Took last week off, but I'm back and ready for action.
I will be going through the book of Joshua, and each week will be a portion of the book, and thoughts on what we read.
Keep me in your prayers. I'm trying to cling to my savior and follow his lead in my life. I need to develop my prayer life more, and I would like to see myself become more compassionate towards strangers, and more social towards them as well.
May God's grace overflow to all who draw near to him in repentance and in love.
-Brett
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
An Excursus into Reality
I call it an excursus but really it’s getting to the main point while going around everything I wanted to talk about and probably will discuss anyway. I love theology. So much so that it often times becomes an idol for me. I love to think and wrestle with concepts, theories and ideas as they pertain to God. I believe that God works in his creation and with his people to make himself know, more specifically showing his glorious attributes. I get this from the first chapter of Romans and the book of Exodus, but you can see it everywhere. So it makes sense to me that if God wishes to make himself known, we should work to know him.
Not only this, but I would argue that the more we know God and his purposes in creation and our own lives, the more we are compelled to live for him. There is reason why Paul prays that the churches will grow in knowledge; the reason is that true knowledge produces action. If we say we know God, but don’t act according to that knowledge, we don’t really know God. 1 John says that if we say we know God and continue in sin we don’t really know him. But something must come before our growing in knowledge. That thing is the main point which I will try and articulate now.
The main point of this series on theology is that repentance comes before knowledge. In the epistle that we call 1 Corinthians, Paul tells the church there that he wishes that he could address them as adults and feed them with meat (Deeper teachings about God), but he can’t because they are acting like babies and still need milk (The elementary teachings). WE HAVE TO GROW UP IN OUR FAITH! And to do that we must repent of our worldliness. But what does this mean? In the situation in Corinth the believers were grumbling with each other and they were playing favorites with which teacher’s they liked the best. They were prideful and were using the gifts God had given them for the purpose of building up the church to exalt themselves. So they were prideful. They loved things and the perceived power or position that came with them, namely their spiritual gifts. They were still acting as the world acts. Jesus tells us that the rulers of the world lord their power over other people, but it is not to be that way with us. We are all equal in position with differing roles. We are a body.
Just as the church in Corinth was acting as the world and not in accordance with the grace and call of God, so are we. The reason we as a church are so theologically weak, is because we love the world more than we love God. And our theological lacking shows in how we live. We look like the world because we don’t know God. We will spend hours if not weeks trying to figure out how we can make more money or have more possessions, but we won’t spend 5 minutes learning the scriptures. Why? Because we don’t see it as important. We, just like the Corinthian church, are seeking power and position. Knowledge and understanding are not valued in our culture, and like wise it is not valued in the Church. So instead of seeking to know the Lord, we seek money and position. We want to be exalted, instead of exalting God.
THIS HAS TO STOP. We are a body and it is necessary that we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, so that we will live in accordance with his word and his will. This is what pleases God. Not our house, not our checking account. Our unabashed devotion to Jesus Christ and his Gospel is what pleases God. So let’s stop acting like the world and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
-Mitchell
Not only this, but I would argue that the more we know God and his purposes in creation and our own lives, the more we are compelled to live for him. There is reason why Paul prays that the churches will grow in knowledge; the reason is that true knowledge produces action. If we say we know God, but don’t act according to that knowledge, we don’t really know God. 1 John says that if we say we know God and continue in sin we don’t really know him. But something must come before our growing in knowledge. That thing is the main point which I will try and articulate now.
The main point of this series on theology is that repentance comes before knowledge. In the epistle that we call 1 Corinthians, Paul tells the church there that he wishes that he could address them as adults and feed them with meat (Deeper teachings about God), but he can’t because they are acting like babies and still need milk (The elementary teachings). WE HAVE TO GROW UP IN OUR FAITH! And to do that we must repent of our worldliness. But what does this mean? In the situation in Corinth the believers were grumbling with each other and they were playing favorites with which teacher’s they liked the best. They were prideful and were using the gifts God had given them for the purpose of building up the church to exalt themselves. So they were prideful. They loved things and the perceived power or position that came with them, namely their spiritual gifts. They were still acting as the world acts. Jesus tells us that the rulers of the world lord their power over other people, but it is not to be that way with us. We are all equal in position with differing roles. We are a body.
