tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52526942674809989532024-02-19T05:37:35.930-06:00leaving the graya collection of my thoughts, notes from time with God, embracing the life that i have been given and yearning to ignite a generation for Christ, to awaken the apathetic, and to be a catalyst that takes Christians from luke warm to absolutely on fire, to bridge people to the love of God through relationships, to lead people to the indescribable joy of calling Jesus their Lord and Savior, to be a fully devoted follower of Christ. leaving the grayleaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-36684614254585934502014-03-08T11:07:00.001-06:002014-03-08T11:07:03.669-06:00Putting Feet to Faith | Mark 1-6<p></p><p>Some observations about the behaviors of those who follow Jesus, from the first few chapters of Mark:</p><p></p><div>
</div><p>1. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">They want to follow Jesus. Mark 5:18 </span></p><div>
</div><p>2. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">They go and tell their friends what Jesus has done for them and how He has had mercy on them. Mark 5:20</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></p><div>
</div><p>3. They listen to the teachings of Jesus and correctly apply it to their lives. Mark 4:13-20</p><div>
</div><p>4. They put feet to their faith and reach out for Jesus to meet their needs. Mark 5:22-23, Mark 5:34</p><div>
</div><p>5. They take time away from serving others and rest from their work. Mark 6:30-33</p><div>
</div><p>6. At times, they fail to believe that the power of Jesus is not confined by the situations and circumstances of those who follow Him. Mark 6:35-44</p><div>
</div><p>It's helpful to identify these things, but the transformation and freedom for the believer is not in identifying the facts about following Jesus, but in putting these things in to practice. And if what Jesus has done for you has not captured your heart, then you will not be able to persist in these behaviors for very long, for no amount of religious activites will ever do what only Jesus can do- change our hearts. Behavior follows belief. </p><p>Thankful that this is true: </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"... for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13 ESV)</span></p>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-50382376317527349502013-12-14T10:38:00.000-06:002013-12-14T10:38:32.978-06:00Mourning with Sandy HookLike many of you, my heart is heavy today. One year ago, 26 people lost their lives. 20 of them, only first graders. Senseless. <div>
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I've never been to Sandy Hook. Never met any of the parents that were affected by this tragedy. The grief of loosing a child is something that I know nothing of. Incomprehensible grief comes to mind, and would be an understatement to describe the loss that these families now move forward with. But somehow I feel a connection with them. Today, those first graders would be in the second grade. Today, one of my children is in the second grade. For that reason, this hits a little closer to home. </div>
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Sandy Hook, I have no words that will remove your pain. I have nothing that can replace your children, your friends. But I offer you my prayers. I offer my tears. I pray, that by God's grace, He gives you the strength to move forward, to never forget. I pray that the Spirit of the living God would comfort you as you mourn, that He would intercede for you with groanings too deep for words. And I pray that Jesus comes soon:</div>
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<b><i>"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4</i></b></div>
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Sandy Hook, millions of people across the country with children are mourning with you...</div>
leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-76523738693099820172013-11-25T09:22:00.001-06:002013-11-25T09:22:33.483-06:00The key to a completed checklist is......to remember that the checklist is never complete. When all is said and done, there will still be more to say and do.<br />
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I'm not sure why, but I always feel better when I cross something off the list. But it seems that for every one thing I cross off the list, 5 new things are added. Kinda nuts to think that I'll ever get it all done! <i><b>Hi, my name is Chris, and I am a chronic list-checker. </b></i><br />
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How fickle are our hearts. Why do we feel a sense of significance when work is completed, but feel less than significant when we fail to complete our plans? Are we our tasks? Of course not, but the heart sure does try to convince us of that.<br />
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Psalms 139:14 provides a helpful reminder for me: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."<br />
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We are of infinite worth to Him- so much that our infinite God, being full of infinite love, stepped into finite time to forever completing the work that we could never complete, forever freeing us from the judgement we deserve for our sins.<br />
