So, i can't stop thinking about this verse:
"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him ALL things were made; without Him NOTHING was made that has been made. In Him was LIFE, that that life was the LIGHT of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not yet overcome it." John 1:1-5
Now as if that first part isn't overwhelming on it's own (Jesus was with God since the beginning?!?!?) the second part of that verse has really challenged me and it keeps coming up.
Through Him ALL things were made and NOTHING has been made without Him. So i think about this and i can't help but think about people that don't know their creator and Savior Jesus Christ. Accept...they DO. It's all around them, it's who they are, it's where they go, who they interact with and what the see. I mean it's kind of ridiculious when you real ly think about it. How come I never bring this up...i'm always thinking about how they (nonbelievers) have no idea who God is and have no interaction with Him but really they do EVERYDAY, everytime they breathe.
THEY JUST NEED TO BE MADE AWARE. Shown that it's not like they don't know who God is...
Paul does this in Athens (Acts 17:22-28)
"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as i walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, i even found an alter with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So, you are ignorant of THE VERY THING YOU WORSHIP--AND THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO PROCLAIM TO YOU. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, He himself GIVES EVERYONE LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING ELSE....GOD DID THIS SO THAT THEY MAY SEEK HIM AND PERHAPS REACH OUT TO HIM AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE IS NOT FAR FROM ANY ONE OF US. FOR IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING."
i absolutely love this! i wish i could continually be reminded of this daily. Not only do we live in a world drenched with God and His glory but so does EVERYONE else.
John says about Jesus in verse 4 of Chapter 1 "that life (Jesus) is the light of all people"
I think you can read this in two ways. First, and plainly, that Jesus is the light of all people. We must turn to Him to be our guide to eluding darkness. OR that the light of all people is Jesus. Now that may sound the same to you but think about it as if I were to do something good like give to the poor, is that not the light of Jesus coming from me? if someone who didn't know Christ gave to the poor, is that too not the light of Jesus coming from them? all good is of Him right? all truth, biblical or not, is Him. right? i think so... how profound!!??!!
i was talking with my buddy Gabe, i love you Gabe, about this last night and he was telling me his roommate who doesn't "know" God has been saying and doing some rather "Godly" things. like offering a listening ear to a neighbor who is struggling with a drug problem. Is that not the mercy and compassion of God coming out of his roommate?!? i think so!
May we challenge each other to be reminded of this. if we could wrap our minds around this, if i could, it would change the way i talk to others about Christ and how i show Him to them.
What do YOU think??
oh gracious father, may Christ, WHO DWELLS WITHIN US, continue to come out of us and make us AWARE of all the opportunities to point you out to those who need you! Remind us that you are ALL and IN ALL!! may we seek your face and speak nothing but Jesus! LET IT BE!!
10.14.2006
10.08.2006
Missional
I recently listened to a guy by the name of Mike Frost talk about church. He is an Australian guy and had some very good things to say, i highly recommend trying to find some things of his to listen to. Anyway he was talking about God being a MISSIONAL God. He believes that God has been and always will be a missional God--all about SENDING.
so i checked out what the oxford american dictionary had to say about this word and the origin of the word mission comes from the mid 16th century denoting the SENDING of the Holy Spirt into the world.
So if you read Scripture you'll find that from Genesis through Revelations you'll find God CONSTANTLY SENDING people out to do "mission". Which was essentially to proclaim His glory and bring others to Him. The most popular verse that most all Christians know is Matthew 28:19-20 which is the great coMISSION. In this verse Jesus says to his disciples
"All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore GO OUT and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything i have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So, like my buddy Mike Frost, i began to wonder what the heck we are doing by doing everyhing in power to get people to COME into church. BRING your coworkers TO church, BRING your family TO church, BRING your friends TO church.
we have recreated the Old Testament temple experience...where God was only found in the temple. Now, you'd never probably hear a pastor say that exactly but THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TEACHING by our programs , by our messages, by our large buildings, our flashly lights, our best music, our comfy chairs, our finest clothes, and whatever else. We have this feeling that if we aren't bringing people to church or we aren't involved in some type of "ministry" within the church than we aren't doing anything.
i think that if Jesus were to come to your church, HE'D MAKE A HORRIBLE MEMBER. He would never be there!! He would be out with people that desperatly need him! he wouldn't be at all the classes, the small groups, the worship practices, the board meetings. He'd be GOING OUT into the world because he knows that
DOING CHURCH ISN'T THE POINT
The point is following Him and being like Him by loving Him and surrendering all we are to Him.
He had his 12 friends that were with Him all the time, but most of the time they were OUT doing something or GOING somwhere else to teach and proclaim the Good News.
I need people around me to encourage me and build me up, whether that be once a week, twice a week, whatever and WHEREVER. Because i know that isn't the point, it's great and i need it but the point is for me to be with those at school, at One World, at Eli's, wherever that's OUT in the world.
