Breaking The Holy Huddle.

During indie we discussed that, although we as Christians need to meet together, we can't just stay in our "Holy huddle" and isolate ourselves from all non-believers. We need to go out into the fields and work! But we aren't all equipped to be missionaries or pastors or worship leaders. We, the indie group, ended up speaking what we felt were the gifts God had given to all our different members. There was such diversity; evangelism, discipleship, nurturing, fellowship, providing, action, the list goes on. We are all created for a different purpose

1 Corinthians 12:4-7
there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Chapter 12 goes on to talk about different spiritual gifts and I have to stop myself from just pasting the entire chapter here but I will let you read through it on your own.


We come together to refresh our souls, and renew our spirits for the work we are called to go out and do.

1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.


Ready, Break!
Hailey

Carrot or Stick?

@Tim Keller writes, : “Accepted in Christ, we now run the race ‘for the joy that is set before us’ rather than ‘for fear that comes behind us’.”

What motivates you?

When I was young, I played football. I had a coach for the "mite" league who I loved. I played my heart out for him. We all did. He was a godly man. And while he could be tough at times, it was very clear he loved every one of us. We had a very successful team and season.

The next year, I went up to the midget league. The coach ruled with fear. We played hard for him as well. The team was very successful. But I didn't really get the sense that the coach cared for us personally. While I was proud of the success, I didn't like my coach. I had one more year of eligibility and chose not to play the next year for him. He kept calling our house trying to get me to come back and play for him. He acted really nice. But I knew that he was just acting. I was certain I didn't want to play for a coach like that. Later the coach was found to have been betting large on games and got into legal trouble and had to leave coaching. I wasn't surprised.

So both styles motivated the team. But love is what made me want to finish well and stay with the team.

Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let's finish strong!!!

Joe

The Trustworthy One.

As I was sitting and being still with God yesterday, I started praising Him for His trustworthiness. I am so thankful that my God can be trusted. I can trust my heart to Him. I can trust my future to Him. I can trust my family to Him. I can trust that when He promises something, He WILL come through on it. I can trust that when I read His word I know that it is truth.

It says in James 1 (The Message) '17 Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.' Isn't it refreshing to know that in God, there is no hidden agenda? In God, there is no sales pitch to try and manipulate us. In God, there is no bait and switch tactic. In God, there is no deception or trickery.

Our Heavenly Father is such a contrast to the Father of Lies, Satan. Satan is behind the billboards that entice our lusts, envies and covetousness. He is the whisper that nudges us to give in to our anger. As the Father of Lies (John 8:44), He pulls us into the fun of sin, and, then as the Accuser of the Brethren (Revelation 12:10), he beats us down with guilt and condemnation.

So, let's entrust our heart once again to our Abba Father. When we are tempted and enticed to take a short cut or give in to what feels good, let's remember the one who is behind this temptation. Let's remember that Satan is the one that comes to 'steal, kill and destroy' and that Jesus has 'come that [we] might have life, and have it to the full.' Our God can truly be trusted!

in Christ,

Brian

What Kind of Fuel are You Putting in Your Engine?

Am I being fueled by God?
Is He my source?
Which filling station do I go to when my tank is on empty?

CS Lewis writes, "God designed the human machine to run on Himself.
He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn…"

Every Monday my tank is on empty. After a normal work week, rehearsals on Saturday and Worship services on Sunday and more rehearsals on Sunday afternoon, my adrenal gland is spent. So I have tried many different ways to refuel on Mondays. Sometimes I've tried kind of a "spa" approach. Rest and pampering with an "I deserve it" kind of mentality. With a "fancy" lunch or a showing of the latest movie thrown in for good measure.

And while some of those choices might be fine in themselves, none of them alone or together can refuel my tank. The only "spa" that really refuels my tank must include time spent with our Heavenly Father in the secret place to pray through God's word.

So when you are running on empty, go for the high test fuel. Don't let the enemy put sand in your tank.

Psalm 1:2-3
But whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

Fill her up,

Joe

A City Transformed.

