Were these the “Final” words?

You are drowning. The tide has pulled you under and the turbulent waters are unforgiving. Panic rapidly sets in and you are wide-eyed and fighting to break the surface. Suddenly, panic gives way to dread as the realization sinks in that there is nothing that you can do to save yourself, you are doomed. Just as you give up all hope, surrendering to your fate, a strong hand plunges into the dark depths of the waters and pulls you to safety. You have been saved from certain death and the task of the one who has saved you is finished, yet you will forever be in their debt for coming to your rescue.
When all hope of finding true forgiveness of sin seemed gone, Jesus came. When we were drowning in the depths of the dark and murky waters of sin, His hand broke through and saved us. His mission took Him to the cross for us and became our one and only source of salvation.

The images of the cross are by no means for the weak of heart. For with these images carries the burdens of sin and humanity as well as the pain and the agony of Jesus Christ. He suffered and died, but the image of the cross should also bring with it hope, resurrection, new life and peace! It was God reaching down into humanity and providing for us a way to safety.
When viewing the cross we sometimes focus on the pain and suffering and in so doing we possibly lose sight of Jesus’ victory and our eternal hope! It was divinely appointed, never on accident, purposeful in every way. Sin and death had held humanity in a stranglehold since the fall of Adam and Eve. We were drowning in our sin. But after Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, nevermore would death have the final say! Was there suffering? Of course! But with Jesus’ final words, he spoke forth and breathed hope back into humanity’s lungs. With His final words He plucked us up out of the depths and completed our saving.
“It is finished”; He utters, loudly enough to be heard by those who had gathered there. What is finished? Life? No, not life, death is finished. The threat of eternal death is finished for those who would seek after Him. Hopelessness in this world is also finished. When Jesus declared that it was finished, He was declaring ultimate victory over sin! Mission accomplished! Game over for Satan’s death grip on mankind’s souls!
What joy and hope there is in knowing such a Savior! His declaration is for all of humanity! He was not defeated on the cross; instead He declared victory from the cross and from the grave! He was not emptied and destroyed by sin but instead was filled with salvation and love for the sinner. Jesus had finished the ultimate battle, and His trophy would be the embrace of the seekers as they reached the very steps of Eternity. On the cross Jesus ripped open the veil of death and wiped away the transgressions from you and from me. On the cross, visceral pain and suffering occurred, yet life began anew. We were rescued! On the cross, Jesus declared “It is finished” new life has now begun!

“In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.” ― Thomas a’ Kempis, “The Inner Life”

April 14, 2014 1

Prayer for Intimacy (Poem & Prayer)

Lord, you know how distracted I can be.
How I can hide my heart from you.
Break down these walls in which I hide.
Make me vulnerable and pliable to You.
I do not desire a divided heart…
and yet I often find myself there.
I thirst for You, Dear Lord;
I long for Your holy presence.
Create in me this clean heart
so that I can love and serve You sincerely,
clearly…
articulated
authentic and pure…
complete…and whole.
Lord you know how distracted I can be…
become my full focus…
become my everything…
Consume my heart and mind,
make me wholly Yours.

-Amen.

April 9, 2014 0

Confessions of a Deadman

What would the conversation look like? The amazement. The confusion. He had been dead…as a door nail. What’s a door nail by the way?…ok I digress. The look of shock, the spirit of disbelief in his sister’s eyes. They had been there when he had breathed his last. They had mourned his passing. The sting of death still lingered in their hearts and minds like the peeling blister on a sunburn. This emotional roller coaster had just careened into the station though their stomachs and emotions still lingered somewhere behind them on the track.

It had been four days since he had died. Four long and agonizing days. How his sisters had wept bitterly. How little they had slept…was this all a dream? Could this really be happening? What goes on in the spiritual realm when someone dies? What did Lazarus go through in those four days of death? Did he see a great light? Did he have an out of body experience? Was he in heaven? Oh how little we know about the life to come.

Sitting at the table with a deadman, what must his sisters have wanted to ask. “Did you see any family there?” “Did you meet Yahweh?” “What was it like?” Idle curiosity must have played a factor in this postmortem interval family reunion. After four days in the tomb, in his final resting place, he was hungry. Sitting at the table with nourishment (evidence and a source of all preservation of life) of water and food Lazarus, who was now reanimated. He longed to soak up his sister’s presence once more. They lingered together. Isn’t it interesting how we miss the company of those we love when we have been far from them? Death, though only separated by this thin membrane of a veil, had separated these loved ones from each other…now it had been torn with the authority of Jesus’ words; “Lazarus, come forth!”

