Two kinds of People.

Tim Keller tweeted the following. It struck me on two levels.

He said, "All have sinned, there are only 2 kinds of people in the world.
not bad people & good people,
but the proud & the humble

I know what he meant. He meant that Jesus died for sinners. And if you are humble, you will admit you're a sinner and trust in what Jesus accomplished on the cross for you and for me.

And I think that Tim is right, and not just for a one time decision to humble oneself to trust Christ.
On an ongoing basis, humility is essential to live the life Christ has called us to.

No husband can love his wife the way Christ loves the church without humility.

For Pride kills relationships. Pride is what caused the fall. And pride is what will cause us to fall.

As long as it is about me, it is contrary to the economy of the Kingdom of Heaven.
I truly believe that humility is essential to finding the peace of God and receiving the love of God.

Praying for a humble and fruitful 2013.

Joe

Sanctified and Sent.

In John 17, Jesus prays this over His disciples and all who would come to believe in the future, 17 "Sanctify them in the truth ; Your word is truth. 18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.' So first of all we are to be sancntified, or set apart and holy unto God. We are to be weird, alien, and different as compared to the culture and world around us. We should think, talk, and act differently than others. Do we?

What makes us different? God's truth or God's Word. God's Word is the lens through which we are to see everything. When we hear a song, watch a movie, read a book, engage in a conversation, or see a commercial, God's Word is to be the filter that helps us separate out truth from lies.

But that is not all Jesus prayed. If it were just about our sanctification, then we could go off and all be monks. Yet, that is only part of the prayer. Jesus also has sent us into the world. He has told us to go into the streets, into the schools, into our neighborhoods, into our governments, into our businesses, and into our social worlds and be His salt and light. We are to be right in the middle of the world's conversation representing truth.

Two final questions....Am I spending time in God's Word regularly and allowing His truth to change me and dictate how I live my life in every aspect? Am I actively involved in the world around me and bringing Christ into the middle of conversations in my neighborhood, work place and family? Let's make 2013 a year where we are truly sanctified and sent!

in Christ,

Brian

Hope You Had a Big Christmas!!!

Did you have a Big Christmas?

We had great food, but it wasn't quite enough. We had lots of great presents, but it wasn't quite enough. We had a great time of fellowship with friends and family, but it wasn't quite enough. We enjoyed watching one of our favorite movies, but it wasn't quite enough. Our team won the game, going away, but it wasn't quite enough.

Then we spent just ten minutes intensely focused on the good news that Jesus came to be the Savior of the world and our Savior and at last...... it was more than enough.

I want to share the following link to a video by Matt Papa. It helped us focus on the Good News. http://t.co/ZAGTf3PA

Be sure you have a big Christmas, a world changing Christmas.

This quote by C.S. Lewis inspires me to live large for the kingdom, not small for myself.

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Hope you had a Big Christmas and an even greater year to come.

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!!!
Joe

Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?

Merry Christmas to you today! Let's let Linus remind us just like He reminded Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about:

Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward the center of the stage]
Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.
[a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus Van Pelt: "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus Van Pelt: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

May we continue to be more and more in awe of the simplicity of the story of Christmas. May the baby in the manger never lose its wonder and may we be like Mary today and treasure the mystery of Christmas in our hearts! God bless you!

in Christ,

Brian

To Be With Him.

When Jesus began His ministry, one of the first things He did was to choose 12 men or disciples that would journey with Him. In Mark 3:14 it says, ' He appointed twelve--designating them apostles--that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.' This verse has often challenged me because it reminds me that first and foremost Jesus has invited me to be with Him. Only after I really understand that my value is in being chosen to be with God can I then accept my ministry and be sent out to preach and be His ambassador.

So many times I get mixed up and think that Jesus only wants to be with me if I prove my worth to Him by going out and doing lots of great stuff. But that's not the idea. Jesus breathed worth into these men first and then He sent them out. That's how grace works. Grace gives when we don't deserve it and it produces people who work and flourish for the kingdom out of hearts bursting with gratitude.

So I challenge you in this season of lots of doing and activity to just 'be' with Jesus. Stop today and pause. Carve out time tonight by your tree when everyone else has gone to bed and sit there and take in the fact that before you ever did one single 'good' thing, the God of the Universe wanted to be with you. One of my favorite names for Jesus is Emmanuel, 'God with us.'

May you rest in Him today,

Brian

Christmas Connection.

Todd Agnew will be leading worship this weekend and we can always count on him to bring a new song with great, meaningful lyrics. This time our "new" song is actually the old hymn "Hallelujah, What a Savior" that has been given new Christmas lyrics as well as an additional chorus. The lyrics are as follows:

Shining star in Heav'n so bright
Lowly tend their flocks by night
Could this be, our faith now sight?
Hallelujah, what a Savior

Gift of gifts in manger laid
Hope of men, no more delayed
God the Just, His love displayed
Hallelujah, what a Savior

Hallelujah! Praise to the One
Whose blood has pardoned me

​Oh, what a Savior! Redeemer and King
Your love has rescued me

Eternal Word made flesh was He
The promise prophets longed to see
Jesus Christ our mystery
Hallelujah, what a Savior

Now the church, His praises bring
Blood-bought bride and matchless King
Heav'n and earth now join to sing
Hallelujah!, what a Savior
Hallelujah! What a Savior


The new chorus that was added is a great declaration of praise and reminds us that this little Baby Jesus that the world so anticipated, was born as a miracle but didn't stop there. He continued on to the cross where His blood pardoned us. We can sing of his miraculous birth and His selfless sacrifice all in one song.

Baby Jesus is the same Jesus that grew to be a man who performed miracles and gave His life for us.

Christmas connection,
Hailey

Lord, may I love you So much it becomes impossible for me to not love everyone else. Rick Warren Tweet.

1 John 4:20-21
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

This is a true and very challenging word.

God's love when full in our lives gives us the strength to prefer others before ourselves.

It is from that humble state we can truly love as we are loved.

May God's love overflow in your life and mine and so bring Him glory,

Joe

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.

Below are some of the words from the song, 'I heard the bells on Christmas Day.' I like this song because it captures the idea that a war between good and evil rages on across our globe. Every December 25th Christmas shows up. It shows up in a world of violence, darkness, oppression and tragedy. When tragedies strike like what happened on Friday, our sense of vengence and justice rises up in us. We ask, 'why God?' and 'why don't you bring it all to an end and bring judgment?'

I am reminded of 2 Peter 3:9 that says, '9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.' God is truly 'rich in love and slow to anger.' We are in the days of grace where God, for the time being, allows people to accept Him or reject Him. These are days where He is still calling out in the streets across the globe, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.'

Today is still a day where perhaps your neighbor, or co-worker, or family member can still find salvation in a Savior named Jesus. This same Savior will one day return on a White Horse as a conqueror and a Judge where every person who ever lived will give an account for their life (all their thoughts, words and deeds) and justice will be fully realized. Only those who have turned to Christ for salvation will be judged as 'not guilty' because of Christ's blood shed for them.

So, These are times where people around us are looking for hope and healing. Maybe you can pray with someone....maybe you can invite someone to a Christmas Eve service....Let's allow the light of Jesus to shine brightly through our lives!

in Christ,

Brian

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

A prayer by Max Lucado (as he pondered this weeks tragic event in Newtown)

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night.
This world sure seems dark.
I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off.
We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs.
Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas.
But you were born in the dark, right?
You came at night.
The shepherds were nightshift workers.
The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows.
To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark.
Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies.
Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours?
We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star.
We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,
Your Children

(I read this as I followed Max on twitter. It helped me. I hope it helped you.)

May God bring all His comfort and joy,

Joe

Big Truth in a Small Package.

Hurried....unfortunately that has described me lately. Not Hurried...that is always the case for my kids. I am so thankful for kids. Especially this time of year when I could blaze my way right through Christmas they help me to remember to stop and take in the wonder of the season. Earlier this week I was driving home with my son Joshua in the back seat. He was excited because he was playing with Daddy's tablet. He usually goes between playing a game called 'diversion' to an app that does sound effects to singing out on 'baby' with Justin Bieber.