So where did we go wrong? I mean some of you probably don't think we've gone wrong...but are we not going against the character of God by "doing" church the way we are now. Maybe we should start by NOT "doing" church and start LIVING. Scrap all the programs and everything.
And do what? i don't know...i am confused now more than ever. But my relationship with God is better than ever because i'm having to THINK and WRESTLE with the Scriptures and who Jesus was so i can be more like him. thankfully i've found others who are on this same journey and if you're reading this and you've never understood either or maybe you never even thought about it than you're not alone!
What do all of you think? Think with me i want to know your thoughts!!
so i checked out what the oxford american dictionary had to say about this word and the origin of the word mission comes from the mid 16th century denoting the SENDING of the Holy Spirt into the world.
So if you read Scripture you'll find that from Genesis through Revelations you'll find God CONSTANTLY SENDING people out to do "mission". Which was essentially to proclaim His glory and bring others to Him. The most popular verse that most all Christians know is Matthew 28:19-20 which is the great coMISSION. In this verse Jesus says to his disciples
"All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore GO OUT and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything i have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So, like my buddy Mike Frost, i began to wonder what the heck we are doing by doing everyhing in power to get people to COME into church. BRING your coworkers TO church, BRING your family TO church, BRING your friends TO church.
we have recreated the Old Testament temple experience...where God was only found in the temple. Now, you'd never probably hear a pastor say that exactly but THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TEACHING by our programs , by our messages, by our large buildings, our flashly lights, our best music, our comfy chairs, our finest clothes, and whatever else. We have this feeling that if we aren't bringing people to church or we aren't involved in some type of "ministry" within the church than we aren't doing anything.
i think that if Jesus were to come to your church, HE'D MAKE A HORRIBLE MEMBER. He would never be there!! He would be out with people that desperatly need him! he wouldn't be at all the classes, the small groups, the worship practices, the board meetings. He'd be GOING OUT into the world because he knows that
DOING CHURCH ISN'T THE POINT
The point is following Him and being like Him by loving Him and surrendering all we are to Him.
He had his 12 friends that were with Him all the time, but most of the time they were OUT doing something or GOING somwhere else to teach and proclaim the Good News.
I need people around me to encourage me and build me up, whether that be once a week, twice a week, whatever and WHEREVER. Because i know that isn't the point, it's great and i need it but the point is for me to be with those at school, at One World, at Eli's, wherever that's OUT in the world.
So where did we go wrong? I mean some of you probably don't think we've gone wrong...but are we not going against the character of God by "doing" church the way we are now. Maybe we should start by NOT "doing" church and start LIVING. Scrap all the programs and everything.
And do what? i don't know...i am confused now more than ever. But my relationship with God is better than ever because i'm having to THINK and WRESTLE with the Scriptures and who Jesus was so i can be more like him. thankfully i've found others who are on this same journey and if you're reading this and you've never understood either or maybe you never even thought about it than you're not alone!
What do all of you think? Think with me i want to know your thoughts!!
9.30.2006
Normal
I was reading my good buddy and sincere follower of Christ's blog just a second ago and in response to someone's "anonymous" response i responded with something. I liked what Christ was saying through me so i decided to post my response as a blog itself so you can see it too. and if you don't think it was Christ speaking through me than check and see if it's in line with the His teachings not with what your church says or does.
Basically what was being said by "anonymous" was that my friend Jeff was not following the "norms" of how a Christian should think or what church should look like. you can read his blog entitled "It changes everything" by clicking on Jeff E's blog link on my page). so here is i responded with...
**************
Christ came to break the "norms" of the RELIGIOUS. I am thankful that you are breaking the "norms" in that you see that the norms of the church are so far off from what Christ teaches!----
just a few things to think about..
1) not repaying evil for evil- we are war advocates
2) giving to the poor-$300,000 sound systems, $1,000 for new carpet, $4,000,000 for a new building, 4-50 people in paid postions of atleast $20,000 a year, hmmm i'm sure we could all think of more...
3) puting more emphasis on knowing the word rather than knowing the Word (Jesus) and living it out)
4) membership
5) programs
6) evangalistic "tools"- how about we try interacting with people rather than presenting them with the latest and greatest "interactive dvd"
norms, hmmmmm...forgive them Father for they know not what they do.
i think the church is in desperate need of discovering the person of Jesus all over again. i don't think it's going to happen by trying to "fix" how church is done. i'd go as far as to say that it (religion) needs to be destroyed and completely redone.
then again i guess it's just my "unique" perspective but i'm glad that Christ's was pretty unique as well!
go ahead throw some stones but i hope everyone reads this and thinks about Christ's teachings and their church deeply before they throw anything.
Basically what was being said by "anonymous" was that my friend Jeff was not following the "norms" of how a Christian should think or what church should look like. you can read his blog entitled "It changes everything" by clicking on Jeff E's blog link on my page). so here is i responded with...
