Being a Servant Surrounded by Praise

I read about the Triumphal Entry this morning. (Mark 11) It was cool to read that this morning, because we just discussed someones perspective on that passage last night at men's Bible study. Last night in the "Externally Focused Church" book that we are studying, we talked about how this donkey was being ridden by Jesus. As he came into town all of the palm branches were waving and being laid before him on the ground. The crowd cheered! For a moment the author says, the donkey may have thought all of this commotion was for him. After all he was the one doing all the work that day, but it wasn't. He then goes on to say that we are to be that donkey, and take Jesus with us, and we must remember that none of the praise and non of the glory belongs to us. It is hard to keep that perspective sometimes, because we receive so many blessings. The donkey got to walk on palm branches, He felt all the excitement being directed in his direction. When we are with Jesus blessings abound, we should rejoice, but remember all glory goes to him. I am thankful that he had me untied from the post of sin, so I can serve him.

Physical Health and Spiritual Health

I had two different discussions this morning before 9:00 am about the desire to get in shape physically. I actually really enjoy working out, but I certainly haven't always done it regularly. Sometimes it does not have the priority it should have. Sometimes I have things of greater importance to do, other times I don't want to pay for a gym membership cause I am cheap! :) However, it is important to work out physically. It is important for the obvious reason of being healthy physically, but it is also important for our spiritual lives. I feel healthier spiritually when I am healthier physically. I have more energy, to do the things of God. It is a worthy investment to do something everyday to improve our physical health, as it is a worthy investment to do something to improve our spiritual health. Here is one of those things that does not make a lot of since logically - If you are tired all the time, go work out so you wont be tired... :) It's true though! initially of course you will be tired, but overtime energy seems to increase. The physical affects the physical and the spiritual. Just a the spiritual affects the spiritual and the physical (healings and things like that). We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we should take care of ourselves. Also, it is time for an increase in our energy level as Christians. It is a worthy investment to the kingdom!

Bringing Children to Jesus

Reading in Mark chapter 10 today. I like this passage:


Mark 10:13-16 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

It is our job as parents and as a church to bring little children to Jesus so he can touch them. It is the greatest time to accept Christ! Before the world has an opportunity to wound and scar them. It is a great responsibility to raise Cyrus, and it is a great responsibility to help other kids that don't know Jesus to get to know him. I'm convinced that we need to do more... God is good, and he will help us. Have a good day, and a good weekend!

Serving with a pure heart

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Here is another example about how God operates different than we do. To be honest I am struggling a bit with a concept I have heard taught before, and I need to do more study on it. But I would like to hear what all of you think! I was thinking the other day about faith vs works in terms of salvation. I believe that we are saved by faith, not by our works, and I thought, how can someone do a good works to achieve salvation, because everything that they do would have a hidden and selfish motive, (their own salvation). So how good is that work if you have these motives ultimately. So, now "Christians"; if we are saved by faith and do good works to get a reward in heaven, how pure are our motives for good works if we are just in it for the reward in heaven? I know there are verses to support getting a reward in Heaven.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things DONE IN THE BODY, according to what He has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10)

"... and each one will receive His own reward ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LABOR." (1 Corinthians 3:8)

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone ACCORDING TO HIS WORK." (Revelation 22:12)

I don't know... Perhaps we just need to forget about the rewards and do what we need to do, and be a servant with a pure heart, and then let God worry about the reward. We need to do good works because we love people, not for a reward. Chime in here! let me know what you think! Have a great day!

Confrontational Jesus

Yesterday was a busy day, dealing with issues after the storms rolled through the area the night before, so I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday. But today I do! I read in Mark chapter 8. Jesus loves us, and is very compassionate, but he is also confrontational. Not for the sake of confrontation, but for the sake of being obedient to his father and to be truthful and loving. To accept the loving Jesus only is comfortable, and pleasant and works out well for us. To accept Jesus fully for who he is a lot tougher! For me personally to live like confrontational Jesus is really difficult. I don't like to cause problems. I want everyone to be happy. But the question is do I love them enough to be confrontational. Jesus in chapter 8 goes through the whole multiplication of loaves of bread and fish for all the people following him for the second time, and the disciples still really don't get it. Later, he tells Peter, "Get behind me Satan" The Pharisees want a sign from him and he doesn't give them one, and then later talks to the disciples about the yeast of the pharisees, and they are still on the bread thing! And I think Jesus gets a little aggravated with them. I am convinced that I need to work more on be confrontational at the right times and in the right way, yet still be loving and compassionate. One of our students shared something in youth service on Sunday that was right on. I later had a separate conversation with someone who had positively been confrontational and made a difference in someones life that day. When things like that happen back to back, it is usually safe to say God is trying to tell you something. Have a great day everyone!

