I was talking recently with a vintage friend of mine (he's not old...he's vintage), and we were discussing how disposable everything has become. He spoke of a time when our society used and re-used things for long periods of time. If your lawnmower or your toaster or your car broke, you fixed it. You didn't have the luxury of just "going out and buying a new one." Clothes saw use for generations, not just seasons. But as our affluence grew, so did our waste. No longer did we as a society use things until they were used up, we simply got what we wanted out of them and then tossed them aside. It seems to me we have come to do the same thing with each other.
That brings me to my thoughts today. It's been over three months since my last post. A lot has happened, and the last two months have been an interesting journey for me. I have seen people in my life who I cared for step out of my life for reasons still relatively unknown, and I have watched God bring other people, some of whom I wouldn't have expected, to encourage me and reaffirm their opinion of my worth. Now, I know that as a Christ-follower I need only be concerned with the reality that God loves me ridiculously, and His opinion of me is the only one that truly counts. But yet, I also know that God created us in His image, and part of God's nature is that He is relational. Even within the Godhead itself is a three-part relationship among the Father, Son, and Spirit. So knowing that, I realize that it is part of my very being to desire relationship with others. It is part of my nature to want to be valued not only by God, but by other people. And that's why it hurts when I am rejected in whatever way by those who I have spent time investing myself into. It seems like I have reached the end of my usefulness to them, and I am discarded.
But what bothers me about this is less about my own hurts, but more about the reality that it seems that as people we have become more and more disposable to each other. In friendship, marriage, within the context of the church, everywhere it seems. If a point is reached that we no longer benefit each other or that the relationship has become strained, we can cut each other out of our lives and walk away. If we come to the place that we no longer like the way things are being done in our church, no problem, we just simply go find another church. If we decide that we and our spouses are just no longer a good match, we find another relationship to take their places. We have become disposable.
The incredible act of sacrifice that Jesus did on the cross was meant to achieve a Redemption. We often focus on the redemption of man to God. But there is another redemption that was meant to be effected by the cross: the redemption of humankind to each other. Not only did Christ's work on the cross shatter the barrier between man and God, it shattered the barriers that divided mankind from each other. What is interesting is to study how many references there are to peace among men in the New Testament. It's all over the place. In fact, love within the Church is the chief identifying trait. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV)
Unfortunately, just like the sin of pride will place a wedge between us and God, that same pride can destroy our relationships with each other. Which brings us back to my original point. When we regard our relationships as disposable, we are evidencing an arrogance that ignores that part of Christ's work on the cross was to bring peace among men. We refuse to extend grace and forgiveness, and we retain our "right" to anger and hurt. I certainly have been guilty of that. So what do you do when you have attempted to make peace, and there is a rejection? You still have to surrender your heart to peace in spite of the hurt. I am walking that journey right now (you can pray for me in that regard, by the way).
In some cases, there may have to be a severing of the connection, until, prayerfully and hopefully, there may be a time where there is a mutual surrender and a possible restoration. The question we face, however, is are we open to that, should it occur? Are we open to restoration? That is the true test of the desire for peace. Paul writes in Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." Does that mean that I try to be everyone's best friend, or that I have an obligation to be best friends with everyone? I don't think so. Sometimes, living at peace requires establishing a distance. But the real issue is one of the heart. I can place distance between myself and another without wishing them ill will. And again, is my heart open to the possibility of relationship, should there be a mutual surrender? I believe this is how we keep our relationships from becoming disposable. But it really requires a full on surrender to the Spirit. It's not in our nature. That's why we HAVE to "put on Christ". It's the only way. The only way to truly love in the Spiritual, "agape" love is to wrap ourselves in the nature of Christ.
He's a master at recycling what we've thrown away, and if we yield ourselves to Him, there is a distinct possibility that those relationships that became disposable to us and to others can be brought back to a place of fruitfulness, testifying to the power of Christ in lives surrendered to Him.
I love you all, and I look so forward to the Day when we can stand in true unity, free from our flesh that divides.
Come soon, Lord!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Only Integrity Can Bring Credibility
Last night I presented the youth group with a topic for discussion that led to some pretty powerful insights. (I love talking with teens. They are passionate and idealistic, and not nearly as jaded as a lot of us older folks). The topic of discussion is whether or not the church as a corporate entity should engage in the legal battle over the right to gay marriage. It is a difficult topic, to be sure, and one that has various peripheral side issues as well. We established that Scripture is very clear on the sinfulness of homosexuality, so that wasn't the issue. The question was concerning how the church should respond. It was a fantastic discussion with a lot of amazing thoughts and observations. But one of the points that was made has really stuck with me. Paraphrased, it was pointed out that it is hard for the church to have any credibility in this discussion because it is obvious by the divorce rate among evangelical Christians that we don't take God's plan for marriage very seriously, either. OUCH. TRUE.
