Ha. Like I know anything about that. That I do not know. I do know this much though. You don't start out teaching to the masses. If so, God put you there on purpose and also you are much more of a brave man than I am at this point. I'd need to hear from God before I stepped in front of mere hundreds at this point. That's neither here nor there though.
The thing that I do know is that essentially everyone starts out in front of smaller groups teaching from the Bible. I know I have at least.
I remember my first time. I was teaching on love. How cliche, right? I am an educated, professional, educator of youth and adults. I thought, "How hard can this be? Read the Bible. Comprehend the material. Compile and teach." Ba-da bing, ba-da boom!
Youth at our church on Wednesday nights usually ran anywhere from eight (yes, 8) to 30 people. It was mid July. I figured that people would be on vacation or chillin' in the pool or anything besides coming to see the only guy under 25 that tucks in his shirt everyday, wears cowboy boots, and falls in more of a good ol' boy category. I am so different from anything that I've ever known as a youth leader/teacher/etc.
It wasn't terrible that night considering it was my first time teaching in church. I was rigid. I barely left my notes. I was very on topic. Besides rigid, all good things.
My friend, MJ, gave me a book to read called "The Principle of the Path" by Andy Stanley. (@andystanley follow him on Twitter.)
I'm not very good at retaining what I read. I make notes. I re-read. I bookmark. Also, why I love my Kindle Fire. I can highlight and go right to it without flipping through pages.
The one thing that has stuck with me from this book has been this short story. He was talking about how he was teaching a new Sunday School class or something of that nature. He was sure since it was for a younger age group his room would be packed out. He was disappointed because he had only a few if any show up for his class. Either during prayer or from his dad he was told that he needed to prepare for the 7 as if he were preparing for 700.
From my understanding he didn't feel like the prep was as needed for as few people. It hit me! Maybe one day I'll be teaching in front of a ton of people. I have to start here and now. I have to prepare as if 1000 people will show up. It doesn't matter if there are only a few people there. They deserve the quality and the preparation that 700 people receive.
So for that, I thank you Mr. Stanley. You helped me realize it's not about how many people come, but about how we prepare for those people we are given to minister to at a given time.
Prepare for the future, and practice in the present!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Be like John Locke
No I'm not referring to the "Father of Liberalism" but rather this John Locke from LOST the tv series.
John Locke was an interesting character. If anyone of the four people that were at Man O' War the night I taught this in the fall...you can stop laughing. Also, if you aren't familiar with LOST check out this video to get caught up!
Anyways, John Locke was the questioner of the group. Not to the leader of the group, but rather to the leader. He always wanted to know what his destiny was. He always wanted to know why he was there. See before the plane crash Locke couldn't walk. He was paralyzed. You will find out why by watching the video.
He was given a second chance after the plane crash and could walk again. He was doing all the things he dreamed of. Hunting, fishing, searching, walking. He was living the dream. Instead of enjoying his miracle, he questioned his miracle.
Have you ever done that? Instead of being appreciative of what you receive from God you question what's up with this gift?
Well, Locke continues to question and he searches everywhere on the island for answers. He looks. He asks. He does what different leaders tell him. He is a man on his own doing whatever it takes to get his answer.
We do this a lot! We ask, "Why, God?" It's a very simple thing though. We have our answer in the Bible. In Matthew 28:18-20 we have the Great Commission. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen"
There it is! See, I am currently having a hard time with this thought. I know there is a call on my life, but I'm not certain what specific way to use it. Instead of dwelling on why, what, when, how, where, I just need to go! Just go and spread the gospel. It's tougher than it sounds.
I encourage you. Join me in stepping out in faith and doing what we have all been told to do. Don't be like John Locke and place all your time in asking and no time in actually doing. We have to be doers too!
John Locke was an interesting character. If anyone of the four people that were at Man O' War the night I taught this in the fall...you can stop laughing. Also, if you aren't familiar with LOST check out this video to get caught up!
Anyways, John Locke was the questioner of the group. Not to the leader of the group, but rather to the leader. He always wanted to know what his destiny was. He always wanted to know why he was there. See before the plane crash Locke couldn't walk. He was paralyzed. You will find out why by watching the video.