Just as the church in Corinth was acting as the world and not in accordance with the grace and call of God, so are we. The reason we as a church are so theologically weak, is because we love the world more than we love God. And our theological lacking shows in how we live. We look like the world because we don’t know God. We will spend hours if not weeks trying to figure out how we can make more money or have more possessions, but we won’t spend 5 minutes learning the scriptures. Why? Because we don’t see it as important. We, just like the Corinthian church, are seeking power and position. Knowledge and understanding are not valued in our culture, and like wise it is not valued in the Church. So instead of seeking to know the Lord, we seek money and position. We want to be exalted, instead of exalting God.
THIS HAS TO STOP. We are a body and it is necessary that we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, so that we will live in accordance with his word and his will. This is what pleases God. Not our house, not our checking account. Our unabashed devotion to Jesus Christ and his Gospel is what pleases God. So let’s stop acting like the world and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
-Mitchell
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Witness, How do I do that?
I am like Jim, never ventured out into this blog world before, and frankly haven't read very many. However, when Matt said we needed writers, I figured I could always find something to say, and most of you know that is really speaking the truth :) But here is what got this thought started....
A few months ago, Chaz Chinsethigid blessed us with singing an awesome song with the choir. Many of you have heard it a million times, as the youth sing it often as well. I don't know the name, but it talks about a man on a plane with his Bible, and how that lead to him witnessing to a stranger. And that got me thinking, how can I find ways to witness. I must admit, I have never been someone to go about sharing my testimony, and certainly don't really look for ways to do so. There is a lot of fear that comes with that, and lets face it, no one really likes a Bible beater. And if people don't like you they aren't going to listen to what you have to say, right? So, I thought what can I do or say to change some of that?
Well, here are some ideas that God sent to me as I pondered that tought.
I wear a beatiful cross on occasion. It is really sparkly and has lots of rinestones, it truly is an eye catching piece. I love it, my Mom gave it to me, and it goes with everything. Everytime I wear it, I get compliments. I usually say, "Oh thanks my Mom gave it to me". Or "it's one of my favorites", but what would happen if I said, "Thanks, it really helps me remember what God did for me and reminds me to share that with others". Wouldn't that be an awesome way to make an impact on someone's life? They may walk away, but at least I would have given it a shot. I also have a t-shirt or two with a cross (also sparkly) on it, and although I don't get as many compliments, it's still and opportunity waiting to happen.
But what about all of you men out there, I know you don't go around wearing sparkly crosses around your neck. Unless of course you are a 50cent impersonator in your spare time :) So what can you wear, or keep on or around you that could lead to a conversation about salvation? Or for you women who just don't like sparkly stuff or jewelry, what are subtle everday ways to witness? I would love to have some other thoughts, because I don't wear the cross everyday.
Thanks for letting me knock around some thoughts in my head.
As my Grandma always says ....
Remember where you come from,
-Sally
A few months ago, Chaz Chinsethigid blessed us with singing an awesome song with the choir. Many of you have heard it a million times, as the youth sing it often as well. I don't know the name, but it talks about a man on a plane with his Bible, and how that lead to him witnessing to a stranger. And that got me thinking, how can I find ways to witness. I must admit, I have never been someone to go about sharing my testimony, and certainly don't really look for ways to do so. There is a lot of fear that comes with that, and lets face it, no one really likes a Bible beater. And if people don't like you they aren't going to listen to what you have to say, right? So, I thought what can I do or say to change some of that?
Well, here are some ideas that God sent to me as I pondered that tought.
I wear a beatiful cross on occasion. It is really sparkly and has lots of rinestones, it truly is an eye catching piece. I love it, my Mom gave it to me, and it goes with everything. Everytime I wear it, I get compliments. I usually say, "Oh thanks my Mom gave it to me". Or "it's one of my favorites", but what would happen if I said, "Thanks, it really helps me remember what God did for me and reminds me to share that with others". Wouldn't that be an awesome way to make an impact on someone's life? They may walk away, but at least I would have given it a shot. I also have a t-shirt or two with a cross (also sparkly) on it, and although I don't get as many compliments, it's still and opportunity waiting to happen.