The God Factor

I read about the story of when Jesus feeds the 5,000 people to 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Under normal circumstances this would have been impossible, but with the God factor it was made possible. God not only can take bread and fish and multiply it to be enough, he takes you and I and can multiply the very limited amount that we have to offer God and use it to many great things. KJ-52 is a christian rap artist, and that is what the 5-2 stands for in his name. He knew he didn't have much to offer God what what had he gave, and God has multiplied it as he reached many many students in the generation. Are you feeling like you have nothing to offer today? Do you feel like you don't have enough money, enough energy, or enough love to go around? Offer yourself to Jesus and he will multiply what you can do on your own! I am needing this today after a busy but great weekend! Have a great day!

The Abnormal becomes Normal

I read this morning about the demon possessed man. This is the guy that had a legion of demons inside of him. He was barbaric and out of control. He was a mad man, who was tormented day and night, and roamed the countryside out of control. Most are familiar with the story I would assume, but Jesus comes and casts the demons out of the man and into a herd of pigs. The pig then jump off the cliff and drown, and the man is normal again. This is the part that made me think. Check this out:

Mark 5:14-17 14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man-- and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

These people had made what was abnormal normal in there lives. The demon possessed man was supposed to be that way according to them. It was just a part of life. Jesus did a great thing, but change was just too much for these people. I think we should ask God, in what areas of our lives has the abnormal become normal. When we do this successfully, the things of this world are what become abnormal. Living in pain and sickness should be what is abnormal, but often it is normal. Normal should be the kingdom of God...

How Things work in the Kingdom

Mark 4:26-29 26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain-- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

These few verses are speaking a lot to me this morning. In fact I am not quite sure where to start. Um... Well, I know that when we plant things here on Earth we have to do a lot more than just scatter seed. We prep the ground, by softening it up, then spread the seed, then water, then pull weeds out, and put up a fence around it so animals don't come in and eat the plants, keep watering, and pulling weeds, and hopefully if the weather was cooperative you may have a harvest... Jesus is pointing out a key difference between the kingdom of God and Earth. In Heaven, the land of grace (unmerited favor), we can simply by faith believe, and great things will come of it. Faith is our seed that are planted, and nothing else is required of us, and then we reap the benefits that we have not earned. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is here and available to us. We need to plant our seeds of faith in kingdom soil, because there are things God wants us to do that we cannot work hard enough to do right. We just need to have faith in him and believe. Lord, help us to scatter seed on kingdom soil today!

The Heart of a new church

God really laid on my heart a thought about local church evangelism. In a meeting the other day we heard about all of the new ideas for outreach that have been done and things are going to be done in the near future for the Audubon church that is freshly launched. There is something about the heart of a quality church that is freshly planted. It is hungry, it is eager to reach as many people as possible. It is not comfortably full, or maybe a better way to say it is that it is not comfortably numb to the outside world. A new church needs to reach out to survive. In reality so does an old church, it is just that sometimes we live in a disillusioned state, that says things can stay the same forever. I believe we do a good job of sharing our faith with the community, but it is still good to throw another log on the evangelism fire. I think all established churches that have been around need to retain or rather regain the heart of a new church! just a thought.... :) Have a good afternoon everyone!

The Uprising

I am impressed with what I see in the hearts of our youth at the church. I am seeing faith. not just an inner faith, but a faith that steps out, and allows exposure. I see desire, and willingness to do whatever it takes to serve Jesus. They have a recognition of imperfection in there lives and understand that they are not perfect and that is no excuse to go for it. (We all should have that by the way! :) ) I love it when I push them to do great things, and they push me to do great things, because the fact is that we are on this journey together. I certainly do not have all the answers, it is simply nice to travel with company that has the same goals. I have been excited about what I believe to be a word for us as well as other Churches. "We will have break through corporately when as individuals we seek the face of God not just corporately, but even more personally" That is paraphrased by the way. I feel like grabbing a surf board and catching this wave, because it is going to be quite a ride! There is an uprising happening!

Man made for the law or the law made for man?