He was given a second chance after the plane crash and could walk again. He was doing all the things he dreamed of. Hunting, fishing, searching, walking. He was living the dream. Instead of enjoying his miracle, he questioned his miracle.
Have you ever done that? Instead of being appreciative of what you receive from God you question what's up with this gift?
Well, Locke continues to question and he searches everywhere on the island for answers. He looks. He asks. He does what different leaders tell him. He is a man on his own doing whatever it takes to get his answer.
We do this a lot! We ask, "Why, God?" It's a very simple thing though. We have our answer in the Bible. In Matthew 28:18-20 we have the Great Commission. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen"
There it is! See, I am currently having a hard time with this thought. I know there is a call on my life, but I'm not certain what specific way to use it. Instead of dwelling on why, what, when, how, where, I just need to go! Just go and spread the gospel. It's tougher than it sounds.
I encourage you. Join me in stepping out in faith and doing what we have all been told to do. Don't be like John Locke and place all your time in asking and no time in actually doing. We have to be doers too!
Monday, February 27, 2012
It's All About Me
Well, that's what most of us think anyways whether we realize it or not. We put all the focus on ourselves.
Have you ever noticed how even when we try it becomes about us? "Good sermon, pastor." "Great playing, man!" "You really did a fantastic job with that band."
All these statements have to do with people. We have to recognize that it's not the people that are the reason that these things went well. It never has been about us.
In Philippians 2:3 we are told to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility we are to count others more significant than ourselves.
I admit, I had an extremely hard time with this concept for a long time. I played in the band and honestly it was about me. It was about what I did to contribute, to make it sound better, to be seen.
In all reality, I did nothing. My mindset sucked. In Luke 14:11 it says that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
I got humbled the hard way. It was tough. I learned the hard way that it was not about me at all. It is more than me and will always be.
Now I realize that I have to do things not from self ambition or conceit and that whatever I do, I should count the others more significant than ourselves.
Those of you who know me know that I love Tim Tebow. It's obvious. I think he is the embodiment of counting others more significant than himself. He always puts his teammates way above himself. They make him look good. They make him look better than he is according to him.
That's the way I want to be. When I'm a part of something, I want to be able put others above me and give them the credit for their support and efforts rather than doing anything for my own benefit. I am not a self-promoter and hopefully never will be. I just hope the people around me see me for what I try to be and that is a man who really tries for the right reasons, not for mere promotion of self, self ambition, or anything other than to live a life or an example.
Try it sometime. It actually feels better to live humble and without selfish motives. People might almost like you more!
Have you ever noticed how even when we try it becomes about us? "Good sermon, pastor." "Great playing, man!" "You really did a fantastic job with that band."
All these statements have to do with people. We have to recognize that it's not the people that are the reason that these things went well. It never has been about us.
In Philippians 2:3 we are told to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility we are to count others more significant than ourselves.
I admit, I had an extremely hard time with this concept for a long time. I played in the band and honestly it was about me. It was about what I did to contribute, to make it sound better, to be seen.
In all reality, I did nothing. My mindset sucked. In Luke 14:11 it says that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
I got humbled the hard way. It was tough. I learned the hard way that it was not about me at all. It is more than me and will always be.
Now I realize that I have to do things not from self ambition or conceit and that whatever I do, I should count the others more significant than ourselves.
Those of you who know me know that I love Tim Tebow. It's obvious. I think he is the embodiment of counting others more significant than himself. He always puts his teammates way above himself. They make him look good. They make him look better than he is according to him.
That's the way I want to be. When I'm a part of something, I want to be able put others above me and give them the credit for their support and efforts rather than doing anything for my own benefit. I am not a self-promoter and hopefully never will be. I just hope the people around me see me for what I try to be and that is a man who really tries for the right reasons, not for mere promotion of self, self ambition, or anything other than to live a life or an example.
Try it sometime. It actually feels better to live humble and without selfish motives. People might almost like you more!
Who's Taking His Spot
First off, for those of you following regularly sorry for the long delay in posts. It's been a long week of training. I apologize.
