Matthew 6:1--"Be especially careful when you are tying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding."(The Message)
I couldn't hep but write this after reading this verse today! With all the talk about the Academy Awards or Oscars or (maybe there the same thing) as you can tell it's not like I'm a big awards guy. No, I didn't watch them on TV never have and probably never will, I don't like any of those award things! The part that really stood out to me was how the media covers these types of events. The next morning the media talks for hours about who wore what designer dress and what they looked like on the red carpet all the while completely neglecting to say anything about who won the award (which was the purpose of being there and dressed up in the first place).
As I sit here I can think of all the things that I/we make a performance out of. I see in todays' church we make a performance out of our worship (sometimes) but more importantly we make a performance out of our everyday lives. I believe that we all are good actors from time to time, but I believe that realizing and admitting to God that we know that we are acting is what God really wants us to do. It's when we think that we have everyone fooled including God that our performance really gets us in trouble.
It's very funny that the very things that the world looks at, such as who had the most expensive dress clothes and who did what. Is the very thing that God says he is not concerned about at all. Where the world continues to be outwardly focused, God continues to focus internally. If we continue to be the people that God has called us to be, then one day we will receive the reward of all rewards!
IN HIM,
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Ruled by Society?
James 2:1-4--"My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. IF a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, 'Sit here sir; this is the best seat in the house!' and either ignore the street person or say, 'Better sit here in the back row,' haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?" (The Message).
Here is where I'm going with this. "don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith." I have heard lots of comments made over the past couple of months from people like "why did you use that version of the Bible?" to "I believe you could be a really good preacher if you stopped joking around so much?" or "why did you do that event?" Listen I believe that I have prayed over every event and message that I am a part of. I also believe that God gave me a since of humor to laugh. I believe for far to long we have allowed "public opinion" dictate the way that we "live out our glorious Christ-originated faith." I guess today's thought is more of a warning in a warning. First if someone brings something to your attention don't just turn your nose up at it, ask yourself have you prayed about this and feel this is really what God is asking you to do? The second thing is once you have prayed and spent time with God about something you are trying to do in your life, don't let others diminish the power of God, and therefore keep you from living out out the "glorious, Christ-originated faith" that God has given to all of us!
IN HIM <><
Here is where I'm going with this. "don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith." I have heard lots of comments made over the past couple of months from people like "why did you use that version of the Bible?" to "I believe you could be a really good preacher if you stopped joking around so much?" or "why did you do that event?" Listen I believe that I have prayed over every event and message that I am a part of. I also believe that God gave me a since of humor to laugh. I believe for far to long we have allowed "public opinion" dictate the way that we "live out our glorious Christ-originated faith." I guess today's thought is more of a warning in a warning. First if someone brings something to your attention don't just turn your nose up at it, ask yourself have you prayed about this and feel this is really what God is asking you to do? The second thing is once you have prayed and spent time with God about something you are trying to do in your life, don't let others diminish the power of God, and therefore keep you from living out out the "glorious, Christ-originated faith" that God has given to all of us!
IN HIM <><
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Repurpose
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 (Read this for more thought later)
I have been preaching the last four weeks about repurposing our lives. I thought that this would make a great blog entry as it means something a little bit different for me each and everyday.
First have you heard of this whole repurpose movement? Here is what it does, it takes something old and makes something completely different out of it, you give it a new purpose! You might take an old pair of jeans and make them into a pocket book. You might take a cool tea kettle and make it into a flower planter.
As I continue to think about this I believe that it is time that we repurpose our lives back to God and His word. I realize that we have had God's word for a long time but for a long time it just sits on our shelves and looks pretty collecting dust! Why not repurpose God's word for it's original purpose to get to know the creator of the universe? How can you and I expect to be the people that God called us to be if we don't know him? It's time that we took some time daily and read God's word and spend some time with him on a daily basis. We need to repurpose our lives.
Psalm 119:9-16--"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might no sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me you decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."
Can you make that your prayer starting today for the rest of your life?
I have been preaching the last four weeks about repurposing our lives. I thought that this would make a great blog entry as it means something a little bit different for me each and everyday.
First have you heard of this whole repurpose movement? Here is what it does, it takes something old and makes something completely different out of it, you give it a new purpose! You might take an old pair of jeans and make them into a pocket book. You might take a cool tea kettle and make it into a flower planter.
As I continue to think about this I believe that it is time that we repurpose our lives back to God and His word. I realize that we have had God's word for a long time but for a long time it just sits on our shelves and looks pretty collecting dust! Why not repurpose God's word for it's original purpose to get to know the creator of the universe? How can you and I expect to be the people that God called us to be if we don't know him? It's time that we took some time daily and read God's word and spend some time with him on a daily basis. We need to repurpose our lives.
Psalm 119:9-16--"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might no sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me you decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."
Can you make that your prayer starting today for the rest of your life?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Silent
Job 2
Have you ever read Job chapter 2? It starts by God telling Satan how great his servant Job is. Then Satan is allowed to take away the health of Job. He is attacked with sores, ulcers and scabs from head to toe. Can you imagine what that must have been like? The part that really amazes me is this Job 2:11-13
Job 2:11-13 (The Message)--"Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country--Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath--and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw--they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and night they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering."
Have you ever been in a difficult situation and people tried to tell you that they knew what you were going through? I believe as humans we feel as if we need to say something in times of anguish to let the hurting party know we care. This is not what we see in the example of Job's friends. They sat for seven days and night and didn't say a thing, they were SILENT! I know they wanted to say something to Job but they also knew that no words could express the pain that they felt for their friend. Let this be an example to you, the next time someone you know is in a difficult situation try just being there as a comfort. Sometimes people want us to just shut up and sit silent.
Have you ever read Job chapter 2? It starts by God telling Satan how great his servant Job is. Then Satan is allowed to take away the health of Job. He is attacked with sores, ulcers and scabs from head to toe. Can you imagine what that must have been like? The part that really amazes me is this Job 2:11-13
Job 2:11-13 (The Message)--"Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country--Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath--and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw--they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and night they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering."
Have you ever been in a difficult situation and people tried to tell you that they knew what you were going through? I believe as humans we feel as if we need to say something in times of anguish to let the hurting party know we care. This is not what we see in the example of Job's friends. They sat for seven days and night and didn't say a thing, they were SILENT! I know they wanted to say something to Job but they also knew that no words could express the pain that they felt for their friend. Let this be an example to you, the next time someone you know is in a difficult situation try just being there as a comfort. Sometimes people want us to just shut up and sit silent.
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