But what about all of you men out there, I know you don't go around wearing sparkly crosses around your neck. Unless of course you are a 50cent impersonator in your spare time :) So what can you wear, or keep on or around you that could lead to a conversation about salvation? Or for you women who just don't like sparkly stuff or jewelry, what are subtle everday ways to witness? I would love to have some other thoughts, because I don't wear the cross everyday.
Thanks for letting me knock around some thoughts in my head.
As my Grandma always says ....
Remember where you come from,
-Sally
Monday, May 17, 2010
Honey Get the Shovel. It’s time to dig
This is going to be the first of a few little lessons of a more academic nature. It seems to me that our culture plays down knowledge and academic study. It is seen as cold and impersonal. We enjoy experiencing things, but we have little interest in why or how that experience occurred. No one wants to have deep discussions about God, or anything for that matter, but these things are important. In at least two of the epistles Paul wrote, Colossians and Ephesians, he tells the Church that he is praying that God would continually grow them into a deeper knowledge of himself. Because of this, I would like to write up a couple of things that will help us to study God’s word in systematic way. But before we get into all that, I want to give my case for why Theology is important.
Theology is the study of God and by it we attempt to known him as he desires to make himself known. Not that God is some inanimate impersonal object that can be studied, like a volcano or a tree, but that he is alive and he loves. He interacts with his creation and we should seek to know him not as we know a tree but as we know our best friend or our spouse. Seeking knowledge of God while not seeking to know God is a dangerous thing and an insult to the great love that God has for us.
So does God want us to know him? YES! Seems like a silly question, but if we look around, or dare I say in the mirror, do we live like we believe God wants us to know him? God has revealed himself to us through his word and do we read it? But anyway back to the question, silly as it may be. Throughout the story told in the book of Exodus, in which God delivers his people from the oppression of Pharaoh, God claims that both Pharaoh and the Israelites will know that he is God after he has worked all that he intends. Again, in the book of Ezekiel where God introduces the new covenant he is making with his people, God again speaks of making himself known. We serve a God who wants his people to know him. Not only does he desire it, he works to make it happen. Because of this we should be a people who desire and work to know our God with the same ferocity that he wishes to make himself known to us. Theology is how we aim to do this.
Now, some will say we can not fully understand God because he is infinite and we are finite. While this is true, it does not mean that we should not struggle to understand the more difficult attributes of God. They are just as glorious as the ones that are seen as simpler. Just because it is hard and sometimes confusing, does not mean that it should be abandoned. You can never fully understand or know your spouse or best friend, but that does not stop you from trying. We should wrestle and pray through what we do not understand. Like aforementioned, God has worked and is working to make himself known. We would be discrediting him by saying that he is not worth struggling to understand. You can not really comprehend the magnitude of God’s incomprehensible greatness until you have tried to comprehend it. It will at least show you how insignificant and small you are in comparison to him.
So how can we know him? We know him through the Bible, through creation, and through Jesus who is the word become flesh. After Jesus’ ascension into Heaven the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers and it is through the Holy Spirit that we know God. In this way theology is subjective. We all experience God in our own way. Most people in our culture like to stop here. I know my God you know yours we’re all good. But this is wrong. God also gave us the Bible which is his objective word to which all of our subjective experiences must be submitted to. If any experience or emotion of ours contradicts scripture, we must discredit that experience and accept the truth of scripture. While experience and emotions and reason all play apart in how we do theology, all of it must be submitted to the authority of scripture.
While theology is important there are several potential pitfalls that must be avoided, one of which is being more concerned with knowing certain doctrines and being able to defend them, than knowing the God whom the doctrines describe. Ideology about God can never be used to replace God (See the Pharisees). It is a terrible thing when someone becomes more concerned with spreading a specific doctrine, which could be false, than with spreading the gospel. Another danger is arrogance. Paul says that knowledge puffs up but love builds up. This can be avoided by remembering that everything known about God was revealed by the Holy Spirit. It was not based on any merit of personal ability or aptitude. God has grace on stupid, wicked people, and any knowledge of him is given by grace. So a person should not boast in knowledge but in the grace of God.
-Mitchell
Theology is the study of God and by it we attempt to known him as he desires to make himself known. Not that God is some inanimate impersonal object that can be studied, like a volcano or a tree, but that he is alive and he loves. He interacts with his creation and we should seek to know him not as we know a tree but as we know our best friend or our spouse. Seeking knowledge of God while not seeking to know God is a dangerous thing and an insult to the great love that God has for us.
