A Random Question...

Do you ever have random questions that pop into your head? Things that you wonder, "where in the world did that come from?" Well I have one one of those questions for you. If Jesus were here with us today, in our culture, in the flesh, what kind of vehicle would He drive? "Yep" I agree with what you're thinking right now :) It is totally random. Would he drive an exotic car? A muscle car? A classic? A hybrid? A minivan? A sports car? What do you think? Would it be a Honda? Toyota? Hummer? Lamborghini? Ford? We know He's the Son of God, loves people, and usually went against culture with everything He did. I know what I think He'd drive nowadays, which I'll post in a comment later, but how about you? Maybe some of you think it might be a Honda Accord, because His disciples from time to time were in "one accord." I'd love to hear your feedback :) Think about it and let me know. Have a blessed day.

Where Does Your Hunger Drive You?

For many of us our Bible can mean so much and is highly treasured. That's no different for me either. For the past 5 or so years my sword of choice has been an amazing, old school Nelson NKJV wide-margin Bible, which is bulky and weighs about 2lbs. It's so marked up and has been used extensively. I have no intention of ditching this workhorse Bible of mine, but due to its size and weight it's not the most easily transported sword. It will still be my mainstay for studying and in the office, but for transportation purposes I purchased a sweet Holman ultra thin Bible. If my wide-margin Bible is my sword, I guess you could call this new and smaller one my dagger :) As I've been reading this new Bible over the past few days, I've noticed something amazing. Just like someone who's starving for food who goes to an "all you can eat" buffet, I've found myself with the same appetite for my brand new, unmarked, unused Word of God. There's something about reading a Bible that's not all marked up. There's no underlining, highlighting, circling, notes to self, or anything else. So as I'm reading, it's like everything is new, fresh and exciting. It reminds me of when I was first saved and how sometimes I wouldn't even go to bed at night because I couldn't put down my Bible. Hebrews 4:12 is as real to me today as it was in February 1989 when I became a believer when it says, "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." The Bible is amazing! And I'm so excited to keep digging into my new one and allowing it to speak to me, strengthen me, instruct me and help me grow in my faith. Have you dug into your Bible today?

Broken Life + Jesus = New Life in Him

One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 1:18 which says, "The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." How true this is! I was once headed for destruction and mocked at the message of the cross, but in a moment everything changed. I saw the great love God had for me. I recognized my sin separated me from Him. I recognized the only way this problem could be rectified was by confessing and repenting for my sins and accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. The message of the cross was no longer some "out there" philosophy. It had become a reality in my life. I know there are those who have mocked the transformation in my life over the past twenty or so years, or who have tried to discredit what Christ has done. However this old saying can't ring any truer, "A man with an experience will always win over a man with an argument." What I've personally experienced cannot be taken away because I've lived it first hand. My life was broken and Jesus met me in that brokenness, and together we've never looked back. My testimony is simply, "My broken life + Jesus = New Life in Him." One of the most incredible things about being a pastor is seeing others with broken lives come to meet Jesus as Lord and Savior, and seeing their journey into new life begin. Seeing them experience the power of God personally is one of the most amazing things. Thank you Jesus for Your love, Your forgiveness, Your healing, Your plan for my life, Your provision, Your protection, Your body (the church), and Your cross.

Even When It Hurts...

I've been listening recently to the new release of one of my favorite Christian artists, Kari Jobe. It's a great CD by someone you can tell truly loves the Lord. Many of the lyrics in this album are definitely right on the money when it comes to living the life of faith. As I was praying this morning, listening to this album, the following lyrics jumped out at me, "Even when it hurts, even when it's hard, even when it all just falls apart. I will run to You, cause I know that You are lover of my soul, healer of my scars. You steady my heart." I think this is something every person can easily relate to. Life can be hard, can hurt and at times can even fall apart. It's not a matter of if these things will happen, but when? And when they do happen, the most important question is what will you run to? Often people run to those things which won't comfort, satisfy or help. They run to the things that bring temporary satisfaction (perhaps), but really all these things end up being are band aids. When your life seems to be hard, when you have hurts or when everything seems to be falling apart, the only real option we have is to run to the One who can help. The lover of your soul and healer of your scars. The One who can truly settle you, Jesus Christ. Why is it easy for us to run to everything else first, and Him last? Yet He's the only one we need. Never forget what Isaiah 61:1-3 says referring to Jesus, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Allow Him to settle you today :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJi_7f1cpbk

Everything Changes...Or Does It?

