Thursday, May 28, 2009

Options

It seems at times we create options that God never wanted us to consider.

Here are a few examples: The church at Laodecia in Revelations 3 thought lukewarm was a viable option for how to do church. The rich man in Mark 10 thought keeping the 10 commandments was a good option to obtain eternal life. And the Old Testament generation of Malachi thought bringing God their left overs was an acceptable option that would meet the required minimums. In each of these examples it's not that the people weren't doing anything. It's that what they were doing was less than their best. And, God has always wanted and expected and demanded our best.

On the other side of the pendulum we see those like the church in Galatia that started down a path that Paul called "another gospel" (Gal 1:6) That path or option is described perfectly in Galatians 3:3 (TEV) "You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?" That church started to believe that following and keeping the Old Testament law was what God wanted. They were using God's words to create an option that God never wanted them to consider.

Now this example of the church at Galatia is interesting to me for this reason. The first group I mentioned were lowering Gods standard or expectation. And most people can see that this is wrong. But, this group in the book of Galatians was, in their minds, raising the bar. They were using what we now call the Bible to create a "higher" level of obedience. And that is the hardest deception to fight against. People or religions that have a verse to back up what they do are the most dangerous people of all. They feel justified in their "obedience". They feel secure in their "following of the rules". And they miss what God is really after. They create an option that God never wanted us to consider. They in essence turn living for God into a religion. And religions don't need an ever present "NOW" God. Nor do they desire an ever revealing relationship with God. They only want to keep their religions going. And unfortunately too many people are way passionate about their religions but not so passionate about their God. That's what the church at Galatia was turning into - A Spirit filled group of Old Testament followers. And that was an option God wasn't interested in.

Now, before you decide who I'm writing to or what you hear me saying between the lines, let me say this. I would never write something or preach a message with an expected audience in mind. I write and preach to myself first. I write and preach out of my own experiences with God. So if what I just wrote offended you - that's God not me.

Step back for a minute and think about it though. Don't you feel we spend to much time arguing and debating within the walls of the church? Doesn't it seem like we are wasting a little too much time and energy studying to prove what we already believe? Doesn't it seem at times like we are preaching and writing things for the sole purpose of making us feel good and making us look right?

What about this: How about we all get the focus off making ourselves feel justified in our religions. How about focusing on ourselves instead of those who are not like us. How about we spend more time praying for one another instead of preying on one another.

Anyways, Back to my original thought, which was - Don't we all create options that God never intended for us to consider?

Right now, for me personally, I am just so stirred by all the deviations I see in my own life that are first of all less than what God would want or deserve. And, second by all the religious beliefs that I have just accepted as truth. But that alone is not what has me going today. The part of this dilemma that has me really fired up is this. It's the question that I feel God is challenging me with.

Why am I so slow to do something about all this stuff after God let's me see it for what it is?

I think it's because I have accepted the notion and belief that these deviations and shortcomings are acceptable options before God. I have bought into the lie that God doesn't care or that in the end following my religion is equivalent with following God. And that is so not the truth

Now I would never come out and just say "I do this and I know it's less than my best - but God doesn't care" I would never admit that I'm more influenced by my religious beliefs than I am by the present Spirit of God that is at work within me. No, I say it in my actions and attitude. I say it in my heart and mind. I say it in how I spend my time and who I seek to please. I say it in what I do with the new truths that God is showing me everyday. I say it in who I am afraid of and intimidated by. I say it in many ways that no one ever hears.

And I can't speak for you, but as for me and my house I don't want to say that stuff anymore I want to rise above my pre-conceived, pre-determined, narrow minded, argumentative, religious beliefs and open my heart up to God. I want to be like those in Acts 17:11 that were, the King James says "more noble" the New Living translation says they were "more open-minded". I want to be open to new truths and revelations like the Bareans and not closed like Thessalonicians who are contrasted in that verse.

Acts 17:11 (NLT) And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.

God, don't let me get stuck like those in Thessalonica. Let me be open-minded like the Bereans so that you can lead and guide me into all truth. So that I will find myself living for you the way you intended for me to live for you. Amen

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Wrecked by God

Have you ever read a book or heard a sermon or had a conversation with someone that wrecked you? I mean emotionally stirred you, physically affected you and spiritually convicted you? Have you ever been so challenged by something you read or heard that your entire life plans were altered? I guess what I'm really asking is this - Have you ever had the Holy Spirit so challenge you that you were visibly moved and emotionally stirred to the point of concern?

In my experience, it seems like those 3 things all work together (books, sermons and people) as a team to get our attention and wreck the plans that are not the ones God wants for us. It seems like God will use one of them to plant a seed and then start watering the heck out of that seed with the other two. Almost, like He is forcing growth out of that seed. And when it is happening everywhere you go and everything you hear is touching on that one small seed that has been planted in your heart and mind. And over time it wrecks you!

