Skylar's Blog

How Good Is Good Enough?

2012-04-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

I asked the question probably hundreds of times growing up. I remember asking it more when I was doing my chores. I would "finish" cleaning the bathroom, and I would ask my mom, "Is this good enough?" Most of the times it wouldn't be because my mom is a clean freak like me. I would ask the question when I would get my report card. I would show it to my parents, and I wouldn't ask it out loud, but I was thinking: "Is this good enough?" I even asked this in High School. After basketball games, band performances (alto saxophone baby!), or speeches. You ask this question, too. We all seek approval in some way or another. We all want to "make it." And so, after we finish something we show it to our family, tell our friends about it, or put it on facebook. And we do this asking, "Is it good enough?" However, we're not just asking if what we did is good enough. We're asking, "Am I good enough?"

Did you know this question sits at the very center of your spiritual life, too? You believe there is a God, you want God to be happy with you, so you do things and afterwards you ask the same question. However, there are so many of us who don't know if we measure up, if we are good enough. We think about when we're alone, or when we're at church on Sunday, or after a something we've done (good or bad). This questions sits on the tip of our tongues and at the center of our hearts. And all we want to know is, "Am I good enough?"

This questions seems really innocent, and it seems like God should humor us and tell us what we want to hear. However, He knows if He did that He would be setting us up for failure and He would be lying. Because, if we even could be good enough, then we would have to continue being good enough... Let that sit for a minute... To be good enough for a Holy God would mean perfection on our part. Do we really want that? We get stressed when we feel pressure from our parents to get a certain GPA. Do we want to really live under the pressure of perfection? Let me answer for you: you don't. And even if you did, you can't do it. You have never and will never be perfect. So, what does God say in response to our question? What does He say to: "Am I good enough?" He says this:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

We ask, "Am I good enough?" He looks at us in love, knowing we could never accomplish what He would ask us to do, and He says, "I took care of it." So, here's the best news anyone has ever heard: we aren't good enough, but God has made us good enough.

A Purpose Of Your Pain

2012-02-27T14:19:00.001-08:00

Growing up with brothers was pretty awesome for many reasons: you always had someone to hang out with, if you got in a fight you knew someone for sure had your back, and with brothers there is never a dull moment (at least in our home there wasn't). For a couple years there was definitely a lot of fighting. During my Junior year my younger brother, Jordan, and I would fight almost every day (and I'm not exaggerating, one of the biggest tensions: what we watched on TV). I remember one day I came home and walked into my room to find that someone had gone through all my clothes and thrown them all over the place, and I knew who it was because Jordan always took my clothes when were younger. So, when he got home he opened the door and I was there to push him right as he walked in. He then asked, "What was that for?"

For a lot of us our lives have been reminiscent of my house growing up: there is never a dull moment. We're never quite sure what's going to happen next, and we're not sure if what's coming next is a good or bad thing. Have you ever had this experience? Have you had a spell of tragic or negative events hit you in the last few weeks, months, or years? Maybe you've had the opposite experience. Maybe you've had a string of positive events in your life. Whether it's one, the other, or both, there are times when things happen and our knee-jerk reaction is to ask: "What was that for?" This is what Paul has to say:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

It is so easy to get wrapped up in the extremes of life that we forget there is an eternal purpose for the events in our lives (read Psalms 139:13-16). An example is, obviously, Paul. God calls Paul to tell everyone he can about who God is and what His Gospel is about. Paul faithfully acts on God's calling and travels from city to city proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. We would think that God would take care of Paul; however, the opposite happens in many cases. Paul describes the incredible suffering he has to endure in his second letter to the Corinthians (see 2 Corinthians 1:8-9). It would be completely understandable for Paul to wonder: "What was that for?" However, Paul sees the significance of these events. Maybe he didn't catch right off the bat, but in the end he realized God would use these horrific times to do amazing things. What I'm getting at is this: what if the thing you're going through right now has the potential to change someone's life someday? Would that change anything? What if your struggle right now is going to minister to someone else some day? If your suffering had a future purpose would it be more bearable? Would you be more at peace? God's hope is you would not only experience His supernatural comfort, but you would experience comfort in the truth that He uses all things to His glory and for your good.

It Starts Now!

2012-02-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

I remember my last day of college like it was yesterday. I got on my bike on a beautiful Friday morning. I got to see Kayla before I ran off to class, and she wished me good luck on my last two finals. I rode through the same quaint little neighborhoods I had been riding through for a whole school year. As I was riding I began to reflect on what the last four years at college had meant to me. There had been extremely high high's, and crushing lows. However, I know that God had been in all of these moments. As I drew nearer to my school I realized this was the beginning of the end of this stage of my life. I would soon be an adult. I would soon be thrust into the ministry world (I didn't know where, I just knew God was going to take me somewhere). As I finished the last essay question on my last final of my college career I had this sinking feeling: it starts now! What is "it"? I didn't know, I just knew that something new had just started. A new journey, a new chapter in my life.

On Sunday we had another conversation on how God has molded you to serve Him. We spoke on your natural abilities (those things you were born with that you excel at) and I challenged you to begin the journey of seeking out significant ways to use these abilities. I still believe (even though it's only been a day) the church is the most significant place you can invest your natural talents. In my mind, you are in the same place I was when I was on my bike that beautiful May morning. You are drawing near to the end of just knowing your talented, and you are beginning an exciting new chapter. It feels unfamiliar, and you begin to realize: "It starts now!" What "it" is will only be discovered as time wears on. However, you can't go back to where you were. You can't stay on the sidelines because you didn't know what to do. You know now what God wants to do through you, and, hopefully, you're excited about what could happen. So, as you draw near to the end of just sitting on the sidelines, and as you begin to prepare yourself to enter into the awesome things God wants to do through you I want you to reflect on Jesus' last words to His disciples as He sent them out to do His work:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

What's A Weapon w/out a Target?

2012-02-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

When I was in High School I had several friends who enjoyed shooting guns. I had never shot a gun before, so one of them invited me out into the middle of the desert to shoot things. It took me a whole 3 seconds to respond w/ an emphatic, "THAT SOUNDS AWESOME!"So, we drove about 45 minutes into the desert, and when we got there my friend laid out a buffet of weaponry (ok, he only had one shotgun). He loaded it w/ a slug, and directed me to a computer monitor. I can't begin to tell you how excited I was. I took careful aim, and nervously placed my finger ont the trigger. All I remember after that is a huge "boom" sound and the shotgun nearly taking my arm off from the kick-back. After the pain had temporarily subsided I immediately shot my eyes towards my intended target. It was mass destruction, and I loved it!

Do you think it would have been as much fun just shooting at the air? Would I have enjoyed the whole shooting experience as much if I didn't have anything to aim at? Probably not. It's cool to shoot a weapon; however, it's not a complete experience unless you have something to aim at. We discussed the weapons at your disposal two weeks ago, your spiritual gifts, and the importance of you using them. However, you need to know where to aim these gifts at. Your heart is the key to locking in on a target. Realizing your gifts is exciting, but using your gifts to make a difference for something your passionate about is life changing.