Anyways, I've been reading "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. First of all, this is a fantastic book. Second, one thing has really stuck out at me reading this book.
In the book he speaks about the story of Abraham and Isaac. Now I know that most everyone is aware of this story, but reading this book shed new light on it for me. I had never looked at it this way.
Tozer talks about how, yes Abraham was obedient, but that wasn't the cause for God asking him to sacrifice his own son. Abraham had made Isaac his everything. This was the son God had promised him he would have. This was his legitimate offspring that would fulfill the promise of his offspring as the number of the stars (Genesis 15:5).
The thing with Isaac though is that Abraham had waited a long time on God to fulfill the promise. When the promise was finally fulfilled, Isaac became Abraham's everything.
I mean think about it. You have been asking God for something that you want desperately more than anything else and you wait so long for it that it becomes almost natural by human standards to cherish that which was given to you. He exalted this child because it was the fulfillment of a promise from God.
The thing that happened is that Abraham started to let him become everything. I love how Tozer kind of elaborates on the situation. He says it like this paraphrasing Genesis 22:12 :
"It's alright, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you may have the boy, sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent. Now I know that thou fear God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me."
God fulfills his promises to us, just as He did with Abraham. The problem is that the result of the promise becomes "God" to us. We let the result take the place because it is something so dear to us.
What we have to do is make sure that we don't replace God with the blessing that He has given us. We have to remember who is responsible and who deserves all the glory for those things.
So I challenge you, as I challenge myself, who or what is taking His spot in your life?
Anyways, I've been reading "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer. First of all, this is a fantastic book. Second, one thing has really stuck out at me reading this book.
In the book he speaks about the story of Abraham and Isaac. Now I know that most everyone is aware of this story, but reading this book shed new light on it for me. I had never looked at it this way.
Tozer talks about how, yes Abraham was obedient, but that wasn't the cause for God asking him to sacrifice his own son. Abraham had made Isaac his everything. This was the son God had promised him he would have. This was his legitimate offspring that would fulfill the promise of his offspring as the number of the stars (Genesis 15:5).
The thing with Isaac though is that Abraham had waited a long time on God to fulfill the promise. When the promise was finally fulfilled, Isaac became Abraham's everything.
I mean think about it. You have been asking God for something that you want desperately more than anything else and you wait so long for it that it becomes almost natural by human standards to cherish that which was given to you. He exalted this child because it was the fulfillment of a promise from God.
The thing that happened is that Abraham started to let him become everything. I love how Tozer kind of elaborates on the situation. He says it like this paraphrasing Genesis 22:12 :
"It's alright, Abraham. I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you may have the boy, sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent. Now I know that thou fear God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me."
God fulfills his promises to us, just as He did with Abraham. The problem is that the result of the promise becomes "God" to us. We let the result take the place because it is something so dear to us.
What we have to do is make sure that we don't replace God with the blessing that He has given us. We have to remember who is responsible and who deserves all the glory for those things.
So I challenge you, as I challenge myself, who or what is taking His spot in your life?
Monday, February 20, 2012
How to Win
Have you ever sat back and thought about the lost family members or friends? Not the ones you only see once a year and you are civil too because it's the right thing to do, but the ones who know you. They knew you before you knew God. They know the ugly, the awful, the despicable you and all the mess you lived in once. Yeah, those.
It's a really tough spot to be in. I know for me, I never could break through to some people. It wasn't because I didn't care about them or that we fought about it. I never could fight the way my past was thrown at me. Lord knows I'm not perfect. If you know me well, you know I am not perfect, too. That's okay with me.
If I was perfect, I wouldn't have a powerful story of redemption through Christ.
Anyways, our family and friends know us. It is hard to minister to them because we've gone too deep in a sense. It's sort of like swimming. You getting your feet wet is like just kind of knowing someone. You may say hello to them, know their name, maybe shared a joke in a large crowd. Nothing major.
Going knee deep you may have a conversation with them. You may discuss the ball game or the weather but there is no real gravity to it.
Going waist deep it starts coming along. You may have dinner together. You may intentionally make plans to hang out. You may have deeper conversations.
