Yes the title of this blog entry is a great example of terrible grammar. (Mrs. Flag, my senior English teacher would be horrified.) But the poor grammar is intentional and pointed!
Hebrews 10:9 tells us that Jesus said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." As we went over that in Bible study last night that really struck me. As we strive for holiness, we so often focus on the don'ts. The ever growing list of things that we can not do if we want to be like Jesus.
But as we study scripture, we find a different pattern. We find that Jesus focus is on "doing" the will of the Father!
With that in mind, might a make a suggestion? Instead living on the defensive and walking around with an ever growing stone tablet of things that aren't permissible... why don't we instead just focus on "doing" what pleases God!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Enjoying the Journey
As I was studying for Sunday's message in Acts something struck me. God told Philip to go to a town that pretty much didn't exist anymore. Philip obeyed and something miraculous happened. On his journey to Gaza Philip met an Ethiopian and led him to Christ!
The point: sometimes God's intention is not the destination... it's the journey!
Now if your like me that should mean something. Maybe we need to be less focused on getting from point A to point B, and more focused on the people and things that God puts in our path along the way!
Just something to think about as you go through your week. Till next time... I hope you enjoy the journey!
-Jason-
The point: sometimes God's intention is not the destination... it's the journey!
Now if your like me that should mean something. Maybe we need to be less focused on getting from point A to point B, and more focused on the people and things that God puts in our path along the way!
Just something to think about as you go through your week. Till next time... I hope you enjoy the journey!
-Jason-
Monday, January 23, 2012
Can you worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to you?
That's the question author Francis Chan asks of us in his book "Crazy Love." And the answer for some may vary. Perhaps you feel like God needs to explain himself. Maybe you question his nature or his character and because of that you constantly have questions about and for God. "God, why are there so many starving people in the world?" "God why did my friend have to die?" "God, why did my spouse leave me all alone?"
While these questions would seem "normal" and even justified by some in our society today, I would encourage pause on our part when we feel these kind of things rising up in us. I've heard many a preacher proclaim that God is big enough for our questions. And I want you to know that I believe that is true. God is certainly big. I mean we are still exploring the depths of his first sentence of revelation to us: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The question isn't about the size of God, or even the power of God, the question ultimately is about the authority of God. People today aren't "comfortable" with a God that isn't obligated to explain his actions. They would rather question everything that is wrong with our world and point the finger at God as if it's all His doing.
(If your one of those people, be warned, I'm about to offend you.) As I study scripture there is one thing that God has nailed down within me, and that is His character! My God is loving and merciful and gracious, but He is also totally just! He owes no man an explanation of who He is, yet He has given us a loving account of self-revelation. No, as I study scripture what I have found instead is this: it is not God's character that needs to be questioned it is ours! Why are so many people starving when we throw out tons of food a year? Why are people dying of curable diseases when we have the resources to do something about it? Why are there more slaves today than ever in the history of the world? Why has the gospel still not reached the ends of the earth when we live in a day and age where we have the ability to communicate like never before?
The answer friends is right before us! The answer stares back at each of us every morning as we look into the mirror. We are the ones that must give account. You want to ask God the tough questions? Then you better be prepared to answer them yourself?
These questions leave me humbled, embarrassed, even ashamed. They also leave me challenged. Wanting. Ready to change and make a difference.
The question should not be can we worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to us, the question should be how could we worship a God who was anything less?
While these questions would seem "normal" and even justified by some in our society today, I would encourage pause on our part when we feel these kind of things rising up in us. I've heard many a preacher proclaim that God is big enough for our questions. And I want you to know that I believe that is true. God is certainly big. I mean we are still exploring the depths of his first sentence of revelation to us: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The question isn't about the size of God, or even the power of God, the question ultimately is about the authority of God. People today aren't "comfortable" with a God that isn't obligated to explain his actions. They would rather question everything that is wrong with our world and point the finger at God as if it's all His doing.