So, what's the next step? First, we must begin listening to our hearts. The two questions I gave you were:

1) If you could do anything for the rest of your life (and money was taken care of), what would you do?
2) Who is it you are passionate about serving?

The second step is to step out in courage and follow the leadings of your heart. It's easy to listen, but it's hard to do something about what you're hearing. Hearing truth is good, doing something with it is life changing. This week let's all trust our gifting and take aim.

If You Don't Use It We All Lose It

2012-02-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

When we're little there are always hundreds of things on our Christmas list. From action figures to doll houses to trading cards. We have a plethora of toys and gadgets we "need." Then, Christmas day comes, and you rip into gift after gift. Each time, a little piece of you is satisfied because one of those things you wanted so badly is inside. THen, after all the dust settles you become conflicted because you don't know what to play with first. Some time you try to include all your toys in a sit down tea party or an all out battle. However, after a while some of those toys, dolls, or whatever are forgotten. Some of them end up in the bottom of a box, or some end up becoming a chew toy for a pet.

This Sunday you were challenged to discover what gift(s) God's Spirit has placed inside of you. However, discovering those gifts is only one part of the process. The next, and equally important part, is putting them into practice. Those toys you got as a gift were awesome to unwrap, but their real worth is found in how they were used.

How can you use your spiritual gift(s) this week?

Here's the thing most of us don't realize: how we use our gifts is extremely important. Think back to Paul's analogy that we talked about (look at 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). If one part of our body fails to function properly then the whole body suffers. If you don't use your gifts, and use them faithfully, then our body (the church) fails to function properly. Your gift (whether it's service, encouragement, teaching, wisdom, etc.) is required if we're going to do all that God has for us to do. I know this is redundant, but I really want you to get this. God has not given you these gifts, by His grace, so they can collect dust on a shelf or can sit at the bottom of a pile. They were given to you to make a difference. Because if you don't use it we all lose it.

Sow Some!

2012-01-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

It is finished! Just a few days ago we finished a good size planter (...it's an area where you grow plants) in our backyard. This was originally Kayla's (my wife's) idea when we first moved in to this house. You may be asking: why? Because Kayla really wants a garden! Every time she sees a picture of a beautiful garden she stops me and shows me what she has found. However, to have a garden you have to grow things (plants in particular), and as we all know we don't live in a very plant friendly environment. We both know to have a garden will require a lot of tender love and care, and the blessing of God to get this whole thing off the ground (or out of the ground...it's a gardening joke). So, what's the first thing you have to do to create a garden? You have to plant seeds.

This last Sunday we talked about Jesus' last command to us, His children:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

We also saw our part in this command. We are to take advantage of all of the moments and relationships we encounter on a daily basis to "make disciples." The hard part is figuring out how to do this. My advice: look to the planter. When you plant a seed you can water it, give it all the care you can muster, but you can't will a plant to grow. You can create the best environment possibly, but in the end it's out of your control. If you are taking Jesus' call on your life seriously, then you must know the disciple making process' success doesn't depend on you. You are not called to make disciples in the sense that you are bringing them out of darkness, you are healing them, and you are bringing them into a relationship w/ Jesus. Do you want to know what you're responsible for? Planting seeds. Paul says this:

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

So, as you go out this week plant seeds. Seeds of love, mercy, truth, and forgiveness. And while you are sowing seeds, trust they will not be in vain, and expect God to do something awesome through your faithfulness to take His call seriously.

Smells Like Sewage

2012-01-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

There's an iconic spot in Tucson, AZ. As people drive into our beloved city they are greeted, whether they like it or not, by this certain landmark. Now, this spot has no historical value, neither is it a majestic piece of architecture. If you were to see this place you wouldn't think it was impressive or iconic. In fact, it's not a place we would like to go. However, it is something that we cannot avoid as we enter Tucson. This things is: the sewage treatment plant. For any of you who have driven down the I-10 you have endured the striking aroma put off by this building. It's as if Tucson is spreading its arms wide open to place our noses right into its armpit.

Did you know that you have an aroma, too? It's not just that smell you have when you haven't changed your underwear in a week, or the one after you've been hanging out in the locker room for too long. The aroma I am talking about has to do with how you live your life. Think about all of the ways you interacted w/ people over the last week, go ahead think about it... If you had to place an aroma to how you treat people, what would it be? Would it be a sweet aroma? A sour aroma? If it were an aroma, how would people react when they smelled it as you walked down the hall?

This last week we focused on the second part of Jesus' great command in Matthew 22:39: Love Others. And we saw that how we love other people is a gauge of where we are at with God (1 John 4:20-21). However, our love for others is not just a gauge, it's something even deeper:

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15)...

Our love for others does not just reveal something just to us, but to others, too. Because Jesus has placed His seal on us, and his love is revealed to others by our love (1 John 4:12). What kind of aroma does your life give off? Is it the fragrance of Jesus Christ? Or is it the fragrance of the reputation you have tried to create because it's the one you want? I dream of a day that the aroma we all give off is the aroma of Jesus. I envision that just as people can't avoid the toxic stench of our waste treatment plant, they wouldn't be able to avoid the sweet aroma of Jesus' love as they interacted with us. Then, as they are soaked in the beautiful aroma of our Jesus, they are drawn to Him, and are saved by Him.

Take the First Step

2012-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

There are so many important days in our lives. Our first kiss, graduating, getting married, etc. Going back to the very beginning of our lives there are so many things that had to happen first before all of these other firsts: namely, our first steps. Few of us remember those first attempts at walking, but if we could I'm sure we'd remember frustration after frustration. Seeing other people do this incredible thing called, "walking" and yet we can't even stand up.

When we talked about mission we began with something that seems very simple: love God. However, we all know it's not that simple now. Maybe you've had a relationship with Jesus for a long time and you're frustrated because you see other people doing these incredible things for Jesus or who have this incredible connection with Him and you feel like you're still just trying to "stand up." Or, maybe you have just met Jesus and you're just overwhelmed by the idea of God. Either way, we must see our mission not just as something to aim at, but as steps.

If a baby decided it was over trying to walk, and it was moving on to jumping, what would happen? Disaster! We must be content where we're at right now, and learn to love God as He has given us the ability in this moment. If you want more, if you want to grow, GREAT! God has not put this in your heart in vain. Let's seek God together, and let's join the father in Mark's Gospel in crying out: "I believe; help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)."

A Sure Foundation

2011-08-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

We hear the analogy between quality construction (creating a good building) and quality living (creating a good life) pretty frequently. With this metaphor comes the analogy between the necessity of a sure foundation in a house and in a life. However, what we don't always hear and think about is the house's opinion in all of this. Doesn't the house get in a say what kind of foundation it's built on? Can't it decide to move on to another foundation because it finds it has a better location? This sounds ridiculous, because it is! So, why is it we feel we can freely decide which foundation to build our lives on and everything will turn out ok?