Then we get neck deep. We know these people. We know how they react. We know what sets them off. We know when they are doing good and not doing good.
Finally, we are in over our heads. We are so deep there isn't any going back. You are soaking wet in the water and nothing can change that. You know every single thing there is to know about the person. You've seen what few else will ever see. That's about how family and lifelong friends are in relationships most of the time.
They know where you have been. They see you as that person because no one really remembers all the good things you have done. They only seem to remember the screw ups. That is all part of human nature.
I took Megan to see "The Vow" and as cheesy as it sounds, I think one scene sums up how we should treat the ones we love. The man had cheated on his wife and the daughter asked how she couldn't leave him. Her response was that how could she not forgive him for the one stupid mistake he made after the lifetime of good he had done for her.
Now I'm not condoning an affair. Let's not get carried away. But it's about forgiveness. Christ forgave us, and we must forgive others. It's hard though when we have seen what they have been through and done in the past.
It is hard. Sometimes the best thing we can do is live as an example. We must commit those we love to prayer daily. The best two things we can do are be an example by loving and pray.
Galatians 6:9 says this: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, IF we do not give up".
Pastor Scott said last night, and it is true, that God gives us promises but they always have a large two letter phrase of "IF" attached. Here we are promised that we will reap in due season by doing good if we do not give up.
Don't give up friends. We can't give up on the ones we love. No matter how bad our past makes us to people, Christ's love redeems us and gives us a future.
Love people.
It's a really tough spot to be in. I know for me, I never could break through to some people. It wasn't because I didn't care about them or that we fought about it. I never could fight the way my past was thrown at me. Lord knows I'm not perfect. If you know me well, you know I am not perfect, too. That's okay with me.
If I was perfect, I wouldn't have a powerful story of redemption through Christ.
Anyways, our family and friends know us. It is hard to minister to them because we've gone too deep in a sense. It's sort of like swimming. You getting your feet wet is like just kind of knowing someone. You may say hello to them, know their name, maybe shared a joke in a large crowd. Nothing major.
Going knee deep you may have a conversation with them. You may discuss the ball game or the weather but there is no real gravity to it.
Going waist deep it starts coming along. You may have dinner together. You may intentionally make plans to hang out. You may have deeper conversations.
Then we get neck deep. We know these people. We know how they react. We know what sets them off. We know when they are doing good and not doing good.
Finally, we are in over our heads. We are so deep there isn't any going back. You are soaking wet in the water and nothing can change that. You know every single thing there is to know about the person. You've seen what few else will ever see. That's about how family and lifelong friends are in relationships most of the time.
They know where you have been. They see you as that person because no one really remembers all the good things you have done. They only seem to remember the screw ups. That is all part of human nature.
I took Megan to see "The Vow" and as cheesy as it sounds, I think one scene sums up how we should treat the ones we love. The man had cheated on his wife and the daughter asked how she couldn't leave him. Her response was that how could she not forgive him for the one stupid mistake he made after the lifetime of good he had done for her.
Now I'm not condoning an affair. Let's not get carried away. But it's about forgiveness. Christ forgave us, and we must forgive others. It's hard though when we have seen what they have been through and done in the past.
It is hard. Sometimes the best thing we can do is live as an example. We must commit those we love to prayer daily. The best two things we can do are be an example by loving and pray.
Galatians 6:9 says this: "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, IF we do not give up".
Pastor Scott said last night, and it is true, that God gives us promises but they always have a large two letter phrase of "IF" attached. Here we are promised that we will reap in due season by doing good if we do not give up.
Don't give up friends. We can't give up on the ones we love. No matter how bad our past makes us to people, Christ's love redeems us and gives us a future.
Love people.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Only Perfect Role Model
Tim Tebow is my sports hero. I won't lie. I know this topic has become stale and old, but it's what I've been thinking about this morning.
The reason I think I really enjoy following Tebow is because we are the same age. I remember when I was a senior in high school. He had enrolled early and for some reason I had gotten the Knoxville News Sentinel in the spring. My mom never got the paper and there was the newest of Gators. His stats were great in the Florida spring game.