So does God want us to know him? YES! Seems like a silly question, but if we look around, or dare I say in the mirror, do we live like we believe God wants us to know him? God has revealed himself to us through his word and do we read it? But anyway back to the question, silly as it may be. Throughout the story told in the book of Exodus, in which God delivers his people from the oppression of Pharaoh, God claims that both Pharaoh and the Israelites will know that he is God after he has worked all that he intends. Again, in the book of Ezekiel where God introduces the new covenant he is making with his people, God again speaks of making himself known. We serve a God who wants his people to know him. Not only does he desire it, he works to make it happen. Because of this we should be a people who desire and work to know our God with the same ferocity that he wishes to make himself known to us. Theology is how we aim to do this.
Now, some will say we can not fully understand God because he is infinite and we are finite. While this is true, it does not mean that we should not struggle to understand the more difficult attributes of God. They are just as glorious as the ones that are seen as simpler. Just because it is hard and sometimes confusing, does not mean that it should be abandoned. You can never fully understand or know your spouse or best friend, but that does not stop you from trying. We should wrestle and pray through what we do not understand. Like aforementioned, God has worked and is working to make himself known. We would be discrediting him by saying that he is not worth struggling to understand. You can not really comprehend the magnitude of God’s incomprehensible greatness until you have tried to comprehend it. It will at least show you how insignificant and small you are in comparison to him.
So how can we know him? We know him through the Bible, through creation, and through Jesus who is the word become flesh. After Jesus’ ascension into Heaven the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers and it is through the Holy Spirit that we know God. In this way theology is subjective. We all experience God in our own way. Most people in our culture like to stop here. I know my God you know yours we’re all good. But this is wrong. God also gave us the Bible which is his objective word to which all of our subjective experiences must be submitted to. If any experience or emotion of ours contradicts scripture, we must discredit that experience and accept the truth of scripture. While experience and emotions and reason all play apart in how we do theology, all of it must be submitted to the authority of scripture.
While theology is important there are several potential pitfalls that must be avoided, one of which is being more concerned with knowing certain doctrines and being able to defend them, than knowing the God whom the doctrines describe. Ideology about God can never be used to replace God (See the Pharisees). It is a terrible thing when someone becomes more concerned with spreading a specific doctrine, which could be false, than with spreading the gospel. Another danger is arrogance. Paul says that knowledge puffs up but love builds up. This can be avoided by remembering that everything known about God was revealed by the Holy Spirit. It was not based on any merit of personal ability or aptitude. God has grace on stupid, wicked people, and any knowledge of him is given by grace. So a person should not boast in knowledge but in the grace of God.
-Mitchell
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Walk in a manner worthy of the call
This week's post is short.
Ephesians 4:1-6:20 is where this comes from. Paul is writing the Ephesians a letter to tell them more about how to practically live out the teaching of Jesus in their lives.
I was reading articles on CNN and I came across one about a Baptist minister who was part of an organization that offered help to those who struggled with homosexuality. He has spent years talking about the redeeming work of Christ in the area of sexuality.
He recently resigned from his post to fight allegations that he went to Europe with a homosexual Male escort.
Are you as tired of this crap as I am?
How many prominent pastors and priests have resigned or been fired for public airing of their private escapades over the last couple of years? The Roman Catholics are still trying to find out how far down the pit they walked into goes.
To be fair, I don't know if these allegations against the Baptist minister are true. And I also know that just because someone is called to leadership positions in the Church, they still struggle with their old sin nature like any other Christian.
But enough is enough already. They bible says that not many should aspire to be teachers, or leaders, because they will be judged by a higher standard from God. (James 3:1)
But notice that he doesn't say that lay people escape judgement either.
In modern American theology, we don't like to think that after we are saved, we will have to give an account of how we used the grace God gaves us in Christ to further his kingdom. It rubs us wrong that we will actually be expected to do something for God after he saves us. Our attitudes are of this opinion more often than not, that of "well, he saved me, yeah, but how could he seriously say he loves me if he just wants to save me so I can be used by him? I think that love is letting someone do what they want."