What I'm getting at is this: God created our world in a specific way where only one way, only one lifestyle, and the worship of only one God will truly satisfy and keep us. Just as a house does not have a choice of where the foundation is laid and which slab it will rest upon, neither do we have a choice as to what foundation is the only proper one to build a life on. No matter how hard we try to berate God or prove to ourselves and others God's way is superstitious and silly, when the dust settles there is only one solid foundation: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:24)" "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).'"

I say these things because so many of us are trying to argue away the Bible and Christian doctrine. We try to find loop holes and contradictions for many different reasons. However, God has made it clear through His followers, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)." That phrase, "...breathed out by God..." is the part we should all pay close attention to. Because this phrase is scandalous, and it flies in the face of all of our attempts to explain away God's truth as revealed in His Word. This phrase says, "The Bible you hold in your hand, or that is collecting dust on a shelf somewhere, is my divine revelation to you, and to reject it is to reject Me." I hope we will all take hold of the solid foundation that is Christ Jesus as revealed by His Spirit and His Word, and we will find hope and joy as we trust the author of all creation.

Free At Last, Free At Last

2011-07-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

There's a saying I've heard my whole life in history classes, at July 4 celebrations, during patriotic church services, and in books. The saying goes like this: "freedom isn't free." There are two things that strike me in this saying.

What does it mean to be free? How does a life which is free differ from a life which is

enslaved?

The first is an inherent understanding of freedom. However, freedom, in my opinion, is tough to nail down. The obvious answer would seem to be: freedom is the ability to do whatever you want. However, I think this is a very surface level definition of freedom. I say this because there are millions of people who can do whatever they want all over the world, but if we were to take a closer look many of these people don't seem free to enjoy those things their freedoms have allowed them. Shouldn't freedom ensure enjoyment?

If we are free to do and enjoy whatever we want, why are we so unsatisfied?

I don't believe we truly understand freedom. We see it at it's very surface, and see that it is good. However, many of us have not truly tasted freedom. I say this because of what Jesus says:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:31-32

But what "truth" is Jesus talking about? He enlightens us:

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

John 8:34-36

It is the truth that we are enslaved, whether we would like to admit it or not, and the only escape route is the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The difference between a free person and an enslaved person is their admittance of this and trust in Jesus. No Jesus, no freedom.

This week we spoke of a connection w/ God as the source of truth and righteousness. This means, if we want to know the truth and live rightly we must be connected w/ God. The same principle applies w/ our freedom. If we want to be free, if we want to truly be satisfied w/ and enjoy our life, we must be connected w/ the truth of Jesus' redemptive work.

Have you accepted this truth? Why or why not?

At the beginning I cited a quote we all know: "freedom isn't free" and I gave you the first thing that stood out to me. Here is the second: freedom always cost something, and this case is no different. Our freedom cost God dearly, and though it seems as if it costs us nothing, it actually costs us everything. Paul says this:

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this;

that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

2 Corinthians 5:14

What is the point of all of this? Our freedom rests in Jesus' saving work. What is the cost? Everything.

Fail!

2011-05-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days when you begin reflecting on what you've done. This can be in your school career, your time as an athlete, in your job, etc. And, as you reflect what has happened in your time doing whatever, you feel like a complete failure. Something begins whispering in your ear: "What have you really done?" or "What hope is there in continuing to try? Look at all that you've tried and how little it has done." Have you ever felt hopeless? Have you ever experienced that nagging feeling that begins to sink all of the joy and excitement you once experienced?

When was the last time you felt like this? What was going on? Why did you feel this way?

Isn't it amazing how one day of hell can make you forget about 364 days of God's presence? I have been feeling this way for the last couple days. As I reflected on my time at CFC I began to think about how I have failed and I have fallen short. However, this morning something hit me. Notice the focus of my disappointment: it's me. Why is this so important? Because my ministry has nothing to do with me. This hit me as I was reading Romans 5 this morning, read along:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

What is the first thing you try to do when you are feeling like a failure? If you're like me, then you search for something to reaffirm your abilities. However, no matter what you do, almost all of us seek for a place to place our feet so we can stand up again. Imagine walking along the beach on those slippery, moss covered rocks. You carefully pick your footing step after step. However, you finally miss the mark and you step on a super slippery one and you fall. Your next move is to find something to put your feet on that you can stand up and move on. Paul is giving us ground to stand on in our failure and in our success, read the second sentence again: "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand..." It is God's grace on which we stand. It is His goodness, His power, and His sovereign control over everything that allows us to stay firm and endure. That is why Paul says we can "...rejoice in our sufferings..." Because as we endure and suffer we learn to lean more and more on the only sure footing out there: God's grace. So, if you feel like a failure today in any area of your life, if you feel like you've fallen short in any way, then you are blessed. Because God is inviting you to plant your foot firmer on His sustaining eternal grace. Join me, as I journey towards planting myself in the center of our God's goodness.

You're the Best!

2011-05-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more American than competition. I take that back, there is nothing more human than competition. If you have brothers and/or sisters you understand this better than most people (side note: we are at our rawest form as children, as we grow up we learn to push down certain feelings and desires because we know they're inappropriate). I remember many of the things I would compete with my brothers over. One of the most frequent competitions was who would get the front seat. We all remember, and still use the phrase, "SHOTGUN" as we draw near to the car we're getting into.

What silly things did you compete over as a kid?

One of the funniest competitions I have been made aware of is Nathan's "Hot Dog Eating Championship." In my mind, when something as leisurely as eating is turned into a televised competition that is talked about by sports broadcasters I begin to think we might have gone too far. Unfortunately, this desire to compete does not fade away when it comes to other aspects of our lives. Our desire to be the best has invaded many more areas than we are aware of. This issue is a timeless one referenced in one of Jesus' main guys. Read John 21:20-22 or click on the link below to read it online... [John 21:20-22]

What does Peter's question reveal about his attitude? How does Jesus answer Him?

Competition doesn't seem like such a bad thing. Many people find it fun, and as a great way to bond with others. However, competition has an ugly side named: comparison. Because humans can be so obsessed with being the best we will logically fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to those we are "competing" against.

Who have you compared yourself to recently? Why that person?

Maybe you don't think comparing yourself to other people is a bad thing. Maybe you feel like every time you compare yourself you end up feeling better about who you are. Why? Because you think you win. However, the act of comparing ourselves to other people is the most subtle cancer to our relationship with God. Why? Because when we compare ourselves we are taking God's place in our lives.

