's silly really (that rhymed and I didn't even try!). Over and over in God's Word He promises suffering. Do everything right as a believer and you WILL suffer. Maybe you lose your job. Your marriage falls apart. Your car breaks down. Your body breaks down. These don't mean that God is mad at you or that you aren't living like you should be in Christ. They are simply personal illustrations of sin's work in the world we live in. They prove Satan is active and on the prowl.

But let's be honest. We don't like to suffer. I want everything in my life to be perfect. Peter makes a great point in 1 Peter 4:15. He is talking about suffering for the sake of Christ and then in 15 says, "if you suffer it should NOT be because you did something wrong" (murder, stealing, making trouble or prying into other's lives). Peter knows us doesn't he! He knows that we complain and whine even when we suffer for doing wrong! How many of you whine and fuss when you're given a ticket for speeding? You did something wrong and were punished for it. That's called a consequence NOT suffering!

If you (or I) screw up and have to suffer (the consequence) that is not a reason to find any joy - we are getting what we deserve. But if I suffer because I'm a Christian that is a completely different story. I have been called names because of my faith. I have been left out. I have suffered financially (though light and momentary troubles all).

Don't ever think that just because you believe in Jesus that nothing bad will ever happen to you. If that's the case there is one of two things happening. 1. you are so "bad" as a christian that Satan doesn't need to mess with you, or 2. you're in heaven.

Suffering is part of the Christian life. Quit trying to run from suffering and pray your way out of it. God isn't going to deliver you from the very things that will ultimately strengthen and grow your faith and trust in Him. Live. Fight. Struggle through it with all His strength that so powerfully works in you. Suffer knowing that your faith will find increase and you will not be disappointed.

Let it grow...

I am not a patient person. Prayed for it. Somewhat desire it. Don't have it. I'm the J.G. Wentworth poster child... I want it NOW! Whether it is personal or church related I don't like to wait.

The book of James tells us that our reward for a life lived for Christ doesn't come until "the end." Hard truth for the patiently challenged.

Another area I struggle with is plants. I love plants. But you have to be patient with plants, just like faith and exercise or lots of other things (I learned the hard way that cooking something at a higher temp for a shorter period of time does NOT yeild the desired results!). I have a tendency to think that if I over do it with the water and care and sun then I'll get the results I want sooner. But that's not true. I end up killing it with care! When what I should do is just let it grow. But I don't like to wait! (Did I say that already?)

That is certainly true of pain and struggle in my life. I want it over quick! Okay God, teach me the lesson and let's move on. Let's get it over with. No need to dwell on it any longer... (I'm impatiently writing this right now!) It's my human nature to want to get this over with and move on to the next thing. But, my plants need to develop deep roots so they can get to water when I inevitably forget to water them, or when these 100 degree days hit in Kansas. They need some sun, but too much is a bad thing as well. In my spiritual life I need the same things. I need to have deep roots of faith to withstand the dry spells. I need to be able to hold up in the heat of temptations.

In order to do this I must learn the spiritual discipline of, "letting it grow." That's what James 1:4 says. Let it Grow. When pain and trouble and struggles come don't seek to get it over with quickly and get to better times. See God working in those difficulties and let it grow. These times in your life develop spiritual endurance and faith to meet all of life's challenges. So, let it grow. Let your faith grow, deep and strong.

Give yourself time to learn the lesson. To make it a habit. To get to the next level and stay there. Let it grow.

Relational God.

In Hebrews 8:10-12 I read something that is just amazing.

Have you ever thought about the implications of God's statement, "I will be your God and you will be my people"? Or how about "Everyone will know me from the least to the greatest"? or this one, "I will forgive their wickedness and never again remember this sins"?

Powerful. Life changing. Encouraging.

God could have stopped with, "I will be your God." As God, He could demand worship and tribute and obedience. But that's not what He chose. He simply wants to be our exclusive God. It's where the, "no other gods before me" comes in. He wants to be OUR God, even though He could force His ownership over us He desires us to choose Him as our only God.

And it doesn't matter if you're somebody or nobody. President or Pee-on. Everybody can know Him and be equal. There are no positions or titles with God. The manager of a QT doesn't brag about it while sitting in the oval office! There is God and then everyone else. No matter what your background, baggage, battles, bumps or bruises everyone is equal under God.

And if that wasn't enough, He wants US to be His people! Not just to worship Him as God but He wants to recognize us as His own! And part of that is His promise to "forgive our wickedness" and "never remember our sins"!

God wants us. Not just our service. Or money. Or time. Not our excuses. Just us. You and me. He wants to be our God and He wants us to be His people. He wants relationship.

Jesus is all right with me.

Reading in Hebrews 4,5 and 6 this am. Struck by Jesus life and faithfulness.

I don't recall the statistics but the majority of children who inherit wealth squander it away. They didn't have to earn it so it doesn't mean as much to them (that's what I hear anyway). But those parents who force their children to be responsible with money and teach them to work hard and earn their own way before they get inheritance dollars do much better with it.

It seems to me that God could have just had Jesus appear on earth as a human (He is God after all) in his 20's or something. Live a few months or so in the lap of luxury, since His Dad literally owns everything, and then die a quick and pain free death. He would have not sinned so He would be the "perfect" sacrifice the law required. And He would be human and shed His blood. Law fulfilled.

But that's not the way God does things. Jesus experienced everything that we experience in our lives. From birth to death He was completely human. He experienced loss, temptation, anger, frustration, fear, ridicule, slander, out-right-lies and finally the pain of a long and agonizing death. And even through all that He never sinned.

Jesus was not only the perfect sacrifice but He becomes our perfect example. Had Jesus not lived and died as He did we could complain to God that He doesn't know what we're going through down here (which is stupid because, once again, He's God - He knows it all!) and so we should be exempted from some of our sins. And Satan could complain that He had it too easy and would have failed it He experienced life as it really is.