I was going through a drawer in my desk last week and came across one of my first cell phones. It was an old Motorola Star Tac flip phone. Back in its day it was the bomb! It was the envy of every cell phone user. If you look back over the past 15-20 years, the progression of cell phone technology is crazy. In fact, with most everything in life, the progression of things is quite amazing. I guess when you think about it, everything in life seems to progress and change around us. Sometimes that's for the better, but at other times it's not. However, there is one thing I'm so thankful for, that never changes, and that's Jesus Christ. Hebrews 13:8 tells us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. "Regardless of how my day is going, or what's going on around me, He doesn't change. His nature, His attributes, His love or anything else about Him don't change, regardless of what anyone does. Unlike cell phones, whose technology is constantly changing, improving, or being outdated. Jesus Christ doesn't change, and there are no improvements that can be made to Him because He's perfect. So today, whether things go well for you, don't forget Jesus Christ is your unchanging Lord and Savior. Whether your day is bumpy, don't forget Jesus Christ is still your unchanging Lord and Savior. His faithfulness, goodness and His love toward you are consistent. Regardless of everything else that changes or becomes outdated, He doesn't :)

The Highs and Lows of Shopping

Yesterday I experienced the both the highs and lows of shopping, and definitely had to keep things in perspective with my attitude. I love North Face jackets, although I don't own one, I just think they're sweet.  For my birthday I received a little extra cash and so yesterday I wandered into a great sale. And wouldn't you know it, they had a North Face jacket. But this wasn't just any North Face jacket, it was a $300 jacket, reduced to $130, plus another 50% off, making it a sweet North Face jacket for only $65. Amazing! It was the right color, right price and was in my budget. Immediately I was experiencing a shopper's euphoria with my find. I pulled it off the rack in what felt like slow motion. As I unzipped it and took it off hanger, I immediately went for the size. To my excitement it was my size, a men's large. I took off my hoodie and tried this coat of my dreams on. All of a sudden my dreams came crashing down. It was a little tight. Oh no! This couldn't be happening. But yes, it was. It was at that moment I felt disappointment crashing my party. It was knocking on my door and wanting in. It was too small. What I chose to do next would be pivotal. I put the coat back on the hanger and then the rack, and walked away. I began to thank the Lord for all He's blessed me with. I prayed that someone who really needed that coat would find it. And just like that, what could have easily turned into a disappointment was thwarted and I was full of peace and joy. Everyday we have opportunities to allow disappointment to enter, or a sad or discouraged attitude to overrun us. Don't allow it! Don't surrender your peace or joy for anything and let an attitude of thankfulness fill you. Don't forget what Romans 14:17 tells us, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

Stop Blaming Others

Have you ever noticed how culturally acceptable it is to blame someone else for just about anything. It's so easy to point your finger at others and pass the blame on to them. In sports, politics, work, churches and just about anything else, it's an epidemic in our culture. One of the classics we see when it comes to playing the blame game is found in the Garden of Eden, in Genesis 3:11-13. When God questions Adam and Eve for their choices, neither takes responsibility but does what easier, which was to blame others. In these verses we read, "Who told you that you were naked?" the LORD God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?" The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it." Then the LORD God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That’s why I ate it." As we read on, we see that God was not at all impressed by their blame shifting. When we choose to blame others for things, as we read in Genesis 3 we see it's none other than a product of sin. I'm shocked to hear some of the things people try to blame others for without taking any responsibility themselves. Yes it is easier to blame others and harder to take responsibility yourself, but isn't life about doing the right thing and not the easiest? As parents we're always encouraging our children not blame others, but to take responsibility. But why do we not seem to do this very thing as adults? Today you will will probably have some opportunities to point the finger at others and blame them for things. But don't fall into the trap like Adam and Eve did. Can you imagine how different our great nation would be if people stopped pointing fingers and blaming others?