Think about it: whose right is it to judge other people? God! Whose right is it to judge you; your looks, your personality, your quirks, your strengths, and your weaknesses? God! When we begin to put ourselves or other people down with our comparisons we are playing right into Satan's hands. And not only that! We are robbing ourselves of the ultimate joy: to let God delight in us. Read w/ me Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

Did you see it? Do you see what God is doing for you? Question: when do you believe God is doing this? When do you believe He is not doing this? The answer: ALL THE TIME! You are a treasure of God's. However, we so often focus on what He's given others that we miss the rich blessings He has poured out onto us. God is saying something, can you hear Him? Here it is: "You are the best!" Please Read Isaiah 43:1-4 and meditate on this and Zephaniah 3:17 and know how much God loves you.

Stay Very Very Still

2011-04-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

How do you win a battle?... Go ahead, think about it for a minute...what is the recipe, in your opinion, for victory?... The obvious ingredient, would seem to be...fight! If you don't fight, you don't win. Simple enough right? However, what if I told you that the key to victory is the opposite of fighting. I'm not talking about retreat, but being still.

What battles are you fighting? How would

being still give you the victory?

This doesn't make total sense at first, but think about it: when battling fatigue & anxiety does fighting and activity offer us the victory, or is it resting and daring to be still. What about disease? Many of you have had surgery to have something fixed or taken out. What would have happened if you decided not to rest under the surgeon's knife? There are other scenarios that come to mind, but I think we get the gist.

What does being still look like to you?

One of my favorite stories of the Bible takes place in Exodus. The Israelites have been allowed to leave Egypt after many years of horrendous slavery, and just as they have tasted free air the Egyptians begin chasing after them. All of a sudden the Israelites end up at the edge of a HUGE sea, and are stuck between one of the biggest rocks and hardest places. They begin to call out to Moses, outwardly expressing their fear and questioning why God would bring them out of slavery to die, and then God answers through Moses:

And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD,

which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians you see today, you shall never see

again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Exodus 14:13-14

Does it take more courage to stand up or to be still and trust the hand of another? I would wager the second. If we are the one's taking the initiative then we are in control and we, at least according to us, can control the outcome. In my opinion, the first kind of courage, where our trust is put in ourselves, is a cheap imitation form of courage. It is a shadow of real courage. Real courage is kneeling in front of another, admitting we have little to no power over our circumstances, crying out for help, and then trusting the situation with them. This is the courage God calls us to. Read w/ me Psalms 46:10:

Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

What happens we courageously still ourselves in front of God? He does the miraculous and gives us the victory. However, the victory isn't what we expected. Our victory is not always winning. John tells us what our victory is:

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.

And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.

1 John 5:4

We may not get the outcome we desperately wanted, but instead we get something better, something eternal. This something cannot be breached and it cannot be beat. If we will dare to be courageously still in front of the God who is in control of all things we will be rewarded with a peace beyond understanding because we are resting in Him. In the words of an infamous actor: "Winning!"

The Grace We Need (Not The Grace We Want)

2011-04-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

In my experience, we very rarely know what we need, but we often are very aware of what we want. Unfortunately, these two thought processes are often mixed; and consequently, we begin to believe what we want is really what we need. It starts when we are little. How many of us needed a "Gameboy"? How many of us needed that set of movie star Barbie dolls (I'm talking about you John Jackson)?

What is it you "needed" and still "need"?

As we go on living our lives this mixing of realities seeps into our relationships, too. We need our friends need our friends to do this, and we need our friends to not do that. Finally, it finds its way into our relationship w/ God. This attitude is most clearly seen in Paul's argument w/ God:

"...So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me..."

2 Corinthians 12:7-8

Paul believed this "thorn" needed to be removed. You can see this in his pleading. If his ministry was going to succeed and if his life was going to be all that it was meant to be this thing harassing him needed to get out! Jesus responds to Paul's "needs".

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'..."

2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul was in need, and his wants were getting in the way. This last Sunday we talked about the truth that we are powerless over the most important thing: our hearts. Many people balk at the idea that they cannot change themselves because they want to have that ability, because they think they know what's best. However, we need God to be in charge. Why? Because He knows what we really need, and that is Him. And because He has the power to fulfill the very desires that lie so deep in us we didn't even know they existed. We come to him w/ our "needs" and He frustrates us. As we draw near new yearnings arise, and as hard we try we are never able to fulfill them. That is when He reveals to us how our needs have all along simply been wants, and that the need He is able to fulfill satisfies all our deepest wants.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in

the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

Psalms 36:7-9

Isn't It Nice to Know that the Lining Is Silver?

2011-01-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

What does that phrase, "Every cloud has a silver lining" mean? I looked it up and this is what I got:

It is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult

or even painful it might seem.

Is this always true? Is there always some positive aspect to the bad situations we find ourselves in?

What are some recent bad situations you have been in? Was there something

positive about it? If so, what was it?

This weekend our community was forced to endure a horrific tragedy. What a test for this saying. What good can come out of one human being violently killing several others? Just uttering the question seems ridiculous, nothing good can come out of such a situation. However, I think there is a silver lining here.

Read with me Isaiah 43 (It's gonna be a little long, so stick with me)

But now thus says the LORD,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you..."

Isaiah 43:1-3

Now, you might be a bit confused by the use of "waters" and "fire". In the time Isaiah was written water represented chaos and fire represented suffering. So, with that knowledge, reread those verses...What is God saying? I can tell you what He's not saying. He's not saying, "It's most likely your life is going to be just hunky dory." Notice He says, "When you pass through the waters..." and "When you walk through the fire..." This theme is littered throughout the Bible (Matthew 10:22-25, 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 1:5). We will experience hard times. So, where is the hope? It is in this:

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you...

Isaiah 43:4

The silver lining of this miserable cloud is this: God has chosen to love us. And not just that, because of His love He enters into our suffering, walks with us, and sees us through to the end. What comfort is this supposed to bring? It brings this hope: God is with us. When all seems bleak and hopeless. When our world has seemed to be turned upside down, and we don't see the pain ending any time soon. When we can't see the light at the end of the storm we have been forced to endure our hope comes when we feel a hand grab ours. When we are walking through the flames of suffering and hardship our longing is answered when we notice there is someone keeping our feet from the flames. Our silver lining is, though God allows us and our world to endure hard times, He is with us, even till our last breath.

This hope is most evident in a story about Jesus. In John 11 Jesus' close friend, Lazarus, dies. However, Jesus does not rush to see him. He waits a few days. After those few days he leaves for Lazarus' tomb, but on his way he is met by Lazarus' sister Martha. Martha is distraught, and in her despair she tells Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." How many of us have felt like this? "Why didn't you show up Jesus?" "Where were you?" "Don't you care?" However, Martha ends this statement with this: "But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Martha is drowning in despair, but even in the midst of that she sees Jesus as her hope. This is inspirational! And as we endure and press on Jesus is working on us and creating a heart that cries out when everything is falling apart:

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalms 121:1

What Part Do I Play?