This particular evening, as we were pulling into our neighborhood, he was playing the song '10,000 Reasons' by Matt Redman which is one of the praise songs we've been singing at StoneBridge. He started off kind of singing faintly along in the background. As we neared our home, his volume was getting steadily louder. He was singing the words, ' You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger Your name is great, and Your heart is kind For all Your goodness I will keep on singing Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.'

I was about to turn onto my street at this point but I decided to not be in a hurry that night, and I took the extra long way home so I could take in some more of my son belting out praise to his God. By the time we were about home he was on the last chorus and he was not holding back. He was unashamedly getting his praise on at the top of his lungs. The lyrics from this song come from Psalm 145. The Psalm starts off by saying, ' ...I will praise you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 I will bless you every day, and I will praise you forever. 3 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! His greatness is beyond discovery! 4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts.'

It is awesome when you get to watch the next generation grabbing hold of God for themselves in their own way. In that moment in my car, listening to truths about my God through the little voice of my 6 year old, I was able to sit back and grab a little bit of the wonder of Christmas again. These little ones are so great at rescuing us from the tyranny of the urgent and taking us to what really matters. May you be open to what God wants to show you today....the delivery may possibly come through a small package.

in Christ,

Brian

Isn't it Ironic?

There were so many snippets from studies and conversations had this week that I would love to share with y'all (a word not in my autocorrect dictionary) but I could only pick one to write about tonight.
The Indie group has started studying Crazy Love by Francis Chan so get ready to hear many excerpts from the book and subsequent topics. Something that Chan mentioned this week really stuck out to me.

"The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time." -Francis Chan, Crazy Love

Ouch.
This topic can hit a little close but it's too important to pass up on account of stepping on toes. We are coming up on a time of year full of love, joy , charity and giving. People flock to churches and family gatherings. Once a year we become so outwardly focus that, this year in particular, I'm becoming more aware of how inwardly focused we can be the other 11 months.
Did I mention stepping on toes? 'Cause it may just happen.

Christmas is our best reminder of the Son of God sent down to the world to save us. It's one of the times that we really want Him, as Chan may equate it. I know I've written about celebrating Christ' birth year-round before but the Chan quote from this week really brought it back to me. There are a couple times of the year that we all really focus on Him...but maybe we forget or become lax between those checkpoints. Whereas God constantly desires us and works to reach us!

Let's not forget the miracle of Christ after this season.
Hailey

Got a case of the iWants....

This is the time of year that many of us get a case of the "IWants"
In fact we make a list and give them to our family members.
It's actually encouraged!!!

Then with lists in hand, we go shopping for others and find things we want.
It's worse than the flu and it doesn't seem to ever go away.
The IWants is insatiable.

So why do we have the IWants?
I believe we all have that sense that something in our lives is missing.
There is a longing. We want to be satisfied.

This was on my twitter feed today.
" The want never stops so let me want You.
#todaysprayer"

We are created with the IWants.
And their purpose is so we would seek
and find a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

We will have wants.
Dream Big.
Desire God.
May He fulfill our every longing.

Joe

Psalm 42
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?

Conduits of His Grace.

On Saturday night I watched a documentary called 'Father of Lights' that through film captures God at work in people's lives around the world. It shows prominent gang leaders being transformed on the spot by God's grace. It shows a powerful witch doctor being taken captive by fear in the presence of God as an Indian pastor shows up at his house to share Christ with him. It shows a family who is wrecked by God's powerful love that goes and literally sells all their possessions and moves with their young kids to China by faith to share His love with the least of these - special needs orphans.

It shows a man going along the streets and just walking up to people to pray for them and to share the love of Jesus with them. It shows Muslims and Hindu priests being changed and transformed by the presence of God and His amazing love. What's awesome is that if you are a child of God then you are a walking billboard of God's transforming power. In you and me lives God's very Spirit and we are conduits of life changing love to the people all around us. All we have to do is step out in faith today and open our mouths and share about Jesus and His awesome love and forgiveness....and then watch God do the rest.

Take a moment and read in 1 Corinthians 5 today about the ministry that God has given us in Christ:

'14 Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves.........'

'18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others.'

May God speak loudly through your life and words today to a world that desperately needs His touch!

in Christ,

Brian

Mary's Song can be our song.

Mary responds to the angel by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Elizabeth says about Mary her relative in Luke 1:45,
"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!"

Mary believes.
Mary worships.

Bob Kauflin writes, Simply rehearsing our problems isn't worshiping God.
Recalling God's character in the midst of them is.

And that is what Mary does.
She sings a song of worship that magnifies the Lord.
This is part of her song referred to as "The Magnificat."

Mary’s Song
Luke 1: 46- 53
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,

So when the world is turned upside down, remember who God is in the middle of it all.

@matt_papa: when you truly encounter God's love, the worst trial doesn't shake you and the biggest break doesn't make you.

For Nothing is impossible with God.

Joe

Real.

Hailey shared this verse out of Romans 10 last week but I wanted to expand upon it a little bit more. It says in verse 9-10, 'Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.' What really hit me today about these verses is the words 'pretend', 'really', and 'genuine'.

The mission of StoneBridge is to lead people in a real, healthy and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Real....so much of our lives consists of acting and putting on the fake smile and constructing an image of ourselves that we think seems appropriate. As scary as it might seem we have to begin with the real person....the real state of affairs....the real questions....the real doubts....the real issues.

This idea has really hit home as I have been participating in a table group. Last night one of the couples in our group, who has participated about a year now, shared that they have truly made real friends with the members of our group and that was something they had never really done before in a church. They have gotten to be a part of real discussions full of real laughter, real tears, and real off-the-wallness at times.

I have also come to have a 'genuine affection' for each of these couples as well. I feel a freedom and an acceptance with them where I am safe to bring the real me to the table. There is an honor we hold for each other as we encourage and pray for each other. Even though the person that we all bring is maybe not what we want it to be, it is healing and encouraging to lay aside our facades. Daily, so many in the church, work tirelessly to preserve the facade while the real person inside slowly dies. That is truly a miserable way to live. So, I encourage you to take a step into 'real' community today and to leave the 'pretend' gatherings behind.

in Christ,
Brian

Suzy Homemaker.

So, I have been feeling extraordinarily and uncharacteristically crafty this week. Crafty in the domestic sort of way, not the sneaky way. Credit where credit is due; pinterest has provided endless resources. One thing I have noticed is how much fun I have when I'm making something and I'm not even really building something new, just augmenting or repurposing something.
It reminded me of something Francis Chan briefly mentioned about a worship leader at a college he frequently speaks at. When he asked her how she seemed to exude a more and more free, uninhibited, and transparent demeanor every week she answered that instead of asking God to duplicate a previous worship moment, even a great one, she instead asked God, the Creator, to create a new worship moment.
You see, we tend to compare things, objects and moments, to past ones. God doesn't even need to do that because every thing, every moment He creates is special and different than the last.

I got really distracted by crafting about halfway through writing is blog because I just got excited. If our Creator feels the same excitement that I had but magnified...well...

He is crafty indeed.
The Creator.

Oh so crafty,
Hailey

Mary or Martha Christmas.

Luke 10:39-40
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.

So I need to decide what kind of Christmas it's going to be this year.
Macy's or Mercy.
Worry or worship.
Presents or Presence.
Fractured or Focused.
(Ok enough alliteration)

Disappointment or Contentment.

Christmas season begins when we come and worship.

So this year, what will it be.......
Mary Joe or Martha Joe


Matthew 2:10-11
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

Finding The Silver Lining.

Well, it's been a wild week for my son, Joshua. Let's see: diagnosed with HSP (condition that affects the capillaries resulting in bruises, aching joints, nausea, etc (that typically lasts about 2-6 weeks)), 4 doctor visits, wearing a cast from a chipped wrist bone, woke up with a swolen eye lid that turned into a black eye after dropping a thermos on himself, swollen feet making it hard to walk, etc.

One of the other complications that this past week has brought about is that he has been out of school now for over a week which makes it tricky as Whitney and I both work. So, I have been tempted to complain and get frustrated about walking through this and figuring out what to do with Joshua every day. Yet, I decided to stop and see the silver lining in it all and to look for ways that I could give thanks during this season.