I was visiting with a friend of mine on Monday. For the past several years he has played pick up basketball at the YMCA. He, being banged up from a few injuries and playing with a lot of guys half his age, was considering throwing in the towel on this weekly routine. God, however, redirected his steps. God opened his eyes to see that there was a group of men that gathered on that court each week that he was to continue to influence.

So, he took a big faith step and threw out the idea of doing a Bible study together after they played each week. Many of the guys enthusiastically received the idea and he has now been co-leading a Bible study each week since this past summer. It has gotten to the point now where they even circle up together right there on the court and pray. All of a sudden, because of one guy's intentional decision, God is beginning to redeem a gymnasium in the middle of the Woodlands for His kingdom. In this particular case, the YMCA is perhaps truly becoming the Young Men's Christian Association.

In Jeremiah 29, we have a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah to the Jewish people who had been deported into Babylon. He is challenging them as God's people in a pagan city. He says to them in verse 7, '7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.' As Christians, we are the salt of the earth, shaken out all over neighborhoods and communities to bring the flavor of God to the world. Through you and me, God is wanting to bring the blessing and wellfare of His presence to our city.

'Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this City......' (from the song God of this city)

in Christ,

Brian

Who Really Lives That Way?

Tuesday we honored and celebrated the life and testimony of Don Strickland. It was a beautiful ceremony full of music, reflection and the gospel. For anyone who didn't know, at the end of Don's time with us he would pray with and for his visitors before they left him, always wanting to make sure that every person he came in contact with had been told of our Savior.

So it is only fitting that on that day on the radio I heard the song, "While I'm Waiting":

"While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait."

And it is only fitting that the chapter we read for Indie this week was entitled, "Who Really Lives That Way?". The chapter was full of examples of people who have truly committed their lives to God in a radical way, such as
Nathan Barlow
Marva J. Dawn
Rich Mullins
Rachel Saint
Just to name a few.

To say we are followers of Christ is one thing, but to live it out in such a real way that is apparent to others is another. But should it be? Tough question.

The answer is even tougher to live out. Though not all of us can move to Africa or suddenly give all of our possessions away, we can all live a life that outwardly represents our commitment to Christ. We can all "live a life that begs a question", as Stuart Rothberg says.

In the words of the song, "Live Like That":

"I want to live like that and give it all I have so that everything I say and do points to You.
If love is who I am then this is where I'll stand, recklessly abandoned, never holding back.
I want to live like that."

Live like that,
Hailey

The Seven Questions Dr. Don Strickland Now Knows the Answers To....

Yesterday nearly 500 people gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Don Strickland. As Pastor Steve and I met last week with Don, he had already planned his entire service. Every song, every speaker, right down to his favorite scripture was included. He wanted to ensure that the gospel was presented in power and beauty through God's word, personal testimony and through worship and song.

He planned for nine songs. Don sang beautifully, and he loved to worship through music. He asked me if that was too many songs.
I told him that we would make it happen. It was by far the most worship music I have ever seen at a service of celebration. It was also one of the most powerful worship services I've been a part of.

Here are the songs Don and Gale chose:
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
Your Grace is Enough
Amazing Grace
The Old Rugged Cross
It is Well with My Soul
I Will Rise - Tomlin
I Can Only Imagine- Mercy Me
How Great Thou Art

My dear friend and brother in Christ, Randy Moorman sent me an email with his thoughts on the service. (You might want to check out his Sunday School Class Sunday. The class is called "Real Life.") He said that Don now knows the answers to the seven questions asked in the song "I Can Only Imagine."

As we imagine heaven we still wonder; Don knows as he sees Jesus face to Face.

1. Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?

2. Will I dance for you Jesus?

3. Or in awe of you be still?

4. Will I stand in your presence?

5. Or to my knees will I fall?

6. Will I sing hallelujah?

7. Will I be able to speak at all?

Don's questions have been answered in Jesus.

I Can Only Imagine,

Joe

Sowing Seeds.

Yesterday morning I was sitting in my office and was looking out of one of my windows when I noticed a little clay pot with a ziplock bag of soil inside it. To my surprise I looked and saw a little seedling growing inside of this bag (a little green stem and two leaves).