2010-12-15T09:02:00.000-08:00

Do you want to do something great with your life? I believe there is a desire in all of us to do this. We don't like settling (even if we swear we are lazy or complacent) and we don't like wasting things, especially our lives.

What is that one great thing you want to do with your life?

Many of us who are more aware of our desire to make an impact have begun thinking about how we can accomplish this great thing. Maybe it's to be valedictorian, maybe it's to be captain of a sports team, maybe it's to revolutionize your student government, or maybe it's something as simple and meager as solving world hunger. If you have figured out that one thing, you have also thought about how to accomplish this great thing. What if I were to tell you that you weren't going to make it. That you'll never accomplish whatever "it" is. You would probably see me as wrong, and I am the enemy and the reason for you to work even harder to achieve greatness. What if God says your labors are in vain? What if he said it was useless? A psalmist writes this:

Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalms 127:1

Now, I am not saying we stop trying to do and accomplish great things. Many of God's greatest servants accomplished great things. In fact, God is in the business of doing great things, but that's just the thing, it's God doing them. This last Sunday we compared a Scribe and a widow (read Mark 12:38-44) and their posture towards God. The Scribe obviously thought he had it all together, and the widow knew she had very little; however, she still gave and offered everything she had. The Scribe thought God and the world needed what he had to offer, and the widow knew what she had would have very little to no impact. One trusted himself, the other trusted God. Which example would you like to follow? Of course, if you've been in church for a while you would say the widow, but we so rarely choose to live like the widow.

I have a question for you. How do you feel about being poor?... Seriously, think about it. What if you were poor?... How would your view of yourself change? How would your outlook on life change? It would probably change dramatically. All of a sudden you would be fully dependent on other people. You would see every meal as a gift. Every material need met could seem like a miracle! Listen to Jesus for a moment:

Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

How does all of this fit together? We have been given wonderful gifts, and we are called to use them (Matthew 25:14-30). However, we must resist the temptation to think this world and God needs what we have to offer. We must humbly present our gifts to God, and trust Him to do what is best with them (just like the widow). We must also continue to meditate on that word, humbly. Think back to being poor: this means being dependent and having your life out of your control. This is how we come to God. We are completely dependent on him with what we have, we realize what we have will only go so far, but w/ Him working through us we could move mountains. Don't you see? The key to greatness in front of our God (what we all yearn for) comes through humbly submitting to Him. That's all! May we come to God, humbly, and offer our gifts. Then we shall all be truly blessed.

How Do I Love Those Who Have Hurt Me?

2010-11-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know if any of you have as much trouble with keys as I do, but it seems that every time I'm nearing my front door I can't find the key I need to open up my apartment. This situation becomes even more stressful under the following circumstances: a) it's dark, b) you're tired, or c) you're being followed/stalked by an animal/person (if this happens to you nightly you might need to talk to someone...). When you stop to think about keys something interesting happens to your outlook on keys, at least for me it does. In all of the world, there is one specific key which opens the door to a place that someone wants to go. For this person to enter into where they want to go, they need this specific key. When I think about this I begin to appreciate my keys a little more. I would invite you to look at your keys right now and say, "Thank you little keys (If this weirds you out then you are a lot more normal than the crazies who actually followed my advice)." I would guess if I asked all of you if someone has hurt you in some way in your lifetime 100% of you would answer, yes. And if I were to then ask you how many of you would like to come to a point where you love that person, if you already haven't, almost all of you would answer yes (especially those who have a relationship w/ Jesus).

Who has hurt you in your life? How did they hurt you? Does what they did still affect you?

However, almost all of you who would answer yes probably struggle with loving the people who have or continue to hurt you. Yet, Jesus commands us: "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...(Matthew 5:44)"

How do we love those who have hurt us? How do we love our enemies?

Many of you have furiously searched for ways to do this, you have prayed, you have read your Bible, and you have sought advice. Much like I always search through my keys for the right key you have searched through whatever experiences and resources are at your disposal and you have yet to find the right "key." I want to help you find that key right now. Jesus actually gives us the answer to this life long dilemma. Read with me:

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

Matthew 5:11-12

Did you catch it? It's in that last statement: "...for your reward is great in heaven." You who were at the Rock on Sunday hopefully caught a glimpse of how great heaven will be. An eternity with the God we love and have spent our lives (or part of our lives) seeking out is a paradise we cannot begin to fathom, and Jesus is saying this paradise is the key to loving our enemies. He is saying, in effect, if we want to look at the hatred, opposition, hurt, and pain we experience in this world as something joyful we must be heaven minded. Paul said it best:

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:2

How does this help us? It's actually simpler than you would think. Let's say you're in a cross-country race. At some point in the race you will begin to experience pain. Your side may cramp up, your feet may get sore, and/or your legs may become weak. If this begins to happen towards the middle of the race, and the finish line is no where in sight, then most of us will begin to become discouraged and seriously consider slowing down. However, if this begins to happen as you take that last turn and straight ahead of you is the finish line you then become encouraged. The pain becomes worthwhile and makes this soon-to-be finish even sweeter. God has promised us eternity in His presence; where pain, loneliness, struggle, quarrels, fighting, etc. will be no more. If we will trust our God and seek Him out and His kingdom, he will pour on us the hope of what lies beyond our finish line.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Psalm 73:23-24

May we seek out our God, and may we seek His kingdom in this world and the next, and may we trust that as we do he will recklessly pour out his grace on us. For this is the key which unlocks the door of joy and hope which will grant us the ability to love even those who have hurt us most.

I Bet You Can Hardly Contain Yourself

2010-10-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

I realize that title has a hint of sarcasm in it, but let's face it, sarcasm is the language of love! In all seriousness there are times in our lives when we are really REALLY excited about something? This something is so exciting that it takes over our lives. We see the upcoming months and events as just markers for how much closer we are getting to this thing.

What's the last thing you got really excited over? How did it affect your daily life? How did it affect your thought processes?

I am in a season where I am VERY excited about something. In 86 days I get married!!! Get excited! As Kayla and I's (is that even grammatically correct) wedding draws nearer I start looking at events and holidays as mere markers for how much closer I am to being married to Kayla Schannep. It rocks my world but frustrates me all at the same time (I want it to come now!). Maybe your last exciting thing was Christmas. Maybe it was when you got to see a friend who you haven't seen in a long time. Maybe your last exciting thing was the first day of school (although you're probably lying if you said that). These things, events, and people we get excited about are revolutionary. What was a normal, average time of year in years past has a kick to it now (or it did). When we have something we're excited about, things have changed, our lives have been changed!

Are things that are better to get excited about? What makes them better?

This last Sunday we talked about Jesus being king over every area of our lives, and at the end I asked if there was an area or areas you know Jesus is not king over. I want you to think about that area for a moment.

What does Jesus want to happen in that area? How would your life change if you gave it over to

Jesus' rule?

