School is out... the pool is open and the Rockies are losing. All signs of summer approaching.
Here are a list of books I suggest giving a read this summer:
Blue Like Jazz - by Donald Miller - A great book that will make you rethink how you think.
Through Painted Deserts - by Donald Miller
Searching for God Knows What - by Donald Miller - The sequel to Blue Like Jazz
To Own A Dragon - by Donald Miller - A must read for all males!
The Irresistible Revolution - by Shane Claiborne - Only read this book if you want to change.
Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell - WOW, that is all I can say!
The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis - one of my all-time favorite books
The Screwtape Letters - by C.S. Lewis - Opened my eyes to Spiritual Warfare
Mere Christianity - by C.S. Lewis - a deep/in-depth look at Christianity
The Narnia Series - by C.S. Lewis - give them another read, they really speak of God's love
UnChristian - by Kinnamon and Lyons - a book about Christian stereotypes and what we can do to over come them.
The Practice of the Presence of God - by Brother Lawrence - wow, this dude was cool
Books I want to read this summer:
Jesus for President - by Shane Claiborne - just seems appropriate with the election soon approaching.
The Science of God - by Schroeder
New Seeds of Contemplation - by Thomas Merton
A Grief Observed - by C.S. Lewis - gotta read some Lewis this summer
Orthodoxy - by G.K. Chesterton
Enjoy this summer and pick up a book! If you need to borrow, let me know!
5/29/08
Connection
I was listening to an album that I haven't listened to for a while, Switchfoot's Nothing is Sound. This song made me start to think about our society and what we spend our money on.
If you have watched tv in the past 5 years, I am sure that you have noticed a trend of using lust to sell products. Why do we do this? Why do we use something that God has created as beautiful and "in His image" (Gen. 1:6)?
Why? I think that it is because people are lonely. Jon Foreman, the lead singer of Switchfoot, puts it best in the song with; "Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone."
We are striving to connect to whatever we can. The internet, cell phones, reality television; whatever medium you use. The main goal is to connect with someone else.
We are starving for community. We are hungry for connectedness. And to try and feel connected, we sometimes seek it out in the wrong places.
Where are you connecting? Are you feeling connected at church? Are you feeling connected with your family? How can I help you connect to the right things?
If you have watched tv in the past 5 years, I am sure that you have noticed a trend of using lust to sell products. Why do we do this? Why do we use something that God has created as beautiful and "in His image" (Gen. 1:6)?
Why? I think that it is because people are lonely. Jon Foreman, the lead singer of Switchfoot, puts it best in the song with; "Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone."
We are striving to connect to whatever we can. The internet, cell phones, reality television; whatever medium you use. The main goal is to connect with someone else.
We are starving for community. We are hungry for connectedness. And to try and feel connected, we sometimes seek it out in the wrong places.
Where are you connecting? Are you feeling connected at church? Are you feeling connected with your family? How can I help you connect to the right things?
5/21/08
Faith without Works is Dead
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For 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, 36I 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 25:34-36
This parable, as told by Jesus, is one that has been speaking to me more and more the last couple of years. For the longest time I thought that my faith was something that was personal to me, but it is more than just my faith that is important. It goes beyond my singular existence. It goes on to how I treat others on a daily basis.
As I said, over the past couple of years I have been learning that my faith is not really about me. It is about God and others. In Matthew 25, Jesus was telling a story about people's saving faith and what it looks like. And the crux of it is in the above 3 verses. It looks like service to God and others. Not service to yourself.
That is why I am so excited for this summer. We are going to be starting on some new service options on a weekly or monthly basis. It is our way to reach out to people for God's glory and I hope that you are with me to do this.
We will be heading to Urban Peak, www.urbanpeak.org , to help serve lunch to homeless teens. We will also be going to Food Bank of the Rockies, www.foodbankoftherockies.org , to help sort food for non-profits around Denver. And we will be heading back to Elmshaven Nursing Home to help with Bingo on Wednesdays.
Keep an eye on the calendar and let's start working on making our faiths more than just about us.