Don't believe me that we will have to give an account? Check out these scriptures: Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 25; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Please get your heads straight. If we love God, we will try to walk in a manner that pleases him.
Remember, he didn't have to save you.
-Brett
Ephesians 4:1-6:20 is where this comes from. Paul is writing the Ephesians a letter to tell them more about how to practically live out the teaching of Jesus in their lives.
I was reading articles on CNN and I came across one about a Baptist minister who was part of an organization that offered help to those who struggled with homosexuality. He has spent years talking about the redeeming work of Christ in the area of sexuality.
He recently resigned from his post to fight allegations that he went to Europe with a homosexual Male escort.
Are you as tired of this crap as I am?
How many prominent pastors and priests have resigned or been fired for public airing of their private escapades over the last couple of years? The Roman Catholics are still trying to find out how far down the pit they walked into goes.
To be fair, I don't know if these allegations against the Baptist minister are true. And I also know that just because someone is called to leadership positions in the Church, they still struggle with their old sin nature like any other Christian.
But enough is enough already. They bible says that not many should aspire to be teachers, or leaders, because they will be judged by a higher standard from God. (James 3:1)
But notice that he doesn't say that lay people escape judgement either.
In modern American theology, we don't like to think that after we are saved, we will have to give an account of how we used the grace God gaves us in Christ to further his kingdom. It rubs us wrong that we will actually be expected to do something for God after he saves us. Our attitudes are of this opinion more often than not, that of "well, he saved me, yeah, but how could he seriously say he loves me if he just wants to save me so I can be used by him? I think that love is letting someone do what they want."
Don't believe me that we will have to give an account? Check out these scriptures: Ecclesiastes 11:9; Matthew 25; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Please get your heads straight. If we love God, we will try to walk in a manner that pleases him.
Remember, he didn't have to save you.
-Brett
Monday, May 10, 2010
Faith: For Better or For Worse, Which is The Best.
Hebrews 11
If anyone is reading this please stop right now and read all of Hebrews 11. It’s not that long and it is an amazing section of Scripture. Not only does it unify the believers of the Old Testament and the New Testament on the grounds of faith, it also shows us that bad things, which I will argue are the best things, are carried out by the same faith that great things are carried out with.
Hebrews 11 is called the Faith Hall of Fame, and in reading it, its easy to see why. You have read it right? If not see the first sentence. The Chapter is all about faith; this is good because faith is some what of a buzz word these days. “Have faith and everything will okay.” “God will heal you.” “God will give you a big house.” “God will give you a perfect family.” Everything will be great. “Just have faith and you can shut the mouths of lions.” And the first part of Hebrews 11 seems to support this. By faith Enoch pleased God and if we read in Genesis, he didn’t have to taste death. He walked with God then he was no more. Sarah who was up there in years and barren bore Isaac. By Faith Isaac invoked future blessings on his offspring. By faith Moses is spared and used mightily by God to lead his people out of captivity. These are awesome and good things. That God does do for those that have faith. In verse 32-35a the climax is reached. It says,
“What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were mad strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection”
These are awesome things. They are good things, but as we continue to read in Hebrews 11 we see that other individuals don’t seem to fair so well. Just look at verse 35. The first sentence of the verse reads, “Women received back their dead by resurrection.”, but the sentence directly following it, without any sort of transition says, “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.” WOW!. We go from being brought back from the dead to being tortured and killed. It goes on to say in 36-40,
Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though condemned through their faith, did not received what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Again I’m blown away. By faith all of these people suffered terrible things. It was not because they were lacking in faith, or because they were disobedient. They went through these things because it was better. In chapter 2 of Hebrews it speaks of Jesus being made perfect through suffering. And it is the same for us. It is a blessing to share in the sufferings of Christ. But in America today, suffering and death are seen as bad things, or some sort of punishment. It’s neither of those things. It is not the worst thing that could happen, it is the best thing. This world and the things of the world are passing away. No matter how good your health, you’re going to die. No matter how big your house, it’s going to burn. No matter how good your marriage, it will end. Everything apart from Christ and his Kingdom is fleeting, and will one day be gone. To live by faith is not to live a comfortable life. It’s to live a life that hopes in the things we have not yet received. So live you life by faith in a better day, the day to come when our glorious Lord returns and all things are made new.