I realized that my son and I have gotten more quality time together (hanging out with me at work, going to the doctor together, etc) than just about any other time in his life. I feel like I know my son a lot better now than I did before all of this. Another cool thing is seeing others pray for Joshua, his classmates writing him get-well cards, and others asking about how he's doing. I think it's been a neat encouragement to Whitney and I and to Josh through it all.

I was reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that says, 'give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.' The truth is God is always at work. It says in John 5:17, 'Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." The real question is....will we miss God because our head is buried in our complaints? or will we see and experience God because our head is raised in gratefulness and thanks to Him?

in Christ,

Brian

Children and Celebrating Christmas.

Tonight we watched the children's musical at church. It was a wonderful performance by all.

It reminded me how much children make Christmas special. As empty nester's we are so looking forward to our first Christmas ever with a grandchild. And although she is coming up on 10 months old and is too young to understand Christmas quite yet, we will enjoy her as one of God's greatest gifts. And Christmas will be much more because of a child.

Rick Muchow writes that "childlike humility is absolutely essential to worship."

Matthew 18:3
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Today be filled with childlike awe and wonder at the gift of the Christ Child.

And remember, a baby changes everything.

Joe

Transformation in Prayer.

This last Tuesday at the Indie small group we started a video series by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love". We watched the first session even though we had not read chapter 1 of the book and, even without the reading material, it was great.
Side note: it was so good that the group that evening unanimously decided we wanted to purchase the reading material so we could go all out with this study.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
Francis spoke about prayer. More specifically he spoke about the way we approach prayer. He posed the question, "If you saw God face to face, what would the first words out of your mouth be?"

That's a good question because for a very long time, when I prayed, it was really like I was praying with closed eyes to a God who was off in the distance listening in an aloof manner. It was like prayer was a time to ask God for answers and help, which is is!
But it is so much more too!

I can recall Joe telling stories of the prayers proclaimed when he was in Zambia and how they were full of people blessing the Lord. They did not just ask of God but they also steadfastly blessed Him. I admit, it took entirely too long for this point to sink in and make a difference in my prayer life.

We pray, yes, but we don't have to limit ourselves to requests. Our time praying can be spent in prayer of blessing and honoring and glorifying and praising our King.

I'm starting to spend more time in prayer just thanking God and blessing Him and it puts my heart in a completely different place. My heart is so incredibly more able to understand His mercy and marvel at His grace. It feels like I've gone from bowing with eyes closed and turned away to standing and gazing into the eyes if my Savior as I personally tell to Him every request and petition.

I am filled with renewed inspiration and motivation to do what He calls me to do.

This week we came across a challenge within our memory verse:

Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other
-Romans 12:10

Prayerfully transforming (and loving it),
Hailey

Stoke the Fire.

So this morning I was a little melancholy. I knew that needed to spend some time in God's word, but was lacking inspiration. Fortunately I had subscribed to a 14 day devotion plan for my phone on Youversion.com by worship leader and songwriter Matt Redman. Matt wrote the song 10,000 reasons, that we used this month as our song of Thanksgiving. His devotion "fires" was "exactly" what I needed. Here it is. For more information, please visit: www.mattredman.com.


Fires by Matt Redman

“God who keeps our fires burning, burning through the darkest night.”

Sometimes life around us can develop a really negative and cynical tone. It could be a discouraging news story or a conversation about ‘what’s wrong with the world’- but you don’t have to venture too far to find a dreary outlook or hopeless mindset. As worshippers of Jesus it’s important we don’t let this attitude seep into our hearts and minds. We’re not to be escapist Christians who keep themselves from the reality of the world, and nor are we to sing a merry song over and above all the pain and noise in an attempt to ignore it or drown it out. No. We must engage with the issues of the day and run headlong into the culture around us. But at the same time we’re called to maintain a different mindset in the midst of it- never losing hope, never giving up on joy, and becoming bright-thinking worshippers, full of truth-filled optimism.

That’s exactly why I love Psalm 18 so much. Towards the beginning of the psalm it’s clear that the writer is not living an easy or hassle-free existence. But still his confidence is in God:

“You O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (v.28)

Apply that bright-thinking to our own life today- and let it infuse confidence into all the challenges that may be facing you. God will keep your fires burning, and He will keep the dreams alive.
Psalms 18:28
Thanks to Matt as God's provision to encourage my heart today. I hope you were strengthened as I was.

Joe

Jesus of Nazareth.

Yesterday I was reading In John 1 and came across this story about Jesus encountering Nathanael that reads, "43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Come, be my disciple." 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter's hometown. 45 Philip went off to look for Nathanael and told him, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from there?" "Just come and see for yourself," Philip said. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, "Here comes an honest man -- a true son of Israel."

I find this interaction intriguing. Philip meets Jesus and believes that He is the Messiah. He goes to find his friend Nathanael to share the great news and Nathanael does not respond very enthusiastically at first. He initially struggles in seeing Jesus as the Messiah because of the word 'Nazareth'. To the Jewish people, to be from Nazareth, was to be from the wrong side of the tracks. Yet that is what God does in the incarnation. Perfect and holy God chooses to identify with the least of these. He chooses to feel the sting of being the butt of everyone's jokes. That is why He is our perfect high priest who knows our pain and struggles.

Even in the midst of Nathanael's judgment of Jesus, Jesus declares Nathanael an honest man. Nathanael seems to be the guy who just shares what's really in his heart and doesn't just tell you what he thinks you want to hear. Nathanael honestly had difficulty with Jesus the first time he met him. But what I love about Nathanael is that he was willing to go and meet Jesus himself before writing Him off completely. Once Nathanael meets Jesus, his life is changed forever. I also love Philip's role in this story. He was that person who wouldn't give up on his lost friend and was able to love his friend through his struggles to believe. Eventually he experienced the joy of introducing his friend to Jesus.

Maybe you know a Nathanael today who is searching but struggling with Jesus. Maybe today is a day to pray for them and maybe even reach out to them through a phone call or a get together and lovingly lead them towards a life-changing encounter with Christ.

in Christ,

Brian

Act of Marriage - Put on Love.

As Brian shared about how marriage can be like cultivating a garden, I thought about how exciting it is when the harvest comes in. How a good crop produces vegetables and fruit that are both beautiful and delicious. I have even seen artwork depicting a cornucopia of different fruits and vegetables. There is great satisfaction and celebration when the harvest finally comes in.

However, there is a great deal of strategic and arduous work that precedes the harvest. The "fruit of one's labour" is preceded by action and lots of it.

@RickWarren writes, "Don't wait for inspiration to create action. Let your action create inspiration."

That if we choose to speak kind words, we will begin to feel more kind.

That if we will act in a loving way, our hearts will begin to feel a greater love.

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Put in Love.

Sometimes when I put on some new clothes, I just feel energized. Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with all these virtues and most of all to put on love. Action then feeling. So that's what mature love is. A love that works first, then is swept into the powerful emotion of love by the very momentum of it's on action.

Great work if you can get it,

Joe

Still Grateful (Even if it's Friday)

Well today is Friday or more well-known as Black Friday. By the time you are reading this people have already been shopping the deals all through the night. I would like to linger upon Thanksgiving a little bit more. I think that Thanksgiving is a concept that should be a part of every day. Can we ever be grateful enough? I am grateful that God has adopted me as His son. I am grateful that He gives me wisdom when I ask.

I am grateful to have a Bible that I can read and understand. I am grateful to have had men throughout my life who have taught me the Scriptures and challenged me to be a godly man. I am grateful for a church family who supports me and encourages me. I am grateful that God will direct my path when I trust in Him. I am grateful that God is my creator, my provider, my healer, my shepherd, my rock, my refuge, my king, my comforter, and my father. I am grateful that God is my ever present help in time of need.

I am grateful that God Himself resides in me through His Spirit. I am grateful that He gives me strength when I am weak. I am grateful that when He calls me, He also will equip me. I am grateful that in Him is joy, peace and life. I am grateful that He is my portion and that He is enough for me. I am grateful that He gives me living water. I am grateful that He gives me abundant life.

I am grateful that only in Him do I understand real love. I am grateful that He is incredibly patient with me and slow to anger. I am grateful that I am His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works. I am grateful to be get to be a small part of His plan in rescuing a lost world.



Grateful today,
Brian

Thanksgiving.