For me I could relate because I was going to college on a football scholarship (that is NCAA on xbox 360 scholarship). Really though, I could relate because he was only a couple of months older than me. I was excited because I would be able to follow his career at Florida and have typically the same types of experiences since we were going through college at the same time. Well, we experienced most of the same stuff aside from being the greatest football player in history, winning championships, the first sophomore Heisman winner, and more.
Okay, so maybe our experiences were vastly different.
Tim Tebow went on to the Denver Broncos and has been followed by the masses. If you haven't read stuff about him, you should because it is inspiring.
I kept that paper from his spring game for 6 years. I found it as Megan and I got ready to move from Kentucky back to Tennessee.
It hit me, especially with all the media coverage, although Tebow is a great example, he is only a human. Humans aren't perfect. I hope if you just read that you are nodding your head yes, because chances are pretty high that you're not perfect either. Lord knows I'm not.
So I tossed the paper in the trash. Gone forever. I realized that even though the story is inspiring, something will happen. I hope it won't, but people aren't perfect and as much coverage as he has received someone will see him in a moment where he just loses his composure.
I have realized that people will fall and fail you. Yes, it is fantastic to have such an example on a platform that allows him in every house every Sunday, but what about the example that never fails?
Instead of taking up papers and keeping them, we ought to take up the Word and use that example. It is laid out for us and won't ever fail us. I mean you. I mean me. I'm not perfect and will never claim to be.
Philippians 3:13-14 says it all for me. "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Press toward the mark. Use the unchanging example.
The reason I think I really enjoy following Tebow is because we are the same age. I remember when I was a senior in high school. He had enrolled early and for some reason I had gotten the Knoxville News Sentinel in the spring. My mom never got the paper and there was the newest of Gators. His stats were great in the Florida spring game.
For me I could relate because I was going to college on a football scholarship (that is NCAA on xbox 360 scholarship). Really though, I could relate because he was only a couple of months older than me. I was excited because I would be able to follow his career at Florida and have typically the same types of experiences since we were going through college at the same time. Well, we experienced most of the same stuff aside from being the greatest football player in history, winning championships, the first sophomore Heisman winner, and more.
Okay, so maybe our experiences were vastly different.
Tim Tebow went on to the Denver Broncos and has been followed by the masses. If you haven't read stuff about him, you should because it is inspiring.
I kept that paper from his spring game for 6 years. I found it as Megan and I got ready to move from Kentucky back to Tennessee.
It hit me, especially with all the media coverage, although Tebow is a great example, he is only a human. Humans aren't perfect. I hope if you just read that you are nodding your head yes, because chances are pretty high that you're not perfect either. Lord knows I'm not.
So I tossed the paper in the trash. Gone forever. I realized that even though the story is inspiring, something will happen. I hope it won't, but people aren't perfect and as much coverage as he has received someone will see him in a moment where he just loses his composure.
I have realized that people will fall and fail you. Yes, it is fantastic to have such an example on a platform that allows him in every house every Sunday, but what about the example that never fails?
Instead of taking up papers and keeping them, we ought to take up the Word and use that example. It is laid out for us and won't ever fail us. I mean you. I mean me. I'm not perfect and will never claim to be.
Philippians 3:13-14 says it all for me. "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Press toward the mark. Use the unchanging example.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
It's Not Your Song
Do you have that favorite church song? Some of you may have that favorite hymn that if it isn't sang at the church you attend, well that becomes the church you used to attend. Some of you can't carry a tune in a bucket and you hate worship songs for that reason. Others of you have that one song that sends goosebumps up your arm and neck. That song!
I ask you though, is it really the song? We lose this connection so often. I do it myself.
Megan and I recently, and I mean very recently, moved home and started working with a new youth group. Not only is it different, so are the songs. I stood last night during our time of worship and was thinking to myself, "Man, what are these kids singin'? These songs are so far out of left field. Forget it. I'll just wait until the next song"
Buddy, let me tell you something. We always refer to God as our Father. Well it felt like my tail got lit up last night. It was like that time when you were between 12 and 15 and said something stupid and probably got a good whoopin' for it. That's what it felt like to me.
As I stood there, all I felt was this sense of disappointment in me. Have you ever let someone you love down? Yeah, it's a terrible feeling.