This parable, as told by Jesus, is one that has been speaking to me more and more the last couple of years. For the longest time I thought that my faith was something that was personal to me, but it is more than just my faith that is important. It goes beyond my singular existence. It goes on to how I treat others on a daily basis.
As I said, over the past couple of years I have been learning that my faith is not really about me. It is about God and others. In Matthew 25, Jesus was telling a story about people's saving faith and what it looks like. And the crux of it is in the above 3 verses. It looks like service to God and others. Not service to yourself.
That is why I am so excited for this summer. We are going to be starting on some new service options on a weekly or monthly basis. It is our way to reach out to people for God's glory and I hope that you are with me to do this.
We will be heading to Urban Peak, www.urbanpeak.org , to help serve lunch to homeless teens. We will also be going to Food Bank of the Rockies, www.foodbankoftherockies.org , to help sort food for non-profits around Denver. And we will be heading back to Elmshaven Nursing Home to help with Bingo on Wednesdays.
Keep an eye on the calendar and let's start working on making our faiths more than just about us.
5/15/08
Our Neighbor
When I was a little guy, I loved Mr. Rogers. I loved him so much that I even wanted a "Mr Rogers Haircut" when I went to get a trim. I was obsessed.
One of his favorite phrases was "Hello, neighbor". He was seeking all of us to feel connected, like neighbors. Revolutionary thought. Or was it?
After hearing of the horrible things that have happened in Myanmar (the cyclone) and China (severe earthquake) I think of what it means to be neighbors.
A friend of mine pointed out today that we are called to look at what we consider our neighbors and expand that out. These hurting people in Myanmar and China are our neighbors just like the family living next door to me is my neighbor.
Sometimes it is so easy to desensitize ourselves from the world because it doesn't affect our lives, but try thinking about a neighbor as being someone more than the person next door.
In Matthew 19:19, Jesus reminds us that we are to "love our neighbor as ourselves". This is a big commandment. Are you following it?
Last weekend was Marta's and my first anniversary and we spent it in Colorado Springs. At one point we were walking to a coffee shop to play some Cribbage when we were asked for some money for food from someone sitting on the street. Instead of giving money, we invited Joan to come and join us at the coffee shop.
She came and we talked for an hour. I would like to say that we blessed her life, but she truly blessed us more than we blessed her. It was one of the many highlights of our 1st Anniversary trip.
Who can you bless? What neighbor can you treat as you would treat yourself?
Try it out today!
One of his favorite phrases was "Hello, neighbor". He was seeking all of us to feel connected, like neighbors. Revolutionary thought. Or was it?
After hearing of the horrible things that have happened in Myanmar (the cyclone) and China (severe earthquake) I think of what it means to be neighbors.
A friend of mine pointed out today that we are called to look at what we consider our neighbors and expand that out. These hurting people in Myanmar and China are our neighbors just like the family living next door to me is my neighbor.
Sometimes it is so easy to desensitize ourselves from the world because it doesn't affect our lives, but try thinking about a neighbor as being someone more than the person next door.
In Matthew 19:19, Jesus reminds us that we are to "love our neighbor as ourselves". This is a big commandment. Are you following it?
Last weekend was Marta's and my first anniversary and we spent it in Colorado Springs. At one point we were walking to a coffee shop to play some Cribbage when we were asked for some money for food from someone sitting on the street. Instead of giving money, we invited Joan to come and join us at the coffee shop.
She came and we talked for an hour. I would like to say that we blessed her life, but she truly blessed us more than we blessed her. It was one of the many highlights of our 1st Anniversary trip.
Who can you bless? What neighbor can you treat as you would treat yourself?
Try it out today!
4/17/08
Going Green... Not New Technology
There is a new trend of "Going Green". Companies are making millions of dollars on this new idea and technology of "green". I think that this is great, but I also think that this is not some new fad, but something that we, as Christians, have been called to do since creation.