We've been singing 10,000 Reasons a lot recently. It has been a great song to keep in mind as we celebrate Thanksgiving today, especially in the second verse where it recounts just a few things about God, Himself, that we can be grateful for and yet how many more things we can find a reason to be thankful.

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all of Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find

I know it seems a bit cliche, but today before you dive into your feast and before you ask the Lord to bless the rich meal, why not think of one thing that you can be really thankful for. 10,000 is a lot to list out but coming up with just a handful can be easy.

I'm thankful for a merciful God that loves me even through all my mistakes, and for the many gifts he has given me.
I'm thankful for being blessed with a beautiful family and precious friends that mean just as much to me.
I'm thankful that I live in a place where I can unashamedly represent my God everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Hailey

Who are you going to agree with?

Bob Kauflin writes, "Satan uses the reality of our sin to condemn & make us hopeless. The Spirit uses it to convict and point us to Christ.

Our sin is real. So who do we agree with?

Do we remain under condemnation and hopelessness, leading to despair?

Do we minimize sins importance and in doing so trivialize the sacrifice Jesus' made on the cross?

Or do we acknowledge our sin, confess it and receive, once again, the grace of the Faithful One, Jesus Christ?

1 John 2:1-2
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

May all truth point us to Christ, even the truth of our own weakness and propensity to wander.

In His Grip,
Joe

Which version will you choose?

How deep does our trust in Christ go? We are all somewhere along that continuum. On Sunday we were discussing Mark 8 in our Sunday morning classes. in verses 34-35 Jesus says to the disciples and the crowd, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.'

So basically following Jesus is surrendering our own version of how we want our life to go and accepting God's version of our life. It also means that we have to carry a cross of shame and suffering just like Jesus did. Lastly it means that our highest aim and motive in all we do is that Jesus would be lifted up and the gospel would go forth. What if we asked ourself this question everytime we made a decision: 'which decision will bring more glory to Jesus and more progress for the gospel?'

I pray that you and me will take another step deeper into this life today. May we dare to enter into the awesome and powerful and dangerous life that God has prepared for us. May we not settle for the plastic, comfortable and 'safe' life that our flesh tries to pull us towards.

In Christ,

Brian

Sweet Release.

Today's blog is by my sister-in-law Carol Maddrey McKinney. It was her facebook post last night.

Today I watched a little girl, oh about 7 years old, go down to the altar to pray.

When she finished a few moments later, she skipped back to her seat.

If only we adults could leave our burdens like that.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you: he will never let the righteous fail." Psalm 55:22

Believe it, then skip back to your seat.

Joe

The Cornerstone is also the Rock of Stumbling.

I am excited also about the new song Cornerstone that Hailey wrote about yesterday. I was reading yesterday in 1 Peter 2. In there it speaks of Jesus not only as the Cornerstone but as the Rock that causes people to fall or the Stumbling Block to those who do not believe (1 Peter 2:8). Listen to these words, '4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.'

I love that....'rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him...' As we come to Jesus as our Living Stone and Cornerstone our lives are transformed. Our lives truly do become part of Him and His family and His righteousness covers us. We become His people and we receive mercy instead of judgment because of the cross. Indeed in Christ, we also are chosen by God and precious to him as His children.

But....just like Him we are called to be on display and be subjected to the rejection of men. Just like Noah built the ark in the middle of town out where everyone could see and mock this follwer of God, we are called to let our light shine that we 'may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light.' (1 Peter 2:9b) As we live for Him, speak of Him, sing about Him some will believe and some will mock.

When our lives are built on shifting sand, we are unable to handle the rejection of men. When our lives are built on the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ, then we are able to stand up when we are slandered and falsely accused, because our identity and purpose are eternally secure in Jesus. So I encourage you today to let your mind and soul receive the blessings that are yours in Christ, so that, when the curses of men come at you they will pale in comparison.

in Christ,

Brian

Cornerstone.

I am crazy excited about a new song we are going to sing this week.
Crazy.
Excited.
The song is called "Cornerstone" and it is actually a repurposing, if you will, of an old hymn and is featured on the newest Hillsong Live album.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' name

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's blood
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne


Oh, how I wish so badly that I could just sing those words to you right now. The very first line is so powerful, "my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness". But as poignant as that is I think my favorite is actually verse 3 where it says, "when He shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in Him be found". How I so desperately want to be found in Christ. When those trumpets call out I hope I'm standing with hands raised and praise flowing from my lips.

Sometimes worship gets so deep and so personal and so overwhelming that it hurts, physically even. But it is the most beautiful feeling accompanied by the most AWEsome knowledge of eternal salvation.
Here is a link to the video of is song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrk-erhDdk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Let us not be silent. Let us praise our God.

Psalm 30:12 that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Let us commit is verse to memory this week.


In Him I am found,
Hailey

Powerless. (guest blog by Greg Johnson, founder and CEO of The David Project)

(http://thedavidproject.com/)

I am the least handy person I know. No, really. A few years ago, I took my car to Goodyear because one of my tail lights was out. I asked them if they could fix it. Of course, they said they could. Then I asked, “Should I leave it with you or wait?” They looked puzzled by my question, which I didn’t understand. They said I could wait. It took them about 2 minutes, which was a clue that it may not have been quite as difficult as I suspected. So, not only am I not handy, I’m not too smart either. $10 for a $1.49 replacement bulb confirms that fact.

Last weekend, I was changing out a light socket that was broken in one of the girl’s rooms. I took the cover off and started poking around with a screwdriver. Yvonne kept saying, “Go turn the power off before you do that.” Oh please – I’m a man!!! As she was telling me that about the 5th time, I hit it with the screwdriver just right and sparks literally bolted from the outlet. So, even though the thing was broken, I learned a “powerful” lesson. There was still current flowing in and around the outlet, it just needed to be harnessed so it could function correctly. And I peed exactly one drop.

I think my walk with Christ has often mirrored that broken outlet – ridiculous power available, but I either refuse, or don’t even realize that I need to make the necessary adjustments to harness it. Paul talks about that very thing in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 3. He uses the phrase, “…having a form of godliness, but denying its power…” (v5) That sums up a lot of what I see in Christianity today, especially in Western culture. Miraculous things are happening by God’s power all over the world every day – healings, dreams and visions – but we don’t see it much in our culture. Why? Well, there many reasons, but probably the biggest one is that we are satisfied just looking enough like Jesus to satisfy our “church peeps” but are too emboldened to the world to really effectively access the power of God. In short, we want enough of God to make us feel better about ourselves, but not enough of him to really change our lives, and consequently, the lives of those around us. Accessing the power available is in direct correlation to the time we spend practicing Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Often, I don’t want to go there, because I am afraid of what it might cost me. And so I sit, a broken outlet on the wall; Lots of power waiting to be accessed, but in desperate need of repair to be used for the purpose intended.

I’m no rocket scientist, but Paul obviously knew there was incredible power accessible to ALL of us. In fact, his leader, Jesus, said in the book of John: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…” (14:12) He goes on to tell his disciples that he is sending a helper, the Holy Spirit, to help them access the power. So, if I am truly a follower of Jesus, and through him have the power of the all-knowing, all-powerful God living inside of me, but live a powerless existence, then something is wrong. Either I have embraced inaccurate doctrine or I am satisfied with just enough to get by. It’s sad either way. The good news is, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! Get rid of the broken things in your life that are hindering the flow of the current of the power of God, embrace what Jesus himself said – that through him we can do even greater things than he himself did – and you’ll be SHOCKED by the results (pun intended). According to Jesus, there MUST be more than this…

By the way, in case you were wondering, I didn’t get electrocuted and I successfully replaced the outlet. Turns out Goodyear doesn’t make house calls

The scars that remain.

Yesterday as I was driving to work I was listening to an essay written by a 17 year old girl about veterans. It was a powerful writing because it dared to enter into the brutal realites of those who have had to go off to war. It reminded me that those who have served our country, even if they survive, are truly never the same. There are scars, wounds, losses, lost friends, and haunting flashbacks that they continue to bear the rest of their days. It is impossible to do what they do and return back to normal as if nothing happened.

Jesus went to war against sin and death. He walked into a brutal camp of Roman soldiers and a mob that was taunting Him and crying out for His death. He endured sleeplessness, misery, taunting, physical pain after physical pain, and eventually death. Just like our veterans, Jesus will never be able to shake the scars of His war on sin. In fact, in God's final kingdom, we will all have new bodies that are perfect and free of scars and blemishes, except one person, Jesus Christ.