Now, these questions are good, but they don't help us figure out how we give these areas over to Jesus. Let's walk through that for just a moment. I just read this Psalm this morning and it has been really speaking to me all day:

For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

Psalms 69:9

What does that have to do w/ Jesus being king in our lives? It's this: whatever we are excited about, whatever it is we are aiming at and seeking after will rule our lives. Why? Because we are worshipping this thing. Our worship in this life is our act of allegiance. It is our offering our thoughts, time, and actions. What am I proposing then? I am proposing a reckless excitement for Jesus. The problem is, a lot of us have problems getting excited about Jesus. After you read that reckless excitement for Jesus part you began to immediately lose interest in this blog. However, that is our problem. We scream at sports games, we yell at the TV when the American Idol we voted for didn't win, or when "The Situation" does...his..."Situation" thing (sorry I don't watch Jersey Shore). We get so into these things, yet, I would dare to say many of us have never or rarely get this passionate about the one who saved us from everything and continues to save us. So, how do we get excited about Jesus? We look at what He has done according to the Truth in His Word.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

These two verses are very familiar, maybe even boring to some of us, and if they are shame on us. Because in these two verses lies two of the most audacious, scandalous, and life changing truths we will ever encounter. In essence, these verses are saying that Jesus looked at us and loved us so much that He chose to give up being God to become human and die. Not only that, he came knowing we would not want anything to do with him while he was on earth or ever. He came to sacrifice himself for a people who didn't like him, let alone love him. We are rebellious, ugly beings, and Jesus came in perfection so that we could experience a relationship with Him, so that He could grant us His perfection, even though we were already walking away from him. When I write these things I get excited. I begin to realize (even though it is an imperfect realization) how great God is. Can you really read these verses and not want to let Jesus reign as King in your life? Doesn't he deserve that place?

Now, I am not saying that being excited about Jesus will always work. There will be harder times in our lives or even just mundane times where it feels like God is absent our out to get us. There are also times when life has got us in a rut. What do we do then? We look at these verses (and all the other ones which speak to the same thing) and remind ourselves how good Jesus is. We foundation our lives in what Jesus has said he has done and will do, and we put our trust in that. I think you'll be surprised how content you become and how you begin to desire for Jesus to be a bigger and bigger part of your life. So guys and gals, let's get excited!

Running on Empty

2010-10-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

It was the winter of 2005, and I was making the cursed drive from Abilene, TX (if you've never heard of it then you're in the same boat as 95% of America) to Tucson, AZ. Just a side note, you have never experienced complete loneliness until you drive through West Texas. It is shear nothingness for hours! Anyways, I was in between some random small town in Texas and another random small town in Texas and I noticed I was getting low on gas. Another side note: if you have ever driven for a long distance you know the most stressful thing you can experience while driving is seeing that red needle crawling ever so close to that awful giant "E". Back to driving through Texas: as I looked at my gas meeter I began to sweat quite a bit more than I was. I became very stressed because I didn't know if I had enough fuel to make it to the next gas station.

Has there ever been a point where you did not think you had it in you to push through some horrible circumstances or event? How did you make it through?

Many of us are in this place now. We're running around in between a broken family, broken relationships, tough times at school, sports not going well, loneliness, stress, anxiety, or all of the above. The question looms over us: how am I going to make it through all of this? Read with me the verse below:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:1

The question that looms over us when we see a verse like this is: how? How do we run the race well? How do we hold on till the end? How do we stay perseverant? The writer answers this:

looking to Jesus...

Hebrews 12:2

Paul was at a similar point in his life. In 2 Corinthians 12 he talks about this "thorn" in his flesh which would not leave him alone. He says he pleaded with God three different times to make it go away, but God wouldn't. Why? Paul helps us understand:

But he (Jesus) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

The question is not: will we go through these hard times? The question is: how will we handle these difficult times? And, who will we look to for help? Ourselves? Our friends? Our parents?

Who do you look to when times are tough? Who do you talk to? Who do you rely on?

When we talked about emptying ourselves a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the purpose of why we must do this: so God can fill us up with His life and His love. However, it is also because we will not make it without his help. Some of us see our lives, and if we had to guess how much "fuel" we have in our tank to make it through life we would think we were pretty close to that glorious "F"; however, I would wager we have tricked ourselves. All of us, even those of you who think you have it all together, are a phone call away from being brought to your knees and feeling like the "Fuel Low" light has been on for hours. God calls us to empty ourselves because he has what we need not only to do earth changing things, but also to just make it by. Running on "E" is stressful, living without an active relationship with God is deadly. May we all empty ourselves and let God fill us up.

Read John 4:7-15, and let's pray together that God would fill us up with this water.

A Purpose For The Pain

2010-09-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Just this Saturday I was helping my dad put together a fan out on his back porch. Now, for those of you who have helped put any appliance or device together you know how detailed the process is. You have to put these certain screws through this certain whole at this particular stage of the assembly process or the whole device comes out inside out or upside down or sets your house on fire (ok, maybe not that last one). While we were walking through every detail of this fan we found there was a part that was extra. It was a cone shaped piece of metal that was colored like the rest of the fan, but there were no instructions as to where it went or what we were supposed to do with it. We tried for 10 minutes to figure out what the heck we were supposed to do with this random piece before giving up. When we don't know the purpose for something it can frustrate us, and, in my case, it can even make us question the intelligence of the people who put this fan together.

This last Sunday we talked about a very hard subject: divorce. And towards the end we spoke (probably too briefly) about God's desire to take the mess and suffering in our lives and turn it into something good. Romans 8:28 says:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

However, can we really believe that? Take a minute and look at 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says:

Suffering can really get people on edge towards God because we don't know why God let's it happen. We don't understand it's purpose; therefore, we question God's wisdom. However, look at that last line again, "...with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." This assumes something: God is actively comforting His children when they are in need. In my life I have relentlessly backed myself into a corner where it's all about me. Where God is (as Jim Carrey says on Bruce Almighty) a kid with a magnifying glass, and I'm an ant, he could fix my problems in two seconds but he'd rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm. Ok, maybe you haven't felt something this dramatic, but if you have endured suffering or any sort of grief thoughts like this aren't hard to come by.

What if God wasn't the kid with the magnifying glass. What if God allowed this pain to happen (we must know pain only happens when God allows it, read Psalms 88 and this will be made clear) to prepare us to be his instrument of comfort? What if God is allowing you to suffer now so you may take part in a life changing work?

I want you to watch the video about Steve below (just click on the link) and then think about the questions I wrote below that:

[WATCH VIDEO]

What pain and/or suffering have you experienced? How could this be used to comfort others? Are there people in your life whom God can use you to comfort because of those hard times you've endured?