We are currently looking at the topics of Heaven and Hell in youth group and amongst my studies/research, I have seen how God loves the earth. And that in Genesis we too are called to show God's love of the earth to the earth.
I know this sounds a little cheesy, but seriously in Genesis 1 we see the Creation Story and get to watch as God creates. What is the point of the story? If you remember, after each day, God sat back and looked at it and said that it was "good".
Well the very last verse of chapter 1 in Genesis is a little different than the other days, it says; "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (Gen. 1:31a).
Very Good! God cares for his creation, do you? We are called to live a life that is caring for the creation that God made and saw as Very Good. This may mean life changes toward the environment or towards other people.
Try and live today with the attitude that God saw His creation as Very Good. Post your experience here on the blog so that we can see how God is working through you.
We are currently looking at the topics of Heaven and Hell in youth group and amongst my studies/research, I have seen how God loves the earth. And that in Genesis we too are called to show God's love of the earth to the earth.
I know this sounds a little cheesy, but seriously in Genesis 1 we see the Creation Story and get to watch as God creates. What is the point of the story? If you remember, after each day, God sat back and looked at it and said that it was "good".
Well the very last verse of chapter 1 in Genesis is a little different than the other days, it says; "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good..." (Gen. 1:31a).
Very Good! God cares for his creation, do you? We are called to live a life that is caring for the creation that God made and saw as Very Good. This may mean life changes toward the environment or towards other people.
Try and live today with the attitude that God saw His creation as Very Good. Post your experience here on the blog so that we can see how God is working through you.
4/2/08
Living Sacrifice
Baseball season is in full swing, pun very much intended, and I am so very excited. Growing up and being from Iowa I was a fan of the Chicago Cubs (even though I feel a bit of nostalgia towards the Cubbies still) but now I am a die-hard Rockies fan. Now I know what you are thinking, but I was a fan 2 years ago when I moved out here, not just 6 months ago when Rocktober hit. I just can't wait to get out to a few games and cheer on the Rockies to victory.
One thing in baseball that I really think applies to the Bible as well is the sacrifice fly. Now in this situation, you have a man in scoring position with none or one out. The next person up to bat's goal is to pop one up to the deep outfield in order to let the person in scoring position safely make it to home plate. In doing so, the batter is most likely going to sacrfice himself in the meantime (and by sacrifice himself I mean give himself up for an out).
What a cool thought. For the betterment of the team, someone is willing to intentionally give himself up. This is exactly what Christ did for us and we celebrated this past Easter.
A sacrifice during Jesus' time did not deal with pop flys and baseball, but instead with animals and grains. You see, anytime that someone broke a law of Moses (10 Commandments and beyond), they were required to offer a sacrifice to God as a way of atonement (making up for). When they would offer this sacrifice, it wasn't just their moldy grain or old sheep, but they were required to give the best of what they had. Why? Because this way you will know the severity of what you have done.
In Mark 12:28-34 we encounter Jesus being asked about what the greatest commandment is and he replies that it is to 1) Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. After the guy who asked Jesus about this heard what Jesus said, he proclaimed that these two things are more important than any sacrifice that you can give... why?
Paul, in Romans 12:1 talks a little more about this. He says that we are to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" as our "spiritual act of worship". So we are called to follow these two important commandments as a sacrifice to God. WOW!
This is a hard task, it means that we are called to love others, even if we don't like them or want to love them. We are called to treat others with respect, which means not to talk badly about them behind their back and to look out for their general good interest. And we are called to love God more than anything. More than your cell phone, more than your car, more than the new shoes you got, or whatever else you have that you really like. God is to be #1.
Are you offering yourself as a "Living Sacrifice"? If not, what can you do to start?
One thing in baseball that I really think applies to the Bible as well is the sacrifice fly. Now in this situation, you have a man in scoring position with none or one out. The next person up to bat's goal is to pop one up to the deep outfield in order to let the person in scoring position safely make it to home plate. In doing so, the batter is most likely going to sacrfice himself in the meantime (and by sacrifice himself I mean give himself up for an out).