(If your one of those people, be warned, I'm about to offend you.) As I study scripture there is one thing that God has nailed down within me, and that is His character! My God is loving and merciful and gracious, but He is also totally just! He owes no man an explanation of who He is, yet He has given us a loving account of self-revelation. No, as I study scripture what I have found instead is this: it is not God's character that needs to be questioned it is ours! Why are so many people starving when we throw out tons of food a year? Why are people dying of curable diseases when we have the resources to do something about it? Why are there more slaves today than ever in the history of the world? Why has the gospel still not reached the ends of the earth when we live in a day and age where we have the ability to communicate like never before?
The answer friends is right before us! The answer stares back at each of us every morning as we look into the mirror. We are the ones that must give account. You want to ask God the tough questions? Then you better be prepared to answer them yourself?
These questions leave me humbled, embarrassed, even ashamed. They also leave me challenged. Wanting. Ready to change and make a difference.
The question should not be can we worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to us, the question should be how could we worship a God who was anything less?
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The 2 year/read the Bible in 90 days plan!
When you have to work to remember the password to your own blog... you know it's been a while since you've written. I could say that the holidays were busy (which they were) or come up with some other excuse, but the truth is I've been trying to pour more time into listening and less time into talking.
As a pastor, you have to talk a lot. Public speaking is a requirement and teaching multiple times a week is common. I don't mind it to tell you the truth. I think it keeps me sharp on some level... always having to prepare for something else. The amount of preparation never changes much for me. Study is extremely important and has to be done. My struggle is usually not the amount of time that I'm in the Word... it's more like a struggle of "who am I in the Word for?" I've told my congregation on several occasions that I simply preach/teach what the Lord is teaching me... and that is completely true. But there are times that I long for something just between me and Him.
So...I've recently picked back up where I left off in my Bible reading plan from last year. The plan was to read the entire Bible cover to cover in 90 days. It's a great way to get the big picture, and I enjoyed it for a time. But along the way, I also missed the more intimate time with the Lord that I used to enjoy. Journaling and talking about His Word and how it was speaking to my heart.
I've been in the book of Jeremiah and have been working through it at a little better than a snails pace for a few weeks now. I'm looking forward to finishing what I started last year... a 90 day plan that will probably end up taking me the better part of 2 years... oh well!
I've started journaling again and some of it may even make it here. We'll see. For now, I'll leave you with my prayer from Jeremiah 23:4. "I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing." - Lord, help me be that kind of shepherd. Help us move beyond the hurt and fear of the past and press on and run with perseverance the race you've marked out for us in this city. -
As a pastor, you have to talk a lot. Public speaking is a requirement and teaching multiple times a week is common. I don't mind it to tell you the truth. I think it keeps me sharp on some level... always having to prepare for something else. The amount of preparation never changes much for me. Study is extremely important and has to be done. My struggle is usually not the amount of time that I'm in the Word... it's more like a struggle of "who am I in the Word for?" I've told my congregation on several occasions that I simply preach/teach what the Lord is teaching me... and that is completely true. But there are times that I long for something just between me and Him.
So...I've recently picked back up where I left off in my Bible reading plan from last year. The plan was to read the entire Bible cover to cover in 90 days. It's a great way to get the big picture, and I enjoyed it for a time. But along the way, I also missed the more intimate time with the Lord that I used to enjoy. Journaling and talking about His Word and how it was speaking to my heart.
I've been in the book of Jeremiah and have been working through it at a little better than a snails pace for a few weeks now. I'm looking forward to finishing what I started last year... a 90 day plan that will probably end up taking me the better part of 2 years... oh well!
I've started journaling again and some of it may even make it here. We'll see. For now, I'll leave you with my prayer from Jeremiah 23:4. "I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing." - Lord, help me be that kind of shepherd. Help us move beyond the hurt and fear of the past and press on and run with perseverance the race you've marked out for us in this city. -
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)