Instead God, in His perfect wisdom and understanding, allowed His Son to suffer so that we and Satan are without excuse. There is nothing we can point to as a loop hole or way out. Jesus went through all this so that He would rule well, judge justly and win the battle handily.

Thanks Jesus, you're all right with me.

Healthy Reminder

I have never heard of someone who did something wrong say they intended for it to happen. You know, husband or wife has an affair and they all say, "I never meant for this to happen!" Or a teenager goes to far and gets pregnant and they say, "I didn't mean for it to go this far!" You hurt someone and say, "I didn't MEAN to hurt you, that was not my intention."

Things happen. You may not have "thought" it would go that far or end up like it did but you certainly allowed it to. I don't get into the office on Monday morning and say, "I think I'd like to really do a poor job on my message this Sunday." But sometimes I allow other things to take my focus and I end up doing less than my best (thanks to God for using me even then!).

The writer of Hebrews gives us some sound advice to avoid these types of situations in our spiritual lives. He (or she) says, "make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God."

Now, you are probably saying something like, "but I believe! My heart's not evil! I will never turn away!" We've heard that before. I think Peter said the same thing. You may not now think you would ever turn away. That's why you could say, "I didn't mean for this to happen." Right now you say you believe, but later you may say, "I never meant for it to go this far."

What's the answer? The writer starts out verse 12 saying, "be careful" and then it says, "Make sure." I recall Paul telling Timothy to, "watch your life and conduct." No one intends on moving away from God, but it happens all the time.

So be careful and make sure you evaluate yourself to see that you are not on a slippery slope. Are you spending time with other believers? Are you regular in church attendance? Are you serving and giving regularly at the church? How long has it been since you read your bible or prayed? Be careful. Make sure your own heart is not evil and unbelieving turning you away from the Living God.

Making Christianity Attractive

As a child my Mom had a million phrases she would stick around the house or throw out at times she deemed "appropriate." Your mom probably had them too. Above the sink in the kitchen she had this little bit of wisdom, "if you're not happy with what you have, how could you be happier with more?" and more than once I heard this, all to familiar, quip, "you catch more flies with honey."

It seems to me that maybe over the years the church lost sight of that last one. In fact, I think the church as a whole may have gone the opposite direction entirely. Making the church difficult to get into and belong to made being a member a rite-of-passage. You knew those who were members had "earned" their membership. I would even say that some churches went so far as to consciously make their fellowships unattractive to outsiders so that only those who, truly wanted to be saved, would dare join them.

Then, we were able to look at those on the outside and ridicule their faithless lives and talk about how upright and holy we were because we were a part of this thing called church. We not only made church unattractive we often made Christ unattractive as well. We acted like Christ on Sunday or at Bible study, etc. but in the bank on Friday or at the cafe on Wednesday we could be found cursing about the work week or telling off-color jokes to those around us.

Paul's instruction in Titus 2 paints a different picture of church. He is talking about slaves/servants who have become believers in Jesus Christ and how they ought to live. He says they must "not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God attractive in every way."

I think Paul's instruction could be directed at us too. We, as believers in Jesus should live so that we are proved "trustworthy." We shouldn't act like those who are not believers, but instead live differently so that we might "make the teaching about God attractive in every way."

It seems to me that our goal should be to minimize the obstacles to faith - not increase them! Our lives should make our God and Savior Jesus Christ attractive and our churches should be places of welcome and comfort for road weary travelers. If God's goal is that everyone be saved and come to a knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (and it is see 1 Tim 2:4) then we should use more honey.

Has Christianity become a wast of time?

Okay, recognize that I'm being a little sarcastic here, but it's for good reason. I hear a lot of sermons and preachers and others talk about a lot of stuff and sometimes I wonder... is this really necessary? In the confines of worship, are there some things that become a waste of time?

Paul tells Timothy not to let people, "waste time in endless discussion of myths and {spiritual pedigrees}... which don't help people live a life of faith in God." I like that 'cause that's what we're about at Real Life. Everyday living for Jesus. How are we as Christ followers supposed to act? Think? Serve? Love? Worship? Pray? Study?

We want to help people live a life of faith in God. That's it. Doesn't matter who you are or what you've done or how much money you have (or don't) what counts is that your are living your life based on faith in God. Acting out that faith in everyday life - work, school, home, church, grocery store, lake. You and I ought to be Christians first, wherever we go. That takes understanding how to live a life of faith.

I don't want to know how many verses you can quote or times you go to church during the week or even how much you've given or done for the church. What does the rest of your life look like? If you serve and love and give at church and hate and curse and act immorally everywhere else you've failed.

Show me how you live a life of faith in God.

If you could do anything...

How many times I've been asked that question over the years. Teachers used to use it to get you to think about what you wanted to do as a career... then they would hit you with, "well you better work harder on your grades!" Parent's asked the question. Even Sunday School teachers and youth workers.

If you could anything with your life what would it be?

I read this yesterday in 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12 and was just struck by the implications of this passage. "May [God] give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do." Isn't that incredible?!

What would you do? Go on a mission trip? Share your faith? Enter into the ministry on some level? Spend more time serving others? Give generously? Foster parent? Mentor? Leader? What is the Holy Spirit birthing in you?

The God of the universe (who has unlimited power and resources and grace) is behind you! If your faith prompts you - He wants to support you! It IS incredible! God, with all He has to do, is so interested in your dreams and ambitions that He wants to make sure you have what is needed to accomplish what has been planted in you.

All that is left is for you to confirm where His Spirit is leading you and walk in faith.

Of babies and end times...

Give me a minute... I've got to climb up on my soapbox!