-Mitchell
If anyone is reading this please stop right now and read all of Hebrews 11. It’s not that long and it is an amazing section of Scripture. Not only does it unify the believers of the Old Testament and the New Testament on the grounds of faith, it also shows us that bad things, which I will argue are the best things, are carried out by the same faith that great things are carried out with.
Hebrews 11 is called the Faith Hall of Fame, and in reading it, its easy to see why. You have read it right? If not see the first sentence. The Chapter is all about faith; this is good because faith is some what of a buzz word these days. “Have faith and everything will okay.” “God will heal you.” “God will give you a big house.” “God will give you a perfect family.” Everything will be great. “Just have faith and you can shut the mouths of lions.” And the first part of Hebrews 11 seems to support this. By faith Enoch pleased God and if we read in Genesis, he didn’t have to taste death. He walked with God then he was no more. Sarah who was up there in years and barren bore Isaac. By Faith Isaac invoked future blessings on his offspring. By faith Moses is spared and used mightily by God to lead his people out of captivity. These are awesome and good things. That God does do for those that have faith. In verse 32-35a the climax is reached. It says,
“What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were mad strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection”
These are awesome things. They are good things, but as we continue to read in Hebrews 11 we see that other individuals don’t seem to fair so well. Just look at verse 35. The first sentence of the verse reads, “Women received back their dead by resurrection.”, but the sentence directly following it, without any sort of transition says, “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.” WOW!. We go from being brought back from the dead to being tortured and killed. It goes on to say in 36-40,
Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though condemned through their faith, did not received what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Again I’m blown away. By faith all of these people suffered terrible things. It was not because they were lacking in faith, or because they were disobedient. They went through these things because it was better. In chapter 2 of Hebrews it speaks of Jesus being made perfect through suffering. And it is the same for us. It is a blessing to share in the sufferings of Christ. But in America today, suffering and death are seen as bad things, or some sort of punishment. It’s neither of those things. It is not the worst thing that could happen, it is the best thing. This world and the things of the world are passing away. No matter how good your health, you’re going to die. No matter how big your house, it’s going to burn. No matter how good your marriage, it will end. Everything apart from Christ and his Kingdom is fleeting, and will one day be gone. To live by faith is not to live a comfortable life. It’s to live a life that hopes in the things we have not yet received. So live you life by faith in a better day, the day to come when our glorious Lord returns and all things are made new.
-Mitchell
Thursday, May 6, 2010
How much of God is too much?
I have spent the past couple of months really trying to get over this notion in my head that I am closer to God on Sunday morning than I am on Tuesday afternoon.
I will try to remind myself while I'm working that God lives inside of me. His Holy Spirit is watching me and trying to purify me and lead me when I do an audit or write an order. When I mop the floors, I try to remember the Scriptures that talk of working not for men, but for God. (Colossians 3:23-25)
I have had some cool moments trying to live like this. I truly do feel like I am worshiping at times, when I praise him for the healthy body he has given me to work, for the job I have, for letting me be competent at it.
I have also had some bad moments, when I catch myself thinking evil thoughts, or getting upset at customers, or just generally being a grinch. God will just reinforce his presence in my life, as if to say "Do you think I don't care what you do, or how you think, outside of church? Do I only want you to become more like my Son on Sunday and Wednesday?"
There is a little book written by a monk whose name was Brother Lawrence. He titled the book "The Practice of the Presence of God." He reached the point where he felt as close to the Savior washing dishes as he did reciting prayer. I would encourage you guys to read it, and to think on what he is proposing.
God wants us to worship him in ALL things. We are told to give thanks to God for everything in Ephesians 5:20. When was the last time you thanked him for your drive to work? When was the last time you thanked him for the boss you have, and the specific co-workers you are surrounded by?
Instead of grumbling about the drive and traffic, try to praise him for providing for your needs with a job. Instead of harboring resentment about the bad attitude of your co-worker, or the tyranical zeal your boss has for filing your paperwork, pray for them. If they don't have Christ, all they have is this world. And the last time I looked, it was pretty bad. So don't marvel at how bad they act. Give thanks that God saved you, and he has given you something greater to hope for than what this world offers (John 16).