Back in January I had used this pot and soil as an illustration with some of the Children's ministry team. During the short message I shared that every little thing we do in the name of Jesus and by His Spirit is like planting little seeds in the fertile soil of kids' hearts. While I was sharing the message I had some little seeds that I planted in the soil.

So anyway, after the talk I stashed the stuff in my office and mostly forgot about it. Well, God hadn't forgotten about it because He has been at work apparently causing this little seed to transform into a little plant life. It reminded me that every little thing we say and do as people who are filled with God's Spirit is potentially planting gospel seeds in the lives of others.

In Philippians 2 it says, '14 Do everything readily and cheerfully - no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! 15 Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night.' (The Message)

I like that image of us going into the world today as a breath of fresh air for someone. Perhaps that breath of fresh air will come through a kind word or a simple offer to pray for someone or a helpful act or a listening ear. Maybe there is someone on our path today that God may use us to plant a seed in that will one day result in a new life, a born-again life.

in Christ,

Brian

Surrender to Man You Lose, Surrender to God You Win.

The enemy is at work and the battleground is worldwide.
However, the most epic battleground of all is focused within the human heart.

All of us fight those battles. Winning and losing the battle of the heart is a paradox of the Kingdom.

Jesus talked about losing. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

We introduced a new song Sunday called "White Flag" by Chris Tomlin.
The song describes the battle and how losing to God is the only way to truly win. Here are the lyrics.

"The battle rages on
As storm and tempest roar
We cannot win this fight
Inside our rebel hearts
We're laying down our weapons now

We raise our white flag
We surrender
All to You
All for You

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

Here on this Holy ground
You made a way for peace
Laying your body down
You took our rightful place
This freedom song is marching on

We raise our white flag
The war is over
Love has come
Your love has won

We lift the cross
Lift it high lift it high"

If you would like to listen to the song here is the link.
YouTube Video
On the cross, Jesus won the war.
"It is finished," He declared.

Let us find victory and freedom, as we daily surrender to Christ.

A Living Sacrifice
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Worship Christ, find freedom.

Joe

A Bright Purple Cross.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to spend time with a family who was with their father during his last days of battling lung cancer. They had to tell him good bye on Wednesday morning around 8:45. Later that afternoon I was with them and they were sharing with me stories about their dad in his last days.

One story they shared was about a purple cross. Yes, a purple cross. It turns out that their Dad's favorite color was bright purple. A few days before he passed away, one of his daughters got him a purple cross to hang from his rear view mirror. What happened next really challenged me. They presented the cross to him and they explained to him that it was to hang in his car. He then told them that he didn't want to hang it in his car, he wanted to put it around his neck.

You see, this man's life had been changed by Jesus. As he faced the reality of death, what really mattered rose to the top and all of those petty things that we worry about and fret over faded away. That purple cross reminded me that at the end of the day what really matters is whether or not you know Jesus. In those last days that purple cross, hanging around his neck, close to his heart, reminded him of his Savior who died so we could join with Paul and say, '"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15)

So, may you and I revel in the cross today. May we hold the cross close to our hearts. I am reminded of Romans 1:16 that says, 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.'

Praise God for that old rugged cross and our Savior, Jesus, who died and rose again!

in Christ,

Brian

The Art of Faking Christianity.

I was reading an article by a pastor's wife the other night. She was talking about a very real danger for those in ministry or Christians who have been involved in Christian activities for a long time. She wrote about falling into the trap of 'faking' your Christianity where your calendar is filled with 'Christian' activites but inside you feel empty and lifeless. Below is a quote in which she describes this pitfall:

'After a while you hardly even admit to yourself that you are faking your interest in the other person, you are faking your enthusiasm for Christ and his Gospel, you are faking your entire Christian life, because you don’t even remember what it was like to have a close relationship to God. You have become hollow. You may still look and sound good on the outside, but inside the reality of God’s presence is gone.'