Let me paint you a scenario. Let's say you are walking through a neighborhood and you see the perfect house! It has everything you have ever wanted in a house. There's a "Hawaiian Fruit Punch" fountain, secret passageways, and everything else you've ever wanted. As you walk by the realtor comes outside and offers it to you for free! All he asks is you endure through some work that needs to be done so the house will be in optimum shape, and after that you fix things that break and patiently work on different parts of the house that will continue to malfunction. Would you take it? I think so. Why do we then balk when God asks us to endure hard times so he can use us for great things? It is no different, and honestly, this tale pales in comparison to what God is offering to do through us.

Now some of you may be asking and thinking, "This doesn't explain why God lets children in Africa starve" or "What if the person suffering isn't a Christian, how does this apply to them?" Suffering is a mystery, it is something that there is no all inclusive answer to. All I am offering here is a very small and meager piece of the puzzle. However, in this is a truth we can cherish and find hope in when we are suffering: Paul is saying God will use the pain we encounter to give us the ability to comfort as he does. He will use the comfort he has given us, and he will use that to provide the same comfort to those who are hurting in similar ways. Deep down, everybody wants to help someone else. It is what we are created to do, and nothing really brings someone more joy than being a part of someone being healed. God is promising this to those of us who suffer. How amazing is our God, that he takes the horrible events and circumstances we live through and transforms them into opportunities for life to be offered. Through our suffering God offers hope. Through his Son's death, and his children's choice to die to themselves, he offers life. How glorious!

A Mirror Is Harder to Hold

2010-09-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

There is something hard about looking in a mirror some times (and for some of us all the time). However, it isn't hard to look at other people. It's not hard to gawk and stare at the celebrities in the magazine, especially those funny magazines with the distorted pictures of these stars' bodies. It's not difficult to even look at the people around us. Some of us will even travel to malls to watch other people (they call themselves people watchers, I call them creepers... just kidding ; ). I had an interesting thought as I started writing this, what if we spent as much time looking at ourselves as we did looking and breaking down other people? We'd probably become much more self absorbed, and maybe even more self-conscious. Neither of these seem like a good thing, and it's because they're not. However, there is something behind this idea that makes sense. Jesus says this:

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that it is in your own?

If you don't know what Jesus is talking about, then take a gander at Matthew 7:1-5. What he is addressing is the human condition called pride, and specifically how it manifests itself in our desire to judge others. In my experience and in conversations I have come to the understanding that one of the reasons we judge other people is because of our own insecurities.

So, what are you insecure about? Where do you think you don't measure up?

This Sunday we spoke about this attitude, and went into detail about our opinions of other people's relationship with and worship of God. Something I have come to realize is (just as I said earlier) we will judge and look down on someone else's interactions w/ God because our own relationship w/ Him is stagnant and pathetic in some or many ways.

Where do struggle in your relationship w/ God? What weaknesses are there?

In my opinion, it's time to stop spending so much time looking around, and it's time to start looking in the mirror. Jon Foreman wrote a song which inspired the title of this blog. It's called (surprise surprise) "A Mirror is Harder to Hold", and in it he writes this:

I could try and point the finger

But the glass points in my direction

Sure you've got your sharp edges

But my wounds are from my own reflection

This might seem like a bit much, but do you know the great thing about all of this? If we will turn to God, and ask for His help, if we will dare to humble ourselves, and seek the God of all of creation He will come to our rescue, deliver us from our pride, and turn us into a new creation:

...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive heir sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

This restoration is waiting for you. It is yours, in Jesus Christ, if you will turn from what you know (your ego and judgment of others) and turn to our humble Savior (Philippians 2:6-8). May you do that, and because of it may you reap the consequences: a full life (John 10:10).

What the Black Pearl Taught Me About God

2010-07-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

Verse: For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

You read the title of this blog right. There are spiritual lessons even in the most unlikely places. Especially on a kick butt ship run by half dead pirates!!! Just a side note, my dad is partially addicted to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. It's funny watching the little kid in him come out. Back to the ship! For those of you familiar with the story of the Black Pearl the members of its crew are under a heavy curse because of some gold they stole. Do you remember the curse? Spoiler alert if any of you haven't seen this movie yet (but then again, if you haven't seen this movie yet how likely are you too now?), but the curse has made it so these men are the walking dead. They seem alive, but they have been cursed with an insatiable desire. They eat and it doesn't satisfy them, they drink and they are still thirsty (this is a blog all in its own). This curse separates them from a normal life, and until they fulfill the requirements to lift the curse they continued leading this frustrating existence.

This Sunday we talked about the curse mankind has brought on itself. Because of our decision (see Gen 3:1-7) we are born rebellious and evil. We are born opposed to God. Not because He is unworthy of our love, but because we have "bigger fish to fry." Just as the crew on the Black Pearl is separated from fulfilling life, we, too, are separated from God and the fulfilling life which accompanies a relationship with Him. So, what requirements must we fulfill to end this curse? Here's the bad news, there's nothing we can do about it. Remember the pirates we've been talking about. How would their outlook on life change if someone were to reveal to them that there was nothing they could do to end their curse, that they would live just as they are for forever? On the back of your notes I gave you some questions to think about after reading Galatians 3:10-11. One of those was, "What does it mean we are cursed?" To understand our predicament you have to understand this first. We came into this world destined for hell. We were birthed with a one way ticket to an eternity away from God, into complete suffering. And the catch is, we couldn't do anything to get out of it. There is not enough wriggling, serving, worshipping, and loving we could do to get this ticket changed, and God would be just in keeping it this way. However, God isn't defined by justice alone. In fact, He is ultimately characterized by love (1 John 4:8). Galatians 3:13 reveals to us exactly how God took away this curse: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree...'” We were born cursed, and we deserved to die cursed, but we worship, serve, and live for a God who refused to let that happen. Think through those questions I gave you this week with your parents, and thank Jesus for becoming what we deserved to offer us what we could never earn.

A Heavy Dose of You Know What!

2010-07-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Verse: ...but made himself (Jesus) nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he (Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 1:7-8

I don't know how many of you remember how absolutely delicious cough syrup is...ok not at all. As I read through the verses I gave you on Sunday (Philippians 1:6-8, but of course you remember that...) cough syrup came to mind. You look confused. I can remember dreading that awful, thick, red liquid, but I always looked forward to feeling better, mostly because it meant I wouldn't have to drink anymore cough syrup. Cough syrup is very tough to swallow, but it is necessary for us to be healthy again. Agreed? Here's where we transition: there's a word in Philippians 1:8 that might taste like cough syrup to some of us. The word is (drum roll please)... "humbled." You might be thinking, "That's not such a horribly difficult idea." You're thinking this because you have never sought out true humility and what being a humble Christian means. So try and drink this down:

Jesus gave us the perfect picture of humility, and Paul gives us the Spark Notes version of this extensive picture. I'll sum it up and then explain how this applies: Paul first paints the picture of where Jesus started, "...though he was in the form of God." Jesus was equal with God, He is God. He was in heaven, the place even those who don't believe in God yearn for. Then, the unthinkable happens: "...(he) did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." So, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth took on the form of what He created. He entered into a world full of suffering, pain, and grief. He rejected His place in what all of us yearn for, to enter into what many of us can't wait to leave. The next time you try to wrap your mind around humility I want you to look back at this verse, because Jesus is the perfect picture of this quality.

