When I began doing this whole blog deal, it really was an experiment. The plan was for the first time, and this sounds so weird, to actually trust Jesus for every need, follow His leading, listen for His voice in all situations, and use scripture for more than just a devotional book so I could have a good day.
because our church plant is so intertwined in this whole experiment, it became evident that something cool could happen. IF and I repeat IF, I could truly submit in humility, give when told to give, speak when told to speak, seek Him with a true honest desire to gain Him and not some financial success, be ready to confess sin, keep the communication open with others and live a free life with no bounds set but by Jesus Himself...The I could trust Him to care for and meet the needs of my family and His church.
all that was a theory. After all, I have heard most of that most of my life. Except of my responsibility. I have always been told Jesus would care for us, meet our needs. But all the stuff I was told and taught never dealt with my part. Faith in action. Seeking with a true heart. Loving with honesty. Meeting needs as a tool in the hands of the actual need meeter.
theory has been changed to fact. 4 months of seeking, trusting, struggling, going with out wants, but not with out need, swallowing pride, helping meet the needs for others, meeting people I would not normally have met, seeing Jesus actually meet our own needs week after week.
all this has been a pruning of sorts. A cleansing, a decompression.
as difficult as the process has been, I prefer the active God who is closer now than 10 years of professional ministry. I prefer the God of the moment rather than the planned out god. I prefer the closeness of Jesus rather than the theoretical Jesus.
yes Virginia, Jesus is real. He meets the needs of His children. He still speaks to us, inspite of what the religious will tell you. He does not tell you that life with Him will be easy and with out struggle. As a matter of fact, He warns us not to make a rash decision in regards to following Him. But oh the life! A life of service, a life of Love, a life of unbelievable purpose! True intimacy.
on with the revolution!
1.12.2005
1.10.2005
The smell of stale smoke, body odor and the sweetness of Jesus
Last night as we began to worship together, nothing seemed to go right. Where as 6 months ago this would have been a major ordeal, I am learning the importance of the moment. We plan the crap out of stuff. As a former staff member of a large church, I, and those I worked with have planned the Holy Spirit right out of the picture.
When folks don't show up, you gotta go with what you got. Warren did a great job of pulling together a few folks to lead and it was a sweet time for me. In the midst of kids playing and missed beats in the music, the sweetness that is Jesus fell on me.
so did the aroma of Jeff, a homeless guy who had heard we were there and serving food. I had met him before, so we were somewhat familiar with each other. He came in reeking of smoke and b.o. he looked like he had not showered in a few days. At the same time, I realize now he looked more like Jesus than some folks I had seen earlier in the day.
I have segregated my life. Not on purpose, but it is segregated none the less. Not many black folks are in my life. I have Caribbean neighbors who are sweet folks, but we do not socialize...Yet. There is an Indian family who I wave at on my street, but there has been no conversation. I do not speak nor do I deal with many homeless folks unless they wander into our church meeting.
without having realized it I have relegated all my goings and dealings with my little tribe. I seldom deal with, or socialize with anyone outside the tribe. We go to church together, I even work for a couple of folks I go to church with.
what I am saying is this. After being segregated as a staff member and career church worker, I have now pretty much done the same thing. But now, because I have seen the problem and realized the err of my ways, I feel nastier and smell worse than Jeff did the other night.
Lord help me to see as you see. Help me to be ready to learn. Help me to be ready to love. Help me to seek out those who need a love from their Brother Jesus, their Lord, their redeemer.
consume me till there is no me...But all you.
When folks don't show up, you gotta go with what you got. Warren did a great job of pulling together a few folks to lead and it was a sweet time for me. In the midst of kids playing and missed beats in the music, the sweetness that is Jesus fell on me.
so did the aroma of Jeff, a homeless guy who had heard we were there and serving food. I had met him before, so we were somewhat familiar with each other. He came in reeking of smoke and b.o. he looked like he had not showered in a few days. At the same time, I realize now he looked more like Jesus than some folks I had seen earlier in the day.