What did Lazarus experience at this call? Not only did his deceased bones reanimate, but with it organs, blood circulation and brain function reignited as well. The impossible became possible. The very breath of life exhaled and inhaled into dormant unusable lungs of a corpse.

What could he tell his family of such an experience? What did this deadman have to say? Jesus, the life bringer, had raised him from the dead…he had kicked the bucket, shuffled off his mortal coil…he was completely and totally devoid of life. Lazarus had experienced the mystery of the great beyond and his sisters would undoubtedly hang on his every word in his retelling…wouldn’t you? We read of stories of children and adults who have experienced something when they had “died” and were then resuscitated. We are truly a curious creation aren’t we? We want to know what is next. What comes after this life. Some ask if there really is something after this life. I doubt Lazarus would have had any other doubts about the existence of the hereafter.

Do you have doubts? We all do from time to time. Perhaps Jesus needs to breathe some life into our doubting hearts. Perhaps we need Him to call us forth from our caves or tombs of doubt. I often find myself like Thomas longing to physically touch his nail wrecked hands and feet. I long for the tangible frequently when faith has pushed off from the docks of reality and the “real world”. Please tell me I am not the only one? Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying I disbelieve, but I am saying that I often find myself on those docks of belief watching faith ship off without me aboard. I ~~long~~ yearn to be aboard but something has stopped me. In a very real sense I am the deadman in need of being resurrected. My faith needs resurrecting daily. Don’t think ill of me…it’s a principle of momentum.

Momentum has a way of pushing and driving something forward…if I stop, momentum stops. In application of this principle, if I stop my prayer life, if I hit the pause button on my devotion life (my quiet times with the Lord), if I halt my daily conversations with The Father…I have lost momentum, and in this loss I am once again a deadman. I am once again in need of reanimation. I need to be called forth. Am I alone in this? Please tell me I am not. I doubt I am. I think you may relate to me. This is my confession of a deadman…Jesus, call me forth again!

-Just a thought.

April 9, 2014 0

“Dear Abby-Normal”

Many of you will recognize the reference from Young Frankenstein and if you have never seen this quote here’s the humorous interaction from the movie – “Whose brain did you put in?”

In the clip Igor mistakenly puts an abnormal brain into the body that doctor Frankenstein is trying to reanimate. As soon as the “monster” is alive the doctor quickly realizes something is definitely wrong. Igor thought the label read “Abby-normal”.

Are you Abby-normal?

I don’t wish to make light of an advice column but since we’re on the topic of advice, let me offer some advice to my fellow Christ-followers out there. I don’t claim to have all of the answers, nor would I ever make such a claim. I do know the One who does have the answers and without Him we are surely lost! Since we are no longer slaves to sin and Christ has redeemed us we are now different aren’t we? Essentially we have been transformed or changed and we no longer bear the image of the world.

How to be Abby-Normal:

I don’t wish to imply to anyone that we are to be strange or weird, or that we have to be completely divorced from the world around us. What I am implying though is that the world does become different to us when we peer through the lens of Christ, who has set us free and saved us from or sins. Thus, to the outside world, we are now considered strangers of “abby-normal”. We aren’t the same anymore in essence – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

But how do we remain “abby-normal” and still maintain relevance and witness in a world that needs the hope of Christ?

Here are a couple thoughts on remaining “abby-normal“:

1. Pray continually & Feast on the word of God!

1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray continually“. These words were written to the early believers who, though new in their faith, were facing persecution and pressure. Prayer is more than just kneeling beside your bed at night or as you wake up in the morning. Prayer can be a support system, a communication with God on a moment by moment basis. We don’t need a special place to pray, we can pray in our cars on our way to work. We can also pray in silence as we walk or in between meetings…or whatever else fills our day. We do not have to say specific words to make prayer more powerful, God desires our hearts and sincerity. Prayer is our connection to a limitless God and personal Savior.