But maybe it still isn't hitting home. Have you ever thought you deserved something? Maybe you did a great job on a test, or you were really respectful to your parents, or maybe you bought a friend a nice present or threw them a great party. Was there any part of you after this nice act which was expecting something in return? That is pride in a nutshell. Pride believes we deserve something. It believes we are special. Now, Jesus shows us humility is centered around the most incredible thing: love, and that's just it: pride opposes love. I would bet we rarely think about love when we think about humility and pride. However, it is very clear that Jesus' humility is birthed straight out of His love. So what is humility? Humility is thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3), looking to other's interests (thinking about their desires and their needs - Philippians 2:4), and actually acting on these two. And let's not forget this should all be drenched in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Now try and drink all of that down. But remember, if we want to return to health, if we want to live the way we were created to (just like with cough syrup) we need this.

My Dad Can Beat Up Your Dad

2010-06-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Verse: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12

I always find it strange that there is only one commandment where God makes a promise afterwards. I also find it peculiar which commandment God chose to link that promise to. It wasn't "You shall have no other gods before me" or even "You shall not murder." It's placed right after "Honor your father and your mother..." If you look above you can see the promise, and I have to admit it's a pretty good one. In laymen's terms God is saying: honor your mom and dad and you're going to have a long life (I'm sure you needed me to clarify that for you ; ). Does anyone else find this peculiar? Why does God issue this promise after a commandment about our dads and moms? Why is this so important? Anyone? Well, since I'm writing I guess I'll take a crack at it. There are many, MANY places in the Bible where He labels Himself as our "Heavenly Father" (Psalms 68:5; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 6:9). Does this help at all? No? In my experience, how we interact with and treat our parents has a direct correlation with how we treat and perceive God, and I think God would agree. Look at Leviticus 20:9 (come on we both know you love Leviticus); what was the penalty for cursing your parents?...Death! This is the punishment reserved today for only those who commit the most unthinkable crimes. I believe God knew His children would treat their Heavenly Father in the same way they treated their earthly parents.

So, to the title of this blog. What does it have to do with all of this "Honor your parents..." talk. Absolutely nothing! However, as Father's Day creeps closer (June 20th in case you forgot) I begin to think more and more about the importance of our dads. You see, our perception of our dads has more to do than just what we think about an older man who is balding and refuses to wear a big enough shirt around the house. Like I said earlier, our relationship with our dads has a direct tie to our relationship with God, but not solely in the way I've already mentioned. You see, dads have a lot of pressure put on them. Not only are they responsible for taking care of you, themselves, and your mom, but they are also challenged to reflect the image of God Himself. God takes a great risk calling Himself our Father because there are some of us who don't have a healthy picture of what a dad is. Have you ever sat down and really thought about your perceptions about your dad are, or just what thoughts come to mind when you think of dad. Before we go on let's remember: no dad is perfect, nor will any dad ever be perfect. However, every dad has been instilled with certain qualities which reflect God's character as our Heavenly Father. Now, some of you don't have a dad because he chose to walk out. Consequently, this blog doesn't really hit you the right way. Take heart, God is the perfect father we have all always wanted. No dad could ever love us completely the way God loves us. If you are in this boat thank God because He is such a good Dad. In fact, He's so good He gave up His only kid so we could have a relationship with Him. All that to say, this weekend I want you to do something: I want you to really spend some time trying to figure out how to bless your dad. Try to think of two (you can do more if you want) ways your dad reflects the character of God as our Heavenly Father and let him know about what you discovered. And, if you don't have a dad thank God for the great Father He is. Just always remember, no matter how cool your dad is, my dad can definitely beat up your dad.

Are You Afraid of The Dark?

2010-05-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Verse: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Psalms 36:9

When I was in elementary school there was always one show I wanted to watch but my parents wouldn't let me. It was called: "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" Each show would start out with a group of kids around a fire sharing scary stories, and each week they would share a new story. Now, my mom was very wise, because I'm a HUGE baby when it comes to scary movies or TV shows. Quick question: what environment do almost all scary movies happen?...Some of your answers might be in the woods, in a creepy broken down house, in a fun house, or whatever. Scary movies happen in all kinds of different environments, but there is a common denominator that runs through all scary movies. And it is...darkness. Fear thrives on darkness. Things are always scarier when you are in the dark. Think about when you were a little kid. Most of us were never afraid to be in our room alone during the day, but when it got dark some of us freaked out (me included). This pattern continues even as we grow older. Now, the fear we experience because of the darkness is different. We are no longer afraid someone is going to jump out at us (unless of course you just watched the Sixth Sense or some other freaky movie). However, what we do begin to fear is the fact that we don't know where we are going. Now, I might be getting a little too metaphorical for you but stay with me.

In Jewish poetry, just as in today's poetry, the writer would use images or elements to represent different emotions or circumstances. One of the Psalms favorite images it uses is light and dark. So, what is the Psalmist really getting at when he is writing about the dark and light? Read Psalms 107, go ahead...what does the writer say God did in verse 14? The writer says, "He (God) brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death..." Look at the context, what does this darkness represent? Now, you're probably thinking I'm going to use the verse I put at the top to talk about how, "...God is light and in him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)." This is true, God is light, but that doesn't mean He avoids the dark. In fact there are some psalms where the writer describes God as having darkness around Him (Psalms 97:2). One Psalm even says God created the darkness (Psalms 104:20, Genesis 1:3-5). What does this mean then? Does darkness have some good qualities to it? I would say yes and no. On the no side, the darkness can be the times we enter in our lives where we don't feel God or where we don't know where to go. This is where Satan has taken what God has created and perverted it. Just a reminder, everything God creates is good; however, sin has twisted it and turned it on us. This is why good things such as food, friends, work, etc. become an unhealthy part of our lives. However, the darkness can be a good thing. Yes, within the darkness is an inability to see, but, on a practical level, within the dark is rest. Within the darkness is the element of the unknown, but isn't it comforting that the God we serve is so beyond our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8)? If everything about God were in the light, plain for all to see and understand, then He wouldn't be God. To end I want you to reflect on this: though the darkness is something we initially think we have to struggle and war with, God has and will continue to redeem the dark. Do you remember how I talked about how the psalmists poetically placed God within the dark? The psalmists are pointing to something, they are saying God does not stand outside of the dark with His light, keeping a safe distance from it. No, he invades the dark which consumes us and is not from Him and shines forth His radiant line. God will always win. In closing I want you to read Psalms 139: 7-12:

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee? from your presence?

If I ascend to the heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol you there!

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.