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We are hopelessly lost and burdened with the debt of our sin, but thank God for the unmerited grace He shows us- He alone has forever completed the justifying work of paying the sin debt for all who place their trust in Jesus.<br />
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My prayer for you and for myself is that we would always experience this reality: We will be most satisfied in life not by what we do, but by resting in what Jesus has done for us. You will never complete all the work set before you. But God will complete the good work He begins in you.<br />
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Our greatest joy is not found on a completed checklist, but on a conquered cross.leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-2547612605310393562013-08-22T12:49:00.000-05:002013-08-23T06:24:54.984-05:00Chris Gray: Engineer, Pastor<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had an interesting conversation the other day with a guy who was doing some maintenance work on our building. He asked me what I did for a living, and I gave an answer that he had never heard someone give. I told him that I was an engineer…. and a pastor. <br /><br />His face cracked a curious grin and gave away his thoughts immediately: “that’s an unusual combination.” <br /><br />“Yes it is,” I smiled in reply. Yes it is.<br /><br />This time last year, my answer would have been one-sided- I am an engineer. After all, that’s what I’ve spent the last 10 years doing, designing and leading all kinds of land development projects all over the Oklahoma City area and beyond. But along the way it became very clear to me that I would not always be an engineer. At least not in the land development field.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">My Calling</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seven years ago I was a volunteer serving as a small groups leader in my church. One day, I was sitting around the table with one of my church’s associate pastors, strategizing about the next best way to help people join small groups and grow in their faith. As we were talking, he made a comment that I’ll never forget, that went something like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em>You know Chris, one day, God might call you to use your engineering abilities in a different way. Perhaps God is calling you, not to solve land development challenges, but spiritual ministry challenges so that more people could meet and follow Jesus.</em></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As soon as the words came out of his mouth, I knew they were true. I had about 10 years of ministry experience at that point in time, from leading a student ministry in college to leading small groups in my church. In all that experience, God was developing in me a growing passion to help people meet the Jesus of the bible and to help equip them to do every good work that God has called them to do. <br /><br />In spite of my growing passion for Jesus and His Church, I had no clear indication at that time that God wanted me to go to seminary or to become a pastor right away. Instead, I found out, my assignment for the next seven years was to remain an engineer. Much could be said of that time, but suffice it to say, it was a time of refining, a time of developing, a time of waiting. <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Following</span></strong><br /><br />But God doesn’t call us to wait forever. About 6 months ago, I was welcomed on the team of a new church that is being planted here in Edmond, Oklahoma called Redemption Church (</span><a href="http://redemptionokc.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://redemptionokc.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">). Redemption Church, lead by pastor Jeff Lawrence, is a part of the Acts 29 Network (</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.acts29network.org/" target="_blank">http://www.acts29network.org/</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">) which is a network of churches that plants churches that plant churches. I will serve as the Executive Pastor for the church, using my repurposed engineering abilities to develop and administer initiatives that help people grow to become authentic disciples of Jesus. To say that I am excited about this is a gross understatement! <br /><br />The video below shares more details about our story. In it, you will hear my wife’s response, as well as hear from Jeff Lawrence about why he moved his family over 1,200 miles to come back home to plant and pastor this church.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRcjN8ylnqA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">In Transition</span></strong><br /><br />So, I am currently both an engineer and a pastor, but I know this ministry needs my undivided attention. I am grateful that my engineering profession allows me some flexibility in this transition, but I have a sense of urgency about the work God is calling me to do for the people of Edmond and the Oklahoma City area. Here's a post that Jeff wrote that explains this urgency: </span><a href="http://jeffdlawrence.com/2013/07/01/why-plant-a-new-church-in-the-bible-belt/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WHY PLANT A NEW CHURCH IN THE BIBLE BELT?</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It typically takes 3-5 years for new churches to get started, and it takes outside support during those years for the church to get to that point. While some of the outside support comes from other churches, the vast majority of financial support for church plants comes from individuals, like you. My family and I are incredibly grateful to those who have already stepped up to offer financial support to help us make this transition. We are asking you to consider partnering with us in one of three ways: </span></div>