Along side our prayers is the need for us “abby-normals” to feast of God’s Word! “Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2Tim 3:16,17) The Word of God has a way of correcting us and providing to us direction in this life. Though it is true that not everything we face in this life is written about in the days of Jesus…They never had to deal with rush hour traffic or some of our social issues today, but God can speak to us through His Word. His Word is vital to our growth and will equip us to challenge the world around us. We are strangers in this world because of our love of this unseen God, but faith has a way of providing for us perseverance especially in times of pressure and trouble.

2) The Gift of the Holy Spirit

We are not alone in this world. We have One who goes before us and walks beside us! At the moment of our salvation the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. He can guide us and provide us strength for the journeys we all face. Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Paul wrote these words in the midst of his own struggles and that of the recipient of this letter, but these words should bring comfort to all of us today as well! We are recipients of the Holy Spirit too and with His help we are never alone in our witness of the resurrected Christ!

To Whom do you belong?

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:19

We are no longer citizens of the world…”But our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). As citizens of Christ we are His, and though the world see us as “abby-normal” we know that truth of this life and how we ought to live it. But secondly we also know where hope for the world comes from – Christ Jesus. Therefore as “Abby-normals” we ought to be sharing and declaring this hope with love and joy to those around us. How we do this begins with how we live and conduct our lives. Because the world doesn’t want Christians to preach at them…they long for genuineness and authenticity. If we are walking with God and His Holy Spirit is truly guiding us (which He promises to do) then we have to put feet with our faith and our words. Living the resurrected life out-loud is so much more effective than mere words or sermons…our lives should be living sermons which will bring others to Christ!

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12

Don’t be ashamed to live an “Abby-normal” kind of life! Remember your identity as a child of the Most High! You have been bought with a great price and our mission is to shine and love even if it means we aren’t always accepted. Shine anyway and live this “Abby-normal” life out-loud!

-Just a thought!

April 8, 2014 0

BREAKING NEWS: Church 101 Survey Results

Church 101 Survey

First of all I would like to thank everyone who participated in this church survey. Looking at the raw data, we nearly made it to 100 participants (93 to be exact). Obviously within this small sampling we can begin to glean some information regarding personal preference and worship settings.

Perhaps some of these survey questions were random, and the wording could have been better, but I think you might be interested in the results so let’s get to the good stuff –

I will not go through the questions in order but rather look at the demographics first.

Demographics:

The survey was conducted with both participating genders, and though 6 people skipped this question we can see that this survey was conducted almost evenly amongst male and female participants.

Age of our survey grouping –

Within this data we can see that the majority of those participating in the survey were between the ages of 25 – 64. The 25-34 age range produced the most responses to this survey at 28% of the total 93 person survey. This is, however, a wide age demographic, and if more survey questions had been conducted we may have also seen the many differences between these generations within the variations of answers.

Question #1

This might not be too surprising to you. Acceptance & Fellowship was the top answer in this survey (thank you to survey participant who gave me a chuckle regarding the food answer). Granted, strong spiritual teaching by a Pastor is vital, but the sense of belonging and friendship/fellowship trumps the pastor’s preaching abilities. I am sure we can all relate to this, if we’ve ever visited a church for the first time. We will more than likely place how other parishioners (church members) receive us as visitors over the first time impression of the pastor’s message. This isn’t to say that the message and the content of the message isn’t important, but rather how others receive us within their fellowship becomes the tipping point to regularly entering into that fellowship or finding the nearest exit as soon as the “Amen’s” are said.

Questions to consider –

1. “How friendly is your current fellowship of believers?”
2. “How can you, as a church body, strive to be more accepting to “outsiders”?

“The church exists primarily for two closely correlated purposes: to worship God and to work for his kingdom in the world … The church also exists for a third purpose, which serves the other two: to encourage one another, to build one another up in faith, to pray with and for one another, to learn from one another and teach one another, and to set one another examples to follow, challenges to take up, and urgent tasks to perform. This is all part of what is known loosely as fellowship.”
― N.T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

Question #2

A majority of people polled within this survey (82%) indicated that tithing was important. We can all attest to the fact that tithing is scriptural, but when it comes to personal opinion or preference one can asked “what is tithing?” A follow-up question might be “Is tithing only about money?”