Forever, Jesus will bear the scars from that one day back in history when a roman soldier hammered nails through his feet and hands. He will forever bear the scar of a sword through His side. He will forever be seen as the 'Lamb, looking as if it had been slain' (Revelation 5:6). That is the cost of freedom. So maybe a gift we give to veterans and to Jesus is the gift of grateful lives. Let's not take the freedom they have fought to give us for granted. Let's live honorably and well. As it says in Philippians 1:27, "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.'

Grateful,

Brian

Put the beauty of God on display.

John Piper writes, "Suppose that you were standing by the Grand Canyon at sunset with two other people. You become deeply moved and utter the words, "This is beautiful; this is glorious." The person beside you says, "Beautiful? It's just a big, ugly ditch." And the third person says, "I guess I hear what both of you are saying. And I think those are equally valid statements."

What?
Seriously?
So is beauty entirely subjective?
Is it only in the eye of the beholder?

I believe beauty existed in eternity past and that it originates in God and from God and that He is the standard by which all beauty is measured. To know God is to experience beauty in it's purest form.

King David knew this truth and experienced it personally.
He wrote, One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple. Psalms 27:4

When we experience the beauty of God, our response will be one of wonder and worship.

Hope you have a beautiful day.
A day of wonder and worship,

Joe

Washing Horses.

This week a couple of friends of mine are out of town so I am taking care of their animals. It is a menagerie of characters and I love it.
Monday, after a nice ride in the afternoon, I decide to give the horses a good bath. Well, about 2 horses in I realized that after I put them back into the pasture they were promptly rolling in the dirt and becoming filthy. I had gone to all that effort to tie them up and clean them, wipe them down and make the dogs leave them alone through the whole ordeal. And then they just go and get dirty like I hadn't done a thing. How ungrateful.
But I really couldn't help but think, "Isn't this what we do time and time again?"

We get dirty and covered in our sin, God comes along and lovingly wipes us clean.
Then, whether we do so intentionally or not, we wander off and get covered in dirt again.
And God, ever faithful, cleans us every time.

I'll tell you that there are 5 dirty horses and I don't have plans to clean them. I decided that was more work than I wanted to expend on a task I knew they would prove to be futile.
But I am thankful God doesn't feel that way. And no matter how dirty we get we can always come back to Him and be made clean.
Beautiful.


Washed clean,
Hailey

Living Hope.

As I post this, the election is undecided.

But before I enjoy a peaceful sleep, I want to share a thought.
As I scrolled through my social media, I saw this from Rick Warren, he tweeted,

"Our hope is not in the man we put in the White House,
But in the Man we put on the cross."

My hope is in the One, who I put on the cross. An amazing thought and even more an amazing love.

Romans 5:8 Paul writes, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Through Christ Jesus, we have a Living Hope.

Peter writes, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4

I'm reminded of the line from the great hymn,

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

King Jesus.

With Hope,

Joe

Election Day.

Today is election day. Today is a day that we have the privilege to go and cast our vote for the men and women who we feel will lead our country the best. Today is a day that we get to be a part of entrusting power and authority to others who will make decisions and help pass laws that will impact all of us negatively or positively. At the end of today we will all receive the news regarding who will be leading our nation for the next four years. With that in mind, I was reflecting on a couple of scriptures that I think are particularly relevant on this Tuesday:

'1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.'- Romans 13:1....So no matter who wins today, God is ultimately the One who gives authority and takes it away.

'1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth' - 1 Timothy 2:1-4...So whoever holds the office of president tomorrow night, we need to be praying for them and not preying upon them, and asking God that they might lead our country well.

Also, let's remember that no matter what happens today, the hope of the world is not a government, but it is the church. Jesus said that He 'will build His church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.' (Matthew 16:18b). So go and vote today....Go and pray today....Go and be the light today and trust in the One who holds everything in His hand and remember that history is 'His Story'.

in Christ,

Brian

People In Love Do Crazy Things.

I actually have heard people say, it's okay to be a Christian, just don't get too excited about it.

C.S. Lewis writes, "Christianity, if false is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."

I would say that if we truly love God there should be some obsessive, inexplicable behavior in our lives.
There should be some "over the top" behavior,
such as giving to the poor, or going on a mission trip, or serving at a homeless shelter.
Or reading the "whole" bible in a year, or praying out loud everyday, on your knees.
Or fasting, or teaching a bible study......in a prison.
Or moving to China to be a missionary, or giving away a car, or sponsoring multiple orphans, or adopting one into your home.
Or visiting a shut in everyday, or paying for someone's college who is not your child, or giving your annual bonus to help build an orphanage. Or giving your lunch to a fellow student who has none.
Or paying "all" of your taxes.......

I know that people in love do extravagant things. I was talking to a fellow worship pastor this weekend. I had heard that he had sold his beautiful hand made Collings acoustic guitar. I have been looking at buying one, but they are on the pricey side.
This guitar was worth more than my first three cars. (That says something about the quality of my first three cars) He said yes he did sell it, to buy his wife's engagement ring. That must be some ring.

I am reminded of two parables Jesus taught in Matthew's gospel.
Matthew 13:44-45
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Jesus' love was and is extravagant.

So let's be a little crazy today. In response to such love.

Joe

Hallelujah.....הַלְלוּ-יָהּ

Hallelujah is one of the words we sing alot in worship songs but what does it mean? It is a Hebrew word found primarily in the Psalms and it occurs 24 times in the Old Testament. It literally means, praise Yahweh. Yahweh is the name that God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14-15, "14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " 15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation."

It's a pretty amazing thought that as we sing 'Hallelujah', we are using the same word the ancient Israelites used thousands of years ago. It is a word that links us to the great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us. For generation after generation, Yahweh has been opening hearts to Him and His unfailing love and men and women and children have been singing His praises. In 'Hallelujah' both 'praise' and 'Yahweh' combine to make one word. Truly 'praise' and 'Yahweh' are inseparable. You can't really know Yahweh and not praise Him. His character and His works are beautiful and awe-inspiring. So as we sing 'Hallelujah' on Sunday, let's sing it out loud and not hold back. This is our moment, we are the generation that will continue the chain of praise and we will not be quiet. We will praise our God and one day pass that praise on to those who will follow behind us....Hallelujah!

in Christ,

Brian

The Good Life.

In the Ladies bible study covering James we have been challenged day after day and week after week by the words of James in his letter. Talk about conviction, James does not mince words. We came up with two words that would sum up the book and that was, "Live it."

One topic we dissected was "What is the good life".
James 3:13. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
I think my favorite point that Beth Moore made was that it is a life full of mercy. A couple definitions of mercy are "alleviation of distress" and "a disposition to be kind and forgiving".

I like to take this as a challenge to serve people better, to show that love and mercy attitude on a daily basis. And it doesn't have to be anything huge! The other day I stopped to get coffee because I knew I wouldn't make it through my lessons without the caffeine. As I got to the window to pay for my drink I discovered that someone else had already taken care of the charge. Not a big thing, a coffee I could easily afford, but what an unexpected blessing. Just that one event has inspired me to seek out ways to be a blessing to others even just in small ways that aren't overly extravagant. The smaller it is the more personal it can feel.


Let your loving and merciful attitude shine through your day.
Get creative!
Go out and be a blessing.

Hailey

Awesome (Guest Blog by Greg Johnson) Founder of the David Project

Thanks to my friend Greg Johnson for his guest blog today. Greg is a coach for worship leaders and a consultant to church worship ministries nationwide. Check out their website at thedavidproject.com)

The word AWESOME has emerged as an accepted adjective for all things good. I use it liberally. For instance, there is a burger place in our city called The Counter. Have you ever had one of their hamburgers? Are they AWESOME? Litmus test: Do I have “reverential respect” for them? The new Taken movie - Is it AWESOME? It certainly inspires fear, but mixed with reverence? Did you hear the new Mumford and Sons album? AWESOME? Well, it inspires wonder, as in I wonder why so many people like them. Sorry, just keeping it real.