Reading Mark chapter 2 this morning, Jesus and his disciples pick some grain on the sabbath. The Pharisees accused him of working on the sabbath ( a day of rest). Jesus responds about one of the heroes of Jewish faith named David, and how he took bread that was only supposed to be for priests and "broke the law" too. The next thing he says is my favorite part and really speaks to me. Mark 2: 27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is a great statement! The law was not given to be our master, but to be a guide. First of all to Christ, and secondly to righteous living in Christ. Jesus tipped the scale so the law was no longer above us, and instead, we were above it through the sacrifice of Christ. That is so cool. No longer do righteous works have this hidden or even not so hidden motive of salvation, but now we can do good works with a pure heart, and without anything selfish inside of us! It is great to be free today!

The Violence of Salvation

I am having trouble sleeping this morning because this message is on my mind. I cannot help but think about how misunderstood the message of salvation through Jesus Christ is in our culture today. We have watered down, put in a box, and customized the Gospel message for the convenience of whoever we are speaking to about it, when in reality it is a potent, uncontainable, and black and white message. It's terms are not negotiable, and they are not different for each person. The act of salvation results in peace, but leading up to and during salvation is an amazing amount of violence. I was flipping through the radio stations yesterday in the car and I came across a preacher who was talking about evangelism and why it is so offensive to people. He says "In reality what we are doing to people when we share the Gospel is threatening their lives". What he says is true! It is a threat. It is threat to the sinful life they are currently living. The Bible says we are to die to sin. 1Peter2:24 "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Our sinful nature sees that as a threat! The battle over the hearts of people is violent and vicious. No part of a battle is more intense than the point when either side could win, and both sides are trying to tip the momentum scale in their favor. It is the moment when both sides are going to figure out who will win. So it is leading up to and at the point of salvation. At that point of accepting Christ the power of our sinful nature in our lives is destroyed. As our sinful nature dies, the righteousness of Christ begins to live in us. And even though sin is annihilated and we die, we (by the power of the cross) are wonderfully alive! I know it sounds crazy. (1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.) Their is no easing into salvation. You either have it or you don't. So do you? A war wages for your soul today, and fortunately we are living in an age of grace and mercy. An age when we can be forgiven. If you approach Christ he will not reject you! However, this time of grace and mercy will not last forever, and soon it will be to late. Trust Jesus today. Begin to live with him in your heart here on Earth, and you will live with him in all eternity in Heaven. The way the battle for your heart ends is up to you!
consider the following verses:

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."


Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Revelation3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

God bless - be victorious today!

Heaven Being Torn Open

I'm going to read through Mark again even though I did in January. I started in the logical spot (chapter 1). After Jesus came up out of the water after being baptised he saw Heaven being torn open. When Heaven was torn open two things happened. The Spirit descended upon him, and he heard his fathers voice. We need Heaven to be torn open above us! This was a defining moment in Jesus' life. It was a launching point for his ministry. When Heaven is torn above us we can receive direction or confirmation from our heavenly father and the power and authority to carry out his will. I am reminded of a song that we sang at camp a few years ago.

Let it rain
let it rain
open the floodgates of Heaven

I think about how great Jesus was even before his baptism even though there is not a lot written, we do know that he was without sin, and that he was in the temple and amazed them with his teaching when he was just a boy. This in itself was amazing, yet when he was baptized and floodgates of Heaven were poured out on him, he was taken to a new level. Lord, let Heaven be torn open above us!

Blameless and Pure in a Depraved Enviroment

Philippians 2:14,15 -Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

This is an interesting couple of verses. Do EVERYTHING without complaining or arguing. As tasks are growing in my day today I can feel this urge to start complaining. as I studied this passage a little more, verse 13 seems to bring it all together.

Philippians 2:13 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

not only should we no argue and complain to be blameless and pure, so it will result in us shining in this dark generation, but we can do so because God is in control. Pro-life laws are overturned, the economy is in a downward slide, unemployment is rising, and we have our own personal issues as well. But in all things we should not complain and argue, but be blameless and pure so we can offer hope to the hopeless! I am thankful our joy does not come from our human circumstances!

Freedom

I talked about the freedom gene last night. It is part of our "High Gene" series that we are doing in youth group. I found some good stuff. God will not reject us if we come to him. We studied Hosea who was actually commanded by God to marry an adulteress woman. (yeah, weird I know...) The point that he makes is amazing though. Hosea, was told to love the woman unconditionally, no matter how she cheated on him or how she treated him. Then the picture unfolds as it is revealed that when we are disobedient to God it is the same thing. God knows one thing; love... I am glad that no matter what we do we can approach him and he continues to love us. Sometimes we have this "I know what I deserve" kinda thought put in our heads and it drives us further from God, because we don't want to get "what we deserve". Gods grace is amazing though, and he anxiously awaits to restore us! He is good!