What a cool thought. For the betterment of the team, someone is willing to intentionally give himself up. This is exactly what Christ did for us and we celebrated this past Easter.
A sacrifice during Jesus' time did not deal with pop flys and baseball, but instead with animals and grains. You see, anytime that someone broke a law of Moses (10 Commandments and beyond), they were required to offer a sacrifice to God as a way of atonement (making up for). When they would offer this sacrifice, it wasn't just their moldy grain or old sheep, but they were required to give the best of what they had. Why? Because this way you will know the severity of what you have done.
In Mark 12:28-34 we encounter Jesus being asked about what the greatest commandment is and he replies that it is to 1) Love God with all of your heart, soul and mind and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself. After the guy who asked Jesus about this heard what Jesus said, he proclaimed that these two things are more important than any sacrifice that you can give... why?
Paul, in Romans 12:1 talks a little more about this. He says that we are to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" as our "spiritual act of worship". So we are called to follow these two important commandments as a sacrifice to God. WOW!
This is a hard task, it means that we are called to love others, even if we don't like them or want to love them. We are called to treat others with respect, which means not to talk badly about them behind their back and to look out for their general good interest. And we are called to love God more than anything. More than your cell phone, more than your car, more than the new shoes you got, or whatever else you have that you really like. God is to be #1.
Are you offering yourself as a "Living Sacrifice"? If not, what can you do to start?
3/27/08
Hope: Exit 32
Growing up in Iowa one of our main areas of entertainment, besides cow tipping, were concerts in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On the way up to Minneapolis, on Interstate 35, at exit 32 is a town called Hope. But what is Hope, other than a town in Minnesota?
Hope is defined as Absolute Certainty, which is pretty cool because we are called to have hope in Christ's death and resurection. We just celebrated Easter, and even froze our fingers off trying to play guitar in 26 degree weather in the 6 am darkness of the morning. After getting warm again, it was a great day to remember Christ and his sacrifice.
The last section of Radical Renovation, a study book written by James A. Harnish, we look at the end of Mark. Now, if you go to your Bible and look up the end of Mark there are actually 2 endings. One is the more obvious one, the end of the paragraph, and the other you have to do a little reading for. I guess most early manuscripts have Mark end at verse 8 instead of verse 20. Cool huh?
But as Harnish points out, it is a rather awkward ending to the book, it just leaves off with a couple of Marys, looking for Jesus' tomb, scared and speachless.
But the best part is what comes just before that in verse 7, where they are told to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is alive and that he is ahead of you waiting.
Cool, eh? Harnish makes a huge point about this pointing out that this is left open-ended not just for the disciples and Marys but also for us. It includes us in the story of Christ.
Christ is ahead of us and waiting in our daily lives too. We are called to live our lives so that we are proclaiming Christ in all we say and do. We are called to be walking constantly with God in all we say and do. But to know that Christ is waiting for us. He has paved the way, shown us which direction to go, and now it is your turn to walk. Who are you following or are you just walking blindly on your own?
Hope is defined as Absolute Certainty, which is pretty cool because we are called to have hope in Christ's death and resurection. We just celebrated Easter, and even froze our fingers off trying to play guitar in 26 degree weather in the 6 am darkness of the morning. After getting warm again, it was a great day to remember Christ and his sacrifice.
The last section of Radical Renovation, a study book written by James A. Harnish, we look at the end of Mark. Now, if you go to your Bible and look up the end of Mark there are actually 2 endings. One is the more obvious one, the end of the paragraph, and the other you have to do a little reading for. I guess most early manuscripts have Mark end at verse 8 instead of verse 20. Cool huh?
But as Harnish points out, it is a rather awkward ending to the book, it just leaves off with a couple of Marys, looking for Jesus' tomb, scared and speachless.
But the best part is what comes just before that in verse 7, where they are told to go and tell the disciples that Jesus is alive and that he is ahead of you waiting.
Cool, eh? Harnish makes a huge point about this pointing out that this is left open-ended not just for the disciples and Marys but also for us. It includes us in the story of Christ.