**************
Christ came to break the "norms" of the RELIGIOUS. I am thankful that you are breaking the "norms" in that you see that the norms of the church are so far off from what Christ teaches!----
just a few things to think about..
1) not repaying evil for evil- we are war advocates
2) giving to the poor-$300,000 sound systems, $1,000 for new carpet, $4,000,000 for a new building, 4-50 people in paid postions of atleast $20,000 a year, hmmm i'm sure we could all think of more...
3) puting more emphasis on knowing the word rather than knowing the Word (Jesus) and living it out)
4) membership
5) programs
6) evangalistic "tools"- how about we try interacting with people rather than presenting them with the latest and greatest "interactive dvd"
norms, hmmmmm...forgive them Father for they know not what they do.
i think the church is in desperate need of discovering the person of Jesus all over again. i don't think it's going to happen by trying to "fix" how church is done. i'd go as far as to say that it (religion) needs to be destroyed and completely redone.
then again i guess it's just my "unique" perspective but i'm glad that Christ's was pretty unique as well!
go ahead throw some stones but i hope everyone reads this and thinks about Christ's teachings and their church deeply before they throw anything.
7.02.2006
Conviction
i'm always right.
or so i'd like to think. but just the other night it struck at how hilarious and aburd that mindset is...
it had been awhile since i had really sat down by myself and thought. thought about my life, God, the people around me, what the heck i am doing, why i pick my nose in my sleep, things like that. so friday night as i drove home after visiting with my old youth pastor i remembered how my brother had always told me that when he had my room (which is the only room upstairs) he used to go on our roof and look out at the stars and chat to God...sounded pretty sweet...so me and my cigar went outside, laid on the roof and sat mesmorized by the clear night.
it struck me for the first time, i mean i had heard it, i knew the cliches, but i felt for the first time very small in the middle of God's creation. even more so i realized how small my small little problems were. how small my BIG head really was. i mean it's funny that we sometimes get caught into thinking how we have it all figured out. i mean when you really think about how everyone of those stars is some huge sun somewhere for possibly some other solar system. some other galaxy. and how i think my life's problems and worries are a big deal. it's aburd. truly absurd. and then i realized how much God thinks of us in the middle of all this bigness. and how it's such a paradox. we are inconceivably small, but yet God sees as inconceivably important...not so much our ideas and opinions, but our lives. He wants our lives. I mean He gave it to us...he wants us to live it for Him. for His glory, not our own.
So then, i thought about the church. How much I think it's wrong. and so much is up and distorted...but then i remembred how small i was again. and it made me feel really dumb to just talk negatively about the church. i can't just assume that there is ONE right way to do something. to do church. for me, it's to surround myself with people who do good to others and try to make EVERY choice based on God's character. and to talk and hold each other accountable. for me that isn't found in a local church. for some it is. do i have my opinions on the church? yes. are they right? maybe. does it apply to everyone that is involved in a church? no. as paul says in Phillipians 1:15-18
"Is it true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill? The latter do so out of love, knowing that i am here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while i'm in chains. BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER? THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IN EVERY WAY, WHETHER FROM FALSE MOTIVES OR TRUE, CHRIST IS BEING PREACHED. AND BECAUSE OF THIS I REJOICE."
am i rejoicing? no, i'm angry at the church. i'm angry at the entertainment business it's become. how "relevent" it's trying to be. was i caught up in it? yes, very much so. but either way i need to rejoice because Christ is still being preached. so needless to say i was convicted that night on my roof.
conviction.
i don't like conviction.
conviction makes me realize i was wrong. but something in my heart changed i think. i think i like being wrong...
i like being wrong.
because i realize the need for Christ. i am human, i am wrong a lot. i need truth, i need Christ to do a work in me. and when i'm wrong and i realize it...i know He is working in me.
it feels good to allow God to do whatever it is he needs to do with those people that are recieving the gospel all across the western world on sunday mornings. it's not my job to change them. i am called to do whatever it takes for me to know Christ more. that's all that i can control. anything else is up to God and is up to others.
whatever it takes for you to know God more...DO IT! don't worry about being wrong. if you're basing your decisions on His words and His character you are doing nothing wrong. it's a beautiful thing to realize that there is lots of truth, lots of true ways to to and have church. who am i to say what is right or wrong. all i ask is that you think of how much your life is modeled after Him. are you wanting more of Christ every day? are you seeing change in your life on a daily basis? are you being convicted?
are you being convicted?
i am sorry for my selfishness and my big head. Christ is in me and he's teaching me humility. and i like it. i like being wrong. because it's not about me...it's about Christ in me, coming out, and getting rid of the me.