As I was pondering this article, I thought about the passage that Steve Bradley shared on Sunday about the woman at the well. I love how Jesus describes the living water that He offers us. Standing by a well, He contrasts the water in the well with the Living water that He gives us. He says in John 4, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

We are to be springs of life walking around in our cities, neighborhoods, jobs and families. Only Jesus can give us this water. Christian activity without the water of life flowing out of us is ultimately a lot of hustle and bustle with little spiritual fruit. You and I desperately need a heart-to-heart encounter with Jesus today. Just like Jesus went straight to the matters of the heart with the woman at the well we need to have that same conversation with Jesus. We need to slow down, get honest, repent, and then drink a big ol' sip of His Living water today.

In Christ,

Brian

The Bible isn't a Self Help Book.

While I believe everything that a person needs to live well can be found in Scripture,
that is not the purpose of the Bible.

Tim Keller shared this week a quote from @TonyReinke that struck me. He said,

"The way to joy isn’t something Jesus tells us about; the way to joy is Jesus."

Jesus doesn't show us the way, He is the way.
Jesus doesn't just lead us into truth, He is the truth.

Every book of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is God revealing His Son Jesus.

Devotion time is not a time to "read" the Bible, it is a sharing of time with the Word made flesh.

John 1:1
The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14
The Word Made Flesh
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Time to meet with The Word.

Joe

The Little Things Add Up.

Earlier this week I was talking with Steve Dupree about the decisions we make in life. He commented that 99% of our life is little daily decisions and about 1% of our life is the big decisions. So often we live like the little decisions don’t matter but the truth is our life becomes the sum of our little decisions.

I love the verse in Psalm 119:105 that says, ‘Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’ The word used for lamp refers to a small bowl that would house a wick and some oil. It would put off just enough light to illumine the next step along the path.

It’s by keeping that lamp with us that we stay on the path. If we set that lamp aside and walk on our own, then step by step, we begin to get off course as we walk in spiritual darkness. It’s not enough to call upon God and seek His counsel in the big decisions but rather we need His counsel step by step.

I’ve had to face this principle in my finances. I remember stopping to honestly look at my spending and being amazed at all of those little charges to Wal-Mart and Target and how they added up. I’ve had to own up to a habit I had of showing up late to meetings with people and the damage that it was doing to my relationships. I’ve had to own up in my college years to daily sarcastic remarks that were hurting my credibility and people’s ability to trust me.

I believe that we have to daily continue to look at our steps, habits and little decisions and dare to hold them up to God’s truth and allow His Word to illuminate the direction of our life. What course corrections is God revealing to us today?

In Christ,

Brian

Qualities of the Meek.

My new ladies' Bible study walks through the sermon on the mount. One excerpt is "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."

Webster defines meek as: "enduring injury with patience and without resentment." Patience in the face of trials and tribulations.

Another definition defines meek as "not strong", but that kind of endurance takes its own kind of strength, if you ask me. It takes the strength that is built through patience and resting in God and His promises. What He promises, He will deliver!


Psalm 5:3
"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."


Lamentations 3:22-26
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."


Hailey

Unconvinced?

This week I was watching a TV show where a daughter was desperately seeking the love and approval of her father. She felt that his love was based on her performance and that he was "disappointed" in her. No matter how hard she tried, she would never measure up.

Sadly, many Christians have the same sentiment. After receiving the gospel, and trusting in Christ for salvation, many revert back to trying to earn the Father's love.

I have heard it described as a "back-loaded" gospel, to borrow a financial term. We may have received God's love as a trusting "child", but as an "adult" we feel we need to earn His continued favor. That is not the gospel. Our desire for obedience isn't merit based. Our desire for obedience is a response to the Father's great love.

If you wonder whether God loves you, look at the cross. All the things that would keep God from loving you and me were poured out on Jesus. He endured so that we can be fully loved and redeemed.
I read this week on @matt_papa: this quote, and it was foremost in my mind as I shared communion on Sunday.

"It grieves the Father when a Christian is not convinced of the Father's love. I poured out my wrath on my Son for you."

Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him, "Do you love me?"


Think how it must grieve our Heavenly Father when you and I are not convinced of His love.

Convinced.

Joe

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

Romans 8:39
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Walking With God.

Yesterday morning I took my dog, Daisy, on a walk. Normally we are frantically trying to get out the door and walks with my dog are few and far between. I've noticed that there is a certain thing I do that in Daisy's mind indicates beyond the shadow of a doubt that a walk is coming.