-In 1989 Benny Hinn predicted the end of the nation after a woman is elected president, "within the next few years." Never happened.
-In 2000 Jack VanImpe commented that Christ would return in 2004... then 2007... now 2012 or 2018.
-In 2000 Hal Lindsey said the battle of Armageddon will take place in 2000 - guess I missed it. Was that on TV?
-In 2002 Pat Robertson predicted Detroit and San Francisco would be hit by terrorist attacks.
-John Wesley predicted 1836 as the year Christ would return.
-Harold Camping said it would be 1994.
-Mary Stewart Relfe said it would happen in 1997.
(taken from www.newjerusalemcommunity.net/?c=154&a=1936)

Here's what the Bible says, You may be wondering among yourselves, "How can we tell the difference, whether it was God who spoke or not?" Here's how: If what the prophet spoke in God's name doesn't happen, then obviously God wasn't behind it; the prophet made it up. Forget about him (Deuteronomy 18:21,22 the Message).

I chose the Message because it puts this passage so plainly. And I think that is how Paul was feeling in 2 Thessalonians. Apparently some false prophets or prophet wanna-bee's came to town telling everybody that Jesus had already come back the second time or was about to. So people quit their jobs and sold their homes and waited. And waited. And waited. Paul basically says, get off your butt and get back to work! This is the context for the statement, if a man won't work (because he's waiting for Christ to come back and mooching off his friends) then don't let him eat. Paul then points to his own lifestyle saying that he worked tirelessly while he was with them.

We live in the now and not yet. I believe some day Jesus will come back. But I don't know when it will be. The Dr. gave Andi and I a date for when each of our children would be born. We knew when it was getting close so we packed the hospital bag and made our preparations. But I still went to work. She still went to work. Not one of our children were born on the day the Dr. said - but it didn't matter because we were ready. We'd made the necessary preparations.

Instead of worrying about when Christ will come back we Christians ought to simply get our bags packed and then get to work telling our friends, family, neighbors to be ready too! Go to work and tell them about Jesus. Go to school ready to tell those who ask you about your Savior.

So. If anyone has made a prediction about when Christ will come back and they say they "heard it from God" or had a "revelation" or any other such thing attributed to God and it doesn't come true then DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM ANY LONGER. You heard me right. Turn off Pat Robertson and Jack and anyone else who "got their calculations wrong."

Whew, I'm winded. That was a long climb down...

Rest...

I don't know about you but I thoroughly enjoyed my extended weekend. It was truly a time of rest for me and my family. I have been preaching every weekend for over a year. That gets really tiring. I don't remember who said it, but their statement was that preaching one message is the emotional equivalent of an 8 hour work day. And I believe it! In addition to all the other duties of a preacher.

And it's been a busy few months for me. We've got a guy in the hospital I'm trying to spend time with. A dear old friend from my previous church is dying and I get to spend some time with him and his wife every week. Not to mention the growth Real Life has experienced means more work too!

So it was good to rest. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 says, "God will provide rest." And I'm glad He did. The family had a great time at the River farm on Fall river and got to just chill and be together. Stay in a camper and swim in the river and explore with the kids. It was great and just what Andi and I needed. It makes me look forward to our family trip to the Gulf Coast later this month and a break from preaching for a few weeks. I love to do it - but even the stuff you love you need a break from once in awhile.

So thank you God for rest. Rest from the everyday. Rest from the "work" even if it's Your work. It makes us look forward that much more to the rest you will provide when Jesus comes again. What a rest that will be! I want to be rested up for that!

This is NOT what you thought it was...

As a pastor I get to hear all about what people are going through and struggling with in their lives. As a by-product of that I hear how they are getting through those difficult times. I can almost guarantee that at some point in your life and struggles you've either told someone, or been told, to remember this verse...

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

You may have that on your fridge or taped to the mirror in your bathroom. No doubt, you've used that passage to help you through many difficult times. You lost your job. Your car broke down. Your 401K tanked. But have you ever read Philippians 4:10-12? the verses that come right before this beloved scripture text completely define and limit it.

The context of this verse has nothing to do with being able to "get through" rough patches in your life. It was not intended to be used when your dog died, or you had a flat tire on vacation. But we most often use this passage to help us "weather" the storm until we reach solid ground. Until our ship comes back in.

Paul says that he has learned the secret to being content with WHATEVER was going on in his life BY realizing he could ENDURE through Christ's strength.

Now, I'm no Greek scholar, don't know it and can't pronounce more that 5 words, but as near as I can tell the literal translation of verse 13 is this; "individually strong in the Strength" ("the" obviously referring to Christ's).

Paul experienced times of much and little. Full and empty. Having nothing and having enough. the secret is not about getting through; it's about ENDURING in SPITE OF.

Our prayer should not always be, "God get me out of this situation and bless me (rich, happy, full, satisfied)." But, "God, help me to rely on your strength in the situation I'm in (through it, while I'm here). Then, whether your are skinny or fat, rich or poor, happy or sad, lonely or livin' large, you'll be living, individually strong (regardless of your current situation) in Christ's strength.

And that is the goal of the Christian life. Living your life, through Christ, no matter what.

When it comes from Him, It gets done.

Have you ever had the DESIRE to do something but lacked the POWER. Maybe that came in the form of know-how. Time. Required tools. I have the desire to do things but often I lack the power in the form of ability or financial resources. I was just telling Andi yesterday, I would love to spend my evenings working in the yard. I have that desire. But I lack the power. We don't have the money to spend on plants, grass, fertilizer or any of the other hundred projects I would like to do. So the desire is there but the power to actually accomplish the desire is lacking.

My power may be limited but God's is not. Money is never and will never be an issue for God. God has unlimited and uncountable resources. Time is not an issue for the timeless. There is nothing He can not do. He is perfectly Holy and perfectly capable to do anything and everything He desires.

And guess what. God is working in YOU, giving you the DESIRE and the POWER to do what pleases Him. Isn't that incredible?! God first gives the desire. The thought. The DREAM. The vision. He begins to birth the impossible in your heart the minute you receive the Holy Spirit. Things you never thought you'd do, He's preparing you for. Dreams you never dreamed before, He's planting in you. Like a seed in the ground God is planting His desires in your heart.

But he doesn't just give you the desire... No, that's just the beginning of God's involvement.
He gives you the power to carry it out! You don't have to rely on your own strength! Your own ingenuity! Your own resources! Your own abilities! God gives you both the desire and the power!