In some of the responses to this question, under “Other -please specify“, participants indicated that it depends on what we term “tithing” to be. Also the answers indicated a healthy dose of cynicism or skepticism as to what type of church one would tithe to.

This is a spiritual act of worship and a discipline that must be taught. Granted, we might become skeptical of tithing when we hear about funds being improperly used from mega churches of televangelists out to make a quick buck.

Regardless of how we view tithing, it should be noted once again that though it is an act of worship, tithing can mean much more than just our personal finance, although financial support can play a major role.

“..tithing isn’t something I do to clear my conscience so I can do whatever I want with the 90 percent–it also belongs to God! I must seek his direction and permission for whatever I do with the full amount. I may discover that God has different ideas than I do.”
― Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions and Eternity

Question #3

If we were to have a break down of the demographics within this question we might find that this data is rather telling. Generationally speaking, the “Silent Generation” (1927-1945) and even the “Baby Boomers” (1946-1964) can identify with the 59% within this survey. Sunday is traditionally the day in which we go to church and worship the Lord. This, however, at times has become so “traditional” and staunch that younger generations such as the “Gen-Xers” and the “Millennials” are seeking alternative worship options.

Thus the 34% of those who participated in this survey indicated that they were unsure if Saturday or Sunday was the best day for Worship services. I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing or an indication that younger generations are shunning the older “traditional” worship times, but rather that people are inundated with busy schedules and family events and find themselves struggling to make it to a traditional 10am Sunday Worship service.

One could make the assumption that people need to re-adjust their priorities about worship, but does this merely mean they MUST conform to a certain generational structured setting in worship?

Questions to consider:

“Are there other times that worship can be held?”
“Is there anything scripturally wrong with meeting at other times in the week?” (Obvious answer is “No”)
“Do you have enough support locally and through your Church denominational headquarters to change times or offer an alternative time for worship?”
Other questions? (Please feel free to add your own!)

Question #4

Is faithful church attendance important to you? The majority of those who completed this survey indicated (95%) that it most definitely was important.

This is greatly connected with our need for belonging within the fellowship of believers if we are Christ-followers. Reasons we may feel this strongly about church attendance could be because we are challenged by other believers to grow. There is also an accountability element with regular church attendance. Also another reason might be because we are comfortable with our “church family” or that our “church family” is in actuality members of our own immediate (blood) families.

Regardless this statistic should be of no surprise to most of us.

D.L. Moody once said, “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

Question #5

This might not be all too surprising considering the wide demographic that is represented in this survey. Perhaps the question could have been phrased a little better to indicate “worship style or preference”, but despite this 67% or those polled indicated that a mixed style of worship was preferred. Only 6% indicated a strict “traditional” style of worship service, while 19% indicated they desired a “contemporary” style of worship.

Does this surprised anyone? I think not. In “Modern” churches out there that push our concept of what worship is, we see that there is still a draw back to the traditional hymns as well as the ancient hymns. Therefore a mix of both styles of worship seem inevitable within the walls of the current modern church. This is a continuation of the demographic makeup within this survey and even the general consensus in American churches today. There are the exceptions, especially among more conservative/traditional church denominations, but growing trends suggest that mixed worship setting is more readily accepted by most church-going Americans (even leaning towards more contemporary means).

Questions to consider:

“Is my church contemporary, traditional or a mix of the two?”
“What is the age makeup of my church?”
“Would we attract more visitors to our worship services if they were more contemporary?”
“What does traditional worship look like?”
“What does modern contemporary worship look like?”
“What does a mix of the two worship styles look like?”

“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in
God which made David dance.”
C.S. Lewis

Conclusion:

I view this survey and its results as an ongoing conversation about how we view “Church”. Also I would solicit your comments here on this blog as to the results as well as your thoughts on where the Church is heading in the future. What should we, as Christ followers be doing more of? How can we be more effective in our witness and worship? Worship of God is both an individual and a corporate event and I believe there is still more that we can learn and do for the glory of God!

Another thing that comes to my mind to me is that we must be mindful not to become so bogged down by our style of worship and traditions that they become our sacred cows.

-Thanks for your contributions to these surveys and I look forward to your comments and responses.

April 7, 2014 0

“The Jesus Fan Club”

Perhaps you’ve seen the bible study or read some books which ask the question are you a “Fan” or are you a “Follower” of Jesus? A fan would be one who sits on the sidelines, cheers (also complains when things aren’t going the way they expect them to go) but never really gets onto the field to do any of the real labor within the realms of faith.