The need for Prayer

It seems this week is a week of increased prayer. I have had a lot of people ask me to pray, and some that didn't ask, but I knew needed it. It is exciting to pray when you have the right perspective, and it is very boring and difficult when we don't. The God of the everything has his ear tipped toward us and anxiously awaits to hear from us. Our prayers can be effective when we are in tune with the Holy Spirit. It is a privilege and an honor to be able to communicate with God like that. One that I am really unworthy to have. I continually try to wrap my mind around the grace and the mercy that God shows us. His mercy spares giving us what we deserve, and his grace gives us blessing beyond what we can earn. As I pray for people this week, I am asking the Holy Spirit to lead in prayer and will join him in agreement. Lord, bring revelation and and breakthrough in peoples lives!


Ephesians 4:22-24 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Bring Victory Lord!

Using the Sprit and the Mind

I am reading in 1 Corinthians 14 today. It is talking about gifts of prophesy and tongues. He encourages both, but for the sake of those around us who need to be edified, he is emphasizing the gift of prophecy. This is something that has always made me a little nervous to be honest. to prophecy is to have a word or revelation from God. People can be selfish and not listen to God and get up and say something for their own benefit, and in God's name! Seems like that should be one of those lightening bolt situations... :) That is why it is important that we are in his word, and in touch with God so that we can discern these things. It seems the things that are of great benefit are an amazing advantage, but if used incorrectly can also cause major destruction. Paul talks about praying in the spirit and with our minds, and praising in the spirit and with our minds. He makes a major distinction here. to hear something in our spirit and move it to our mind, and share that word with others is a wonderful thing. Paul says "try to excel in gifts that build up the church." Sounds like a good plan! Lord, I pray that you would teach us more about prophecy, and what it means to use our mind and our spirits to honor you.

Hearing from God

I had a great learning experience yesterday. A couple actually. And I want to share one of them today. For the last 3 weeks I have had this thought pop in my head to ask someone how they were doing in a specific area of their lives. I had previously been an accountability partner to them in the same area. But I kinda shrugged it off and said to myself "they seem fine, they will come talk to me if they need more help" It was one of those things that I made excuses for and disregarded as just a random thought that popped into my head. Yesterday this person approached me and asked me to keep them accountable again because they were struggling. All the sudden I realized that I missed hearing from God. or maybe better yet missed "listening" to God. As we talked more, they said that they had been struggling for the last 2 or 3 weeks, and they felt like God wanted them to ask me for help. As all this is processing in my spirit, I responded and said, I bet he did tell you that, because he has been trying to tell me directly for 3 weeks and I evidently have been ignoring him. It bothers me that I missed that, but at the same time I love that I have this experience to look back on. I am wanting to tune in a little more today, and hear that still small voice!

The Battle Ground

I was reading Psalm 18 this morning, and it is a psalm about war or at least a battle. Here is a part of it:

Psalm 18:34-40 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. 36 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

Some of our soldiers may relate to this in midst of battle, but what about those who are not in Iraq or Afghanistan, or in some other war going on right now? Does this relate to us?

I believe it does. This is one of the things I love about the old testament. I can read something and say I am not in the that situation, or we don't do that anymore, then I realize that what happens in the old testament in the physical, in most situations if not all, happens today in the spiritual. Today, our battle ground is the hearts of people. We must fight and wage war and take back what the enemy has taken away. As we pray we need to remember that our prayers are launching a full missile attack on the enemy. Not so much that we are fighting him directly, but we call upon the power of God. that is what makes us effective. Let us fight the good fight and win back the hearts of the lost and hurting!

Never too young too worship

A lot happened this weekend. We went on a ski trip to Des Monies on Friday night and Saturday morning, then went to a concert in Council Bluffs on Sunday night, but in between those amazing events, I got to spend some quality time with Cyrus during our 8:30 prayer/worship time on Sunday morning. He is already learning to worship. He claps his hands, and he raises his arms up when he hears music playing in the sanctuary. I love that! It's things like that, that give me confidence that we must be doing something right. We are never to young or to old to learn to worship. of course Cyrus doesn't understand the whole concept of what is going on yet, or maybe he does... Maybe he understands it better than we do. Babies are masters at understanding the mood and the atmosphere around them. They know when there is tension or when it is a joyous occasion. So, it makes me wonder if they can sense the presence of God. It is an exciting time, and I am anxious to teach him more about Jesus! Have a great day everyone!