Which brings me to this thought: as Believers, to have any credibility in our engagement with unbelievers, there has to be true integrity in our lives. It seems like such a given, but yet it perhaps is truly the core issue that we need to confront. There is no shortage of Truth being taught and preached, but there is a drastic shortage of people who are taking that Truth and living their lives by it. There is perhaps no greater obstacle to the Message of the Gospel than those who claim to have been changed by that Gospel and yet show very little evidence of that change. Oh, they perhaps have stopped drinking, or smoking, or all of those terribly evil things that hellbound sinners do, yet they remain spiteful, unforgiving, unloving, legalistic, etc... In essence, all they have done is trade one type of sin for another. Sin that is less obvious, easier to hide, and much easier to spiritualize and justify. Unbelievers see this (and they always do) and conclude that this great message of "being changed from the inside out" is purely farcical. New Believers see and experience this, and are driven from the church out of hurt and disillusionment. Certainly there is room for humanity, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about good old (or bad) hypocrisy in it's purest form. We say one thing but we do another. We present an image of what we want people to see, but we are something different. There are those who refuse to admit weakness or failure out of pride, or out of fear that those elements of humanity will weaken the integrity of the gospel. But here's the amazing thing: the reality of the power of the gospel is actually strengthened in our humanity. Jesus spoke of this truth when He told the Pharisees in Matthew 9:12-13, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." The Pharisees worked excruciatingly hard to cover and disguise any weakness or failure. Those things that they couldn't cover, they chose to ignore. They couldn't see that the power of the Gospel is only effective in those who recognize their own great need for it. Paul was talking about the same concept when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." The power of God is not to disguise our humanity, but to transform it.
Somewhere along the line, we began to mistake surface perfection (or close-to-perfection) for deep spirituality. As it has been wisely pointed out before however, that "if not smoking, drinking, gambling, or doing all those things that Christians aren't supposed to do makes someone spiritual, then my dog is the most spiritual person I know!". My own dog Roxy does none of those "unChristian" things, is super obedient, and "heals" on command. I'm positive she's saved. But I digress...
Here's my point: Whether or not the church should vocally oppose the legalization of gay marriage is one thing, but what can't be ignored is the fact that we are so adamant that gay people wanting to get married is destroying the sanctity of marriage, but yet practically ignoring the fact that the divorce rate among evangelicals is as high or slightly higher than secular culture! So, I ask, who is really the most destructive to the Biblical sanctity of marriage, those who are unregenerate and aren't held to Biblical standards, or those who claim to believe those Biblical standards but refuse to live by them?
If we as Believers want Unbelievers to take anything we say seriously, there MUST be a deep spiritual integrity. There MUST be true Spirit-driven love in our lives. There MUST be a uncompromising commitment to the WHOLE Truth of the Word of God, not just those things that pander to our flesh, whether it is flesh that manifests itself in carnality, or flesh that disguises itself as spirituality.
I am encouraged by what I am seeing in our body at Calvary Bullhead, and elsewhere within the Church. There is a movement to move beyond the trappings of mere religion and instead focus our energy on what is truly needful and most important. There is a willingness and a desire to become more open and transparent with each other and to live with each other as a family. Of course there are those who are uncomfortable with that, and will continue to disguise and spiritualize their own humanity and shortcomings, but there will always be those people. I have come to the conclusion that I can't worry about them. All I can do is pray for them and continue to love them and to keep moving in this direction. And that it what I pray, that the Body of Christ will continue to hold to the Truth of the Word of God, and to walk in true integrity.
To be sure, we must speak the Truth, but if we are not allowing the Truth to first change us, how can we expect it to change anything else?
I love you all.
Which brings me to this thought: as Believers, to have any credibility in our engagement with unbelievers, there has to be true integrity in our lives. It seems like such a given, but yet it perhaps is truly the core issue that we need to confront. There is no shortage of Truth being taught and preached, but there is a drastic shortage of people who are taking that Truth and living their lives by it. There is perhaps no greater obstacle to the Message of the Gospel than those who claim to have been changed by that Gospel and yet show very little evidence of that change. Oh, they perhaps have stopped drinking, or smoking, or all of those terribly evil things that hellbound sinners do, yet they remain spiteful, unforgiving, unloving, legalistic, etc... In essence, all they have done is trade one type of sin for another. Sin that is less obvious, easier to hide, and much easier to spiritualize and justify. Unbelievers see this (and they always do) and conclude that this great message of "being changed from the inside out" is purely farcical. New Believers see and experience this, and are driven from the church out of hurt and disillusionment. Certainly there is room for humanity, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about good old (or bad) hypocrisy in it's purest form. We say one thing but we do another. We present an image of what we want people to see, but we are something different. There are those who refuse to admit weakness or failure out of pride, or out of fear that those elements of humanity will weaken the integrity of the gospel. But here's the amazing thing: the reality of the power of the gospel is actually strengthened in our humanity. Jesus spoke of this truth when He told the Pharisees in Matthew 9:12-13, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." The Pharisees worked excruciatingly hard to cover and disguise any weakness or failure. Those things that they couldn't cover, they chose to ignore. They couldn't see that the power of the Gospel is only effective in those who recognize their own great need for it. Paul was talking about the same concept when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." The power of God is not to disguise our humanity, but to transform it.
Somewhere along the line, we began to mistake surface perfection (or close-to-perfection) for deep spirituality. As it has been wisely pointed out before however, that "if not smoking, drinking, gambling, or doing all those things that Christians aren't supposed to do makes someone spiritual, then my dog is the most spiritual person I know!". My own dog Roxy does none of those "unChristian" things, is super obedient, and "heals" on command. I'm positive she's saved. But I digress...
Here's my point: Whether or not the church should vocally oppose the legalization of gay marriage is one thing, but what can't be ignored is the fact that we are so adamant that gay people wanting to get married is destroying the sanctity of marriage, but yet practically ignoring the fact that the divorce rate among evangelicals is as high or slightly higher than secular culture! So, I ask, who is really the most destructive to the Biblical sanctity of marriage, those who are unregenerate and aren't held to Biblical standards, or those who claim to believe those Biblical standards but refuse to live by them?
If we as Believers want Unbelievers to take anything we say seriously, there MUST be a deep spiritual integrity. There MUST be true Spirit-driven love in our lives. There MUST be a uncompromising commitment to the WHOLE Truth of the Word of God, not just those things that pander to our flesh, whether it is flesh that manifests itself in carnality, or flesh that disguises itself as spirituality.
