You know before I moved over here to Kansas, I knew they had tornadoes (I've seen Dorothy and the Wizard), but I always thought it was just every once in a while or something... Nope. They've had Hundreds of Tornadoes this year alone!!!
Isn't it funny how different we understand something once we've been there and fully experienced it?
I wonder how many of us base our understanding of God off the words we hear rather than the life we experience?? How many of us fully move into the life of a Christian??
Cause I remember hearing ABOUT hearing God's voice, but never fully understood it till I really heard it--because I submitted to some things. I remember hearing ABOUT peace within, but never fully knew it or understood it till I really got God in my life and He really brought peace. I remember seeing OTHERS worship in spirit and truth, but never felt much till I really bought in...
What are you missing?? Come to Kansas, experience the weather!! Come to God... experience His peace!!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Football
Perhaps I'm just over-anxious for football season to start up, but as I was reading Acts today, something occurred to me...
Somewhere in the middle of Acts, some guys were beaten by the Jews because of their Christianity... the guys left and counted it an honor to be mistreated because of the name of God.
Think of a half-back in football... the running back. The guy who gets the ball and the coach says go right through the middle and let them slam into you... go straight up to that linebacker who will cream you. The half-back runs the play, gets nailed, and heads to the sideline, and counts it an honor that he was chosen for the job.
Why?? Cause he got hit?? No, of course not... Cause he got yards... kinda. Cause he was Chosen!! He was considered right for that job. In our lives in Christianity, I think sometimes we focus on the pain that might come rather than the job at hand... rather than the fact that God still chooses us for jobs... God still asks us to live our lives and reach out and all that. I was also reading earlier about The Ethiopian... and God nudged a guy named Philip and knowing nothing more than the fact that God asked him to, Philip went and talked to that guy about faith. He was chosen... he had no clue how that play was going to turn out... much like a half-back. Sometimes he gets a touchdown... sometimes he gets tackled for a loss. Often times it isn't because of what he does but is the result of the actions of others... and he counts himself honored to be chosen to be the one to get punished like that.
Think of it... the biggest suffering you're likely to experience as a Christian in America is that occasionally someone might make fun of you. You aren't going to be beaten or arrested or lose your inheritance. And yet... we often count ourselves unfortunate because of the "suffering" we are forced to endure for our God.
Somewhere in the middle of Acts, some guys were beaten by the Jews because of their Christianity... the guys left and counted it an honor to be mistreated because of the name of God.
Think of a half-back in football... the running back. The guy who gets the ball and the coach says go right through the middle and let them slam into you... go straight up to that linebacker who will cream you. The half-back runs the play, gets nailed, and heads to the sideline, and counts it an honor that he was chosen for the job.
Why?? Cause he got hit?? No, of course not... Cause he got yards... kinda. Cause he was Chosen!! He was considered right for that job. In our lives in Christianity, I think sometimes we focus on the pain that might come rather than the job at hand... rather than the fact that God still chooses us for jobs... God still asks us to live our lives and reach out and all that. I was also reading earlier about The Ethiopian... and God nudged a guy named Philip and knowing nothing more than the fact that God asked him to, Philip went and talked to that guy about faith. He was chosen... he had no clue how that play was going to turn out... much like a half-back. Sometimes he gets a touchdown... sometimes he gets tackled for a loss. Often times it isn't because of what he does but is the result of the actions of others... and he counts himself honored to be chosen to be the one to get punished like that.
Think of it... the biggest suffering you're likely to experience as a Christian in America is that occasionally someone might make fun of you. You aren't going to be beaten or arrested or lose your inheritance. And yet... we often count ourselves unfortunate because of the "suffering" we are forced to endure for our God.
The Gospel
I’m watching this series called "Into the West." It’s about the settling of America and all that... about how we moved west and kicked Indians off their land. Just now, an Indian guy went back to his people and told them about God... he didn’t get all freaky about needing them to agree with certain points... he just told them about God and told them they needed to love and simple stuff like that.
Got me thinking you know--and none of this is new thought via myself or anyone else--but the truth is that our churches expect people to buy into our theology. People are almost required to agree with our doctrine in order to be "saved". Of course, I don’t think God’s into that, but lots of people seem to think that salvation is equivalent to agreeing with concepts. It’s not. Believe in God and you’ll be saved... that’s the promise scripture gives us.
Now, I think that figuring out concepts and theology is kinda fun, but we shouldn’t be forcing people to agree with concepts just so they can have an assurance of salvation!!
Got me thinking you know--and none of this is new thought via myself or anyone else--but the truth is that our churches expect people to buy into our theology. People are almost required to agree with our doctrine in order to be "saved". Of course, I don’t think God’s into that, but lots of people seem to think that salvation is equivalent to agreeing with concepts. It’s not. Believe in God and you’ll be saved... that’s the promise scripture gives us.