He doesn't just say, "here's what I want you to do. Now DO IT!" He says, "Here's what I want you to do and here's what you need to accomplish it!

The Bible says that, He who began a good work in you is faithful to see it to completion. Stop relying on your own abilities and ingenuity and finances! If God's given you the desire, He's gonna give you the power!

All He asks is that you "work hard to show the result of your salvation - obedience." When I work at obeying He grows the desire and supplies the power.

Mission Impossible...

Ephesians 5 took me captive today only two words into the chapter. I wasn't ready for it. You know, like when your kid sneaks up on your while your napping on the couch and jumps! Took me by surprise and wouldn't let me go.

The chapter starts with this two word statement, "imitate God."

I know, Right! Crazy! Impossible! Out-of-your-mind! No way, no how! It's like standing at the entrance to the Empire State building and someone says, "jump!" Playing one on five with the 2010 Celtics (go C's!) and people expecting you to win! It would be easier to say, "hey mountain, go through yourself in the ocean!"

It's times like this I wish I could be plugged into the Matrix - at least I could have a hope of figuring out how to "bend the rules" of the computer generated world. Man, I wish I would have studied my Jedi handbook more thoroughly!

To imitate God seems like an incredibly difficult task! How could Paul ask, or expect that we would be able to do this? Let's start the list and see where we get.

1. Create everything out of nothing. Piece-of-cake.
2. Play in the mud and come up with a perfectly balanced and working man. Child's play.
3. Come up with Ten laws that would perfectly control the civilized world. Simple.
4. Send your only son to die the worst death imaginable for people who don't even care...

And all the while, love. Forgive. Extend mercy. Show grace.

I can't do it. Can't be done. It's impossible.

Thank goodness Paul didn't stop with those two words. How do we imitate God?

1. Love. Love even before you are loved. Love first. Love those who don't love you yet. Love even those who you think hate you. Love those who do hate you.
2. No sexual immorality (tough, but doable). No impurity (hard, not impossible). No Greed (only mildly difficult). Obscene stories (done). No foolish talk (does he know I am a Landreth?). No coarse jokes (nearly eradicated).

Instead - be thankful to God. Thankful He is God, and I am not. Thankful that getting an A on my imitating God performance is not required. Thankful that He gave the Holy Spirit to help with the process. Thankful that when I am weak and fail, He is strong and prevails - He set the standard and He lifts me up to meet it.

What a challenge. What a calling. What a task. What a God. What am I waiting for...

It's MY life.

Growing up in a preachers home was okay, no big deal to me and my brother and sisters, it was all we knew. But there was one thing that drove me crazy. No matter where I went there were people who knew that I was a PK (preacher's kid) and even if they didn't really know my dad or go to our church they were quick to inspect every single thing I did or said.

Fortunately for my family (and God) I was a pretty good kid. Never really got in too much trouble, I wasn't immoral (you know the reputation PKs had!).

Then I went off to college. 1700 miles from mom and dad. And even though people knew them where I was I felt like I was finally on my own - my own person. I was just another student. So, I did some stupid things. Still nothing too terrible, but I certainly stepped it up a notch from my high school days.

It seems to me that I just wanted to define MY life. You know, it's like those commercials for that place that will give you a cash pay out in exchange for your monthly payouts from different things. Their commercials have people screaming out their windows, "It's MY money and I want it NOW!" The college years are a time for us to scream, "it's MY life and I want to live it NOW!"

So, we exercise our new found freedom. Maybe you started smoking. You know, cause your parents didn't want you to - but you weren't gonna let them control you anymore. Or maybe it was drinking (before you turned 21 - stupid by the way) or using drugs. I showed who was in control of MY life by swearing a bunch (only for a while).

Maybe you have noticed by now though, that those things you thought were an exercise in your new found freedom have become your master. You have to smoke. You have to have another hit... or another drink. You have to use foul language to express yourself - you can't help it.

Paul says in Galatians 5 that we ought instead to make ourselves slaves to God through the Holy Spirit. That way what we get is greater love, knowledge, better relationships.

Let me ask you. Has your "exercise in freedom" helped you love better? (can second hand smoke and cancer be considered love?). Has your addiction to drugs given you greater knowledge about anything other than which store has the best deals on junk food (munchies). Have your addictions helped build... or destroy... your relationships?

It's MY life - I guess that means I can destroy it, or make it as good as possible. It's up to me.

got out my list...

Just reading some more in Galatians 2 where Paul opposes Peter to his face and in front of a crowd! Wow. That's some intestinal fortitude on Paul's part. But I wonder how Peter felt? He surely knew he was in the wrong before Paul even said a word - then to have Paul point it out so openly... Man, I feel for him.

Truth is, I don't take criticism well. I want to. I know how I ought to feel about it, but that doesn't help me in the moment. I take everything so intensely personal - especially where the church is concerned. Even from my wife I have a hard time hearing (and responding appropriately) to criticism.

We're never told how Peter took it... maybe he got all up in Paul's grill... but probably not. I guess I need to add that to my list of things the Holy Spirit needs to help me work on. He'll do that you know. He wants to make you more like Christ - so He'll help you work on those small (and big) character flaws so that more and more you and I reflect the character of Christ. Who gave His life.

Just so you know, my list is getting really heavy.

Motivation for Ministry

Back at the office this morning and finishing up 2 Corinthians. In chapter 9 Paul is talking a lot about this financial gift that the church in Corinth was supposed to be preparing for the believers in Jerusalem who were in the midst of a famine (if I remember correctly).
If you've been reading along in 1 & 2 Corinthians you know that the church, once they heard of the situation in Jerusalem began talking about ways they could help and they decided that they would take up a collection to help their brothers and sisters in Christ in Jerusalem. Paul urged them to take a collection every week - presumably on Sunday when they had come together for corporate worship. He wanted them to do this so they wouldn't forget and so that when he got there the collection would already be completed - it would not fall to him to make it happen.