Anyways, I'm standing there and the Spirit just came to me and all I could hear in my mind was, "Am I not worthy?" That's a scary question to hear when you think you're all together. It didn't come because "I'm in a bad place spiritually" or because "I've given up". It came because of mere human nature. We are inclined to like what we like.
At that moment, I began to learn the words to a song I don't even know the name of (and my wife can atest to the fact that as a musician I want to know the song names and lyrics). I began to sing out the words to what in my mind was some random song. Man, I don't know about anybody else in the room but God dealt with me and I felt the warmth of His spirit engulf me immediately.
In Revelations throughout the fourth and fifth chapters there are multiple references to repeated worship.
In 4:8 we see the four creatures that day and night never cease to sing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come"
In 4:11 we see the 24 elders join in by singing "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
In 5:9-10 we see that the four creatures and the 24 elders sang a new song (see we don't have to stick with traditional song all the time, but that's another day) "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our god, and they shall reign on the earth"
Then in verse 11 more join in singing something new and finally in verse 13 we see that every creature in heaven and on earth and under earth and in the sea and all that is in them say "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever."
Now I give you all that scriptural reference to say this: this is a glimpse of heaven and the cry towards God in praise.
I can only speak for myself, but if that is all we get to sing I will be A-Okay with that!
Think about it the next time you get frustrated by a song because it is too contemporary or too traditional....
Does it really matter if it is glorifying God?
I ask you though, is it really the song? We lose this connection so often. I do it myself.
Megan and I recently, and I mean very recently, moved home and started working with a new youth group. Not only is it different, so are the songs. I stood last night during our time of worship and was thinking to myself, "Man, what are these kids singin'? These songs are so far out of left field. Forget it. I'll just wait until the next song"
Buddy, let me tell you something. We always refer to God as our Father. Well it felt like my tail got lit up last night. It was like that time when you were between 12 and 15 and said something stupid and probably got a good whoopin' for it. That's what it felt like to me.
As I stood there, all I felt was this sense of disappointment in me. Have you ever let someone you love down? Yeah, it's a terrible feeling.
Anyways, I'm standing there and the Spirit just came to me and all I could hear in my mind was, "Am I not worthy?" That's a scary question to hear when you think you're all together. It didn't come because "I'm in a bad place spiritually" or because "I've given up". It came because of mere human nature. We are inclined to like what we like.
At that moment, I began to learn the words to a song I don't even know the name of (and my wife can atest to the fact that as a musician I want to know the song names and lyrics). I began to sing out the words to what in my mind was some random song. Man, I don't know about anybody else in the room but God dealt with me and I felt the warmth of His spirit engulf me immediately.
In Revelations throughout the fourth and fifth chapters there are multiple references to repeated worship.
In 4:8 we see the four creatures that day and night never cease to sing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come"
In 4:11 we see the 24 elders join in by singing "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
In 5:9-10 we see that the four creatures and the 24 elders sang a new song (see we don't have to stick with traditional song all the time, but that's another day) "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our god, and they shall reign on the earth"
Then in verse 11 more join in singing something new and finally in verse 13 we see that every creature in heaven and on earth and under earth and in the sea and all that is in them say "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever."
Now I give you all that scriptural reference to say this: this is a glimpse of heaven and the cry towards God in praise.
I can only speak for myself, but if that is all we get to sing I will be A-Okay with that!
Think about it the next time you get frustrated by a song because it is too contemporary or too traditional....
Does it really matter if it is glorifying God?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Power of the Blood
Those of you that know me, know that I truly love music. I can listen to the same song and hear a million different things about it. I can point out the lead guitar line all the way through. I can listen again and hear the bass line (even when it's barely noticeable). I can hear how awesome, or not awesome, the drummer plays. I hear all the things about the music, but I tend to lose the voices.
Those of you following on Facebook know that I listen to Spotify constantly when I am in the office. Some days will be classic rock and others will consist of country. Mainly you will find me listening to worship music. I love worship music. I love to play it. I love to sing it. I love to listen to it.
I get distracted by the music portion though.