Now, I think that figuring out concepts and theology is kinda fun, but we shouldn’t be forcing people to agree with concepts just so they can have an assurance of salvation!!
Normalcy
I got to speak the other night at our local community college. It was pretty cool... they brought in a band and asked me to speak at the end. At first they wanted an altar call... I was reasonably uncomfortable with that merely because I don't like the bait-and-switch deal, but when I got there they agreed that I just should close it out and pray and be simple and offer up a chance to talk and all that.. but the more I listened to the band and watched the kids, the more I knew I needed to talk... for some reason, I needed to talk.
Haha, I know.... I'm a preacher... and I blab whenever I can. :) but I got up there and talked. I'd been to a concert a few weeks previous, and as those guys talked, everyone was so impressed cause the guy'd been to prison and had gotten off meth and attributed it all to God. It's exciting--I'm not trying to take away from that--but the thing is... my non-Christian friends have tons of friends who've come out of prison never to commit another crime, and who've fought their way out of the trappings of drugs. This testimony really speaks to one crowd: the Christians who need something spectacular to believe that God still works wonders. I believe God still DOES work wonders, but I'm not convinced all the simple things we focus on are the wonders.
I've found that my friends who don't believe in Christianity are far more impressed when we simply live our lives without excuse in such a way that it's impossible to explain away. You see, being polite is easy... being successful happens across barriers. Getting off drugs and out of a harmful lifestyle happens all over. But everyone knows what jerks most people are... and when we simply LIVE our lives as God directs, we'll find people will be amazed.
I'm not talking about always referring to God did this for me or that for me... but the simple peace that God can bring: let it Shine!! Admit your wrongs and ask forgiveness freely!! Know your strengths and use them to benefit others often!! Pray. Read scripture. Attend church. Do so unapologetically. Invite your friends, but never let a "no thanks" response cause you to stop association. Even a "never in your lifetime" response shouldn't stop us from loving our friends in real, tangible ways that mean something not just to you, but to Them!!
This guy tonight said this: "I didn't say anything about church cause I figured if God's not working on him, nothing I do will make any difference." I thought that was so right... live with people and care for them and be with them without making them a PROJECT!! Too many of us view our friends merely as someone to "save" to put up another notch on our Christianity belt.
Whatever man... Be normal. Love. Live. Let Live. and let your LIFE be your light, your words, your witness... Let God be God and let Him use you as He will... of course, you gotta be ready when He sets it up... cause if you live this way... people start asking questions about why. And that's when, in the most loving and uncritical way you can, you get to tell them it's cause of God.
Haha, I know.... I'm a preacher... and I blab whenever I can. :) but I got up there and talked. I'd been to a concert a few weeks previous, and as those guys talked, everyone was so impressed cause the guy'd been to prison and had gotten off meth and attributed it all to God. It's exciting--I'm not trying to take away from that--but the thing is... my non-Christian friends have tons of friends who've come out of prison never to commit another crime, and who've fought their way out of the trappings of drugs. This testimony really speaks to one crowd: the Christians who need something spectacular to believe that God still works wonders. I believe God still DOES work wonders, but I'm not convinced all the simple things we focus on are the wonders.
I've found that my friends who don't believe in Christianity are far more impressed when we simply live our lives without excuse in such a way that it's impossible to explain away. You see, being polite is easy... being successful happens across barriers. Getting off drugs and out of a harmful lifestyle happens all over. But everyone knows what jerks most people are... and when we simply LIVE our lives as God directs, we'll find people will be amazed.
I'm not talking about always referring to God did this for me or that for me... but the simple peace that God can bring: let it Shine!! Admit your wrongs and ask forgiveness freely!! Know your strengths and use them to benefit others often!! Pray. Read scripture. Attend church. Do so unapologetically. Invite your friends, but never let a "no thanks" response cause you to stop association. Even a "never in your lifetime" response shouldn't stop us from loving our friends in real, tangible ways that mean something not just to you, but to Them!!
This guy tonight said this: "I didn't say anything about church cause I figured if God's not working on him, nothing I do will make any difference." I thought that was so right... live with people and care for them and be with them without making them a PROJECT!! Too many of us view our friends merely as someone to "save" to put up another notch on our Christianity belt.
Whatever man... Be normal. Love. Live. Let Live. and let your LIFE be your light, your words, your witness... Let God be God and let Him use you as He will... of course, you gotta be ready when He sets it up... cause if you live this way... people start asking questions about why. And that's when, in the most loving and uncritical way you can, you get to tell them it's cause of God.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Speedlimits, Amended
So... I've been thinking about that last one. I think I need to slightly amend that idea.
I really think that while we need to not condemn ourselves for growing slowly, that idea--that we shouldn't judge ourselves or feel guilty for not being at the same place as another--needs to NEVER become a cop out. Unfortunately, that's what often happens... we begin to understand that there's a freedom, and that begins to be our constant excuse for why we aren't better.