I have segregated my life. Not on purpose, but it is segregated none the less. Not many black folks are in my life. I have Caribbean neighbors who are sweet folks, but we do not socialize...Yet. There is an Indian family who I wave at on my street, but there has been no conversation. I do not speak nor do I deal with many homeless folks unless they wander into our church meeting.
without having realized it I have relegated all my goings and dealings with my little tribe. I seldom deal with, or socialize with anyone outside the tribe. We go to church together, I even work for a couple of folks I go to church with.
what I am saying is this. After being segregated as a staff member and career church worker, I have now pretty much done the same thing. But now, because I have seen the problem and realized the err of my ways, I feel nastier and smell worse than Jeff did the other night.
Lord help me to see as you see. Help me to be ready to learn. Help me to be ready to love. Help me to seek out those who need a love from their Brother Jesus, their Lord, their redeemer.
consume me till there is no me...But all you.
1.07.2005
Bargain shoppers at the mall of critical thinking
Lately, I have turned into a talk radio junkie. But not the ones which you may think. Rush has become a bore. I am convinced Jesus is not a republican. Neal Boortz is good, but my favorite is Real Radio out of Orlando. I laugh uncontrollably and get so angry in a few minutes of listening.
I like it because the topics make me think.
Most of the ramblings found here and other places I write are simply my take on certain things. Scripture, The Bride, friendships, marriage and mostly, my life.
I heard this quote yesterday on my way back to Ocala. "Bargain shoppers at the mall of critical thinking" and as usual, it got me thinking.
we are a culture of deals. The best price for the best product. I have a friend who loves that. It is an art to him. He will go out of his way to pursue the deal. Always looking for the deal. Give and take.
in the realm of critical thinking, most Christians are bargain shoppers. Not looking for the best product, but settling for the one less sought after. The ease in which we as believers have been led in to the pasture of easy living, easy believing, easy faith is amazing. Rather than critically thinking about certain issues and situations, we make it easy for the common believer to be less than willing to search the scripture to uncover the Truth. This is one reason why 3/4 of believers do not treasure scripture.
We are easily critical about those who would be willing to challenge the status quo, but not in our thinking. We criticize others for the audacity for going against the flow of bargain faith shoppers. Yet, we offer no relevant thought on the subject. The mainstream thought from most believers on any serious issue that is clearly dealt with in scripture is to begin the discussion with the words that resonate from the halls of academia..."Well, I think..."
for what ever the reason, we have checked our minds at the door of the church. Left to sit and soak up the thoughts of the pastor, the teacher and the surroundings. Sadly, not much is being said that warrants actual critical thinking. I listen to pastors who give devotional thoughts rather than scriptural truths that cause one to think and tremble at the Truth of God. So, we are partly to blame for the current situation.
God help us to love you with our minds. Help us to fill our thoughts with the wonder and amazement that is You.
I like it because the topics make me think.
Most of the ramblings found here and other places I write are simply my take on certain things. Scripture, The Bride, friendships, marriage and mostly, my life.
I heard this quote yesterday on my way back to Ocala. "Bargain shoppers at the mall of critical thinking" and as usual, it got me thinking.
we are a culture of deals. The best price for the best product. I have a friend who loves that. It is an art to him. He will go out of his way to pursue the deal. Always looking for the deal. Give and take.
in the realm of critical thinking, most Christians are bargain shoppers. Not looking for the best product, but settling for the one less sought after. The ease in which we as believers have been led in to the pasture of easy living, easy believing, easy faith is amazing. Rather than critically thinking about certain issues and situations, we make it easy for the common believer to be less than willing to search the scripture to uncover the Truth. This is one reason why 3/4 of believers do not treasure scripture.
We are easily critical about those who would be willing to challenge the status quo, but not in our thinking. We criticize others for the audacity for going against the flow of bargain faith shoppers. Yet, we offer no relevant thought on the subject. The mainstream thought from most believers on any serious issue that is clearly dealt with in scripture is to begin the discussion with the words that resonate from the halls of academia..."Well, I think..."
for what ever the reason, we have checked our minds at the door of the church. Left to sit and soak up the thoughts of the pastor, the teacher and the surroundings. Sadly, not much is being said that warrants actual critical thinking. I listen to pastors who give devotional thoughts rather than scriptural truths that cause one to think and tremble at the Truth of God. So, we are partly to blame for the current situation.
God help us to love you with our minds. Help us to fill our thoughts with the wonder and amazement that is You.