The other day I was listening for some new music to add to my playlist and I found a song that Jentzen Franklin had sang. It is an old song. Now before I go further I just want to say this fact. I love music both old and new. I love to jam to the new stuff and I LOVE to rock to the older, more "traditional" church songs.
The song that he sang was "The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power". If you have never heard this song, you need to Google it and find it.
The thing I love about this song, is though it is typically categorized as "traditional" it still holds such a powerful message.
It reaches to the highest mountain. Think about it. Even when things are good. You are on top. The blood still touches those times.
It reaches to the lowest valley. Days when you think not even the blood of Christ can help because you are so low, it is still there.
The blood that gives me strength from day to day will never lose it's power. If you read my post from yesterday you know that the blood will never lose it's power because Christ died for you out of pure love. The power of Christ lives on today.
On days when you can't seem to find an answer. In situations that seem trivial and those that seem unconquerable. The blood will never lose it's power. Try it out.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Learning to Love
Ironic that today love has been on my heart. I'm not talking about the hearts, candies, flowers, balloons, fancy dinners, dresses, etc. I'm talking about true love. Most everyone that has been raised with some sort of religious upbringing knows their mother, aunt, grandmother, sister, cousin, or other relative has some sort of picture or plaque with 1 Corinthians 13 on it.
"Trying to make a difference in other people's lives will amount to nothing if HE hasn't made a difference in yours. Be real, love people."
The thing that I love most about 1 Corinthians, especially the more I hear it and read it is what it says in verses 2 and 3: (paraphrased) I can do a million different good things, but if I do them without love I am nothing. I gain nothing.
Think about that?
We are human. Our human nature says that we should feel proud of ourselves. Look at me, I took time out that I could have been watching football to feed the homeless. Oh look, I gathered food for the pantry. Ah, I helped that man on the side of the road. I participated in this charity.
Sometimes we do those things to ease our conscience. That is not enough. We have to learn to do these things in love. It's not enough to do it to remind yourself how good your life really is. You have to love the people you are serving. Show them love that was shown for you.
I can't imagine that Christ was on the cross suffering for you and I and thought, "Look at what I'm doing for you all. I'm so lucky for what I am doing." I imagine it to be ugly, awful, and dreadful. It is the essence of love. Christ stood in the gap for you and for me. It wasn't pretty. He asked God if it were possible that there be another way. (Matthew 26:39) Christ did as God willed and was crucified to make a way for you and me. Everything was sacrificed so that you and I could gain eternal life. So that you and I could have a way to the Father.
Unless Christ truly loved us, then the act of the cross would've become irrelevant. How much more can we show love when we work within our communities? We have to be mindful that people know when you are genuine. Christ's love is genuine and is evident because He is alive and well!
I like Kari Jobe's new song that talks about His love. It says: What love is this that You gave your whole life for me. You made a way for me to know You. And I confess, Your always enough for me. You are all I need.
I leave you with what I posted on twitter yesterday. It just popped in my mind. No books. No retweet. No quote. If your job requires you to work with a lot of people remember this saying. If you only work with people on your own volunteer time it is just as important.
"Trying to make a difference in other people's lives will amount to nothing if HE hasn't made a difference in yours. Be real, love people."
In love,
JT
Monday, February 13, 2012
I Know My Truth
For those of you that are avid movie fans you probably finished the title by asking yourself what movie that phrase may be reminding you of today. Well, let me end your curiosity. It is "Couples Retreat" and Vince Vaughan says that he knows his truth in response to getting "bitten" by a shark.
Isn't that what we do though today. We all "know our truth". We know the truth of our traditions. I would agree with you that you know your truth and I hope you would think I know my truth, but that is not really what matters.
Our truth holds nothing unless it is the absolute truth. The absolute truth doesn't come through a tradition that has been held throughout every generation of your family. Truth only comes from God's Word.
Now, those of you who know me, know that I am not a condescending person (I used to be, but I changed) and I am not using this blog to bash people. This is merely a chance for you to see my heart pour out into words and hopefully into someone else's heart.
In John 14:6 we hear this: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Those of you familiar with this passage knows that Jesus is telling the disciples of how He is going to prepare a place for them so that where He is they can be as well. He is answering Thomas in this verse above.