We need God every second. I am humbled and appalled that I go hours, days, sometimes weeks without really tapping into this truth. He is our life.
I plead with you guys, especially the married ones, MAKE ROOM FOR GOD. Life becomes so cluttered because we fill it with so many things. God is gracious to us, and he allows us to feel his presence wherever we are. If you wish to talk to him at work, he will be there. At the gym, he will answer your call.
But don't spend your life fitting God in. Don't make it where the only time you talk to him is on your coffee break, or on the drive somewhere.
Single people have this problem too, but it's the married couples that I see who make 'good' excuses why they don't have time.
"We have kids to take care of, and events to get them to."
"The house doesn't pay for itself, and if I am a good steward of what God gives me, I will work my butt off to pay for it and give my family nice things."
"I've been in this pattern for too long to change it now."
Please wake up! Please!
God desires your hearts. He should have destroyed us for our sins, but he loved us and sought us to forgive our sins and to heal us. (Jeremiah 3)
I will close with a hymn that I think we would all do well to think on, and wonder when we last felt like this.
"I Need Thee Every Hour" by Annie S. Hawks
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
I will try to remind myself while I'm working that God lives inside of me. His Holy Spirit is watching me and trying to purify me and lead me when I do an audit or write an order. When I mop the floors, I try to remember the Scriptures that talk of working not for men, but for God. (Colossians 3:23-25)
I have had some cool moments trying to live like this. I truly do feel like I am worshiping at times, when I praise him for the healthy body he has given me to work, for the job I have, for letting me be competent at it.
I have also had some bad moments, when I catch myself thinking evil thoughts, or getting upset at customers, or just generally being a grinch. God will just reinforce his presence in my life, as if to say "Do you think I don't care what you do, or how you think, outside of church? Do I only want you to become more like my Son on Sunday and Wednesday?"
There is a little book written by a monk whose name was Brother Lawrence. He titled the book "The Practice of the Presence of God." He reached the point where he felt as close to the Savior washing dishes as he did reciting prayer. I would encourage you guys to read it, and to think on what he is proposing.
God wants us to worship him in ALL things. We are told to give thanks to God for everything in Ephesians 5:20. When was the last time you thanked him for your drive to work? When was the last time you thanked him for the boss you have, and the specific co-workers you are surrounded by?
Instead of grumbling about the drive and traffic, try to praise him for providing for your needs with a job. Instead of harboring resentment about the bad attitude of your co-worker, or the tyranical zeal your boss has for filing your paperwork, pray for them. If they don't have Christ, all they have is this world. And the last time I looked, it was pretty bad. So don't marvel at how bad they act. Give thanks that God saved you, and he has given you something greater to hope for than what this world offers (John 16).
We need God every second. I am humbled and appalled that I go hours, days, sometimes weeks without really tapping into this truth. He is our life.
I plead with you guys, especially the married ones, MAKE ROOM FOR GOD. Life becomes so cluttered because we fill it with so many things. God is gracious to us, and he allows us to feel his presence wherever we are. If you wish to talk to him at work, he will be there. At the gym, he will answer your call.
But don't spend your life fitting God in. Don't make it where the only time you talk to him is on your coffee break, or on the drive somewhere.
Single people have this problem too, but it's the married couples that I see who make 'good' excuses why they don't have time.
"We have kids to take care of, and events to get them to."
"The house doesn't pay for itself, and if I am a good steward of what God gives me, I will work my butt off to pay for it and give my family nice things."
"I've been in this pattern for too long to change it now."
Please wake up! Please!
God desires your hearts. He should have destroyed us for our sins, but he loved us and sought us to forgive our sins and to heal us. (Jeremiah 3)
I will close with a hymn that I think we would all do well to think on, and wonder when we last felt like this.
"I Need Thee Every Hour" by Annie S. Hawks
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Hello, learn and think together
This is my first trek into the blogosphere. I am reminded of my first months of teaching a Sunday school class more than 28 years ago. I really did not believe that I had anything to add because I was sure that all of the students in my class already knew the Bible. After a year or so, I realized that the students, at least most of them, knew less than I did. So, from there on, we learned together. Now, having said all that, I don't expect to be writing anything that might be considered earth shattering, mind boggling, divinely inspired or life changing to the max. My only desire is to maybe cause some reader to think. To question. Not doubt their Christianity, but to maybe see a view that would allow for more closeness with God and a desire to serve. I hope that I would be accepted as a fellow learner as we all travel down the path toward total sanctification. A deeper appreciation of God's gift and Christ's sacrifice. I hope and pray that God blesses you more each day.