I am encouraged by what I am seeing in our body at Calvary Bullhead, and elsewhere within the Church. There is a movement to move beyond the trappings of mere religion and instead focus our energy on what is truly needful and most important. There is a willingness and a desire to become more open and transparent with each other and to live with each other as a family. Of course there are those who are uncomfortable with that, and will continue to disguise and spiritualize their own humanity and shortcomings, but there will always be those people. I have come to the conclusion that I can't worry about them. All I can do is pray for them and continue to love them and to keep moving in this direction. And that it what I pray, that the Body of Christ will continue to hold to the Truth of the Word of God, and to walk in true integrity.
To be sure, we must speak the Truth, but if we are not allowing the Truth to first change us, how can we expect it to change anything else?
I love you all.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Stolen Candlesticks
I remember a time recently where I was helping a guy out (well, the church was, I was only the “delivery guy”) with some needed financial assistance, and as I gave him the cash, he began to lay a guilt trip on me about how much more he was going to need to make things work out for him. At that moment, I became pretty irritated. I kept my composure, and just explained that this was what we could do, and what had been agreed upon. As I left his hotel room, I was really struggling with my anger. I told the Lord, “Lord, I am sick and tired of trying to help people and all they seem to do is take it for granted. I mean, you give and give, and hardly is there ever anyone who sincerely thanks you, they just act bummed that you didn’t give them more!” Quietly the Lord reminded me of the many times that there HAVE been people who sincerely appreciated the help they were given, and that there have been many people who genuinely needed the help.
But then (as usual, because He always likes to bring the focus back on me and my own issues) He began to remind me of all the times that I have taken His grace (The Greek word “charis” – unmerited favor) for granted. I have received grace and instead of appreciating it, I got an attitude because God didn’t seem to do what I wanted Him to do. I thought of just how many times (as if I could count that high) I have messed up, only to have His grace and mercy poured out on me. I began to feel ashamed of my attitude. As I asked the Lord for forgiveness, I found myself thinking of the times that I have “helped” someone with a smile on my face, but in my heart I really had an attitude towards them. I thought of how generous the Lord is with what is His. He didn’t have to give us all these amazing resources, and when you come down to it, it’s all His anyway, as David pointed out: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalms 24:1 ESV). If it is all His, then He can give it to who He wants to, and it’s not up to us to decide who gets what. Now I have understood this for a long time, but I still carried an attitude sometimes. But I realized that by having an attitude when giving, in a sense I am guilty of the same attitude of the unforgiving servant that Jesus told us about in Matthew 18. I have been not only forgiven so much, but I have been given so much!
In light of that, how can I possibly distribute God’s resources with an attitude? Jesus said in Matthew 10, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Now, in the Greek, that word freely literally means “for nothing” – in other words, “no strings attached”! And that includes my attitude, because if I am giving with an attitude, then not only am I misrepresenting the Lord, I am assuming the position of deciding who REALLY deserves what, AND I’m just flat out being a hypocrite. With my actions I’m saying one thing, but with my heart, I’m saying something totally different.
There’s one other reason why it is important to give “no strings attached”. If we don’t, and we give out of “this is what I have to do, but I’m really not happy about it, and I really don’t think you deserve this, etc.”, then we will slowly get more and more bitter towards those who need help. We will become more and more jaded, and eventually we may even cease helping at all, which means that we completely stop representing Christ to this world.
I am reminded of Victor Hugo’s great work “Les Miserables”, in which the main character Jean Valjean escapes from prison and hides in a church. The bishop is very kind to him, feeding him and caring for him. Jean flees the church, however, and steals some silver candlesticks from the church. He is captured, but when he is brought back to the church, the bishop tells the guards (who are unaware he is an escaped prisoner) that he gave Jean the silver. The guards release him, and the priest later tells Jean, “I have redeemed you with these two candlesticks”. Jean goes on to become a man who lives his life for the benefit of others. How do we know that the guy that we are helping out isn’t a “Jean Valjean”, and that our gift may be the catalyst in his life that finally brings him to Jesus? It isn’t up to us to decide, but to give. God has given us everything, freely, with no reproach. He has redeemed our lives with the life of His own Son, and then filled us with Himself, giving us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”(Eph. 1:3). Simply astounding!
It is my prayer that we, as the body - the “hands and feet”, if you will - of Christ, will give like He does, and love like He does, because that’s what really makes the difference. Let us hold loosely to the things of this life, choosing to be a conduit, not a receptacle, of God’s grace and provision.
I love you all...
But then (as usual, because He always likes to bring the focus back on me and my own issues) He began to remind me of all the times that I have taken His grace (The Greek word “charis” – unmerited favor) for granted. I have received grace and instead of appreciating it, I got an attitude because God didn’t seem to do what I wanted Him to do. I thought of just how many times (as if I could count that high) I have messed up, only to have His grace and mercy poured out on me. I began to feel ashamed of my attitude. As I asked the Lord for forgiveness, I found myself thinking of the times that I have “helped” someone with a smile on my face, but in my heart I really had an attitude towards them. I thought of how generous the Lord is with what is His. He didn’t have to give us all these amazing resources, and when you come down to it, it’s all His anyway, as David pointed out: “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalms 24:1 ESV). If it is all His, then He can give it to who He wants to, and it’s not up to us to decide who gets what. Now I have understood this for a long time, but I still carried an attitude sometimes. But I realized that by having an attitude when giving, in a sense I am guilty of the same attitude of the unforgiving servant that Jesus told us about in Matthew 18. I have been not only forgiven so much, but I have been given so much!