Christ is ahead of us and waiting in our daily lives too. We are called to live our lives so that we are proclaiming Christ in all we say and do. We are called to be walking constantly with God in all we say and do. But to know that Christ is waiting for us. He has paved the way, shown us which direction to go, and now it is your turn to walk. Who are you following or are you just walking blindly on your own?
3/20/08
It finally makes sense... kinda
I have always been a little confused about the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet and poured perfume on his head. For some reason I always related to the Disciples who were curious why the lady didn't sell the expensive perfume and give it to the poor instead.
But after reading this week in the Radical Renovation Lenten Study Book, I think that I have a little better idea on what this story means.
This event happened just before Passover, which means that it was just before the Last Supper as well as just before Jesus' death. And the enlightenment that I received from the story is that even though this was a costly bottle of perfume, this was a sacrifice that this woman wanted to make.
Jesus was just about to make an even bigger sacrifice, his life for our sins. But this story helps put into perspective what Jesus did for us on the cross and what we are called to do daily in our lives for Him. Jesus' death on the cross was one that required great sacrifice and love, but that means nothing to you unless you are living your life for him. Being willing to sacrifice anything in your life so that Christ may be glorified. We are called "to offer ourselves the way this woman in the Gospels offered her gift, in unrestrained, extravagant obedience to Jesus Christ." (Radical Renovation. James A. Harnish, 49)
Are you doing this? Are you offering yourself like this woman did, with unrestricted love? If not, do you feel like you should? What would this look like?
But after reading this week in the Radical Renovation Lenten Study Book, I think that I have a little better idea on what this story means.
This event happened just before Passover, which means that it was just before the Last Supper as well as just before Jesus' death. And the enlightenment that I received from the story is that even though this was a costly bottle of perfume, this was a sacrifice that this woman wanted to make.
Jesus was just about to make an even bigger sacrifice, his life for our sins. But this story helps put into perspective what Jesus did for us on the cross and what we are called to do daily in our lives for Him. Jesus' death on the cross was one that required great sacrifice and love, but that means nothing to you unless you are living your life for him. Being willing to sacrifice anything in your life so that Christ may be glorified. We are called "to offer ourselves the way this woman in the Gospels offered her gift, in unrestrained, extravagant obedience to Jesus Christ." (Radical Renovation. James A. Harnish, 49)
Are you doing this? Are you offering yourself like this woman did, with unrestricted love? If not, do you feel like you should? What would this look like?
3/12/08
The New Humanity
In my life I have experienced comfort and have gone to great lengths to keep that comfort. Whether it is avoiding people so that I can have more time with friends of family. Or if it is selfishly thinking of myself first instead of putting others in front of me. I will at times go to extreme ends to keep myself from feeling discomfort.
There were also times when I would use Christianity as a barrier to other people. Thinking that I was more holy or that others had no hope helped build up these walls of comfort for myself. This is something that I am ashamed of and wish that I had not done, but the past is past. Now I am looking onto the future and how I can tear down these walls.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians talked about these religious walls as well. He stated, "In Christ Jesus you who were once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us... that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross." (Ephesians 2:13-16)
Paul hit it right on the head, through Christ's death on the cross the walls have been torn down. We, as Christians, are called to show love, not hate. We are called to be caring not careless. We are called to build friendships not enemies.
Are you doing this? James Harnish in his book "Radical Renovation" states it pretty well, I think. "The walls can come down, and a new humanity can be born." (Harnish, pg. 43).
Are you helping a new humanity come to this earth? If not, what walls need to be broken down so that we can help carry out the mission of the cross?
There were also times when I would use Christianity as a barrier to other people. Thinking that I was more holy or that others had no hope helped build up these walls of comfort for myself. This is something that I am ashamed of and wish that I had not done, but the past is past. Now I am looking onto the future and how I can tear down these walls.
