Primal

Primal-

Mark Batterson's new book was a challenege to us to live a life of sacrifice and love. He challenged us to think about the things that break the heart of God and what are we going to do about it. If you are looking for that next step with Christ, a step to take you deeper, and live a full life get this book. Mark gives some great examples from his own life and the life of others who sacrificed for the sake of Jesus Christ. What are you doing to sacrifice for Jesus? This book will help you figure that out. This book challenged me to look at my life in a 'Primal' way, the way God intended.

You can pick up a copy here: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421319

Jesus' view on the American Dream

I don't know what your career goals are. I'm sure many of them are admirable. In many ways our American culture tells us to get rich, own property, grow your property, and retire well and early. In my devotions this morning I was reading in Luke 12:13-21 Jesus talks directly to us and our American culture. I honestly don't know what you do with the following verses. I am not going to make any comment but let scripture speak for itself. Read it. Apply it.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

¹⁴Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" ¹⁵Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

¹⁶And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. ¹⁷He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

¹⁸"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '

²⁰"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

²¹"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Confront it. Don't ignore this. How many of us set out to make enough money to retire on? Jesus calls us a fool. Not cool. I am wrestling with this. Can you follow Jesus in this way?

I was talking about this with my friend Josh Conn and he blogged in greater detail about what this means for our culture: http://www.joshconn.com/2009/12/10/titans-3-get-old-get-rich-retire/

Leader Development

The number one thing we look for in the church when developing leaders is teachability. Let me tell you that this issue disqualifies many great leaders from leading and having God use them to their fullest potential. The number one reason people aren't teachable is arrogance. I believe that you can learn something from anyone and there is never a time that you can't be teachable. So if you want God to use you to your fullest potential in the marketplace or in ministry. Be teachable and you can go a long way.

Tiger

There is a lot going on in the news about Tiger Woods and his 'transgressions'. I think we can all figure out what happened as I won't use this blog to explain. There are some things to be learned from the events that happened with Tiger.

1. Everyone is vulnerable to moral failure. This whole thing has been real disappointing to see as it seemed he had a great image.

2. We are just as bad as Tiger even if our transgressions happen in our mind or somewhere else. To me we should show the same grace to Tiger that we have from God. We are all sinners in need of a savior. The only difference for some of us is that we know that. I pray that Tiger figures that out.

3. We can't play God and think we won't lose control. Our sins will come to the surface because we are human. It is a lot better for you to confess your sins than letting the world do it for you.

4. We all have sinned or transgressed.

5. We all need a Savior.

6. We as Christians need to show love and grace to Tiger. We need to embody Jesus Christ. In years gone by I could see Christian groups standing up and protesting Tiger, never watching Tiger ever again, or stoning him if you will. What did Jesus do in John 8? Don't protest Tiger. Jesus isn't.

¹But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ²At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" ⁶They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.⁹At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?¹¹"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Discipleship

What is a disciple? That is the central question of our day in the church. I believe that the waves are shifting as to what a true disciple of Jesus Christ is. I think that when we answer this question it has impact on the way we see the rest of the world as Christians. It affects the way we spend money, our marriages, friendships, family relationships, politics, leadership, the way we work, etc. I think to define discipleship we have to explore The Gospel. What is the Gospel and how do we live it? If we answer that question then we will begin to see what it means to be a disciple. What are your thoughts? What do you think a disciple is? What is the Gospel? Obviously, make sure that your answers are found in scripture.

I am thinking of doing a class in the winter on this and would love your input/attendance at the class. Let me know what you think.

Just One...Discipleship from The Book of Acts

As pastors most of us set out to save the world for Jesus. It is our desire to see the multitudes come to know Him. Yet so few of us see that happen. We ask questions how did the early church do it? The early church is something that the current church always strives to be like. As we look multitudes were added. How did that happen? This is a great question to ask for a passionate pastor who wants to save the world for Jesus. The early church did it so how can we. I believe it is because they started with just one. It starts with yourself. If those individuals did not gather to meet with God in the upper room then who knows? If Barnabas didn't go spend time with Paul then who knows? If Paul didn't spend time with Timothy then who knows? If the early church didn't start with just one then maybe things would be different. So if you are setting out to change the world and have the numbers of those being saved added daily be in the multitudes you have to start with Just One. Who are you investing in? Are you taking yourself to the upper room to connect with the Father? Maybe the one you need to save is yourself? If you can't save yourself what makes you think you will change the world? If you can't save just one what makes you think you can save the world? Start with Just One.

College

Last night I attended our Immerse Worship group in Nyack, NY. It was an awesome time of worship and reflection. It was a very relaxed and come as you are environment. A couple of instances reminded me of my College days.

1. The evening didn't start until 9pm. (I am normally winding down for bed at this time)
2. We finished the night at 11:30pm. (I am normally dead asleep at this hour)
3. We then went out to BW3's, an amazing chicken wing place. (brought back lots of memories of college as wings from BW's was a staple in the ole' diet)
4. got back to house at 1am. (last 9 months or so this was a time Joshua would wake us from our sleep) This house is shared by 5-6 college guys. I was originally supposed to crash on the couch.
5. College pranks. Let's just say I was in a house full of college guys on April fools day.
6. Disgusting bathrooms. We are getting close to the end of the school year, probably no one has ever cleaned them.
7. Decide at 2am that there is no way I am sleeping on the couch and head to one of my friends college dorm rooms to crash at my old seminary housing building, Jaffray.
8. Spend some time talking with the guys in the room I was crashing in. (very reminiscent of late night talks in the dorm room)
9. 3am, other roomate slams door probably to send a message that we were talking too loud:)
10. Finally go to sleep at 3:30am, my body let me sleep until 8:30am.

College life has its place but I am definitely living the good life with Kelly and Joshua.