Unfortunately, because the word has become so commonplace, its meaning is
diminished. In fact, Jesus probably falls into that category. First of all, He tends to fall in a list of things from a good hamburger to a great new song. Second, we have culturally created a perception of Jesus as our friend, buddy, homeboy, in an effort to make him relevant and attractive to the world around us. News flash: He doesn’t need your help to make him seem relevant– in fact, if you look up AWESOME in the dictionary, his picture is right there! As leaders, we have a responsibility to help our people understand the real nature of Jesus. Here are a few AWESOME attributes to help stoke the fire.

1. Jesus is God. He is not simply God’s son. He is God. Colossians 1:15 says that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” That means that Jesus is the full embodiment of God himself. In fact, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the “exact representation of the Father.” Jesus himself said over and over that if you see him, you see the Father. Contrast that with other world religions. Mohammed – just a man. Buddha – just a man. Confucius – just a man. Jesus – fully man, but fully GOD. Here is the point: Jesus is not our homeboy, worthy of friendship – He is our God and worthy of worship. That’s magnificent, wondrous, astonishing - AWESOME!

2. Jesus is Creator. Again, in Colossians 1, Paul states, “By Him (Jesus) all things were created…” Let that sink in for a sec. If Jesus created it all, then Genesis takes on a whole new meaning to me. Who said, “Let there be light?” Jesus. Who said, “Let us make man in our image?” Jesus. Who walked with Adam in the garden? Jesus. That’s mind-blowing, staggering, amazing - AWESOME!

3. Jesus is Lord. Paul goes on to say that Jesus is over all things, “…whether power or rulers or authorities…” Translated: Jesus has no equal. Period. A common misunderstanding pits Jesus against Satan. You know, Jesus is on the right (a blonde hair, blue-eyed republican) while Satan is on the left, in an epic battle for supremacy of the universe. (It’s a joke people! Keep reading.) Biblically speaking, however, the enemies of Jesus are his “footstool.” (Mt.22:43-44). Jesus has complete and utter supremacy of the universe. He is Lord! We can wrangle over political positions on facebook for the next few weeks until we are blue, or red, in the face, but Jesus is still Lord over it all. That’s formidable, imposing, overwhelming – AWESOME!

So, this weekend, as we convene in our houses of worship, let’s seek to re-capture the true nature of AWESOME-ness as we focus on JESUS, our God, Creator and Lord. And, by the way, The Counter does have REALLY GOOD burgers.

Today is the Day.

In Hebrews chapter 3 it says, '12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily,as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.' Everyday the Devil, working with the distractions of the world and the lusts of the flesh, is attempting to lure us away from God's path (just like he has been doing throughout history since Eden).

We have a critical role to play in this drama and that is the role of the encourager in another person's life. There is someone you know today that is being crushed by lies about their worth and identity that needs a timely word of truth in love from you. There is someone today that is allowing their heart to be enticed by sinful pleasures and desires that just needs a word from you that reminds them of who they are and that there is no real life outside of our Heavenly Father (just like the prodigal son discovered).

I love the word 'Today' in this verse. Today is the day to encourage for tomorrow may be too late. In Proverbs 3 it says, '27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you.' So if the Lord puts someone on your heart today then don't delay but give them that encouragement!

in Christ,

Brian

Grateful.

Last night we ended our concert of worship expressing our grattitude to God and singing '10000 reasons for my heart to find' to bless and thank the Lord. Grattitude is the only logical response to the extravagant love and forgiveness that God has given us through the cross. I am a parent now of a 6 year old boy and an 8 year old daughter. It seems like most of the money we make goes straight to my kids in the form of extra curricular activities, food, clothes, and countless other things. Being a parent has made me even more grateful for my own parents. I realize that there is no way I could ever possibly pay them back for the all the money they have spent on me in my lifetime. The best gift I can give them is a sincere thank you and acknowledgement of the sacrifice they have poured out to raise me well.

The same is true with God. I love the lyric from the song 'Here I am to worship' where it says, 'And I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins up on that cross.' It is true. We could never possibly pay God back for what Jesus purchased for us at the cross. Jesus completely paid for our entire sin debt. Through the scourging and the nails, He was paying for every careless word I've spoken, every evil thought I've generated in my mind and every hurtful action I've done with my body. Truly, 'Jesus paid it all' and I have paid nothing. I have contributed exactly zero percent to my salvation and right standing with a holy God. I can therefore take exactly zero percent credit. The only appropriate response to such extravagant love and forgiveness is extravagant gratefulness and humility. So let us go out today as a grateful people exalting our great and mighty God!

in Christ,
Brian

Bless The Lord.

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, oh my soul
Worship His holy name

When interviewed about one of his newest songs Matt Redman described the difference between God blessing us and us blessing the Lord by restating John Piper's summation that,

"when God ‘blesses’ us we are in a sense being added to, and having our lives enriched. But of course when we say we “bless the Lord,” it’s different; we’re not adding to God or enriching Him in any way, we are simply recognizing his richness and bounty, and expressing our thanks and praise for it."

This particular song is based on Psalm 103 as it attempts to list the many reasons we have to thank and bless the Lord for all His mercies and the grace He shows us.

Psalm 103:1
Bless the Lord, O my soul
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!


I hope you are prepared to come worship in numbers tonight.
I hope you are unprepared to come worship tonight but that you do and God does something incredible in your heart anyway.


10,000 reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord,
Hailey

3 C.S. Lewis Quotes on Worship.

As I prepare myself for the Concert of Worship this Thursday night at StoneBridge, I was doing a search for great quotes on worship.

Once again, I was struck by the brilliance and simplicity of C.S Lewis

Here are the three quotes that jumped out at me.

1. " We are not bodies with souls, but rather souls with bodies."

We must feed the soul. It requires great nourishment.

Our problem, as C.S. Lewis said, is "not that we desire too much, but that we desire too little. Our appetites are not too big; they’re too small."
(oops, guess that makes 4 C.S Lewis quotes)

The appetites of our bodies are small in comparison to the passion that is required to satisfy our souls. Our souls are meant for eternity and only the Eternal God can fill us.

Psalms 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Isaiah 26:9
My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgments come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness.

2. "It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men."

Jesus said, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am in their midst. As we gather this Thursday for worship, it is so God can more completely reveal Himself to us, as we celebrate His presence together.

A bonfire burns powerfully, providing much light and warmth to a great many people.

3. The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in
God which made David dance."

Psalms 35:9-10a
Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, Lord?

Psalms 37:4
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This week I look forward to expressing "delight" in the Lord.
Like the Psalmist, with whole being I want to exclaim, "Who is like the Lord?"

Look out, I may put on my dancing shoes.

Joe

A Long Journey.

Whitney and I are about 6 months or so into our adoption journey. Already I have a whole new appreciation for anyone who has adopted a child for sure. Some of the events on our timeline have included making the decision to adopt, filling out initial paperwork, going through phone interviews, communicating our decision to friends and family, getting medical work done, filling out more and more paperwork, trusting God for finances, getting fingerprinted, spending 4 hours in pscycological evaluation, spending 4 hours in our homestudy, and of course doing more paperwork and fundraising. All of this and we are still in the beginning stages of this whole process. How amazing it will be after all of this planning, praying, and sacrificing to finally one day in the future get to that point where we pick this little orphan up in our arms and say welcome home my child.

I love what it says in Ephesians 1, "4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure" In other words, before God even created the world His plan was to adopt us as His forever children. I think our journey to adopting a child is long but it is nothing compared to God's plan to adopt us. Over thousands of years God was going through His adoption journey which included calling Abraham, giving him a child, raising up a special people for Himself, patiently enduring their errant ways, graciously giving His law and prophets to speak for Him, and eventually sending His perfect Son into the world as a baby to live for 33 years in a human body and ultimately to suffer beyond words by laying His own life down. This is what God planned and endured to complete our adoption so that He could pick you and me up as orphans and through Christ say, 'Welcome home my child.'

in Christ,

Brian

p.s. On a final note, Whitney and I want to say thankyou for many who have supported us along this journey and donated items for the garage sale this past Saturday. We invite you to follow along in our journey at our blog at http://bwejdunn.blogspot.com/ and if you can come hang out with us on Oct 27th (6-9 PM) for an adoption fundraising party for us and the Bramletts at the Bridge (StoneBridge Student Building).