1.04.2005
Expectations of a movement
It is easy for me to expect great things from Church. After all, Jesus started it. And anything He puts His hands on is good. Looking at the book of Acts, it is easy to see that the church we have all heard about, the ideological church, is not the one mentioned and talked about by Luke and Paul. Murder, racism, hypocrisy, gossip...Wait...This sounds like church today! What I mean is, there was a willingness to lay it all down for the cause. People were changed, transformed and different.
we have become more interested in adding God to the list of things that make our lives better. Kind like central heat and air, carpet, padded pews, big programs. All designed to make life as the believer better, more meaningful, but not so different. Sure, we may stop doing certain things, but we seldom replace them with acts of charity and love and sacrifice. For most, when salvation comes, the rest of the journey is about them...A continual journey of self gratification. And the American Church perpetuates it.
do we really believe that for all the hassle Jesus put up with, all the beatings he took, the death he died, the words he spoke, do we really believe that what he wants from us is a comfortable existence with no problems and no brokenness? I guess when he said "the world will hate you because it first hated me" we thought he was just kidding.
I had a conversation with a guy the other day about really knowing God, being intimate with Jesus in every area of life. We realized that brokenness was the key. Few of us know Jesus intimately because we have never been broken. broken over our sin. Till we see ourselves as He does, we cannot truly know Him.
there needs to be an expectation of pain and suffering when the movement overtakes us. There can be no victory with out sacrifice. We must learn it is not for our glory that we strive against sin. It is for the Gory of the King...Jesus Christ.
the Church would be a lot less if we told them up front...OK, welcome to the family. From this point on, your family may disown you. Your career may suffer. You may be imprisoned and tortured. You may never find financial security. You will be mocked and mistreated. HOWEVER, Jesus will walk with you each step of the day. He will fill you with His love and concern for people. He will supply all your daily needs. You will have the priviledge to know Him in such a way that others can only read about. And when all the suffering and mocking and lack of acceptance by the world is over, you die...Only to be embraced by the King Himself, and spend eternity loving and worshiping Him.
ready? I thought you were.
we have become more interested in adding God to the list of things that make our lives better. Kind like central heat and air, carpet, padded pews, big programs. All designed to make life as the believer better, more meaningful, but not so different. Sure, we may stop doing certain things, but we seldom replace them with acts of charity and love and sacrifice. For most, when salvation comes, the rest of the journey is about them...A continual journey of self gratification. And the American Church perpetuates it.
do we really believe that for all the hassle Jesus put up with, all the beatings he took, the death he died, the words he spoke, do we really believe that what he wants from us is a comfortable existence with no problems and no brokenness? I guess when he said "the world will hate you because it first hated me" we thought he was just kidding.
I had a conversation with a guy the other day about really knowing God, being intimate with Jesus in every area of life. We realized that brokenness was the key. Few of us know Jesus intimately because we have never been broken. broken over our sin. Till we see ourselves as He does, we cannot truly know Him.
there needs to be an expectation of pain and suffering when the movement overtakes us. There can be no victory with out sacrifice. We must learn it is not for our glory that we strive against sin. It is for the Gory of the King...Jesus Christ.
the Church would be a lot less if we told them up front...OK, welcome to the family. From this point on, your family may disown you. Your career may suffer. You may be imprisoned and tortured. You may never find financial security. You will be mocked and mistreated. HOWEVER, Jesus will walk with you each step of the day. He will fill you with His love and concern for people. He will supply all your daily needs. You will have the priviledge to know Him in such a way that others can only read about. And when all the suffering and mocking and lack of acceptance by the world is over, you die...Only to be embraced by the King Himself, and spend eternity loving and worshiping Him.
ready? I thought you were.
1.03.2005
Let us return...
Hosea 6:1-3
Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day
That we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.
As I recover from a full blown transition from me to Him, the reality of His hand is upon me. The heaviness yet the gentleness overcomes me.
Let this be the day that my sacrifice is consumed by the fire of Heaven.
Let this be the day that the line is drawn in the sand.
Let this be the day that I look back on as the turning point.
"So let it be written, so let it be done."
Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
He will revive us after two days;
He will raise us up on the third day
That we may live before Him.
So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.
As I recover from a full blown transition from me to Him, the reality of His hand is upon me. The heaviness yet the gentleness overcomes me.
Let this be the day that my sacrifice is consumed by the fire of Heaven.
Let this be the day that the line is drawn in the sand.
Let this be the day that I look back on as the turning point.
"So let it be written, so let it be done."
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