In light of that, how can I possibly distribute God’s resources with an attitude? Jesus said in Matthew 10, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Now, in the Greek, that word freely literally means “for nothing” – in other words, “no strings attached”! And that includes my attitude, because if I am giving with an attitude, then not only am I misrepresenting the Lord, I am assuming the position of deciding who REALLY deserves what, AND I’m just flat out being a hypocrite. With my actions I’m saying one thing, but with my heart, I’m saying something totally different.
There’s one other reason why it is important to give “no strings attached”. If we don’t, and we give out of “this is what I have to do, but I’m really not happy about it, and I really don’t think you deserve this, etc.”, then we will slowly get more and more bitter towards those who need help. We will become more and more jaded, and eventually we may even cease helping at all, which means that we completely stop representing Christ to this world.
I am reminded of Victor Hugo’s great work “Les Miserables”, in which the main character Jean Valjean escapes from prison and hides in a church. The bishop is very kind to him, feeding him and caring for him. Jean flees the church, however, and steals some silver candlesticks from the church. He is captured, but when he is brought back to the church, the bishop tells the guards (who are unaware he is an escaped prisoner) that he gave Jean the silver. The guards release him, and the priest later tells Jean, “I have redeemed you with these two candlesticks”. Jean goes on to become a man who lives his life for the benefit of others. How do we know that the guy that we are helping out isn’t a “Jean Valjean”, and that our gift may be the catalyst in his life that finally brings him to Jesus? It isn’t up to us to decide, but to give. God has given us everything, freely, with no reproach. He has redeemed our lives with the life of His own Son, and then filled us with Himself, giving us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”(Eph. 1:3). Simply astounding!
It is my prayer that we, as the body - the “hands and feet”, if you will - of Christ, will give like He does, and love like He does, because that’s what really makes the difference. Let us hold loosely to the things of this life, choosing to be a conduit, not a receptacle, of God’s grace and provision.
I love you all...
Friday, August 21, 2009
A new project...
So, last Wednesday a good friend and I picked this up:
Eventually, the plan is to make it look something like this:
So, between dad's 57, Jeremiah's 59 F100 and now this one...we gotta lot of classic trucks hanging around. It's good stuff.
Eventually, the plan is to make it look something like this:
So, between dad's 57, Jeremiah's 59 F100 and now this one...we gotta lot of classic trucks hanging around. It's good stuff.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fresh Fish Or Freshly Fixed?
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. John 21:7 (ESV)
So a few weeks had passed since Jesus had risen from the dead and had met His disciples in the upper room. One day Peter decided, "I am going fishing". The others said, "We're going with you". So out they went.As they fished that night, they caught exactly zip. Nothing. Nada. Here they were, professional fishermen, and they couldn't even catch a gefilte fish. All night they drifted, with no results.How discouraging! They used to make a living doing this, and now they seemed totally inept. And then something happened. In the morning, as they drifted back towards the shore, someone from the beach called out to them, "Hey, kids, did you catch anything"? (My paraphrase)They called back, "No". I would imagine there's nothing more irritating and frustrating when you're fishing and not doing well than someone walking up and asking, "Didja catch anything?" But then this person yelled back, "Throw your nets on the OTHER side, and you'll find the fish!". I can imagine Peter thinking, "Uh... yeah, because there's a huge distance between the two sides of a small fishing boat... ok, whatever, bro." And yet, perhaps this suggestion triggered something in his memory, because that's what they did, and sure enough, "Jackpot!!!" Then we find this verse: "That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7)
John totally realizes it's the Lord - After all, He had suggested the same thing before with the same results. And then Peter does something that seems strange: he takes his outer garment (like a cloak), puts it on, and then jumps into the water. Weird, huh? Why, if you were going to jump into the water, would you PUT ON more clothes? Well, here's my suggestion: Peter had once been a fisherman until this Jesus had told Peter to follow Him, saying, "I will make you a fisher of men". While he followed Jesus, that's exactly what he did. But that night in the courtyard, when he denied Jesus... Maybe he just couldn't shake that. Maybe he didn't feel worthy to be with Jesus, even though Jesus had proved He was Who He said He was. But when Jesus called out to throw the nets on the other side, and all those fish crammed into the nets, perhaps for Peter it was the reminder he needed of just Who Jesus was. And so he grabbed his coat, and jumped into the water. I don't think he planned on going back to that boat – that’s why he grabbed his stuff. He didn't care what the others did, he wanted to see Jesus. It's interesting to me that after they had eaten breakfast, Jesus has a conversation with Peter, and asks him three times if Peter loves Him to which Peter affirm his love for Jesus. And then Jesus tells Peter that he is going to die bringing glory to God, in effect telling him that he's never going back to fishing. He has been restored, and is given a commission to "feed My sheep". Sometimes in our lives we are at a place where we have been serving God, and seeing Him do marvelous things.He has turned us from "fishers of fish", to "fishers of men." But then something happens. Maybe it's sin, maybe someone hurts us, maybe we become discouraged. But whatever the cause, we find ourselves sitting in a smelly fishing boat, having fished all night, and having caught nothing, feeling discouraged.You know why?Because that's not what God has called to or equipped us to do. He called us out from the smelly fish, has given us new life, and new purpose, and He desires to use us to bring others to Him.
May I encourage you to never go back to "fishing"?God is always faithful to restore what the enemy rips off, and no matter what has happened, God wants to use you, and He has equipped you for something far greater than just "fishing for fish".So like Peter, when you see the Lord doing great things around you, grab your stuff, jump in and head to Jesus, because He has great plans for you!