The Best Part of the Day.

Today, as people were coming to church, the flood gates opened. It was a torrential down pour. In North Carolina, where I'm from, we would call it, "a toad strangler."

Quite a few folks just couldn't make it to church. Some streets were literally closed by police. However, for the one's that did make it to the parking lot, now the goal becomes getting into the church, without looking like they just came out of the Jordan river in their Sunday best.

So the church's porte-cochère was in full use, as people dropped off their families, then parked the car. Some had brought umbrellas, some not.

I stationed myself with a few others, opening car doors, helping with young kids, handing out "loaner" umbrella's. All while the rain is pouring down. The pace was frenetic, with a long line of cars, but everyone was cheerful and happy to help each other.

As I reflect on what was a great day, (apart from the Texans having a tough night)
I really enjoyed most the time spent helping folks get into the church as dry as possible.

I was reminded of this quote, "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve.”
― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I Here for?

Rick had it so right, the more other focused I am, the happier I become. Perhaps a little ironically, as I ran in from the car line to do the Sunday "welcome," Brian was leading the song "Happy Day."

When we serve Christ and others, it really is, a happy day!

Joe

Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. ’
Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. ’

Are You Ready For The Moment?

You know all it takes is one moment to change everything. Sometimes that change is negative. I think about the moments in my life when I have snapped and said something I deeply regret to someone I care about. I think about the moments when I've made a decision too hastily without waiting on God for wisdom and direction, and as a result, I live with painful consequences. Sometimes the change is positive. I think about those moments when I've responded to a nudge from God and prayed with someone or shared a word of encouragement or turned the TV off and gave my undivided attention and listening ear to someone. In those moments, God's presence sweeps over the situation bringing the life of His Spirit.

In Colossians 4:2-5 it says, '2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.' Paul saw the power of each moment that God gave him. He saw each moment as an opportunity to share the message of Jesus with someone. He saw each moment as a chance to display the love of Christ to that person who was watching him and was skeptical about Christians. He saw each moment as a chance to use his words to build others up and not tear them down.

I need to be prepared today for the moments God brings me. The starting point is realizing that on my own, I will blow it. Left to myself, I will crack under pressure. I desperately need God to help me today to represent Him well. I need to devote myself to prayer....dependent prayer...one step at a time...so I am watchful and thankful. In this state of mind, I will be ready when the moment comes.

In Christ,
Brian

Concert of Worship.

Things are really beginning to get busy around the office as we enter the final stretch of preparation for our Fall Concert of Worship. There are lights to be programmed, backgrounds to be picked, and rehearsals to be had. But in the midst of all that I know that I'm not the only one who is already super excited about a night full of worship.
One of the so songs we will sing this weekend as well as at the concert is Great I Am. Here's a powerful image from the song
The mountains shake before Him
The demons run and flee
At the mention of the name
King of majesty

James2:19
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe- and shudder!

October 18 we have to opportunity to rally together to loudly proclaim the majesty, glory and honor of the great I Am and learn about the missions projects going on to serve His people.

I hope you're warming up your voices
Hailey

CALLING - Guest Blog by Greg Johnson, Founder of the David Project.

(Thanks to my friend Greg Johnson for his guest blog today. Greg is a coach for worship leaders and a consultant to church worship ministries nationwide. Check out their website at thedavidproject.com)

CALLING. This is a word tossed around in the church world frequently today. You hear it a lot in the phrase, “I feel called to…” The problem is, it has replaced the phrase “I want to…” for spiritual effect. I can actually hear Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride proclaiming, “You keep using that word … I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Let me clarify – when I speak of calling, I am talking about the spiritual urging by God toward a specific purpose. This is not to be confused by the “callings” of our culture, pursuing a purpose that looks like a spiritual calling, but really only serves the flesh, which is actually a “wanting.” I have had several conversations recently with young worship leaders that feel “called” to a traveling worship ministry, and the fame and notoriety that goes with it. One worship leader actually responded to my question about their call to ministry with, “You know, I feel called to a ministry like Tomlin and Crowder.” My thought was, “Who wouldn’t feel called to that?” Looking back on my ministry career, I totally get the draw toward the road, but I’m not sure that it is a “calling” as much as a “wanting.” Added to that, there is also a huge trend toward embracing the culture as worship leaders, meaning our speech and conduct tend to mirror our culture more than mirroring the way of Jesus. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, and I’m not sure that it’s what God called us to be as leaders or people. So, here a few questions to help qualify a Godly calling in your life.
1. Who is doing the calling? It’s pretty simple. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) If you are not in daily, transforming relationship with Jesus, spending unhurried time with him, don’t kid yourself. God will not call you to do something for Him if you are not intimate with Him. Because modern worship has become so popular today, our culture has set the criteria for the calling: musical gifting, killer hair, quirky charisma and swag apparel. That is a calling … to ROCK STARDOM. The X factor in worship leading is Jesus. So, if you aren’t going to spend daily time with Jesus, get out now and save yourself heartache and/or embarrassment when you are exposed. Trust me, I’ve been there, and I don’t recommend it. Look at it this way; somewhere, there’s a cover band looking for a vocalist with your mad skills…
2. Who will benefit from this calling? Simply put, it’s not about you. Humility is the number one trait of a worship leader called by God, which means less you, more Jesus. If your “calling” is all wrapped up in furthering your career, getting your name out there, then God may use you for a season, but it will only be to serve His purposes, and it will likely be short-lived. Maximus, in the movie Gladiator, says it well to Commodus: “The time for honoring yourself will soon come to an end.” Here’s one way to test the calling: Is the spiritual call so strong that you have to pursue it, regardless of financial gain or wide exposure? If so, this means there is no opportunity, or gig, beneath you. In fact, if you feel called to be a worship leader or player, yet you never give of yourself sacrificially (unpaid), then you are likely living out a “wanting.” I hear the verse, “A man is worthy of his hire” (1Timothy 5:18) used as the standard for compensation. That’s true, but being paid as a worship leader or player should be viewed as a privilege, not an expectation. If God wants you to be paid, He will open those doors – He doesn’t need your help to make that happen. Can worship leading be a career? Of course, but that is completely up to God, not you. Faithfully serve whenever and wherever the opportunity arises, with a servant’s heart, and God will honor it. Unfortunately, that attitude is fairly uncommon in the worship world today, but very attractive and refreshing, so you’ll likely be busier living out your calling than you ever dreamed. Remember, God is no respecter of geography – He is at work in the church of 200 and the church of 2000, and there are a ton more of the former than the latter. He is at work in the grass hut and the convention center. If the Godly calling is there, it may or may not involve an arena filled with worship-crazed young people.

3. What will this calling cost me? Again, in the words of Jesus, “If anyone is going to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) A call to follow Jesus is a call to die. In every way. It is a call to personal holiness. A call away from compromise. We are ALL called to personal holiness, but ESPECIALLY those who call themselves leaders. This is where I missed the mark for a very long time. A couple of years ago, I had few boundaries with regard to my speech (off-color jokes, cussing), my eyes (what I watched or looked at) and my ears (what I listened to), all of which affected my heart. I routinely justified it all in the name of relevance. However, Jesus didn’t call me to be relevant, he called me to be like him. Please don’t check out here. This is not about legalism - it is about authenticity and leadership. If your personal life doesn’t mirror your stage persona, then it is falsehood and people know it. If your relationship with Christ is not moving you toward a life of personal holiness, it is powerless and ineffective. Am I saying that living out a Godly calling means you can’t get your “slur” on, tell dirty jokes and go see The Campaign this weekend? Yes, that is what I’m saying. It is the price of being a Godly leader. A Godly calling will likely fly in the face of cultural relevance and force you to make some decisions about who you are going to be. The way of Jesus is the narrow path; the road less traveled. Here’s the deal: you can do whatever you want – you just can’t do it and follow Jesus. It’s the difference between living out a cultural calling versus a Godly calling.

Those are just a few thoughts on the subject of calling. I need to underscore that I share from the standpoint of one who lived out “cultural calling” for many years. God has only captured my heart on this subject over the last year or so. There’s a lot more to say, but I’ll stop here and let you join the discussion. How does this track with you? How do you define Godly calling, and how are you living it out?

The Good Confession.