God, may you draw us near to you. teach us your ways, help our generation to be more away of their wrongs so that we may allow your son to make us right with you. i love you Abba, continue to work in us so that "we may attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
i think i'm gonna make a bracelet that says "Got conviction?" i think that could sell, what do you think?
or so i'd like to think. but just the other night it struck at how hilarious and aburd that mindset is...
it had been awhile since i had really sat down by myself and thought. thought about my life, God, the people around me, what the heck i am doing, why i pick my nose in my sleep, things like that. so friday night as i drove home after visiting with my old youth pastor i remembered how my brother had always told me that when he had my room (which is the only room upstairs) he used to go on our roof and look out at the stars and chat to God...sounded pretty sweet...so me and my cigar went outside, laid on the roof and sat mesmorized by the clear night.
it struck me for the first time, i mean i had heard it, i knew the cliches, but i felt for the first time very small in the middle of God's creation. even more so i realized how small my small little problems were. how small my BIG head really was. i mean it's funny that we sometimes get caught into thinking how we have it all figured out. i mean when you really think about how everyone of those stars is some huge sun somewhere for possibly some other solar system. some other galaxy. and how i think my life's problems and worries are a big deal. it's aburd. truly absurd. and then i realized how much God thinks of us in the middle of all this bigness. and how it's such a paradox. we are inconceivably small, but yet God sees as inconceivably important...not so much our ideas and opinions, but our lives. He wants our lives. I mean He gave it to us...he wants us to live it for Him. for His glory, not our own.
So then, i thought about the church. How much I think it's wrong. and so much is up and distorted...but then i remembred how small i was again. and it made me feel really dumb to just talk negatively about the church. i can't just assume that there is ONE right way to do something. to do church. for me, it's to surround myself with people who do good to others and try to make EVERY choice based on God's character. and to talk and hold each other accountable. for me that isn't found in a local church. for some it is. do i have my opinions on the church? yes. are they right? maybe. does it apply to everyone that is involved in a church? no. as paul says in Phillipians 1:15-18
"Is it true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill? The latter do so out of love, knowing that i am here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while i'm in chains. BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER? THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IN EVERY WAY, WHETHER FROM FALSE MOTIVES OR TRUE, CHRIST IS BEING PREACHED. AND BECAUSE OF THIS I REJOICE."
am i rejoicing? no, i'm angry at the church. i'm angry at the entertainment business it's become. how "relevent" it's trying to be. was i caught up in it? yes, very much so. but either way i need to rejoice because Christ is still being preached. so needless to say i was convicted that night on my roof.
conviction.
i don't like conviction.
conviction makes me realize i was wrong. but something in my heart changed i think. i think i like being wrong...
i like being wrong.
because i realize the need for Christ. i am human, i am wrong a lot. i need truth, i need Christ to do a work in me. and when i'm wrong and i realize it...i know He is working in me.
it feels good to allow God to do whatever it is he needs to do with those people that are recieving the gospel all across the western world on sunday mornings. it's not my job to change them. i am called to do whatever it takes for me to know Christ more. that's all that i can control. anything else is up to God and is up to others.
whatever it takes for you to know God more...DO IT! don't worry about being wrong. if you're basing your decisions on His words and His character you are doing nothing wrong. it's a beautiful thing to realize that there is lots of truth, lots of true ways to to and have church. who am i to say what is right or wrong. all i ask is that you think of how much your life is modeled after Him. are you wanting more of Christ every day? are you seeing change in your life on a daily basis? are you being convicted?
are you being convicted?
i am sorry for my selfishness and my big head. Christ is in me and he's teaching me humility. and i like it. i like being wrong. because it's not about me...it's about Christ in me, coming out, and getting rid of the me.
God, may you draw us near to you. teach us your ways, help our generation to be more away of their wrongs so that we may allow your son to make us right with you. i love you Abba, continue to work in us so that "we may attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
i think i'm gonna make a bracelet that says "Got conviction?" i think that could sell, what do you think?
3.31.2006
What exactly is spreading the Gospel message?
I wrote this a few months ago, and it's posted on my myspace blog, but i'd like to let others see it that don't read my myspace blog...so check it out along with my other blogs on myspace at http://blog.myspace.com/tynamite thanks!!!
The other day I had a very heartbreaking and frustrating conversation with a dude at school. The topic was evangelism. We both agreed that it was sad how just empty people are and how much they need the love of God in their lives. He went on telling me how he takes it upon himself to go around the cafeteria telling people about Jesus, which according to him is spreading the Gospel message. Now, my question is this: Is telling people ABOUT Jesus really the gospel message? Is it our duty to go around trying to make people, who don’t have a clue who we are and what we’re about, believe what we believe? Are they really oblvivious to the fact that Jesus died for the sins? To what end are we doing this? Many religious leaders would tell us, yes, this is spreading the gospel message. What is our intent in doing this? To make us feel good about ourselves because we’re telling people about Jesus? And isn't that only a piece of what the gospel is about? He went on telling me how I should come with him and watch him talk to people about Jesus and how he makes certain arguments (taken from evangelism instructional videos, which just makes me chuckle, but that’s a whole other issue) because “it’s fun”.
It’s fun?