If Daisy sees me grab a coffee mug and heat it up in the microwave, a light switch goes off in her little canine mind. Being a little Beagle, she begins frantically running all over the place, howling like a mad dog, and uncontrollable glee begins exploding out of her body. If I simply just want to heat up my coffee, I cannot let her see me do it, because I am 100% guaranteeing a walk will follow.

As I was watching her excitement yesterday, it made me think about God's invitation every day for us to walk with Him. Jesus calls us to follow Him, or walk where He walks. Micah 6:8 is one of the foundational passages in the Old Testament and it says, 'He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?'

Today, Jesus is heating up His coffee mug and asking us....do you want to walk with Me? Just like a dog walking with its master, so we humbly defer to God when we walk with Him. Just like Daisy follows the path I've set for us to walk, so we follow the path of God's will today.

Because Daisy was willing to submit to me, it opened up a bigger world for her beyond her small fenced-in yard. It opened up a world of new sights and smells (paradise for a Beagle). When we submit to God and follow Him, life is so much bigger and fuller and filled with God-surprises that will constantly blow our mind.

So, may you and I not miss out on walking with Him today. Through each hour of our day, may we be sensitive to His leading, His direction, His pausing, and His detours. Perhaps He has a few divine appointments for us today that we may never know about unless we walk with Him.

In Christ,

Brian

Obedience (Motivation and Strategy)

MOTIVATION
As a parent raising children, we have often heard the adage,
"Rules without relationship, equals rebellion."

The motivation for running away from sin flows directly out of a love relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Tim Keller writes the following, @DailyKeller:
"Legalistic remorse says, "I broke God's rules,"
while real repentance says, "I broke God's heart."

When I read that I was undone.

As Pastor Steve preached this morning, I was reminded of Joseph's reason for not sinning. It wasn't, I'm going to get in trouble.
It was, how could I sin against God? (Genesis 39:9)

Our motivation for obedience has to come out a desire not to grieve the One who loves us like none other.

STRATEGY

So with that in mind, what is our strategy for obedience?
Daily study and meditation on God's word.

Psalms 119:11says,
"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You."

What was Jesus' strategy when He was tempted in the desert by Satan?

Each temptation was successfully resisted by Jesus quoting God's word.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written:‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. ’”Matthew 4:3-4

So let us not grieve God's heart this day. This day let God's word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. (Psalms 119:105)

James 4:7 says,
"Submit yourselves, then, to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Motivated.

Joe

Jehovah Shalom.

The other day I was studying about one of the names of God, Jehovah Shalom or The Lord is Peace. Shalom is a rich word that means peace, wholeness, satisfaction, an unconcerned state of being, etc. It is contrasted to worry, fear and restlessness. The context of this name is during the time of Gideon in Judges chapter six. An angel appears to Gideon and says, 'Peace (Shalom) to you, do not fear....'

This encounter comes at a time of great fear, restlessness and worry for the Israelites. It was a time where they were being ruled by raiders, the Midianites, who would swarm in and devour their crops and livestock. The Israelites were so terrified and discouraged that they had abandoned their homes and were hiding in caves.

This does not seem like the way God's people should be living in God's land. What had happened? They had forgotten God and were worshiping the baals (false gods of the Canaanites). They were living like it says in Judges 21:25, 'In those days there was no king in Israel ; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.' So God handed them over to their enemies.

There is an amazing promise for us when we trust our life into God's hands .......shalom. Shalom is really about something happening on the inside of us. It is a supernatural peace, wholeness, completeness and satisfaction that only God provides.

I love what it says in Psalm 73:26, "My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Literally, the word 'strength' means 'rock'. So we can choose to say, 'no really God, I got this' and wind up like the Israelites, worried and fearful and hiding in caves. The alternative is to say, 'You know God, I don't have this, I need You' and we wind up facing our day from a heart that is secure in God, our Rock.

I hope that you and me can come to a place of trust today....in the little things, the big things and everything in between. I hope that we can allow God to be our rock and our peace today. All we have to do is hand Him the reigns and He will do the rest.

In Christ,

Brian