I loved getting to celebrate with so many this past Sunday as kids, youth and adults came forward to be baptized. Baptism is a powerful moment in your life because it is a moment of going public with your faith and confessing Jesus before others. The Bible says that we are to not be ashamed of Jesus. Once we make that decision and we let others know about it, we are marked people. We now accept the blessings of Christ and the persecution that the world will bring at us just like it persecuted Jesus.

In Paul's first letter to Timothy in chapter 6 he writes, "12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." So for us who have repented of our sins and been baptized into our new life that is hidden in Christ, we need to be ready to put on our armor today and to take hold of the eternal life given to us. Right before this verse Paul is warning Timothy about how the love of money is the root of all evil. Today, let's remember our confession before others, and be different from the world. Let's be people who love God and not money and who are ready and prepared to stand firm and not be moved for the cause of Christ.

in Christ,
Brian

The Local Church.

Bill Hybels, pastor of Willowcreek Church in Chicago, always says that 'the local church is the hope of the world.' First of all, what is the local church? The local church is not sitting in your pajamas watching TV church on Sunday morning. The local church is a physical gathering of Christ-followers. The local church is more than just attending a service but it becomes more about belonging to a family. A local church that is submitted to Christ as the head becomes the place where people's lives do a 180. People go from selfish ambitions and living to finding their place in God's kingdom work where they get to invest their lives in a bigger and more beautiful way than they ever could have dreamed.

I have the privilege of being one of the pastors here at StoneBridge and in Ephesians 4 it lays out the requirements of my job. It says, '12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.' So the great privilege and responsibility I have is following Christ's lead to equip and empower the people of StoneBridge to find their place here and truly make a difference. How exciting it has been to see hope ushering forth into the world through this local body of believers. It always amazes me to look around on Sunday mornings and evenings and seeing the excitment and passion of the people of this church serving others and loving it! It amazes me to see the ministries that have been birthed by God's people stepping out: the food pantry, zambia, latvia, honduras, haiti, campus of hope, backpack programs, and on and on and on.

I want to challenge you to experience the local church on this level. Get involved and find a place to serve and be a part of this powerful movement of God to change the course of history for one person at a time!

in Christ,
Brian

It takes discipline to be a disciple.

So as Coach Ryan Highley shared during worship service when asked, "what can sports teach children," he answered, "It takes discipline to be a disciple."

His statement brought to mind a commercial I watched during the olympics. It was called "dedicated" by citi bank.

As the athlete's train you here them saying the following.

Take a day off, I don't even take a morning off.
I haven't ordered desert, in two years.
You know that best selling book I love, I haven't read it.
I haven't watched television since last Summer.
Hey,...I've been busy.

I have to say I was and am inspired by the dedication of the olympic athletes.
It makes me want to be more dedicated in my daily walk with the Lord.

To daily read the Bible
to daily live in full awareness of God's presence,
to share my faith,
to commit scripture to memory,
to rise up early to pray and seek God's face.

1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Dedicated.

It's who I want to be,

Joe

Click Here To Watch Video

Elohim.

On Wednesday I was leading chapel for the lower school kids at Woodlands Christian. We started a study on the different names of God. The very first name that is given for God in the Bible is Elohim, the God above all Gods, the Creator of everything. The Bible opens up with these words, '1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.' What's interesting about the creation story is that the first thing God creates in the beginning is the heavens and a formless, chaotic, empty and dark earth. Then in verse three the days of Creation begin with the spoken words from God's mouth, 'Let there be light.'

Verse 2 is like this picture of a world absent from God. It's like this little pause in the story that shows a contrast to what is about to happen at Creation. Think about sin. Sin is the opposite of God and His ways. When we follow the path of selfishness and sin it leads towards chaos, darkness and emptiness just like the earth in verse 2. When we follow God's path we begin to discover Elohim the God of creation who brings form, light, life and meaning to our life. As Genesis 1 unfolds God speaks light into the darkness, order into the chaos, and life and meaning into the emptiness. Jesus is Elohim come to earth. In Jesus, the new creation has begun. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says '17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' We bring our chaotic, empty, and sin-darkened lives to Christ and He changes us and begins a new creative work in our hearts. He brings light where there was darkness, life where there was death, and meaning where there was emptiness. Praise God for His awesome and wondrous works of creation and re-creation!

in Christ,
Brian

Hope Of The World.

This weekend Brian will teach us and a new song by Hillsong called Hope of the World.
I've been doing a little research on this song to learn more about the thought process behind its creation and the verses used as inspiration. I found that the song draws upon
Ephesians 2:11-13:
"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

As well as Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Upon reading more of an interview I wanted to share with you what Reuben Morgan, one of the writers of the song, says about it.

"I would definitely say the main message is the picture of Christ with His arms open wide on the Cross, drawing the world to Himself, welcoming the world. It's a picture of His victory through His death on the Cross."

Lyrics:
For the love poured out
For the price of freedom
Let the whole earth sing
The praises rising
We stand in awe of what You've done
For us, at the cross

The hope of the world
Lifted on high
Calling us home with arms out wide
To know You forever, to love You forever
You are our everything

Our sin erased,
We're forgiven
You made a way
You are our ransom
And we owe this life for all You've done
For us, at the cross

The hope of the world
Lifted on high
Calling us home with arms out wide
To know You forever, to love You forever
You are our everything

All we need is You

The hope of the world
Lifted on high
Calling us home with arms out wide
To know You forever, to love You forever
You are our everything


So before we sing this song I'd like us to sit with one of the verses of inspiration as we reflect on the amazing ransom of Christ.

Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

Hailey

Reflect the light to the world, But even more reflect your best back to God.

I was chatting with Pastor Steve a few weeks ago and he shared this thought from John Ortberg. I didn't read the exact quote, but the gist was that our best reflection of God's glory is actually back to God Himself.

The Bible clearly states that we are to be a light to the world. As the moon reflects the sun, we should reflect the light of Jesus to the lost.

Here is probably the most well known scripture on this truth.

Jesus said....... In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Clearly we, as followers of Christ, are to shine.

Matthew 13:43
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

2 Corinthians 4:6
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

We are definitely supposed to shine TO the world, but most importantly, we are to shine FOR the glory of our Heavenly Father.

John 15:8
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Romans 11:36
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

So Shine On,

And Shine Back,

Joe

100% Pure Christianity.

This past weekend I had the privilege of getting to speak at our 5th and 6th grade retreat here at StoneBridge. Our theme verse for the weekend was 1 Timothy 4:12 where Paul is challenging Timothy saying, "12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." On Sunday we focused in on purity. Purity simply means unmixed. It means 100%. It means that if something is pure apple juice, there's only one ingredient.....apples.

What does purity mean in our relationship with Christ? Paul, speaking to the Christians in Corinth, says, 'But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.' (2 Corinthians 11:3) A pure relationship with Jesus means that you have total trust in Him in every area of your life and in every situation. It means that the core belief guiding your life is that God's best is always best for you (even if you don't understand it in the moment or its temporarily uncomfortable or painful). Ever since the garden of Eden, Satan has been trying to make us doubt God and His ways through his cunning and his deception.

What about your life today? Our lives consist of our words, our family, our jobs, our relationships, our habits, our money, our decisions, our time, our wants, our needs, our talents, etc. How is the purity of your trust in Christ in all of these different areas? Are there areas where if you were honest you are living like your way is better than God's way? This is a process in all of us. Sanctification is the process of God, through His Spirit, filtering out those pockets of impurity in our life, to produce people who sincerely, whole-heartedly, and purely trust their heavenly Father in a child-like way. Let's press on towards that place!

in Christ,
Brian

Content.

Philippians 4:12
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

So what is Paul's secret? How was he content in every circumstance?

Today as Hailey led the song "What Joy" I was struck by the words of the chorus.
I believe it would be Paul's answer to my question.

It says,
WHAT JOY, WHAT JOY
FOR THOSE WHOSE HOPE
IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
WHAT PEACE, WHAT PEACE
FOR THOSE WHOSE
CONFIDENCE IS HIM ALONE.

What really struck me is the last line.
What peace for those whose confidence is in Him alone.

Here are a few verses that bring that home.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 3:3
3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Confidence in Christ Alone = Contentment

"In Christ Alone, I place my trust...."

Joe