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians talked about these religious walls as well. He stated, "In Christ Jesus you who were once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us... that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross." (Ephesians 2:13-16)
Paul hit it right on the head, through Christ's death on the cross the walls have been torn down. We, as Christians, are called to show love, not hate. We are called to be caring not careless. We are called to build friendships not enemies.
Are you doing this? James Harnish in his book "Radical Renovation" states it pretty well, I think. "The walls can come down, and a new humanity can be born." (Harnish, pg. 43).
Are you helping a new humanity come to this earth? If not, what walls need to be broken down so that we can help carry out the mission of the cross?
3/5/08
That's The Power of Love
For the longest time I have enjoyed the part in Mark 12 where Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is. His reply was simple in the statement, but very difficult in what he said. He said that we are to 'love the Lord your God with all of your heart and soul and mind and to love others as you love yourself.'
What I thought was great about this is that Jesus wasn't inventing something totally new and radical, instead he was referring to what was taught for ages from the Old Testament. But obviously people sometimes get things confused and jumbled when it comes to the idea of love.
Imagine putting God and other people before your needs, is that possible?
How do we put God and others first? In this weeks Lent devotional a great quote by Martin Luther King Jr. was used to help describe love. "To meet hate with retaliatory hate would do nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love." (A Testament of Hope, page 17)
So are you begetting more hate? Are you making things tougher than they were before? Or are you using the power of love to eliminate hate?
Our world is full of foes. It is so easy to hate someone and it is hard to love someone. We are called as followers of Christ to love others; no matter who they are or what they have done.
Who in your life do you need to show some love to? What kind of hate do you need to overcome in your life?
What I thought was great about this is that Jesus wasn't inventing something totally new and radical, instead he was referring to what was taught for ages from the Old Testament. But obviously people sometimes get things confused and jumbled when it comes to the idea of love.
Imagine putting God and other people before your needs, is that possible?
How do we put God and others first? In this weeks Lent devotional a great quote by Martin Luther King Jr. was used to help describe love. "To meet hate with retaliatory hate would do nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love." (A Testament of Hope, page 17)
So are you begetting more hate? Are you making things tougher than they were before? Or are you using the power of love to eliminate hate?
Our world is full of foes. It is so easy to hate someone and it is hard to love someone. We are called as followers of Christ to love others; no matter who they are or what they have done.
Who in your life do you need to show some love to? What kind of hate do you need to overcome in your life?
2/26/08
Amazing Grace
One of my favorite hymns/song is Amazing Grace. No matter how many times that I hear this song, it always speaks to my soul. It just speaks so well to my heart, the idea of being lost but now being able to see. John Newton wrote this song after a huge change in his life from being a slave ship captain to a follower of Christ.
What a huge thing to turn from, the degradation of human beings to wanting to follow Christ with his life.
There are times when we are asked to change how we live or something that we truly love so that we are able to focus more fully on Christ. In Luke 18 and 19 are two great stories that were drawn to my attention from the Radical Renovation study that we are doing at BUMC during Lent.
We have all heard of the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus in Luke, but a great connection was made to me this past week while thinking of these two men. Both of them had a bunch of money, although one was seen as good (the Rich Young Ruler) and the other as bad (Zacchaeus the tax collector). Both desired to know God, but only one was able to do it.
When asked to part with his posessions, the Rich Young Ruler refused and walked away from Jesus. But when Zacchaeus met Jesus, he realized the Amazing Grace that comes from Christ and sold 1/2 of his stuff for the poor as well as paid back all people that wronged him 4 times the amount.
WOW!
This makes me wonder if I am holding onto anything too tightly. Are there things in my life that are keeping me from Christ? Is there something in my life that would make me want to belt out Amazing Grace?
How about you?
What a huge thing to turn from, the degradation of human beings to wanting to follow Christ with his life.
There are times when we are asked to change how we live or something that we truly love so that we are able to focus more fully on Christ. In Luke 18 and 19 are two great stories that were drawn to my attention from the Radical Renovation study that we are doing at BUMC during Lent.
