I am spending a lot of time thinking about a statement I am making this Sunday in the first of the Unleashed series. Here is what I say:
"why is it that in today's brand of Christianity we want to risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, and lose nothing when the very one we claim to follow risked everything, sarificed everything, and lost everything for us."
I wonder if we have lost what it means when Jesus said that to find life...WE MUST LOSE IT. I am not saying we can't live large lives, but I am saying that living a life for us first has to be left behind. How is it possible to follow Jesus when we spend all our prayers asking him to join and bless our lives and mission. Who is following who?
Ok, I know I am sounding closely like the old Southern Baptist preacher, however, my words here are for those who know Jesus and not those who do not. Following Jesus is about always adjusting your life and family to his mission, and not just adding Jesus, morality, church, and a few bible verses to your life.
I want to scream from the highest building...It is time to unleash our lives to Jesus Christ. It is time to feed and heal the poor, challenge the rich to give and serve, and invest in those whom God has placed in our lives, it is time to get active in our communities so that our influence for Jesus can increase. It is time to stop just attending church on Sunday, and start being the church everyday of our lives.
MORE TO COME.
Dec 30, 2009
Dec 16, 2009
I am so pumped about this!!!
I am so very excited to announce The Journey 2010. One day I realized that there were 260 weekdays (mon-fri) in a year, and there were 260 chapters in the New Testament. If we all read just one chapter a day, Monday through Friday, for a year, we would read through the entire New Testament. Seeing that the scripture is the primary place that God communicates to us, just imagine what could happen if we expose our heart and minds to it all week, every week. I know that this could be life- changing!
In addition, I have gathered 26 authors to write devotions that will go along with the chapter for the day and that devotion will be sent to everyone who is registered with The Journey. Imagine reading a chapter of the New Testament and reading a short devotion along with it written by someone who is right here in Middle Georgia, someone who knows what life around here is like - how encouraging will that be!
If you register to participate with The Journey 2010 here is what will happen:
1. You will get an email sent to you Monday through Friday each week that will contain the chapter for the day, and a short devotion related to something within that chapter.
2. In those emails you will have the opportunity to click on a button and go to The Journey website and join in a discussion with others about what they have read.
With The Journey, you will move through the entire New Testament in a year. Some bible reading plans have you read several chapters a day, and that can be intimidating, but this plan is not difficult, even for those new to Bible reading.
In all my years of ministry, this just might be the thing that I am most excited about.
Register for the Journey today by clicking here and email us your name and email address, and you will be registered and on your way to a changed life.
Dec 8, 2009
What do you think about when...
What is the most important thing about you? Name the one most important thing about you?
Can't narrow it down to one?
I can.
The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God. Above everything else, that is the most important thing about you. The reason is simple, everything else in your life is shaped and influence by what you think about when you think about God. Everything!
For instance, if your view of God is too small then you will not follow God's principles when it is risky to do so, and giving regularly financially to your church...not going to happen. The reason is because if your God is too small then you can only trust him with the small things in your life. If your view of God is one that sees him as angry then you will live with a lot of fear and guilt. Everything about you from how you work, to how you raise your children, to your sexuality, to your marriage is all shaped by your view of God. Even if you do not believe in a God, that view of God shapes you.
My point is simple. The reason Jesus went to the cross is to offer us forgiveness so that we could get to know God, and get a more accurate view of him, because everything about us is shaped by that view.
What are you doing about your view God? Are you truly seeking him or are you just performing Christianity? Just remember that the more you seek him, the more you will really know him, and an accurate view of God will shape your life into a strong one.
Can't narrow it down to one?
I can.
The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God. Above everything else, that is the most important thing about you. The reason is simple, everything else in your life is shaped and influence by what you think about when you think about God. Everything!
For instance, if your view of God is too small then you will not follow God's principles when it is risky to do so, and giving regularly financially to your church...not going to happen. The reason is because if your God is too small then you can only trust him with the small things in your life. If your view of God is one that sees him as angry then you will live with a lot of fear and guilt. Everything about you from how you work, to how you raise your children, to your sexuality, to your marriage is all shaped by your view of God. Even if you do not believe in a God, that view of God shapes you.
My point is simple. The reason Jesus went to the cross is to offer us forgiveness so that we could get to know God, and get a more accurate view of him, because everything about us is shaped by that view.
What are you doing about your view God? Are you truly seeking him or are you just performing Christianity? Just remember that the more you seek him, the more you will really know him, and an accurate view of God will shape your life into a strong one.
Nov 6, 2009
650
We started 650 today. It is a guy things that is meeting every Friday at 6:50 at the PC offices. We get together to eat, talk, joke, and I am teaching through the Book of James. I really had fun with it today. I love it when a group of guys really begin to pursue Christ. There is just something powerful about that. I am not real sure why...maybe it is because so many do not. Whatever the reason it is just plain cool and I loved it.
See you next Friday guys. Join us if you would like (4619 Sheraton drive at the south end of the AT&T building).
See you next Friday guys. Join us if you would like (4619 Sheraton drive at the south end of the AT&T building).
Oct 19, 2009
The danger of Southern Christanity
We have a lot of great things in the South. Southern Fried Chicken, Southern Rock, and Southern Hospitality to name a few. But there is something that we have perfected in the South that I am so tired of...Southern Christianity.