In chp 9:13 Paul then reminds the Corinthians why they were giving this gift - what their motivation was. Once the gift was sent to Jerusalem the believers there would "give glory to God." And that my friends, is always the motivation!

What do you do in the church? Clean? Make coffee? Teach children? Play an instrument? Pray? Are you in to technical stuff or like greeting people? Maybe you like it behind-the-scenes where no one sees you but does sees your hard work? Or maybe you get to be the preacher? Whatever your role in the church there is only one worthy motivation - that God would be glorified through the things you do.

How is God glorified? When the lost are found and the blind see. When those who don't know Him find a connection to Him.

Who knows, your work may lead to someone to connect with Jesus - that my friends, is all the motivation we need.

What's important when sharing your faith?

Love this passage in 1 Cor 15; Paul gives us a list of things he says are the most important things when telling others about Christ. It's simple, personal and I like it.

1. Christ died for our sins. This is central to faith - if He didn't die our sins have not been paid for; we are still guilty before God and death is all we can hope for.
2. He was buried. Christ didn't faint or pass out He died. His blood was shed. He was buried and sealed in a tomb. Dead. How can He have victory over death if He never faced it? He was buried because He was dead.
3. He was raised on the third day. He is alive. He paid the price for our sin. He faced death and overcame and now He is alive. If He is not alive then where is our hope? Where is our confidence?
4. He was seen (by "me" Paul says). This is where it gets personal. You want to tell your friends and family about your faith? Start with your changed life. The things you used to do you don't do (right?!). You're happier. Have more joy in the face of trouble. More faith, hope and love. Tell them how you have been changed because you have "seen" Christ work in your own life!

Let me break it down even more for you.

The Bible is true when it talks about Jesus, look at my own life for proof. (but first make sure you are living a new life, firmly established in Christ!)

I was blind but now I see. I was lost but now I'm found. Tell somebody your story today!

It's what I live for...

Motivation. What prompts you to do the things you do? I'm hoping to get to go to the Gulf Coast this summer with the family. Never been there before, a few of the kids have never seen (or don't remember) the ocean. So, I'm back to running. Watching what I eat and even working on the abs again. I'm motivated to lose about 15-20lbs before we go. That possible trip is motivating me to drop some poundage before we get to the shore.

There are things that motivate me spiritually as well. Paul said it this way, "I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ" and then, "I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some" (1 cor 9:19,22).

I love two things about these passages. First, Paul's desire is not to save a few but "many" and that's what I want. That's why I fuss over the "little" things at church and talk as though we ought to have unlimited funds - I don't want to reach a few with the Gospel and settle for a couple changed lives, I want to turn El Dorado and the surrounding communities upside down and shake out the lost like I'm looking for loose change! So we work to NOT look like other churches or talk like some of our Christan brothers so that we can say we did everything we could to save some.

It's not about having quality video support for worship - it's about connecting in a way our generation understands and is comfortable with. It's not about having the best worship band - it's about connecting with people who like the worlds music in a way they can relate to so they are open to what is said. It's not about having the best coffee or kids program or the coolest building - it's about doing everything we can to connect with a society that doesn't recognize Christianity as a viable or appealing lifestyle.

It's about changing minds so Jesus can change lives. I'm not satisfied with where we are - I want one more. I'm expecting God to blow the roof of this place. I'm expecting Him to provide financially so we can fix the issues with our video, purchase a new sound system, add some cool stuff for kids.

1 cor 10:33 - "I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that they may be saved."

Don't listen to me...

You heard me. Don't listen to me. I've been speaking in front of people my whole life and I can be pretty good at it (I always got A's in speech and public speaking). But if I trust my own wisdom to plan a message or present an argument it will fall. Not because it wasn't well crafted or my audience was not considered - but because it will lack the power that only comes when I speak through the Spirit.

I think I finally see what Paul is talking about in the second half of 1 Corinthians 3. Once a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ has been laid in a persons life lots of people "build" on that faith. Preachers, teachers, guys on television (sometimes) friends who speak into your life the things of God, etc. But what is built on that foundation of faith in Jesus Christ will be tested and the builder proved by God. Some build with mighty talk and deep theology. Some build with plain language. Some get by and some go overboard. But all will be tested. What is built on that foundation is a group of people (we'll call them christians) that become something more than they could be separately (we'll call it the church). If that structure survives the builder will be saved.

So don't listen to me, I'm only a builder. Test what is said. Prove it from God's Word. Listen to me only to the extent that I continue to speak as the Holy Spirit leads and when/if I ever stop (Lord help me never to reach that point) then stop listening to me. Kick me out.

You are not baptized into Corey. I didn't die for your sins. I can't save you (or me!). All I can do is hope to build you up on the foundation of Jesus Christ, to be mature believers in Jesus Christ. And Lord willing, I'll spend the rest of my life doing that, right here at Real Life.

I love those "DUH" moments in the Bible

Call me simple or unspiritual - but I love those plain, no nonsense passages in the Bible. Today I was reading in Romans 13 and came across one of these in verse 3.

The question Paul poses to those in Rome is, "would you like to live without fear of those in authority?" Think about those fears: the fear of being "caught." Many a prank went undone by me because of the risk of capture and punishment. Some I thought were worth it - and paid the price for. Others I just could not justify. The fear of imprisonment is a huge deterrent for me, even though orange looks good on me, I do not like the whole jumpsuit look - very unflattering. There is the fear of being injured or killed... you get the picture. When you are in fear of those in authority you most often are doing something that you should not be doing, otherwise there would be no reason to be in fear!

The rhetorical answer to Paul's question is this, if you don't want to live in fear of those in authority... this is good I hope you're ready... STOP BREAKING THE LAW. Duh, right?!

Instead of gripping about being caught and how the cops are "after you" stop breaking the law or looking for ways to break the law and you wont have to live in fear anymore!