We have all heard of the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus in Luke, but a great connection was made to me this past week while thinking of these two men. Both of them had a bunch of money, although one was seen as good (the Rich Young Ruler) and the other as bad (Zacchaeus the tax collector). Both desired to know God, but only one was able to do it.
When asked to part with his posessions, the Rich Young Ruler refused and walked away from Jesus. But when Zacchaeus met Jesus, he realized the Amazing Grace that comes from Christ and sold 1/2 of his stuff for the poor as well as paid back all people that wronged him 4 times the amount.
WOW!
This makes me wonder if I am holding onto anything too tightly. Are there things in my life that are keeping me from Christ? Is there something in my life that would make me want to belt out Amazing Grace?
How about you?
2/14/08
Radical Renovation: Lenten Study: Definition of Greatness
A few years back I was introduced to this artist named Keith Green. And by introduced I mean I heard of him, since he died way back in 1982. But I read his biography and was totally blown away. He was someone who strived to know God more fully and live his life showing this. He also wrote some pretty good songs (although to today's tastes are very cheesy). But you should check him out.
"It's time to quit playing church and start being the Church (Matt. 18:20)" — Keith Green
What I like about this quote is the fact that he is calling us to action. It is so easy for us to live our lives like Christ didn't matter at all, but that is not what we are called to do.
In Radical Renovation (the book that we are going through during Lent) we are looking at Mark9:33-37. During this time, as the disciples and Jesus are walking to Jesus' death on the cross, they disciples are arguing about who is the best of them. Who does Jesus like most?
I have always wondered why the disciples said and did so many dumb things, but then I realize that I do things that are even worse than what they are doing and saying. As a society we are seeking greatness as well. We like winning things or obtaining things or looking cool. We are no better than the disciples.
But what does Jesus tell them? He throws all of what we believe as greatness out and comes up with his own definition. He tells them that if you want to be great, you need to make yourself a servant to all. He says that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. And that is what we are called to do/be as followers of Christ.
Are you choosing to be servant or to be served? What in your life are you doing to put others first? Or are you living like our society tells us to live and looking out for numero uno? We are called to serve and be the church to the world, not just let the world serve us.
It is time to be great in Christ's eyes and not our own. Are you up to the challenge?
"It's time to quit playing church and start being the Church (Matt. 18:20)" — Keith Green
What I like about this quote is the fact that he is calling us to action. It is so easy for us to live our lives like Christ didn't matter at all, but that is not what we are called to do.
In Radical Renovation (the book that we are going through during Lent) we are looking at Mark9:33-37. During this time, as the disciples and Jesus are walking to Jesus' death on the cross, they disciples are arguing about who is the best of them. Who does Jesus like most?
I have always wondered why the disciples said and did so many dumb things, but then I realize that I do things that are even worse than what they are doing and saying. As a society we are seeking greatness as well. We like winning things or obtaining things or looking cool. We are no better than the disciples.
But what does Jesus tell them? He throws all of what we believe as greatness out and comes up with his own definition. He tells them that if you want to be great, you need to make yourself a servant to all. He says that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. And that is what we are called to do/be as followers of Christ.
Are you choosing to be servant or to be served? What in your life are you doing to put others first? Or are you living like our society tells us to live and looking out for numero uno? We are called to serve and be the church to the world, not just let the world serve us.
It is time to be great in Christ's eyes and not our own. Are you up to the challenge?
2/6/08
Joining History
Just like our Founding Fathers, Shakespeare and The 3 Stooges I too am breaking out into the world to get my message across.
Don't really have much to say at the moment, but this will be a great place to see what is going on with the Uth Group as well as any other random thing that I am thinking about or find on the internet.
So keep coming back and checking it out.
Here is a little something for you, if you have ever wanted to become a Simpsons character, go to this site: http://simpsonizeme.com
Don't really have much to say at the moment, but this will be a great place to see what is going on with the Uth Group as well as any other random thing that I am thinking about or find on the internet.
So keep coming back and checking it out.
Here is a little something for you, if you have ever wanted to become a Simpsons character, go to this site: http://simpsonizeme.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