-Jim Capps
-Jim Capps
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Four Soils: The good stuff.
Mark 4:1-9
And now we’re reached the end of our little journey through the parable of the sower, and although it was looking a little scary there in the middle, we can finally see some good ground. I don’t have much to say on this soil because I feel that I would just be repeating what I said in the previous posts, but there are a few things that I think could be helpful.
The final soil mentioned by Jesus is the good soil. Of it he says in verse 8, “And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” This seed produces fruit. It is deep and free of thorns. This is what we should long to be, and the power to be good soil is not of ourselves. If we want to live lives that produce fruit for the Kingdom of God we must rely on him to give us new hearts and to keep us from fulfilling the desires of our flesh. David says it best in Psalm 19 when he says, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” James says that we are dragged away and enticed because of our own wicked desires. And to put the cherry on top, Paul says that we are altogether of ourselves unrighteous. If we want to bear fruit we must rely on the Holy Spirit and his regenerative work to make our hearts into the deep, briar free soil that we need it to be.
I also would like to bring attention to that fact that the seed is bearing the fruit. In all that God does, he is working to bring praise and honor to himself. Even in the redemption of his people. He is the one sowing the seed, and the seed is what is bearing fruit. Good soil without any seed does nothing. So when God uses us and we begin to see the fruit being produced in our life, we need to remember that it is only because of the grace of God that it is happening. We have to be mindful of this, so that we do not become prideful, and thus rendering ourselves ineffective in his kingdom.
The last thing to look at is verse 20. In it Jesus says that the ones who produce fruit are the ones that “hear the word and accept it and bear fruit.” We first have to hear the word. And once we have heard it, we must accept it. Jesus says some pretty harsh things in the Gospels. He isn’t always a people pleaser. He may tell us something we don’t want to hear. But regardless, we have to submit to his words of rebuke and command just a willingly as we do to his words of encouragement. If we hear it and accept it, the word of God will produce fruit, if our soil is good. And it is the branches that produce fruit that are truly members of the True Vine.
-Mitchell
And now we’re reached the end of our little journey through the parable of the sower, and although it was looking a little scary there in the middle, we can finally see some good ground. I don’t have much to say on this soil because I feel that I would just be repeating what I said in the previous posts, but there are a few things that I think could be helpful.
The final soil mentioned by Jesus is the good soil. Of it he says in verse 8, “And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” This seed produces fruit. It is deep and free of thorns. This is what we should long to be, and the power to be good soil is not of ourselves. If we want to live lives that produce fruit for the Kingdom of God we must rely on him to give us new hearts and to keep us from fulfilling the desires of our flesh. David says it best in Psalm 19 when he says, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.” James says that we are dragged away and enticed because of our own wicked desires. And to put the cherry on top, Paul says that we are altogether of ourselves unrighteous. If we want to bear fruit we must rely on the Holy Spirit and his regenerative work to make our hearts into the deep, briar free soil that we need it to be.
I also would like to bring attention to that fact that the seed is bearing the fruit. In all that God does, he is working to bring praise and honor to himself. Even in the redemption of his people. He is the one sowing the seed, and the seed is what is bearing fruit. Good soil without any seed does nothing. So when God uses us and we begin to see the fruit being produced in our life, we need to remember that it is only because of the grace of God that it is happening. We have to be mindful of this, so that we do not become prideful, and thus rendering ourselves ineffective in his kingdom.
The last thing to look at is verse 20. In it Jesus says that the ones who produce fruit are the ones that “hear the word and accept it and bear fruit.” We first have to hear the word. And once we have heard it, we must accept it. Jesus says some pretty harsh things in the Gospels. He isn’t always a people pleaser. He may tell us something we don’t want to hear. But regardless, we have to submit to his words of rebuke and command just a willingly as we do to his words of encouragement. If we hear it and accept it, the word of God will produce fruit, if our soil is good. And it is the branches that produce fruit that are truly members of the True Vine.
-Mitchell