Is that really what it’s all about? Is it like a game? How much are you really caring for people by telling them about Jesus, making sure they know they are sinners and they need God, then moving on to the next table to start all over again. That’s an illusion of love. You don’t really care about them, you are about your agenda, it makes you feel good because you’re told to do this and you think it’s fun. Love is investing time and effort into the lives of others. It’s about taking the time to understand them and sympathize with them, getting their perspective, discovering and learning about their experiences. THAT’s love. Love is sacrifice, giving up yourself, giving up your agenda, and letting them see Christ’s love in you. It’s not so much about knowing about Jesus, it’s about knowing Jesus…experiencing Jesus...
It’s not enough to just know about Jesus…
So we have to ask ourselves, who is Jesus? I believe he was ultimate reality. He was the written word of God in flesh. Everything that we are destined to become is in Jesus. Any questions about how we should live life here and now is found in Jesus. There is so much more…He was life. He was love. And, He was a FRIEND of sinners. Sinners being all of us…NONE are exlcluded. According to Scripture, He chilled with them, ate with them, drank with them, shared his life with them. SHARED HIS LIFE WITH THEM.
So I guess another question is this: Is it really worth telling everyone ABOUT Jesus and having a few get it (and prolly get it wrong) and annoying the rest and ruining any chance of a future encounter with Christ. Is that what Jesus instructs us to do? Is that ALL the Gospel is? Or do we share our lives with the few around us who we daily interact with and allow them to KNOW Jesus through our lifestyles and love in us. There is no way we can change the world on our own. But, we can change the world around us. You can change the world around you. Think about that…
I think the church has had this wrong for a long time. I need a God who’s now. I need a faith for today. If my job is to just get people to know about Jesus for the sake of a hope and future for something that just happens AFTER this life and then just feel good that we’re all going to this better place after we die, which I believe is true, isn’t enough. There has to be more! What about here and now? What is so exciting about a faith that is for a future? I think Jesus teaches us that our faith is about today, about now. It’s about daily changing the lives and the world and reality around us by getting people to know Him through our lives and experiencing love and joy and everything else that comes in a relationship with Him and with others. To me, THAT is the Gospel message that Jesus teaches.
“Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words”
-Saint Francis of Assisi
The other day I had a very heartbreaking and frustrating conversation with a dude at school. The topic was evangelism. We both agreed that it was sad how just empty people are and how much they need the love of God in their lives. He went on telling me how he takes it upon himself to go around the cafeteria telling people about Jesus, which according to him is spreading the Gospel message. Now, my question is this: Is telling people ABOUT Jesus really the gospel message? Is it our duty to go around trying to make people, who don’t have a clue who we are and what we’re about, believe what we believe? Are they really oblvivious to the fact that Jesus died for the sins? To what end are we doing this? Many religious leaders would tell us, yes, this is spreading the gospel message. What is our intent in doing this? To make us feel good about ourselves because we’re telling people about Jesus? And isn't that only a piece of what the gospel is about? He went on telling me how I should come with him and watch him talk to people about Jesus and how he makes certain arguments (taken from evangelism instructional videos, which just makes me chuckle, but that’s a whole other issue) because “it’s fun”.
It’s fun?
Is that really what it’s all about? Is it like a game? How much are you really caring for people by telling them about Jesus, making sure they know they are sinners and they need God, then moving on to the next table to start all over again. That’s an illusion of love. You don’t really care about them, you are about your agenda, it makes you feel good because you’re told to do this and you think it’s fun. Love is investing time and effort into the lives of others. It’s about taking the time to understand them and sympathize with them, getting their perspective, discovering and learning about their experiences. THAT’s love. Love is sacrifice, giving up yourself, giving up your agenda, and letting them see Christ’s love in you. It’s not so much about knowing about Jesus, it’s about knowing Jesus…experiencing Jesus...
It’s not enough to just know about Jesus…
So we have to ask ourselves, who is Jesus? I believe he was ultimate reality. He was the written word of God in flesh. Everything that we are destined to become is in Jesus. Any questions about how we should live life here and now is found in Jesus. There is so much more…He was life. He was love. And, He was a FRIEND of sinners. Sinners being all of us…NONE are exlcluded. According to Scripture, He chilled with them, ate with them, drank with them, shared his life with them. SHARED HIS LIFE WITH THEM.
So I guess another question is this: Is it really worth telling everyone ABOUT Jesus and having a few get it (and prolly get it wrong) and annoying the rest and ruining any chance of a future encounter with Christ. Is that what Jesus instructs us to do? Is that ALL the Gospel is? Or do we share our lives with the few around us who we daily interact with and allow them to KNOW Jesus through our lifestyles and love in us. There is no way we can change the world on our own. But, we can change the world around us. You can change the world around you. Think about that…
I think the church has had this wrong for a long time. I need a God who’s now. I need a faith for today. If my job is to just get people to know about Jesus for the sake of a hope and future for something that just happens AFTER this life and then just feel good that we’re all going to this better place after we die, which I believe is true, isn’t enough. There has to be more! What about here and now? What is so exciting about a faith that is for a future? I think Jesus teaches us that our faith is about today, about now. It’s about daily changing the lives and the world and reality around us by getting people to know Him through our lives and experiencing love and joy and everything else that comes in a relationship with Him and with others. To me, THAT is the Gospel message that Jesus teaches.
“Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words”
-Saint Francis of Assisi
A few thoughts...
All right so i've been thinking about a lot of stuff lately and there is so much i want to write, but i just don't have the time to sit and write it all out right now. but here are two things that really kind of hit me in the last week...
what if we ALL, all the followers of Christ, lived like there were no coincedences?!?!? i mean if you think of all the people we interact with on a regular basis: the gas attendant you always buy your gas from, the barista who always makes your drink, the guy who sits in the cubicle next to you, the people sitting around you in your classroom, the random people you are with in lines everyday at the mall, store, bathroom, etc. ANYTHING!! i mean do you really believe those are all coincendences?!!? you have something that they desperately need and WANT deep down. you have the TRUTH. i mean you ARE the truth because you are of Christ and Christ is of God (and the FULLNESSS of God dwells within Christ- Colossians 1:19) therefore everywhere you go, the fullness of God is right there with you and it's up to you to let it out so that people will see and know the truth. you HAVE it, ALWAYS. it's there in you. everyday. every minute. every interaction you have. the truth is there, and available to that person to have. are you going to live like it's just a coincidence OR are you going to realize that just maybe God has those people in you life for a reason. not just friends and family but EVERYONE you encounter in a day. we don't need to pray for opportunities, they are there, every minute. we need to pray that we ACT upon them as much as possible. i mean just what if!!??!! what if we ALL lived like that? it would be incredible...and it would bring heaven on earth! we need to pray and encourage each other to make this happen. we can't do it alone...we need each other!! so let's do all we can to remember this and remind each other always and give them encouragement!
Another thing i've been thinking about is in regards to the church. recently i've had some frustrations with the church on some particular issues that i think are absolutey wrong (i will eventually blog about them, but not now). but through all my conversations everyone and their mother have said, "well Ty, there is no perfect church, it's human, so we can't really do anything about it." talk about disheartening...so in essence people really believe that we just have to be content with things that we feel are wrong and just accept what they are doing because there is NO WAY it can change. i'm sorry, but didn't Christ say he was coming for the PERFECT bride? or rather the PERFECT church. doesn't that imply that the church, at some point, is going to be perfect? i mean it makes sense if you think about it...
if Christ is in us, aren't we continually being made more and more perfect?!?!?
check this out...
Hebrews 10:8-18 (read all of Hebrews 10 on your own!!)
"First he (Jesus) said, 'sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them.' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. and by that will, WE HAVE BEEN MADE HOLY through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices (sound familiar? sometimes i feel this way at church), which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice HE HAS MADE PERFECT FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE BEING MADE HOLY. "
Paul talks about this in Philippians 3:12
he says, "not that i've already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
We are made perfect because are are being made holy through Christ! the implications of this are HUGE. that means that although we are human, there is perfection in us because Christ is in us! so to say that the church will never be perfect is a LIE because Christ says that it will...otherwise he'd be a liar because he says he's coming for the perfect bride! to me that means he's coming for a church that is trying to be perfect...not in our humaness, but in our desire to be more and more holy!!
so, what do we do?!? i think we start by realizing that change IS possible and IS necessary. i think it just starts with us all recognizing there is a problem and we go from there. i don't know what to do now to be honest. i can't change anything on my own but together, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST-the church, we can change the world!! so more than anything, i guess i'm asking that you think about it. and think about what this means and if you even agree or not, and we go from there! let's not settle for anything less than what Christ tells us we are or what we will become!
i love you all! know that the TRUTH is in you, ALWAYS!! don't forget that!!
-ty
what if we ALL, all the followers of Christ, lived like there were no coincedences?!?!? i mean if you think of all the people we interact with on a regular basis: the gas attendant you always buy your gas from, the barista who always makes your drink, the guy who sits in the cubicle next to you, the people sitting around you in your classroom, the random people you are with in lines everyday at the mall, store, bathroom, etc. ANYTHING!! i mean do you really believe those are all coincendences?!!? you have something that they desperately need and WANT deep down. you have the TRUTH. i mean you ARE the truth because you are of Christ and Christ is of God (and the FULLNESSS of God dwells within Christ- Colossians 1:19) therefore everywhere you go, the fullness of God is right there with you and it's up to you to let it out so that people will see and know the truth. you HAVE it, ALWAYS. it's there in you. everyday. every minute. every interaction you have. the truth is there, and available to that person to have. are you going to live like it's just a coincidence OR are you going to realize that just maybe God has those people in you life for a reason. not just friends and family but EVERYONE you encounter in a day. we don't need to pray for opportunities, they are there, every minute. we need to pray that we ACT upon them as much as possible. i mean just what if!!??!! what if we ALL lived like that? it would be incredible...and it would bring heaven on earth! we need to pray and encourage each other to make this happen. we can't do it alone...we need each other!! so let's do all we can to remember this and remind each other always and give them encouragement!