I hope my youngest son learns this lesson quickly. The other day I was driving and he saw a cop car and said, "uh oh, be careful dad there's a cop car they might come after you." I quickly informed him that I was not doing anything wrong so there was no reason to fear that the cop might stop me. I also got to use the opportunity to reinforce that the police are there primarily for our protection. Stopping speeding cars, or suspicious cars, etc. are just some of the ways they protect the rest of us.

There is no fear if you're not doing anything wrong... Duh.

Freedom!

Reading Romans 7 and 8 today. Amazed at all God has done for us in Christ... Particularly, giving us freedom.

Many of our men and women have fought and died to give us the freedoms we have and love here in America. I am grateful for all who have served, are serving and will serve. But the freedom I'm talking about is not political (if there is such a thing) or social.

I'm struck today by the freedom from guilt... from the condemnation that came from my sin.

I'll break it down like Mark Driscol from Mars Hill church.
Christ lived the life I could not live - a life without sin.
Christ died the death I should have died - paying my price for sin.
Christ gives the gift I could not hope to attain - salvation from my sin.

I connected with that life, death and Resurrection gift when I was buried in the waters of baptism. Now, having the Spirit of Jesus living in me:
I can live the life that God has called me to - free to follow the Spirit.
I can live the life that is God has given me - free from the fear of death.
I can give the gift that only I can give - free to give my all back to God.

Sin no longer has control. I'm free.

What is a "work"?

There is nothing you can do to earn heaven. Heaven is not your wage for living a good life, even a moral life, even a perfect life (as if that could be attained).

You work 40 hours and in exchange for all those seconds of your life, away from your spouse, children, hobbies, etc. you earn a wage. You get paid to spend your few years of life doing something that someone else wants done.

Heaven. Eternity. They don't work like that.

Romans 3 tells us that we cannot "boast that we have done ANYTHING to be accepted by God..." There is no "work" that gains a relationship with God. None. Try all you like, it's not possible to earn your salvation. Give to the poor. Build orphanages in foreign countries. Build a million! It doesn't help you get closer to God. You cannot give, live, fight, talk or even welfare your way to God. He doesn't accept that exchange. You see, His gift of eternal life in Heaven is worth so much that NOTHING we can give or do could even come close to earning us Heaven.

What gets us the promise of eternal life? Faith. Our faith that Jesus sacrificed His life and shed His blood for us (Romans 3:25).

God makes people right with Himself only by faith... so:

1. Without faith there is no point in confessing Jesus as your Lord and Savior - so confession is NOT a work because it cannot earn you eternal life by itself.
2. Without faith there is no reason to repent of sin, since it only by faith that you realize what you've done IS sin and would try to not do it anymore - so repentance is NOT a work because it cannot earn you eternal life by itself.
3. Without faith there is no reason to be immersed because immersion (as Rom 6 clearly states) connects us with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and if you don't believe He sacrificed His life and shed His blood why would you do something that so clearly represents that sacrificial death and new life? - so baptism is NOT a work because it cannot earn you eternal life by itself.

Now, before you get angry, look at Romans 4:2,3 Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. It was not the good things he did that got him anywhere with God, but his faith. But does that mean that he stopped doing good? That he stopped obeying? That he stopped working out his salvation? NO! Abraham proved his faith by his actions, but his actions (work) did not EARN him eternal life.

Had Abraham said, "I believe" but I'm not going to obey, follow, speak on your behalf, do you think God would have still used him to become the father of many nations? Heck no!

So why do we think that our obedience in repentance, confession and baptism somehow minimize or take away from our faith? These acts PROVE our belief they do not take the place of it. And if they did... we would not be looking forward to Heaven.

Stepping off the soapbox now. My apologies for even getting up there... just in the mood I guess!

You're a Christian? So what.

Christians have been given lots of names over the years. Self-righteous. Hypocrite. Phony. Poser. And in reality I think we deserve them. Think about it for a minute... there's a reason the hour before church has been called the "unholy hour." Moms and Dads yelling at each other, at the kids, trying to get everybody out the door. I remember how careful I had to be as a child not to get my "church clothes" messed up before church. Church people worked so hard to look the right way and dress the right way and talk the right way, when they were at church. But come Monday you couldn't tell the difference between the people who went to church and the people who spent the weekend at the bar!

In Romans 2 Paul calls out the Christians who thought they were better than everybody else just because they believed in Jesus. He tells them that being born into a certain culture or family doesn't make you better than anybody else. Claiming the name Christian because you say you believe in Jesus doesn't make you a Christian any more than having the name Jesus makes you the Messiah!

In the end, it's not your church attendance, your outfit, making everyone think you have the perfect family for one hour on Sunday morning, or even calling yourself a Christian. What makes you special in God's sight is your actions. Look at Romans 2:6,7 "He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers."

I would rather see you fail and fall and get up seeking forgiveness. Then claim you never have to get up. Some even talk about they have failed - but then do everything they can to hide those same failures. My mom wrote just today in her post on Psalm 11 from God's perspective, "I do not demand a perfect life from you, but I do demand your allegiance and your efforts to draw near to me so that I can draw near to you." If God doesn't demand a perfect life - why fake it?

I believe what the world is desperately looking for is authenticity where Christianity is concerned. When I can be honest with people about my faults and failures and at the same time point them to my relationship with Jesus as the sustaining part of my life, even with my screw-ups, they begin to see God for who He really is. Not a dictator who demands perfection, but a Father who desires relationship.

See Corey. See Corey run. See Corey fall. See Corey's God help him up, brush off the dirt and encourage him run again.

simple faith

Do you know how I remember the name of the by who fell out of the third story window to his death while Paul preached on into the night? You'd-a-cussed too if you fell out a window. Eutychus, was his actual name and I'm inspired to simple faith today because of his sleepiness.

Fortunately this kind of thing (falling asleep in church) doesn't happen very often but this time it had a beneficial result.