I love you all,
Pastor CJ
So a few weeks had passed since Jesus had risen from the dead and had met His disciples in the upper room. One day Peter decided, "I am going fishing". The others said, "We're going with you". So out they went.As they fished that night, they caught exactly zip. Nothing. Nada. Here they were, professional fishermen, and they couldn't even catch a gefilte fish. All night they drifted, with no results.How discouraging! They used to make a living doing this, and now they seemed totally inept. And then something happened. In the morning, as they drifted back towards the shore, someone from the beach called out to them, "Hey, kids, did you catch anything"? (My paraphrase)They called back, "No". I would imagine there's nothing more irritating and frustrating when you're fishing and not doing well than someone walking up and asking, "Didja catch anything?" But then this person yelled back, "Throw your nets on the OTHER side, and you'll find the fish!". I can imagine Peter thinking, "Uh... yeah, because there's a huge distance between the two sides of a small fishing boat... ok, whatever, bro." And yet, perhaps this suggestion triggered something in his memory, because that's what they did, and sure enough, "Jackpot!!!" Then we find this verse: "That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21:7)
John totally realizes it's the Lord - After all, He had suggested the same thing before with the same results. And then Peter does something that seems strange: he takes his outer garment (like a cloak), puts it on, and then jumps into the water. Weird, huh? Why, if you were going to jump into the water, would you PUT ON more clothes? Well, here's my suggestion: Peter had once been a fisherman until this Jesus had told Peter to follow Him, saying, "I will make you a fisher of men". While he followed Jesus, that's exactly what he did. But that night in the courtyard, when he denied Jesus... Maybe he just couldn't shake that. Maybe he didn't feel worthy to be with Jesus, even though Jesus had proved He was Who He said He was. But when Jesus called out to throw the nets on the other side, and all those fish crammed into the nets, perhaps for Peter it was the reminder he needed of just Who Jesus was. And so he grabbed his coat, and jumped into the water. I don't think he planned on going back to that boat – that’s why he grabbed his stuff. He didn't care what the others did, he wanted to see Jesus. It's interesting to me that after they had eaten breakfast, Jesus has a conversation with Peter, and asks him three times if Peter loves Him to which Peter affirm his love for Jesus. And then Jesus tells Peter that he is going to die bringing glory to God, in effect telling him that he's never going back to fishing. He has been restored, and is given a commission to "feed My sheep". Sometimes in our lives we are at a place where we have been serving God, and seeing Him do marvelous things.He has turned us from "fishers of fish", to "fishers of men." But then something happens. Maybe it's sin, maybe someone hurts us, maybe we become discouraged. But whatever the cause, we find ourselves sitting in a smelly fishing boat, having fished all night, and having caught nothing, feeling discouraged.You know why?Because that's not what God has called to or equipped us to do. He called us out from the smelly fish, has given us new life, and new purpose, and He desires to use us to bring others to Him.
May I encourage you to never go back to "fishing"?God is always faithful to restore what the enemy rips off, and no matter what has happened, God wants to use you, and He has equipped you for something far greater than just "fishing for fish".So like Peter, when you see the Lord doing great things around you, grab your stuff, jump in and head to Jesus, because He has great plans for you!
I love you all,
Pastor CJ
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The new "Stuff Christians Like"...
Yeah, I know I haven't written anything original in a while. But as a consolation prize, I offer Jon Acuff's most recent post on his blog. Read it, chew on it, and then go clean out your "judging box".
What Christians Like
What Christians Like
Friday, July 10, 2009
#575. Refusing the gift of the desert road.
Hey friends, I read this entry this morning in Jon Acuff's blog called "Stuff Christians Like" (Super good stuff.) I thought I'd share it here. It's a REALLY good read.
#575. Refusing the gift of the desert road.
Shared via AddThis
Love you guys...
#575. Refusing the gift of the desert road.
Shared via AddThis
Love you guys...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I wonder what would happen if...
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35 (ESV)
I've been chewing on this verse for a while now, musing on a number of "wonderings' I've had as I've considered it. I'll share a few with you.
I wonder what would happen if we, as the church, took this command really seriously? I wonder if we would stop before we say anything and evaluate whether or not it was a loving thing to say, what we might conclude? I wonder what would happen if we really took Paul's exhortation in Philippians to "consider one another as better than yourselves"? I wonder how many ridiculous schisms that happen in the church would be avoided? I wonder how many church splits wouldn't happen, or how many friendships would be maintained? I wonder how many people, who have been absolutely turned off to the idea of Christianity would be challenged as to the reality of what we claim we believe? I wonder how many people would be once again drawn to the church as a place of love and sanctuary, where they experience a tangible expression of the extravagant love that God the Father has shown mankind in the gift of His Son? I wonder how much TRUE spiritual growth we would see in Believers. I wonder how many of us might experience a Christian life that is based not on moral obligation, but on deep, true love for our Savior and for those that He loves.
I have some theories based on these musings. I think that if we, the church, stopped focusing all of our time and energy on "being good Christians" and focused that time and energy on "loving in deed and truth", strange and amazing things would happen. I believe that when following Jesus simply amounts to "being good a Christian", then we really have very little above any other religious or moral system. Jesus taught His disciples that they would change the world, and that His name would be lifted up and glorified. How? I'll give you a hint: It was by being more loving, not more moral.
