Come Awake

While running through video illustrations for our Collegiate Cless, I came across this video I wanted to share as well. It simply reminds us that our life in Christ isn't dependent on what we have done, but what He did for us on the cross. I hope it will give you an inspiration today.

Once again, for more information or to get a copy for your personal or church use, visit Igniter Media. Feel free to share your thoughts below.



Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf!!!

Loving God...But Are We Loving Others???

This evening, our Collegiate class study was focused on a couple of the Nooma series videos by Rob Bell. The one that has been stuck in my head is the one entitled Bullhorn. The thought I am hit by is that we are called to love God and also to love others, right? In Matthew 22:36-40, we find them asking Jesus..."Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment. (39) And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (40) On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

I know it seems easy to understand the loving God part, right? But what about the one whose opinion or lifestyle isn't what you agree with, or even detest? Are we supposed to treat them with contempt? Or are we to love them the same?

I am reminded of the passage in John 8, when the scribes and Pharisees brought the adulterous woman in, seeking for her to be condemned and stoned. What was Jesus reaction? Was it to put her down...shun her for her lifestyle...or to simply show love? In verse 8, He states plainly "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Too often, I am afraid we are trying to clean people up to bring them into our "church" environment. But, I am reminded of the illustration made by Mike Warnke back in his '80's comedy..."do we have to clean up for a bath?" The answer...simply put is no. We aren't called to clean up sinners, but simply reach out with the love of Jesus.

The verses say it clear enough, don't they? "...love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind...love thy neighbour as thyself"...Let's look at others today through the loving eyes of our Lord and Savior.

Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:21..."I am made all things to all men , that I might by all means save some." May that be our goal and our outcome...to save some...

What are your thoughts on this subject??? Would love to hear your take on this subject...

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Crazy Love study, Chapter 1...

We started our first week doing a small-group study of Crazy Love by Francis Chan. The first chapter is entitled "stop praying"...many people saw warning signs going up when they read that, I know. It's not what you think! It's about not being in a rut...not doing the ususal, ritualistic, same old, same old. We need to be focusing on a more relational conversation, while also focusing on what and who God really is. He's not just a guy we should talk to as an equal, without a reverence and fear.

What I would like to do over the course of this study is open up a forum for you to share each week what the specific chapters meant and how they spoke to your heart personally. I am not being paid by any publishers and only put a link to purchase the book so that interested individuals can become a part of what we are part of studying. Leave your thoughts...

There Is A Hope!!!

After the passage we covered yesterday, I got thinking about the hope we have for our lives. We don't have to be in the low points of life to realize it, though. I was searching for a passage of hope to share and the chapters we have been studying on Wednesday nights came to mind.

Let's look at Romans 8:31-39..."What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (33) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Right off the bat, we are given one of the greatest lines ever..."If God be for us, who can be against us?". How many times has that line been used in church fellowships or gatherings as a "battle cry", if you will, to offset the thought of insecurity? And, rightfully so...with Him on our side, why should we be insecure in anything?

As we continue, we are reminded that if God were willing to give His Son on the cross, why would He withhold good from us? Through the blood of Christ, we have a freedom that many will never know. Is this a freedom to live a life of sin? Look at Romans 6:15..."What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." It is a freedom FROM a life of sin, right?

Verse 33 gives us a peace in that when others are hurling their insults and accusations at us for the lives we live, remember..."It is God that justifieth".

Skip down to the last couple verses...is there anything that we can do that will separate us from the love of Christ? Can you name something? Anything? Right...that's assurance!!!

How can you apply these verses to your life today? How have they been an encouragement to you? Share your thoughts...

And, please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf!!!

The Love of Jesus...

As we come upon Easter, I find myself thinking about the love of Jesus upon a cruel world who wanted nothing to do with Him. Not only did He give His life as a ransom for our eternal souls, but became a vital part of the lives He encountered. I am reminded of the occasion when his friend, Lazarus died.

Look at the passage found in John 11:33-36..."When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (34) And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (35) Jesus wept. (36) Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"

The thing that sticks out is in verse 36..."Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"

What do people say when they see our encounters with friends? Do they see the love we have or maybe what we can gain from the other? What about those who aren't our "friends or inner circle"? Shouldn't people see the love of Jesus in us when we deal with them as well?

I want us to look at Matthew 5:44-46..."But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" So, if we only show love to those we are friends with, then we are showing nothing but human nature. It takes a true love to show love to even the "unloveable"!!!

We haven't been called to reach only those who can help us, but rather to preach the gospel to all nations... My prayer is that I will reach beyond my comfort zone to those who are in need. I was deeply touched by the pictures Mark Hall of Casting Crowns sent on TwitPic of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Some folks with the big names wouldn't get their hands "dirty" by visiting a reservation with such poverty. They would say it's a missionary's job to reach them. I have a much greater respect for them because of their willingness to go and teach and reach souls for Christ. Hats off, Casting Crowns!!!

What ways can you show the love of Christ to others? Maybe a note to someone who's hurting...a kind word to that teller who's struggling...a meal for the family who just experienced tragedy...whatever it is, find a way to reach out!!!

Please let me know if there is a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Are We Reaching Them???

Okay, It has been a couple weeks since I have posted. It has been quite a time! Finished up my first 8-week online semester with results above what I expected. Then, we had our Spring Revival this week with Rev. Sam Dyer speaking and Paul and Christy Newberry leading our worship. What an exciting time in the life of our church!!!

This has also been a great time of re-focusing my eyes and heart on the work God has for me. Why is it that it is so easy to be sidetracked? It's so easy to get caught up in the job aspect rather than the ministry side of our calling. I have found that I need to focus more on the people we are trying to reach than the songs, instruments, lighting, sound equipment and other usual concerns.

But the focus of everything I do must be to show the love of Christ to others, right? One of the key points I got out of the revival was this...God doesn't tell us to only take the sinners who are "A-listers" or will be beneficial to us either. He tells us to reach out to sinners, point blank!

The verse that comes to mind is Romans 5:8..."But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That means every sinner, regardless of their personal sin nature, status, or upbringing.

This is a battle we all face...reaching out to ALL!!! I have heard from so many people that visitation just doesn't work anymore. I don't believe that completely, but rather than the methods used for visitation need to adapt. We need more of a personal evangelism. Get to know them and let them get to know us. When they see a difference in us, that could allow us a chance to share with them more openly. Here is a neat little video from BluefishTV that runs quickly through the Roman road (road map to salvation) that we can share with others...



How are you doing at reaching to those who are hurting around you? Do you only focus on the "good" sinners, as if there really is such a thing. Or, are you willing to reach the drug addict, the prostitute, the homeless, and the ones with a rap sheet a mile long? This is a challenge I am taking personally. Will you join me?

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Here I Am, Send Me

As we work our way into 2009, a big focus in my life is reaching out to others. But, many times we don't know how to reach out, do we? Sometimes, it can be a random act of kindness, a good deed, a word of encouragement. The key is...sharing the love of God. In my studies, I've been reading from several texts and one thing that jumped out was from "The Purpose Driven Church" by Rick Warren. In chapter 12, the title is "How Jesus Attracted Crowds". One of the points that jumped out at me is that we many times overlook "loving unbelievers the way Jesus did". If we were willing to just show the love of Jesus, wouldn't people be asking what we have that they don't? This video is a simple evangelism illustration I saw last week. Check it out...



Take a step of faith with me...say those words..."Here I Am, Send Me". Will you do what He wants today? Are you willing to show His love to others?

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf!!!