For me personally God has used messages by J.T. Pugh and Anthony Mangun, Tom Foster and Johnny Garrison, Jeff Arnold and Chester Mitchell, Andy Stanley and Francis Chan, T.D Jakes and John Bevere to wreck me through the years. He has allowed the Books - "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, Next generation leader by Andy Stanley, Prayer by E.M Bounds, Holiness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Axiom by Bill Hybels and many others to challenge my thinking. And he has led me into conversations with Tim Zuniga, Chester Mitchell and my own pastoral team that have produced fire in my bones and passion in my soul. All these over the years have shaped me into the man I am today. But the process was not always pretty or pain-free.

Some people say God uses the 2x4 method on them to get their attention. They describe the moments in their lives where real and lasting change occurred as "come to Jesus" meetings. And always when they are telling the story - they are excited and encouraged by the fact that God got up in their face and hit them metaphorically over the head with a 2x4 of truth.

If what I'm describing seems weird or out there to you then I guess you wouldn't be able to relate to how the Apostle Paul described God's pursuit of him. He describes it like this:

Php 3:8 ...for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Paul said I have suffered the loss of all things so that in return I might win Christ.

That phrase - "suffered the loss" is not a pleasant statement. It's an accurate way of describing God wrecking someone. It's an accurate way of defining what it takes sometimes to get our focus right and our journey clear. It's tough words that are meant to show us what it felt like and looked like to Paul.

So back to the question - have you ever been wrecked by God? Would you be willing to suffer the loss of all things so that you could in return win Christ. I think there are a lot of us out there that would say yes to that. So in Jesus name let the wrecking begin. Bring a book or a person or a sermon into our lives God that begins the wrecking process. And in the end - may we all WIN CHRIST

E.M. Bounds said this
"what the church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use - men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men - men of prayer."

Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Father Son Week

Today my middle son Rylan and five other boys from our church played in a little league game to decide who would would take 3rd place in their division. It was a big game because 3rd place gets a trophy, 4th place gets nothing. As a coach, It was a big game because you want the kids to have a lasting memory sitting on their bookshelf of how awesome you were. (OK, maybe that's a stretch.) Put simply, it was a game that makes playing baseball fun with a prize on the line.

As a competitive guy and a father, It was exciting preparing for the game this week. I had a great discussion with Rylan about preparing for the game mentally. I talked to him about being a team leader and making those around you better. I talked to him about carrying yourself as a winner and rising to meet whatever opportunity presented itself. Let me tell you, It was great! We even simulated Rylan coming to bat with the game on the line.

Now that it's Saturday night and it's all over, all I can say is -It was a fun Father son week.

I hope you're not wondering who won - of course we won!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Clutter

In the book "Simple Church" the writers make the following observation from Mark chapter 11 and the cleaning project that Jesus undertook in that passage:

"Many of our churches have become cluttered. So cluttered that people have a difficult time encountering the simple and powerful message of Christ. So cluttered that many people are busy doing church instead of being the church."

How easy it is to see it -(clutter) in other people's church. How clear it is when you see other churches that are so busy doing church that the people have no time to consider what it really means to be the church. But when you bring the focus home, to your own local church. It's complicated and confusing. It's hard to identify and even harder to clean up. And sadly, because of all that, we as church leaders are handicapped and reticent to move. And so years go by and people sink into ruts and yes we rescue some but in the end we lose way to much. So what's the answer?

I'm thinking the answer has been there all along. Why are we so afraid to pray the prayer - "God please show up at our church and clean it up. Get the clutter out and your Spirit in. Get the people out of the way that are in the way. Get our eyes back on what matters most. God show up in such a way that we become the church again, whatever that means and whatever it takes.

For the church there in Mark 11 the only ones that were bummed out by what Jesus did were those who were part of the clutter. Everyone else in that story celebrated this event. I don't know about you, I want to lead a clutter free church. And for that to be true I'm probaly going to have to pray that prayer... more than once.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Catching up with the modern age

I have always loved learning and discussing new idea's and new concepts. Some people have accused me of loving to argue and debate. Maybe that true. But, none the less whatever you call it - I love it. That leads me to the modern age of conversations. No longer do we all meet down at the coffee shop or on the porch, (I meet down at the Starbucks everyday and there are a few old timers that still do) but most people are too busy to just randomly hook up that way for a conversation. Most people are rushing here and there and everywhere. And the place they sit down most regularly to randomly enjoy a conversation is at their computer. It's the new and modern way of engaging one another. We share moving stories and funny video's this way. We learn new thoughts and gain fresh perspectives this way. And we have ongoing conversations through e-mails, myspace, facebook, twitter and blogs. So here I go into the modern age of conversing - will you join me...