Remember the Pharisees? You know, the guys that Jesus was always dropping bombs on? Well, they had the market on morality cornered. They were the most moral guys on the planet. According to God's Holy Law, they were considered blameless. But Jesus called them "hypocrites", "snakes", and "whitewashed tombs". They were moral, but they lacked love. Now, didn't Jesus also say that if we loved Him, we would obey His commands? He did. Was He saying that our obedience to Him would be the proof of our love for Him? I think so, but I think more than that, He was saying that our obedience would flow from a heart of love. We know that we can't say "I love Jesus" and then disobey His Word, (At least, I would hope you know that...) since that's just being self-deceived. But if we really love Jesus, then we will want to obey Him. It has nothing to do with moral obligation, but with a genuine love for our Savior that changes us from the inside out. I can manipulate a man to stop sinning by enforcing my religious code on him. But does that change his heart? (Emphatic "NO"). But if that man truly falls in love with Jesus, then because of that love, he will recognize that what he is doing is wrong, and repent because he loves his Savior, not because he was made to feel guilty by me and my own moral conclusions.
So what's the lesson here? Morality without love is religious hypocrisy. Love without morality can really be love. But the morality that flows out of love is real. It's natural. It just happens. You can't force it, and it isn't morality for morality's sake. You can try to manufacture it, but sooner or later it becomes obvious that it's not really love. Pride, arrogance, self-seeking, posturing, and judgment have absolutely NO connection with love. Unfortunately we see these things in the church to a much greater degree than we see true love.
So...what would happen if we were willing to consider these things, lay down our pride as Christians, Americans, as people? What would happen if we stopped majoring in the minor issues, stop fighting over the non-essential stuff, and just loved each other, with all the warts, freckles, and other junk that we all have? I think we would have a church that is real, that has integrity, that truly represents Jesus to this world. We would be quick to confront each other, in love, and not withdraw and isolate ourselves. We would defend and nurture each other, instead of shooting the wounded. We would become the Church that Jesus intended us to be, and we would be stronger, purer, more effective, and more beautiful.
I think it's worth shooting for. I say lets go for it.
By the way...I love you.
I've been chewing on this verse for a while now, musing on a number of "wonderings' I've had as I've considered it. I'll share a few with you.
I wonder what would happen if we, as the church, took this command really seriously? I wonder if we would stop before we say anything and evaluate whether or not it was a loving thing to say, what we might conclude? I wonder what would happen if we really took Paul's exhortation in Philippians to "consider one another as better than yourselves"? I wonder how many ridiculous schisms that happen in the church would be avoided? I wonder how many church splits wouldn't happen, or how many friendships would be maintained? I wonder how many people, who have been absolutely turned off to the idea of Christianity would be challenged as to the reality of what we claim we believe? I wonder how many people would be once again drawn to the church as a place of love and sanctuary, where they experience a tangible expression of the extravagant love that God the Father has shown mankind in the gift of His Son? I wonder how much TRUE spiritual growth we would see in Believers. I wonder how many of us might experience a Christian life that is based not on moral obligation, but on deep, true love for our Savior and for those that He loves.
I have some theories based on these musings. I think that if we, the church, stopped focusing all of our time and energy on "being good Christians" and focused that time and energy on "loving in deed and truth", strange and amazing things would happen. I believe that when following Jesus simply amounts to "being good a Christian", then we really have very little above any other religious or moral system. Jesus taught His disciples that they would change the world, and that His name would be lifted up and glorified. How? I'll give you a hint: It was by being more loving, not more moral.
Remember the Pharisees? You know, the guys that Jesus was always dropping bombs on? Well, they had the market on morality cornered. They were the most moral guys on the planet. According to God's Holy Law, they were considered blameless. But Jesus called them "hypocrites", "snakes", and "whitewashed tombs". They were moral, but they lacked love. Now, didn't Jesus also say that if we loved Him, we would obey His commands? He did. Was He saying that our obedience to Him would be the proof of our love for Him? I think so, but I think more than that, He was saying that our obedience would flow from a heart of love. We know that we can't say "I love Jesus" and then disobey His Word, (At least, I would hope you know that...) since that's just being self-deceived. But if we really love Jesus, then we will want to obey Him. It has nothing to do with moral obligation, but with a genuine love for our Savior that changes us from the inside out. I can manipulate a man to stop sinning by enforcing my religious code on him. But does that change his heart? (Emphatic "NO"). But if that man truly falls in love with Jesus, then because of that love, he will recognize that what he is doing is wrong, and repent because he loves his Savior, not because he was made to feel guilty by me and my own moral conclusions.
So what's the lesson here? Morality without love is religious hypocrisy. Love without morality can really be love. But the morality that flows out of love is real. It's natural. It just happens. You can't force it, and it isn't morality for morality's sake. You can try to manufacture it, but sooner or later it becomes obvious that it's not really love. Pride, arrogance, self-seeking, posturing, and judgment have absolutely NO connection with love. Unfortunately we see these things in the church to a much greater degree than we see true love.
So...what would happen if we were willing to consider these things, lay down our pride as Christians, Americans, as people? What would happen if we stopped majoring in the minor issues, stop fighting over the non-essential stuff, and just loved each other, with all the warts, freckles, and other junk that we all have? I think we would have a church that is real, that has integrity, that truly represents Jesus to this world. We would be quick to confront each other, in love, and not withdraw and isolate ourselves. We would defend and nurture each other, instead of shooting the wounded. We would become the Church that Jesus intended us to be, and we would be stronger, purer, more effective, and more beautiful.
I think it's worth shooting for. I say lets go for it.
By the way...I love you.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Who's better off?