I don’t mean to rail against the Church…well maybe I do a little. This isn’t about not loving people, actually it’s quite the opposite. What can we do to change the perception of the Church? What can we do to change the perception of the “Fan Club”?

1. It begins with You & Me:

We can’t change the polarizing views of some people who use the name “Christian” but do not act like Christians. BUT we can change the way that we conduct ourselves and how we live in community with those around us. It has to begin with you and me! Without this internal determination to change, the “Fan club” wins.

2. Move with Love:

When we allow it to begin with us and allow the Holy Spirit to move us we can’t but help to love and serve. It’s about loving and serving the Almighty as well as loving and serving other people around us. Faith has to have feet in order for it to change lives including our own. We aren’t merely fans of Jesus, we MUST be His followers. Love compels us forward even into places that we would never consider going because it is no longer about “Me” but it’s about “Him”.

We can tear down these walls that separate the Church from the “real world”…but it means that we can’t just take shelter in our buildings and presume people will find us. Jesus didn’t hang out in temples for the entirety of His ministry here on Earth, He went to people, and if we are to be like Him, if we are to follow Him then we ought to go to people too!

Jesus doesn’t need anymore fans…He needs followers who are willing to do the hard work, not because hard work will get us into heaven, but rather because we have put feet with our faith. Are you ready to move?

-Just a thought.

April 3, 2014 0

5 Myths About Christianity…

There are preconceived ideas floating around about what a Christian is and isn’t. I am most certainly not the end all and be all of answers here, but from my experience and knowledge of what a Christian should and shouldn’t be, let me make a list of a few myths for everyone today. I am sure this may spark some conversations and hopefully help to clarify this thing we call “Christianity”. These aren’t in any specific order, just placed as I write them now…so here goes.

Myth #1 – “Salvation saves my soul and after conversion there is no need for further repentance or spiritual growth.”

Let us be clear.
Salvation is just the first step towards spiritual growth. Without Salvation we are lost, but at the moment of conversion the Holy Spirit begins this transforming work within us. To say that we only need repentance once and that growth isn’t needed is foolish and closes the door to a deeper, more fuller relationship with God. We should also look more closely at the need for further repentance. Repentance is crucial in our continued growth as Christians or Christ-followers. As Spiritual maturity takes root in our lives so must we come face to face with lingering or flawed recesses of our hearts, souls and minds. These are fragments of the old life still living within us. The Holy Spirit’s work in us leads us towards Holiness which is the image of Christ, but we cannot fully realize this until we are willing to repent and surrender these lingering fragments. Continued repentance is crucial for our continued spiritual growth.

Myth #2 – When you become a Christian you are no longer allowed to have fun

This may sound funny to you, but I’ve heard it said of Christians that once you become “saved” you have to stop having fun. Sorry to tell you this, but some of the craziest (by crazy I mean funny) people I know are Christians. I believe God has a great sense of humor (afterall He created you and me didn’t he?) and so did Jesus. I can almost hear even a sense of sarcasm in some of Jesus’ words at times. Humor is vital to life. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves and revel in the frivilous from time to time. The fellowship of believers shouldn’t only be about serious content and plastered frowning/pious faces, we should also seek to have fun in this life as well! I seriously think that many people who are not Christians think we all wear funny clothes, and sit around singing hymns in latin. If that was the case, perhaps I would seriously think of heading for the exit as well. But I know Christians who are just plain down to earth people. These same people have a very humorous, sharp sense of humor. When people become Christians and embrace faith in Christ they do not (or should not) lose their sense of humor. Humor is not only refreshing but many times intrinsic to a person. It is almost like a fingerprint and is essentially tied into the identity of that person.

Myth #3 – Christians are just out for YOUR money.

Let me just say how much I despise certain types of Televangelists who prey on the false hopes of the weak. These charlatans will tickle the ears just enough to score another buck from the naive and the hurting. This type of Christianity is more parlor trick than it is an accurate reflection of a real Christ-follower. I usually stay away from churches that essentially beg for more and more money. There is a big difference though between the discipline of tithing to the Lord and supporting a ministry that uses much of its funds to empower and provide luxury to the pastor/televangelist. One should consider the fruits of the labor within those “religious” entities and look very closely at where the funds go.