Another thing i've been thinking about is in regards to the church. recently i've had some frustrations with the church on some particular issues that i think are absolutey wrong (i will eventually blog about them, but not now). but through all my conversations everyone and their mother have said, "well Ty, there is no perfect church, it's human, so we can't really do anything about it." talk about disheartening...so in essence people really believe that we just have to be content with things that we feel are wrong and just accept what they are doing because there is NO WAY it can change. i'm sorry, but didn't Christ say he was coming for the PERFECT bride? or rather the PERFECT church. doesn't that imply that the church, at some point, is going to be perfect? i mean it makes sense if you think about it...
if Christ is in us, aren't we continually being made more and more perfect?!?!?
check this out...
Hebrews 10:8-18 (read all of Hebrews 10 on your own!!)
"First he (Jesus) said, 'sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them.' (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, 'here I am, I have come to do your will.' He sets aside the first to establish the second. and by that will, WE HAVE BEEN MADE HOLY through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices (sound familiar? sometimes i feel this way at church), which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice HE HAS MADE PERFECT FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE BEING MADE HOLY. "
Paul talks about this in Philippians 3:12
he says, "not that i've already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
We are made perfect because are are being made holy through Christ! the implications of this are HUGE. that means that although we are human, there is perfection in us because Christ is in us! so to say that the church will never be perfect is a LIE because Christ says that it will...otherwise he'd be a liar because he says he's coming for the perfect bride! to me that means he's coming for a church that is trying to be perfect...not in our humaness, but in our desire to be more and more holy!!
so, what do we do?!? i think we start by realizing that change IS possible and IS necessary. i think it just starts with us all recognizing there is a problem and we go from there. i don't know what to do now to be honest. i can't change anything on my own but together, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST-the church, we can change the world!! so more than anything, i guess i'm asking that you think about it. and think about what this means and if you even agree or not, and we go from there! let's not settle for anything less than what Christ tells us we are or what we will become!
i love you all! know that the TRUTH is in you, ALWAYS!! don't forget that!!
-ty
3.14.2006
All things are yours
"All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death or the present or the future-ALL ARE YOURS, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 1 Corinthians 3:21-23
All things are yours!
Hold on wait...say that again...
ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!
What does this mean? all things are ours. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, present, future...they are ours.
WHY?!?!?
Becasuse YOU are of Christ, and Christ is of God!
I don't know about you but this is mindblowing stuff. why haven't i been told this in the 20 years i've been going to church?!? i've been told that i need to read my Bible, that i can't run in church, i was even told once that i shouldn't be chewing gum in church, or heaven forbid i miss church on a sunday, or that i need to tithe 10% of my income....but i was never told "hey Ty, did you know that because you are of Christ that ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!" i mean, if i heard that earlier and began to understand what that implies, i might have lived quite a bit different and might have thought that my journey in Christ wasn't quite as boring and burdensome as i thought it had to be.
i still don't fully know what this implies but let's look at the text here:
so Paul is writing to this Church in Corinth. Corinth is a happening city, full of parties, women, money, highly educated people talking about the latest ideas and philosphies. it was a port city and was probably very cultured. maybe much like LA or new orleans today. but Paul is writing to the Christians in this city who in this particular chapter are getting hung up on who to follow, who has the better "idea" or "style" of living...Paul? Apollos? or Cephas? he goes on to tell them they are pretty much foolish for trying to figure this out or even debate it by saying...
v. 20-21 "and again, "the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. so then, no more boasting about human leaders! all things are yours"
earlier he stated that "the Lord has assigned to each his task...for we are God's CO-WORKERS, God's field, God's building"
v. 5+9
We all have our own tasks but we are together WORKING WITH God to advance His kingdom. So all this stuff about God not needing us...it's bogus. He probably could do it without us but He won't! He WANTS to use us!! We play a role in his plan to redeem this broken world! that's AMAZING!
But the fact that he finishes this whole thought in this chapter by saying "ALL THINGS ARE YOURS" pretty much imples that:
(paraphrased):
"ok guys, stop trying to figure out who is the better leader. those qualities that Paul has, they are yours. those qualities that Apollos and Cephas have, they are yours. Those qualities of the world/nature that are good (beauty, creativity, life, etc), they're yours. ALL the qualities of God, they are yours. Boldness, it's yours. Compassion, it's yours. Peace, it's yours. They are all in you because Christ is in you! We are in this together, so stop your foolish debating and realize that IT'S ALL YOURS!!"
Let it well up within you! You are nothing, I am nothing-BUT God says we are something. And since Christ is in us-THE TRUTH IS IN US and therefore we have a role to play. So play it; live it. WHOLEHEARTEDLY and PASSIONATELY!