Eutychus falls out of the window to his death (Acts 20). Paul goes downstairs to see him and picks him up in his arms and tells everyone, "don't worry, he's alive!" "Then they all went back up..." That's it. The young man dies. The Holy Spirit heals him through Paul and they all go back to what they were doing. Eating. Communion. More preaching.

What would it be like if the uncommon where so common that we expected it? The Bible says that God calls things that AREN'T as though they ARE. I think I'd like to try that. God is in the business of the uncommon. So I need to familiarize myself with that place - so I like being there and get used to the things I'm not used to.

Faith Works.

What is up with the thousands of "cleansing" adds on the Internet, coming to my email, on face book and every other social media site? I'm reminded of the "colon cleanse" phony commercials SNL used to show (back when it was good).

Their seems to be two steps to the CLEANSE. First you have to decide what you are doing to your body is not healthy and make a mental choice to make a change. Then you have to take the steps necessary to go through what will be a difficult and perhaps disgusting process. But when it's over - you are promised a new you! More vitality. Better health. Happier life... changed life.

The changed life is an amazing thing. Jarrod - the Subway guy knows. So do all those people who have made amazing transformations via programs like the Biggest Looser.

But there is nothing that compares with the life change that happens at the hands of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it's a lot like a cleanse program for the soul.

Paul saw it when he preached in Ephesus, the evidence of changed lives took two major forms.

1. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices - When God gets a hold on someone the Holy Spirit works and one of His duties is to convict of sin. When that happens confession happens. The status-quo is no longer acceptable. Accountability is sought. Life changed.
2. Some brought their incantation books and burned them in a public fire - the text goes on to say this was upwards of several million dollars. Can you imagine?! Someone so convinced of their sin and God's desire for Holiness that they actually simply burn items they could have sold and got lots of money for!

I'm reminded of a statement John the Baptist I think made often. He told the people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance." That's what the people of Ephesus did.

Life change begins on the inside as you accept the message - respond in faith and obedience to repent, confess Jesus as YOUR Savior and be immersed according to the Scriptures - but it doesn't end there. As the Holy Spirit works in your life you will have a great desire to toss aside the things that used to control you. the things that will once again drive a wedge between you and your God.

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance - with your new life! Confess your sin and Cleanse your life!

God's got a plan.

So, behind on my Bible reading - the website took more time than I'd like to tell you about - and I'm reading today in Acts 16.

Paul is talking with some Greeks and finds a interesting way to tell them about God. It seems they had a shrine/statue that they worshiped but it was called "an unknown god." They were so careful to not offend the "gods" that they worshiped one they didn't even have a name for (which is kind of silly since all the other names were made up anyway).

Paul tells them about their unknown god, of course, he tells them about the one and only God.

Anyway, Paul says some cool things about God's plans in the passage. Yes, God does have a plan. And he's got some points laid out on how to reach that plan.

God's plan: Get the nations to seek Me.

He is going to do that by helping them to "feel their way toward Him" that happens a number of ways. Let me use you as an example. Why is it that people have to make a conscious decision to be atheist? We are born with a knowledge that there is something beyond ourselves. There are things that have happened in your life (I'll bet) that you could not explain or don't know how/why they happened. These are ways that God helps us to "feel" our way toward Him. Look, we are all spiritually blind, like puppies, we root around and "feel" our way to what will sustain and nourish us.

Secondly God is going to make sure that He is found. Go back to the puppy picture. If momma doesn't come back, if she can't be found the puppies die, right? So, momma has to make sure that she can always be found when her puppies need her. God does the same with us. He is never far from us so that He can be found when we need Him.

And once we seek Him and find Him we realize that IN HIM we live and move and exist!

My prayer today is that:
In God, I live! I dwell. I'm at home. Comfortable in God, safe and secure.
In God I move! He gives me wings to fly and dreams to reach and plans to follow!
In God I exist! I am nothing without Him. Any good I have done - apart from Him is nothing. I find my reason for being in glorifying my Savior Jesus Christ and bringing honor, together with Him, to God our Father.

So today I must seek Him... and find Him...

Can there really be agreement?

I've been in church my whole life. Born and raised on the pews and in the classrooms and spanked, on a number of occasions, by God fearing spiritual giants (or at least they seemed that way to me!). The one thing I've learned over nearly 40 years in and around the ministry... you never have complete agreement. At least, I've never seen it.

Even if everybody believes something should be done everybody doesn't agree on WHAT should be done. Someone is always the winner and someone always the looser.

But in Acts 15:25 something miraculous, incredible, a sign, a wonder from God Himself happens! I read this morning the words, "they were in complete agreement." Wow! It was incredible! It can be done! There can be agreement! It is possible! (or at least it was possible.)

And in verse 28 of that same chapter the key to coming to agreement in the church is uncovered for the generations. Are you ready? Here it is:

"It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us."

The key to agreement. The formula for togetherness and cooperation! I am so happy! What? You don't see it?

In almost every decision that has ever been made that same line from verse 28 would be written this way, "it seemed good to me" and so I did it. We are so wired to get our way and fight for what we want that we often forget about the "us" and never even mention the Holy Spirit - what could He possible have to say anyway?! We don't consider the Holy Spirit (who speaks only what He hears from the Father) and so we take His place in the formula, It seemed good to us.

Look, the church is NOT a democracy it is a Theocracy - God rules, He placed Christ Jesus in charge as the Head of the church. So, what Jesus wants is all that matters. Nothing else. If it helps "us" do what He wants then it ought to be done as soon as possible. And what does Jesus want? The same thing His Father does and the Holy Spirit enables us to do - "everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9) which means He wants everyone to experience Life Change through Jesus!

That's what we're about! That's what we must rally around! That's our battle cry! Changed Lives! Can I get an Amen (which means "so be it" and is a statement of affirmation)? NO? let me guess, you don't agree.

A little Red Bull for your soul.

The commercial says Red Bull gives you wings... I've never had one but I seriously doubt it. But I get the metaphor - Red Bull is supposed to pick you up and get your motor going when you feel worn out.