Yesterday afternoon I sat at the hospital bed of a friend of mine, Dave. He's in the hospital right now because he got really dehydrated and collapsed a few days ago, and someone brought him in. As I sat there and I talked to him, I couldn't help but be impressed by his joy and positive attitude. One thing I've discovered in my friendship with Dave is that he's just a really positive guy. As he laid there in the hospital bed, thin and frail, obviously suffering from malnourishment, he had nothing but positive things to say about everything around him. As his nurse came in, it became clear very quickly to me that he was one of those patients that nurses hope they get. They playfully bantered back and forth, and I could tell that in the few days that he had been there that she had really started to care about him. At one point the physical therapist came by and had Dave walk down the hall and back to check his heartrate. It was obvious that at one point that he had started to get light headed, but he just chuckled and joked a little about it. We walked back to his room and after he was able to catch his breath a little, we talk a little more. When it came time for Jeremiah and I to leave, he immediately embraced us, and without saying a word, placed his hands on our shoulders as we got into a familar position for the three of us, that of prayer. We prayed there together in that hosital room, and for a few moments, we were lifted up out of shade of reality that surrounded us into the true reality of God's presence.
Here's the interesting thing... As far as most people could tell, Dave has very little to be so joyous about. He's sick, in the hospital, he's out of work, and oh, did I mention that he's homeless? Yeah. He lives on the river down near Old Bullhead. He's tried to get work, and periodically has succeeded, but like often happens, the work runs out, and he's back where he started. One of the other things that's working against him is a long time addiction to alcohol. He's battled the bottle for a long time. He's been surprisingly honest about it, and he recognizes the depth that this snake has buried it's fangs into him. He's trying hard to surrender it, but it's a struggle, magnified by the reality of his present situation.
Many of us would immediately judge Dave. We would point to his alcoholism as the reason for his homelessness, and though perhaps that does play a part in it, I have to wonder if I was in a similar situation would I fare any better? Unless we have walked a mile in his tattered shoes, do we have any right to pass judgment? Here is a man who although he battles this powerful addiction, is generous with anything and everything he has. He often makes enough money to buy food not only for himself, but the others around his camp. He shares his faith in Jesus with anyone who will listen, and he often leads Bible studies for others who share his situation. He is welcoming, friendly, and shows love unhesitatingly. He absolutely shames much of the "Christian" population, myself included. I think of the sins that I battle against. Are they any less offensive to God? In some cases, am I any more successful than Dave in my own battle against them? But since I have a house, a car, a job, I am considered of worth to society, and Dave is considered a problem. In some eyes, he is considered to be of sub-human worth. That breaks my heart, and I know it breaks God's heart. This is a human being that Jesus was ripped open, nailed to a cross, and bled and died for. He is of eternal worth! The question I have to ask...is he worth anything to me? And if I cannot say yes to that, than what right at all do I have to call myself a follower of Jesus?
In the last several months, my heart has been deeply affected by the call of Christ to minister to the needs of those around us who have little or nothing. It isn't about proselytizing them. It's about serving them. Meeting the basic needs of something to eat, a clean set of clothes, a set of toiletry items. But it goes beyond just the homeless. There are other people who we marginalize because they're different. Maybe they have a social dysfunction, or a disability, and it's much easier to offer a shallow religious platitude than really stop to engage them in a relationship. You see, that's what I see that Dave wants most. Not my money. My friendship. He wants relationship. He knows better than most how temporary stuff is, and he sees relationships as having a lasting worth. He recognizes that all this physical junk is temporary, and he tries to invest in what is eternal, the best way he can. His hope is that when he gets back on his feet that he will be able to stay connected with the homeless community so that he can continue to minister to them. He has his eyes set on eternity.
I'm interested to see his stack of crowns when we get to heaven. I'm willing to bet it's gonna be way bigger than mine.
Here's the interesting thing... As far as most people could tell, Dave has very little to be so joyous about. He's sick, in the hospital, he's out of work, and oh, did I mention that he's homeless? Yeah. He lives on the river down near Old Bullhead. He's tried to get work, and periodically has succeeded, but like often happens, the work runs out, and he's back where he started. One of the other things that's working against him is a long time addiction to alcohol. He's battled the bottle for a long time. He's been surprisingly honest about it, and he recognizes the depth that this snake has buried it's fangs into him. He's trying hard to surrender it, but it's a struggle, magnified by the reality of his present situation.
Many of us would immediately judge Dave. We would point to his alcoholism as the reason for his homelessness, and though perhaps that does play a part in it, I have to wonder if I was in a similar situation would I fare any better? Unless we have walked a mile in his tattered shoes, do we have any right to pass judgment? Here is a man who although he battles this powerful addiction, is generous with anything and everything he has. He often makes enough money to buy food not only for himself, but the others around his camp. He shares his faith in Jesus with anyone who will listen, and he often leads Bible studies for others who share his situation. He is welcoming, friendly, and shows love unhesitatingly. He absolutely shames much of the "Christian" population, myself included. I think of the sins that I battle against. Are they any less offensive to God? In some cases, am I any more successful than Dave in my own battle against them? But since I have a house, a car, a job, I am considered of worth to society, and Dave is considered a problem. In some eyes, he is considered to be of sub-human worth. That breaks my heart, and I know it breaks God's heart. This is a human being that Jesus was ripped open, nailed to a cross, and bled and died for. He is of eternal worth! The question I have to ask...is he worth anything to me? And if I cannot say yes to that, than what right at all do I have to call myself a follower of Jesus?
In the last several months, my heart has been deeply affected by the call of Christ to minister to the needs of those around us who have little or nothing. It isn't about proselytizing them. It's about serving them. Meeting the basic needs of something to eat, a clean set of clothes, a set of toiletry items. But it goes beyond just the homeless. There are other people who we marginalize because they're different. Maybe they have a social dysfunction, or a disability, and it's much easier to offer a shallow religious platitude than really stop to engage them in a relationship. You see, that's what I see that Dave wants most. Not my money. My friendship. He wants relationship. He knows better than most how temporary stuff is, and he sees relationships as having a lasting worth. He recognizes that all this physical junk is temporary, and he tries to invest in what is eternal, the best way he can. His hope is that when he gets back on his feet that he will be able to stay connected with the homeless community so that he can continue to minister to them. He has his eyes set on eternity.