Christ certainly didn’t go around asking people to give Him money. He did ask of a Samaratan woman for water and He did ask His disciples to do extraordinary things, but money was not in the asking. Jesus did talk a lot about money and possessions but it primarily centered around the questions of “what possesses you? What are your idols?  Does your material wealth and pursuit of such earthly riches consume all of your time?”

In the same way, we are to emulate Christ when it comes to earthly possessions and the uses of riches. Money can be a resource to help us provide for our families, to put food on the tables and to support missions of a loving and caring church. Christians are not…(or should I say) should not be all about the money, money.

Myth #4 – Christians are hate-mongers

I at times bristle at this accusation. In the same breath though I know that there are those segments of the Church (like the Westboro Baptist church – sorry to name names) who have made it a mission to condemn and judge any and every people group that they deem worthy of their condemnation. This is NOT the Christ that I know, and If Jesus had lived this way while on earth I doubt I would have followed Him. The harshest words that Jesus ever spoke were directed at the teachers of the law, the “religious” people of the day who knew better but certainly DID NOT live as they demanded others to live. Jesus’ message was one of hope and love and restoration. He breathed this into His disciples who in turn continued that mission throughout their lives regardless of the consequences (even death).

Jesus actively engaged Himself within many sub-cultures of His day even the outcasts who the “Religious” teachers despised. He went to the homes of tax collectors, he healed lepers, He talked with women of questionable backgrounds…His message was of love not hate.

Salvation doesn’t come to us by shoving Heaven and Hell down someone’s throat, but rather through real genuine concern and love. Any church out there that relays Christ’s message any other way other than love has misplaced His purpose for coming in the first place. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” -John 10:10

There is a difference between preaching repentance within the realms of Salvation and preaching hate and condemnation. Christianity, if lived out in the hearts of the genuine Christ-follower, should reflect and possess the same aroma of Christ in His love for the sinner and the saint regardless of where they’ve come from.

Myth #5 – Christian are all hypocrites and gossipers

There’s a funny sign that reads:

Unfortunately the truth may hurt a bit at times, but there are no perfect people in church. The church should be a place where both sinner and saint come for Spiritual triage and are not judged or condemned by the “righteous”. Romans 3:10 says “There is no one righteous, not even one…”

Truth be told, it would serve the church and the church member well to bring this verse to mind when considering other children of God.

Can I say that the church never has this problem with hypocrites and gossipers? NO! In fact this may be the only myth that I think hits too close to home sometimes. BUT if Christians can be humble, truly humble and loving towards everybody who chooses to enter the church doors, what a real opportunity that would be! Think of the difference and what may transpire if  this one small issue was completely eradicated from the Christian heart? How would lives be changed and transformed? Think of the opportunities to save souls!? The Church is NOT full of Hypocrites and Gossipers, although we certainly have our fair share.

These are just five myths about Christianity. There are many more, but for now this is enough.

For the Christian:
Consider what it means to truly be a Christ-follower. How you might be perceived (right or wrong) by those who have yet to make a decision for Christ. Be open minded, full of grace and purposeful with friends, family and neighbors who aren’t Christians. Remember we are not the judge, God is.  Just as we are in need of His love and grace, so too are others who live in this world as well. Real evangelism doesn’t begin with a tract or a bullhorn, but with a handshake and a hug of compassion and genuine love. Get to know people. Spend time with them. Tear down these false perceptions by the way that YOU live and conduct yourself. There isn’t enough lip service in the world that can out-do faith in action!

For the questioning soul out there:
The Church should be a place of safe harbor to ALL people. Christ was the only perfect person who ever lived and He came to save us all. Don’t’ judge the merits of Christ by what you may have experienced (most likely bad experiences) in a church setting. Imperfect people exist in and out of church. People make mistakes, even Christians. I am not apologizing for all Christians, but I am saying this: be open minded and perhaps, just perhaps some of these myths might be debunked.

Thanks for allowing me time to share these thoughts.

April 2, 2014 0

“Ambassadors of Reconciliation”

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:20

One of my favorite words in the English language is “Reconciliation”. The etymology of the word reconcile comes from the Latin “reconcilare” which means “to bring together again”.