Christ is in you! Let that fact change the way you live! Following Christ is not boring and mundane, it's life to the FULL!
AMEN!
All things are yours!
Hold on wait...say that again...
ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!!
What does this mean? all things are ours. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, present, future...they are ours.
WHY?!?!?
Becasuse YOU are of Christ, and Christ is of God!
I don't know about you but this is mindblowing stuff. why haven't i been told this in the 20 years i've been going to church?!? i've been told that i need to read my Bible, that i can't run in church, i was even told once that i shouldn't be chewing gum in church, or heaven forbid i miss church on a sunday, or that i need to tithe 10% of my income....but i was never told "hey Ty, did you know that because you are of Christ that ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!!" i mean, if i heard that earlier and began to understand what that implies, i might have lived quite a bit different and might have thought that my journey in Christ wasn't quite as boring and burdensome as i thought it had to be.
i still don't fully know what this implies but let's look at the text here:
so Paul is writing to this Church in Corinth. Corinth is a happening city, full of parties, women, money, highly educated people talking about the latest ideas and philosphies. it was a port city and was probably very cultured. maybe much like LA or new orleans today. but Paul is writing to the Christians in this city who in this particular chapter are getting hung up on who to follow, who has the better "idea" or "style" of living...Paul? Apollos? or Cephas? he goes on to tell them they are pretty much foolish for trying to figure this out or even debate it by saying...
v. 20-21 "and again, "the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. so then, no more boasting about human leaders! all things are yours"
earlier he stated that "the Lord has assigned to each his task...for we are God's CO-WORKERS, God's field, God's building"
v. 5+9
We all have our own tasks but we are together WORKING WITH God to advance His kingdom. So all this stuff about God not needing us...it's bogus. He probably could do it without us but He won't! He WANTS to use us!! We play a role in his plan to redeem this broken world! that's AMAZING!
But the fact that he finishes this whole thought in this chapter by saying "ALL THINGS ARE YOURS" pretty much imples that:
(paraphrased):
"ok guys, stop trying to figure out who is the better leader. those qualities that Paul has, they are yours. those qualities that Apollos and Cephas have, they are yours. Those qualities of the world/nature that are good (beauty, creativity, life, etc), they're yours. ALL the qualities of God, they are yours. Boldness, it's yours. Compassion, it's yours. Peace, it's yours. They are all in you because Christ is in you! We are in this together, so stop your foolish debating and realize that IT'S ALL YOURS!!"
Let it well up within you! You are nothing, I am nothing-BUT God says we are something. And since Christ is in us-THE TRUTH IS IN US and therefore we have a role to play. So play it; live it. WHOLEHEARTEDLY and PASSIONATELY!
Christ is in you! Let that fact change the way you live! Following Christ is not boring and mundane, it's life to the FULL!
AMEN!
3.08.2006
"mind" blowing...
We have the mind of Christ.
John Bussone, a good friend and brother of Christ, spoke at Full Volume the other night. He talked about having Christ in you, in me, in everyone of us that follows Christ. He talked about truth...and how the Bible may be all true and contain maybe 20-30000 "truths" in it. But we, as followers of Christ, have the mind of Christ because He LIVES IN US.
Therefore, we have an infinite amount of truths in us, just wainting to be discovered and lived out. That's why we need each other, that's why Jesus stress's community so much. the more we are together, the more we will grow because of that truth coming out. BUT, you can only go as far as you will allow someone to explore the Christ in you, the truth IN YOU.
So let us explore one another...we NEED each other to grow! Dare i say we need each other more than the Bible? I think i would say that, Paul discusses it in Colassions and you never see the Bible point to itself as the reference of truth, it ALWAYS points to Jesus (thanks John)!!! let us embrace the Christ in one another, may we empty ourselves of us, who on our own are nothing! Let us discover the truth that Christ is in us and let that shape our lives!
For we are dead to sin, but ALIVE in Christ!
John Bussone, a good friend and brother of Christ, spoke at Full Volume the other night. He talked about having Christ in you, in me, in everyone of us that follows Christ. He talked about truth...and how the Bible may be all true and contain maybe 20-30000 "truths" in it. But we, as followers of Christ, have the mind of Christ because He LIVES IN US.
Therefore, we have an infinite amount of truths in us, just wainting to be discovered and lived out. That's why we need each other, that's why Jesus stress's community so much. the more we are together, the more we will grow because of that truth coming out. BUT, you can only go as far as you will allow someone to explore the Christ in you, the truth IN YOU.
So let us explore one another...we NEED each other to grow! Dare i say we need each other more than the Bible? I think i would say that, Paul discusses it in Colassions and you never see the Bible point to itself as the reference of truth, it ALWAYS points to Jesus (thanks John)!!! let us embrace the Christ in one another, may we empty ourselves of us, who on our own are nothing! Let us discover the truth that Christ is in us and let that shape our lives!
For we are dead to sin, but ALIVE in Christ!
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