It is a real good imitation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, in the South we think we are all Christians. Mainly because we all went to church at some point in our life...VBS, Sunday School, confirmation class. We were told about Jesus and we liked the story of God becoming man to die for us on the cross. We were told to pray a prayer, or go to a class and to believe. We choose to believe. So we decided to add Jesus to our life to make life better. That is Southern Christianity. It is about believing the story of Jesus and trying to live good. The tragedy is that you might have embraced Southern Christianity and missed the Gospel.
Southern Christianity is about adding Jesus to your life to make your life better, but the Gospel is about giving up your life to live for the pleasure and glory of Him. Southern Christianity is about looking like a Christian, and the Gospel is about living for Him with a fearlessness of what others think. Southern Christianity is about living the rest of your life with the right belief about Jesus, the Gospel is about a life long journey of being constantly changed. Southern Christianity is powerless, and the Gospel is transformational.
Southern Christianity just may be the best imitation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some may read this and think that I am a little fanatical, need to calm down, and don't be so extreme...maybe I am...but am I wrong?
21Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 7:21
It is a real good imitation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, in the South we think we are all Christians. Mainly because we all went to church at some point in our life...VBS, Sunday School, confirmation class. We were told about Jesus and we liked the story of God becoming man to die for us on the cross. We were told to pray a prayer, or go to a class and to believe. We choose to believe. So we decided to add Jesus to our life to make life better. That is Southern Christianity. It is about believing the story of Jesus and trying to live good. The tragedy is that you might have embraced Southern Christianity and missed the Gospel.
Southern Christianity is about adding Jesus to your life to make your life better, but the Gospel is about giving up your life to live for the pleasure and glory of Him. Southern Christianity is about looking like a Christian, and the Gospel is about living for Him with a fearlessness of what others think. Southern Christianity is about living the rest of your life with the right belief about Jesus, the Gospel is about a life long journey of being constantly changed. Southern Christianity is powerless, and the Gospel is transformational.
Southern Christianity just may be the best imitation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some may read this and think that I am a little fanatical, need to calm down, and don't be so extreme...maybe I am...but am I wrong?
21Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven -Matthew 7:21
Oct 5, 2009
brokeness
There is something so inviting and repelling about brokenness. On the one hand, we run from it. Maybe because we see brokenness as weakness and no one wants to be weak, or maybe because brokenness is acknowledging that we are out of answers. I don't know, but it is rarely people's favorite place to be.
However, there is also something inviting about brokenness. I think that there is something in us that knows that God is attracted to the brokenhearted. That he empowers those who he knows are powerless. The art of giving up can be the first step to being blown away by something awesome that God does. Brokenness is not a place of total defeat, but the first step to success.
I have been through a lot of things in my life...good and bad. The mix has been such that I live as a man broken before God. I struggle to believe that God can and will ever use me to impact others lives, I struggle accepting it when people indicate that God used something I said to impact them, I am blown away by what God has done at Piedmont, and I am convinced that my skills to screw things up is far greater than my skill to do it right.
I at times would like to shed this sense of brokenness, but at the same time I know that I am in the best place I can be. I think that greatness, real greatness, can not come without passing down the highway of brokenness.
However, there is also something inviting about brokenness. I think that there is something in us that knows that God is attracted to the brokenhearted. That he empowers those who he knows are powerless. The art of giving up can be the first step to being blown away by something awesome that God does. Brokenness is not a place of total defeat, but the first step to success.
I have been through a lot of things in my life...good and bad. The mix has been such that I live as a man broken before God. I struggle to believe that God can and will ever use me to impact others lives, I struggle accepting it when people indicate that God used something I said to impact them, I am blown away by what God has done at Piedmont, and I am convinced that my skills to screw things up is far greater than my skill to do it right.
I at times would like to shed this sense of brokenness, but at the same time I know that I am in the best place I can be. I think that greatness, real greatness, can not come without passing down the highway of brokenness.
Oct 1, 2009
Choose Life
Check out this verse;
"I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him (Deu. 30:19b)."
When I read this verse an application shot to my mind. I sensed that in my life right now the most important arena that I could apply this to is my attitude. My attitude at any given moment is the result of my choice. I choose my attitude.
God challenges me to "Choose life." Several times today I will have the opportunity to choose life or death in my attitude.
When I arrive at work am I going to embrace a negative attitude, or tell myself that today is a day that God gave me and I will look for Him in it? When the gossip begins around me will I join in, or tell myself that that is not what I am to be about today?
Your attitude that you choose today will effect every word, decision, emotion, and behavior. When you choose life in your attitude, the rippling effect is amazing.
So, right now, choose life.
"I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him (Deu. 30:19b)."
When I read this verse an application shot to my mind. I sensed that in my life right now the most important arena that I could apply this to is my attitude. My attitude at any given moment is the result of my choice. I choose my attitude.
God challenges me to "Choose life." Several times today I will have the opportunity to choose life or death in my attitude.
When I arrive at work am I going to embrace a negative attitude, or tell myself that today is a day that God gave me and I will look for Him in it? When the gossip begins around me will I join in, or tell myself that that is not what I am to be about today?
Your attitude that you choose today will effect every word, decision, emotion, and behavior. When you choose life in your attitude, the rippling effect is amazing.
So, right now, choose life.
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