Did you know that you can get spiritually worn out too? There are times when you're just going on auto-pilot and you really need a pick up! I discovered my today while reading in Acts 13.

So here's some Red Bull for your soul! in verse 41 (Paul quotes from Habakkuk 1:5) where God says, "I am doing something in your day, something you wouldn't believe even if you were told about it." That just stirred my spirit! I'm believing that God is going to do something here at Real Life that we wouldn't have believed if someone had told us about it. We're seeing the signs of what is to come already. Lives are being changed and God's Spirit is moving among us! Hasn't there been a "different" feeling in worship lately? I think God may be getting ready to blow the roof off this place for His Glory!

But it gets even better! If one can of Red Bull is good - two is better right? verse 38 - "through this man, Jesus, there is forgiveness of YOUR sins, everyone who believes in Him is DECLARED right with God!" Isn't that amazing?!

In this world of performance - you have to do right, look right, talk right, walk right, think right, and out do everyone else there is this truth... Through Jesus there is forgiveness of YOUR sins. You can have freedom. You can have peace. You can have real life. Because everyone who believes in Jesus has been DECLARED right with God. You didn't have to earn it. You didn't have to talk, look, dress, walk, work just right - God declared you right.

Wow! forgiveness and righteousness by Jesus from God. better than a Red Bull.

Better eyes.

It's Sunday morning. Early. Jesus was killed Friday evening and buried in the new tomb before the sun went down and the Sabbath officially began. Which was Saturday back then. The day after the Sabbath when work could once again be done Mary walks to the tomb.

Once Jesus was confirmed dead the religious leaders went to Pilate and asked that a seal and detachment of guards be placed at the tomb to keep the disciples from taking Jesus body from the grave and claiming He had risen. After all, He said that if you destroy this temple I'll rebuild it in three days. They got the point - that He was talking about Himself.

So Mary gets near the tomb and sees that the stone has been rolled away and she runs and finds Peter and John (he's the one who reaches the tomb first) and tells them, "they have taken the Lord." Interesting isn't it. The religious leaders protect the tomb because they think the disciples will try to steal the body of Jesus (they obviously don't believe He will actually rise because they "know" he's not the Messiah). And then Mary blames the religious leaders for stealing Jesus' body (obviously she didn't get the memo that He was going to come back to life).

Curious situation. Both sides, good and bad if you want to call it that, blaming the other for something that Jesus told them was gonna happen.

Do you ever rush to judgment? Yea, me too. But often I find that if I would have been listening to God in the first place I'd know what was going on. I think I'll try to do more listening and less judgment jumping so that when I discover that God has done something incredible I'll be like, "yep. I know that was going to happen." Here's to spiritual eyes and a better rememberer.

This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://coreylandreth.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://coreylandreth.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Scars that change our lives...

Working on this Sunday's message and I'm thinking about Scars, emotional/spiritual cuts that God has been healing, and how some of them actually lead to life change. This Sunday we'll talk a little about One of Trevor's scars. When he was about 2 years old Andi and I were getting around on Sunday morning for church when we heard Trevor screaming. We ran into the living room to find him standing next to the ironing board, HOLDING THE IRON! He was screaming because it was on and he was burning his right hand, the hand holding the hot part! For several weeks he couldn't close his hand because of the huge blister that covered his whole palm and went up to the first knuckle on each finger. Bad. I don't think Trevor ever reached for an iron again. And I sure know that he has absolutely no desire to pick one up even today! Sometimes the scars we receive in life actually teach us a lesson. Keep us from doing things that will hurt us.

The Bible says that God disciplines His children so they grow. So we learn a lesson. So we become more like His Son, Jesus. The scar from our sin then, actually acts like a string tied on our finger, to remind us of the pain committing that sin will bring. And sometimes, through the scars we receive in life, God actually reveals His grace, mercy and love to us. So that in that scar we might see Him - instead of the sin that cut us so deeply.

Instead of hating your scars why not let your scars be a warning and a light to others. A warning so they might not make the same mistakes and a light by which they might see the grace of God and experience the forgiveness of sin.

What should I expect? Nothing.

In the church we often talk about those great passages that make people WANT to give and tithe. You know, ones like, give and it will be given back - pressed down, shaken together and overflowing will be poured into your lap. for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. I hear guys, like that one down in TX (and lots of others - especially on tv), who seem to be saying that if you give your life to Christ and if you give your money to the church then God will take care of you and you'll get everything you always wanted - new cars, jobs, homes, better family, etc.

But today I wondered whatever happened to the widow?

In verse 4 Jesus praises her in front of the disciples and other for "putting in all she had to live on." But what happens next?! If you believe some - she must have went home and discovered that she had the winning lottery ticket! Or maybe she got a promotion at the Jordan River Laundry so she made more and was given an assistant to carry her load to the river. We desperately want to believe that God must have done something incredible in her life because all we hear is that if we are faithful and give to God what is God He takes responsibility for providing, the new Wii, new car, new 52" flat panel television (you can send it to me!).

But here's the reality. There's no more to that story. Jesus doesn't chase her down and miraculously give her a pile of money. He just recognizes her sacrifice. And He allows it to be a sacrifice. You see, if you and I give to God so that we can "see what He might do to give back to us" then we're wrong. I'm gonna go way out on a spiritual limb here and say that some people who get back so much are not getting that from God. But Satan is keeping them tied to a "give/get" spiritual relationship and that is unBiblical.

My wife and I tithe because we believe we've been asked to in Scripture. It's not our money, that first 10% belongs to God we have no right to spend it. So, with bills in hand and no food on the table (a little exaggeration for effect) we put that check in at church. And God doesn't run to thank us. He doesn't pour out on us great financial blessings. Because we're only giving what we've been told to give. What isn't ours in the first place. If I give back to you something you gave me first should I expect a "thank you"? No. I should be thanking you! That's what we're doing financially. We're saying, "thank You Father for providing for us already." The truth is... He doesn't have to.