Justin, what does this have to do with knowing your truth? Glad you asked, friend.
Jesus said He is the truth. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1 tells us this as the book opens. We know that Jesus is the Son of God and also a part of the Trinity, which is God three in one.
Are you seeing where I'm headed?
Jesus, in turn, is the Word. Booyah, you're there! Therefore, the Word is the truth!
We have to know Jesus to know the truth which is in the Word. Knowing your own personal truth is fine, but is it what the Bible says? Your truth may be true to you, but is it the absolute truth?
It is hard to accept that your own way is not the way it's supposed to be sometimes. We must submit ourselves to the truth that God provided in his word. It's hard, but I've not found a spot yet in the Bible that says it was ever meant to be easy. Being crucified wasn't, but it doesn't mean it wasn't worth it and I am glad for that.
Isn't that what we do though today. We all "know our truth". We know the truth of our traditions. I would agree with you that you know your truth and I hope you would think I know my truth, but that is not really what matters.
Our truth holds nothing unless it is the absolute truth. The absolute truth doesn't come through a tradition that has been held throughout every generation of your family. Truth only comes from God's Word.
Now, those of you who know me, know that I am not a condescending person (I used to be, but I changed) and I am not using this blog to bash people. This is merely a chance for you to see my heart pour out into words and hopefully into someone else's heart.
In John 14:6 we hear this: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Those of you familiar with this passage knows that Jesus is telling the disciples of how He is going to prepare a place for them so that where He is they can be as well. He is answering Thomas in this verse above.
Justin, what does this have to do with knowing your truth? Glad you asked, friend.
Jesus said He is the truth. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." John 1 tells us this as the book opens. We know that Jesus is the Son of God and also a part of the Trinity, which is God three in one.
Are you seeing where I'm headed?
Jesus, in turn, is the Word. Booyah, you're there! Therefore, the Word is the truth!
We have to know Jesus to know the truth which is in the Word. Knowing your own personal truth is fine, but is it what the Bible says? Your truth may be true to you, but is it the absolute truth?
It is hard to accept that your own way is not the way it's supposed to be sometimes. We must submit ourselves to the truth that God provided in his word. It's hard, but I've not found a spot yet in the Bible that says it was ever meant to be easy. Being crucified wasn't, but it doesn't mean it wasn't worth it and I am glad for that.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Frustration
As I sit here at work I can't get the thought out of my head about this young lady that took her life yesterday. I didn't know her from Adam, yet it still almost tortures me.
Is it because she went to the same high school I did? Doubtful.
Is it because it was a place I knew? Doubful.
Is it because I am 100 percent enraged? Probably.
This incident has no personal touch on my life. I'll find out more from the news coverage than I will anything else. The thing that absolutely destroys me are the lies.
No, I'm not calling people out who start rumor mills. I mean the lies from Hell. We sit back and play games with our lives, me included, and joke about this and that when lies are flooding in everywhere. We have got to stop kidding ourselves.
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Yes, this is touchy stuff but it is true. The devil doesn't care.
(On a side note I tell you what I find funny. Thinking of Harry Potter, our society is like everyone in most of the HP books. Everyone knows that there is an evil lurking out there, but no one wants to call it by name. We have got to stop playing games with the devil and thinking about the horns, tail, and a pitchfork. Those are all lies. The devil is cunning and is seeking to devour and we have to stop giving his name power when we know the name of He who created all things.)
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39.
What can separate us from us from the love of Christ? Nothing. We have to be aware of that. With that we also have to realize that we are human and we screw up. Plain and simple. That's why we need to look out for our friend, our loved one, our spouse, our pastor. We have to lift people up when they can't lift on their own, even when they look like they don't need a lift.
I feel as though this doesn't even scratch the surface of how I feel right now. Maybe I'm getting older and I realize I'm not invincible anymore. Maybe I'm realizing that though things look simple they aren't. Maybe I'm realizing that Hell is fighting with force. Satan won't play fair, so we shouldn't hold any punches on him. We have to be constantly ready. We have no time to waste.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)