When Jesus came into this world and identified with humanity as the God-man He sought to bring together again the original creation of man with God the Father. Did you catch that? At one time, in our original state, we were together with God. He would walk with Adam and Eve. He would fellowship with them in the garden of Eden. He actually, physically, walked WITH them.

But.

Because of original sin, which entered the picture, we became separated from God. Think of it like a great big, messy divorce…except we were the offending party and God the Father did nothing to deserve our infidelity. How it must have wrecked His heart to find us unfaithful to Him. To find out we (Adam and Eve) deliberately and consciously disobeyed Him. But we all know this story don’t we? We understand the consequences of the fall of man…don’t we?

Yes Jesus came.

He came to set things right with us.

He came to Reconcile us (back again) into the Father’s arms.

Think about that for a moment. Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t that evoke in you some sort of longing to physically be embraced by God the Father as you enter into the wedding feast? Jesus came to restore us. He came for the whosoever…those who would actually come seeking Him.

But, wait…there’s more.

When we face the God-man, Jesus Christ, for who He is and what He came to do, we make a vital decision. We, who have then become Christ-followers, we choose to become like Him in our daily living. A part of this “becoming” is to pick up where Jesus left off. We follow in the footsteps of the Rabbi, but in so doing we shuck off our old identities and adopt (not just imitate, but become) Christ in our everything!

Taking it a step further, we are to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world relaying the vital message of reconciliation to the whosoever. There is a misnomer though that I think we buy into once in a while – “Reconciliation is only for the sinner”. This is simply not true. Though we have become like Christ in every way, shape or form (or so we think thus far) we are still in need of THAT reconciliation daily!

The Hebrew words associated to the word “Ambassador” are: “tsir” or “melits” and “malak”. Essentially they mean “an interpreter” or “a messenger”.

When we think of Ambassadors today we think of politicians from certain countries whose job it is to broker peace and trade agreements with other countries. But we as Christ-followers are also called to be ambassadors of reconciliation to the sinner and the saint. Taking it a step further being an Ambassador also implies that we are to literally breathe Christ’s message into other people by our words and more importantly by our actions.

How can we provide clear interpretation of God and that of His love to those around us if we have not fully adopted and reconciled ourselves to His love as well? If this reconciled life is not within us then we cannot breathe this into other people’s lives. So as an Ambassador it has to begin with You…and it has to begin with me.

It first must become personal…daily, even moment by moment breathing Christ’s holiness and likeness into our own hearts and minds through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Philippians 4:8).

Prayer:

Dear Lord, let it begin with me. Breathe on me breath of God, allow me to be reconciled to You daily. Help me to see that I am called to be your messenger to others, even other saints. Help me to be the best Ambassador for you that I can be. May it be my lifelong passion which begins moment by moment with you. In Your Holy name I pray these things, -Amen.

March 31, 2014 0

“Reflecting Jesus” (available on itunes – podcast/brainerdcorps)

Sermon Podcast – Check it out!

John 4:7-26 (NIV)
⁷When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”
⁸(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
⁹The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
¹¹“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?
¹²Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”
¹³Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
¹⁴but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
¹⁶He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
¹⁷“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.
¹⁸The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
¹⁹“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.
²⁰Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
²¹Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
²²You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.
²³Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
²⁴God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
²⁵The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
²⁶Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

“Reflecting Jesus” (available on itunes – podcast/brainerdcorps)

March 23, 2014 0

At the Well…

He seated himself beside the well
sun beating down, heat of the day
swelling and shimmering in the heat
a mirage swiveled and swirled in the distance
she came, reputation and all
she walked the dusty path alone
she bore the scorn and shame
every day like this.

He saw her pensively waiting there,
waiting for Him to move on
waiting for Him to step aside
so that cool water, crisp and clean
could be drawn and taken home…
Yet He doesn’t falter
He looks at her, as if He knows her shame.
Yet, undeterred He remains
no look of disgust
of retribution
of Anger
He looks at her,
asks for a drink
then offers her something more
something lasting
Identities are shared,
His sends her running back into town
with news beyond her reputation
beyond her guilt and fear of the town’s gossip…
Messiah – with Eternal Water
drink deeply, receive and share
it is for the whosoever…
after all.

March 23, 2014 1