For example, we fight legalism and works-based righteousness... and many of us extend that into an excuse for why we don't need to do anything... well, God loves me for me, and I'm saved because I believe... we talk about not wanting anything to get in the way of that, and we wouldn't want our salvation to be based on what we do... which is true, except that we still need to work!! We still need to reach out and serve and give and love.
I listened to Donald Miller preach a little while back... he talked about the excuse we have for why we don't do certain things: too many of us say, 'well we had this dream but God closed the door'. Now I believe God closes some doors, but what means a door is closed?? For many, a closed door is a plane ticket that is too expensive, or supplies that are hard to come by. For many, a closed door is working with people with whom we don't want to be forced to interact. Miller said, and I tend to agree, that these are just excuses!!
So while you ought never do something JUST because the guy down the road does, we should never let that become an excuse for being lazy.
I really think that while we need to not condemn ourselves for growing slowly, that idea--that we shouldn't judge ourselves or feel guilty for not being at the same place as another--needs to NEVER become a cop out. Unfortunately, that's what often happens... we begin to understand that there's a freedom, and that begins to be our constant excuse for why we aren't better.
For example, we fight legalism and works-based righteousness... and many of us extend that into an excuse for why we don't need to do anything... well, God loves me for me, and I'm saved because I believe... we talk about not wanting anything to get in the way of that, and we wouldn't want our salvation to be based on what we do... which is true, except that we still need to work!! We still need to reach out and serve and give and love.
I listened to Donald Miller preach a little while back... he talked about the excuse we have for why we don't do certain things: too many of us say, 'well we had this dream but God closed the door'. Now I believe God closes some doors, but what means a door is closed?? For many, a closed door is a plane ticket that is too expensive, or supplies that are hard to come by. For many, a closed door is working with people with whom we don't want to be forced to interact. Miller said, and I tend to agree, that these are just excuses!!
So while you ought never do something JUST because the guy down the road does, we should never let that become an excuse for being lazy.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Speedlimits
I drove up to Kansas City yesterday... had to get my car serviced. On the way home, going maybe 80, this lady starts creeping up on my bumper and passes me... no big deal, really, except that she got past me, and pulled in just in front of me, and slowed down!! Slowed down enough that I started creeping up on her!! Her stinking motivation had nothing to do with getting down the road faster, and everything to do with getting past me. Her speed was dictated by MY speed. Rather than pay attention to a standard and allow her speed to be set based on that standard, she changed her speed regularly based on what was happening around her.
You know, too many of us live our Christianity like this. We work hard at something not because we should or because God has pushed us in this area, but because we see someone else doing it better. Our churches work at improving media not because it helps ministry but because the church down the street is doing it better. We read the entire Bible not because we desire to know scripture, but because we don't want to seem like we're less devoted than our spiritual siblings.
Why?? Know what I mean?? Isn't that retarded?? I mean no offense, but perhaps God has a "speed limit" for all of us?? Perhaps He doesn't expect you to do exactly what Billy Graham does... perhaps he knows you personally and bases his expectations on knowing you.
I talked in youth the other night about walking on ice... I was getting in my car and my foot started slipping just from the pressure of "pushing" to get in the car. When you push too hard on ice, you slip. When you take too big a step, you'll slide. I think the same is true about spiritual growth... we have to take small steps, and not expect to move too fast... growth happens at a snail's pace sometimes. When we're born as babies, we don't realize how slowly we grow, but when we are born spiritually, we expect to grow fast!! But growth still has to come slowly. We truly are babies... it's not necessarily that we HAVE to move at a certain pace, but that we can't base our growth on other people, but on how God moves within us.
And sometimes that pace isn't as fast as the guy down the road.
You know, too many of us live our Christianity like this. We work hard at something not because we should or because God has pushed us in this area, but because we see someone else doing it better. Our churches work at improving media not because it helps ministry but because the church down the street is doing it better. We read the entire Bible not because we desire to know scripture, but because we don't want to seem like we're less devoted than our spiritual siblings.
Why?? Know what I mean?? Isn't that retarded?? I mean no offense, but perhaps God has a "speed limit" for all of us?? Perhaps He doesn't expect you to do exactly what Billy Graham does... perhaps he knows you personally and bases his expectations on knowing you.
I talked in youth the other night about walking on ice... I was getting in my car and my foot started slipping just from the pressure of "pushing" to get in the car. When you push too hard on ice, you slip. When you take too big a step, you'll slide. I think the same is true about spiritual growth... we have to take small steps, and not expect to move too fast... growth happens at a snail's pace sometimes. When we're born as babies, we don't realize how slowly we grow, but when we are born spiritually, we expect to grow fast!! But growth still has to come slowly. We truly are babies... it's not necessarily that we HAVE to move at a certain pace, but that we can't base our growth on other people, but on how God moves within us.
And sometimes that pace isn't as fast as the guy down the road.
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