"When people get comfortable they forget about God." This is a quote I heard a few weeks ago at a Life and Justice conference. How true that is sometimes. At Ignite (a college group at my church) this week we had a couple who are going to go over seas as missionaries in two months. They shared with us about the work that they were going to be doing over there. They also challenged us to view the people around us in our daily lives the same way that they are going to be viewing the people in the foreign country. We need to have the same heart for the lost that we interact with everyday as we do for the lost in a far away country. The missionaries shared a poem with us that is extremely powerful. Here it is.
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
attributed - sir francis drake -1577
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Grace
Today I would like to take a look at grace. I do not think we will ever be able to fully grasp God’s grace for us. Let’s take a look in Romans.
Romans 5:20 -6:14
“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
It is easy to talk or sing about God’s grace, but does it impact our lives? Do you believe that every time you sin God does not get angry at you but instead gives you unending grace? This should blow your mind every time you think about it. I want to conclude with one of my favorite quotes about grace.
"The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin."
— Timothy Keller
Amazing grace how sweet the sound…
Romans 5:20 -6:14
“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
It is easy to talk or sing about God’s grace, but does it impact our lives? Do you believe that every time you sin God does not get angry at you but instead gives you unending grace? This should blow your mind every time you think about it. I want to conclude with one of my favorite quotes about grace.
"The gospel of justifying faith means that while Christians are, in themselves still sinful and sinning, yet in Christ, in God’s sight, they are accepted and righteous. So we can say that we are more wicked than we ever dared believe, but more loved and accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope — at the very same time. This creates a radical new dynamic for personal growth. It means that the more you see your own flaws and sins, the more precious, electrifying, and amazing God’s grace appears to you. But on the other hand, the more aware you are of God’s grace and acceptance in Christ, the more able you are to drop your denials and self-defenses and admit the true dimensions and character of your sin."
— Timothy Keller
Amazing grace how sweet the sound…
Sunday, January 23, 2011
iempathize
This is video that I am posting is very hard to watch. I had so many emotions going through me while I was watching it. Don't just watch this and then go on with your day. Ask God how He would have you reach out to these people. We all need to be aware of what is going on, and be willing to make a difference. Pray for these people.
iEmpathize in SE Asia (Full Version 13min) from iEmpathize on Vimeo.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Wasted Time
How much time do you waste in a day? Do you procrastinate most of your tasks? C.J. Mahaney wrote a 17 day blog on these topics that is very good. I would encourage you to read through it in several sittings and examine how you use your time.
Biblical Productivity By C.J. Mahaney
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
Biblical Productivity By C.J. Mahaney
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Song of the Week
I heard a quote the other night that really made me stop and think. The person said "Christians don't tell lies, they sing them." How many times have we gone into a worship time and not meant the words we were singing? It is so easy to sing the words and not realize what we are really saying. When we come to worship we are bringing praise to the King of the universe, and we should be worshiping with all that is in us. For this week's song I picked "With Everything" by Hillsong. I want to mean these words when I sing this song ,and I pray that you will too.
Open our hearts,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.
Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.
So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.
God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Open our hearts,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.
Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.
So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.
God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Church
I am currently reading "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan. It is about how the church has been neglecting the Holy Spirit. It is a very challenging book. What I want to do for this post is put an excerpt from the book up. It is something that I think everybody needs to wrestle with an examine themselves to see how they are working in the body of Christ.
"Did God lead you to where you are? A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me, "I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley." Or Wichita. Or New York. Or Greenville. Or wherever. That very well may be the case. But it could also be a cop-out because you like where you live. You have a good job. The school district is safe and has high ratings. Your family lives close by ( or perhaps far away, depending on your relationship with them). It makes sense that you are "called to be there, right?
And maybe you are called to where you live. But if you say you are called to be in the place that you are, a few questions need to be considered. For example, how would you be missed if you left this place? What would change? Basically, what difference does your presence here make? Or, as my youth pastor once asked me, what would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?
My purpose in posing the questions is not to convince you to "go into the ministry." I'm not about recruiting pastors or missionaries. My purpose in these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that you have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement. I write this because I love the church and want you to trust that you are more than just real estate brokers, salesclerks, restaurant servers, baristas, teachers... etc, you are vital members of the body of Christ. Ask yourself, Do I believe the church needs me like a body needs a mouth?
It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do. He places us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born (Eph. 2:8-10). Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are." - Excerpt from Forgotten God by Francis Chan.
I see so many people come to church right before the service starts, sit through the service as if it were a show to watch, and then leave immediately afterwards. This is NOT how we should be viewing the church. We need to be active in the body. 1 Corinthians 12 25-27 "So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." I would encourage you to read all of 1 Corinthians 12 because it is about using spiritual gifts in the body. I pray that God will give me and others a greater love for the body of Christ.
Do you believe the church needs you like a body needs a mouth?
"Did God lead you to where you are? A lot of people in my church and in my travels tell me, "I believe that God has called me to Simi Valley." Or Wichita. Or New York. Or Greenville. Or wherever. That very well may be the case. But it could also be a cop-out because you like where you live. You have a good job. The school district is safe and has high ratings. Your family lives close by ( or perhaps far away, depending on your relationship with them). It makes sense that you are "called to be there, right?
And maybe you are called to where you live. But if you say you are called to be in the place that you are, a few questions need to be considered. For example, how would you be missed if you left this place? What would change? Basically, what difference does your presence here make? Or, as my youth pastor once asked me, what would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?
My purpose in posing the questions is not to convince you to "go into the ministry." I'm not about recruiting pastors or missionaries. My purpose in these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that you have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement. I write this because I love the church and want you to trust that you are more than just real estate brokers, salesclerks, restaurant servers, baristas, teachers... etc, you are vital members of the body of Christ. Ask yourself, Do I believe the church needs me like a body needs a mouth?
It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do. He places us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born (Eph. 2:8-10). Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are." - Excerpt from Forgotten God by Francis Chan.
I see so many people come to church right before the service starts, sit through the service as if it were a show to watch, and then leave immediately afterwards. This is NOT how we should be viewing the church. We need to be active in the body. 1 Corinthians 12 25-27 "So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." I would encourage you to read all of 1 Corinthians 12 because it is about using spiritual gifts in the body. I pray that God will give me and others a greater love for the body of Christ.
Do you believe the church needs you like a body needs a mouth?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Fire
A friend showed me this video a few months ago and I thought it is worth sharing with everyone. I would like to hear some feedback with your thoughts on it.
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