I'm interested to see his stack of crowns when we get to heaven. I'm willing to bet it's gonna be way bigger than mine.
Monday, June 29, 2009
I'd drive that!
I found this while looking for something completely different. This is a late 60's Toyota FJ-40, I think, customized into a rat rod truck. This combines two of my favorite types of vehicles: Toyotas and rat rod trucks. This is just too stinking sweet!
Let's give this another try...
I'm not sure what I did, but I screwed up something with the other gmail account and couldn't access it, so I redid everything. If I do end up accessing it, I'll just delete it. For those of you affected, I'm sorry about that.
"Drat these computers...they're so naughty and so complex!" - Marvin the Martian
"Drat these computers...they're so naughty and so complex!" - Marvin the Martian
I finally gave in...
...and got a blog. I figure this is a good place to ramble on about the various topics that I'm thinking about, wrestling with, and trying to come to some place of conclusion about. Although the major drawback to digital social networking is that we can pretend to be anyone we want, and no one's the wiser, my intention for this is to do just the opposite. I hope that through these words, others can get a glimpse beyond the exterior, and see what's underneath.
Be forewarned... I'm not an impressive writer, or much of a deep thinker. I'm not much of a theologian, but I do have a deep, deep passion for God's Word, so I like to talk about that a lot. I'm willing to guess that much of what you'll find here won't be deep or profound, or interesting, for that matter. But since it's my blog...I get to write whatever unimpressive, shallow, uninteresting thoughts I want. But hey, you never know... I might come up with something worth reading.
Let see... A little about me. (This is the most narcissistic part) I am a man who is loved, and loves. I am a man who has been called to a place that I am neither deserving of or feel like I am equipped for. It's a constant reminder of 2 Corinthians 4:7... "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." I am certainly a clay vessel, with a handful of fractures... a "crack pot", if you will. But for whatever reason, God has chosen, in His infinite wisdom and humor, to call a goofball like me to the ministry. I certainly don't get it, but I'm thankful for it. (I don't know if the people I pastor are always so thankful for it, but I digress...). Speaking of the people. I love them. They are an incredibly loving, giving, hard working "flock of sheep". Just like every group, there are "those ones" that are hard to love, and find it hard to love. But I'm confident that the True Shepherd is working in me, and in them as well. Anyway, I have a super hot wife that I don't deserve, and who makes amazing food, art, and kids. A couple of crazy little boys who remind me a lot of how God might feel about me. (Sorry, Papa God). I'm the son of two of the most amazing examples of human beings you could ask for, and I'm just hoping if being an amazing human being is genetic, that it didn't skip me and all go to my sister (The jury is still out on that).
As far as cultural tastes, I really have a thing for old trucks, rockabilly and punk music, tattoos, and boardsports. I tend to have eclectic tastes, for which I get teased for on occasion. But that's okay. I can deal with it. I am a wrestler, of sorts. I wrestle with theology, missiology, ecclesiology, and a handful of other "ology's". I mostly wrestle with my flesh, and sometimes with some of the youth kids. Usually the kids win. Sometimes the flesh does, too. But I'm confident that the One that started this work is going to finish it, and that someday I'll be free of this annoying flesh. Until then, I'll keep wrestling.
So there you go. I'm interested to see where this goes. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Be forewarned... I'm not an impressive writer, or much of a deep thinker. I'm not much of a theologian, but I do have a deep, deep passion for God's Word, so I like to talk about that a lot. I'm willing to guess that much of what you'll find here won't be deep or profound, or interesting, for that matter. But since it's my blog...I get to write whatever unimpressive, shallow, uninteresting thoughts I want. But hey, you never know... I might come up with something worth reading.
Let see... A little about me. (This is the most narcissistic part) I am a man who is loved, and loves. I am a man who has been called to a place that I am neither deserving of or feel like I am equipped for. It's a constant reminder of 2 Corinthians 4:7... "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." I am certainly a clay vessel, with a handful of fractures... a "crack pot", if you will. But for whatever reason, God has chosen, in His infinite wisdom and humor, to call a goofball like me to the ministry. I certainly don't get it, but I'm thankful for it. (I don't know if the people I pastor are always so thankful for it, but I digress...). Speaking of the people. I love them. They are an incredibly loving, giving, hard working "flock of sheep". Just like every group, there are "those ones" that are hard to love, and find it hard to love. But I'm confident that the True Shepherd is working in me, and in them as well. Anyway, I have a super hot wife that I don't deserve, and who makes amazing food, art, and kids. A couple of crazy little boys who remind me a lot of how God might feel about me. (Sorry, Papa God). I'm the son of two of the most amazing examples of human beings you could ask for, and I'm just hoping if being an amazing human being is genetic, that it didn't skip me and all go to my sister (The jury is still out on that).
As far as cultural tastes, I really have a thing for old trucks, rockabilly and punk music, tattoos, and boardsports. I tend to have eclectic tastes, for which I get teased for on occasion. But that's okay. I can deal with it. I am a wrestler, of sorts. I wrestle with theology, missiology, ecclesiology, and a handful of other "ology's". I mostly wrestle with my flesh, and sometimes with some of the youth kids. Usually the kids win. Sometimes the flesh does, too. But I'm confident that the One that started this work is going to finish it, and that someday I'll be free of this annoying flesh. Until then, I'll keep wrestling.
So there you go. I'm interested to see where this goes. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
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