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<li>A monthly gift </li>
<li>An annual gift </li>
<li>A one-time donation </li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We know that people may already give to their church and to other missions. We simply want to make known how great the need is for more churches, right here in the Edmond/OKC metro area, and how like minded believers can partner for many people to experience redemption in Jesus. </span></div>
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We are so excited and hopeful for what God will do through launching Redemption Church as another outpost for the Gospel and the Great Commission, but can't do it without your help. It will literally take hundreds of people pitching in- great or small amounts- to make this church a reality. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Will you partner with us to make Redemption happen?</strong></span> </div>
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<a href="http://redemptionokc.com/give/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://redemptionokc.com/give/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <br /> <br /><br /></span>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-49181913980331164182013-07-20T08:00:00.000-05:002013-07-20T08:00:00.874-05:00Pride, Performance, and ... Pennies...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNd6nFhegxxB9WhyphenhyphenMAMy93EyE0h43sZ_sGSZIAvU4X9CBW-JmliIzulLCoUgF7x3GS0NCP4dGbvfg9_Pa2Hlhn1E0-qCRFHPUFqNyp1rjzDdivIx2Yp9-gYGQ6n0FrowA4N5vHb13TiYk/s1600/Photo+Jul+19,+5+54+11+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNd6nFhegxxB9WhyphenhyphenMAMy93EyE0h43sZ_sGSZIAvU4X9CBW-JmliIzulLCoUgF7x3GS0NCP4dGbvfg9_Pa2Hlhn1E0-qCRFHPUFqNyp1rjzDdivIx2Yp9-gYGQ6n0FrowA4N5vHb13TiYk/s320/Photo+Jul+19,+5+54+11+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was cleaning out my wallet the other day and found some change had been placed in there. I don’t normally find change in my wallet so I was kinda surprised to find that in there. Then I remember that I had given my wallet to my wife earlier to go buy some food for the kids, and realized that she must have put it there after she paid the bill for our food. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok- so big deal. I found change in my wallet- wow... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, not news breaking material here, but what struck me was the value of the change - 2 cents. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I’ve been reflecting over some conversations I have had the last several weeks, I’ve become uncomfortably aware that I’m often giving my opinion - my “2 cents” - to others on a lot of different things. Some of it may have been helpful, some maybe not so much. Either way, it wasn’t requested, I just gave it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry for the confessional, but I know that I’m not the only one out there that has the same trouble of being overly generous with my 2 cents. I have a growing collection of suggestions and perspectives from some of my friends as well! :-) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At first, people are pleasant about it. They smile and nod, and the conversation carries on. But the more our occasion and frequency in sharing our ideas, our polite company begins to show subtle signs of growing tired of all of our ideas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The issue isn’t the content of our ideas, suggestions, or perspectives. It’s the attitude and heart behind those opinions that reveal that something rotten has taken root in our hearts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes it’s just pride. We think we know what’s best! We have the best ideas, the best strategies, the best resources. In fact, our thoughts are so great, that we are completely unable to hear the ideas of others. We just plow ahead, not considering ideas together and objectively evaluating them. We are so impressed with ourselves and are totally convinced that this is the way, but totally blind to the fact that God has given wisdom to others as well, who have a lot more humility about them than us. I’m prone to struggle with this one... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other times it’s a performance issue. We are trying to impress someone else with US because WE are so GREAT and we want to make SURE that they know we’ve got it figured out! We figure if we impress them with our ideas, they will like us and give us the promotion or respect or whatever the outcome is that we are looking to achieve in our agenda. We care more about what other people think than anything else. Just another form of idolatry, repackaged for our world today. I struggle with this one too... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The reality is we all do this at varying levels because it is a sin issue; it’s an idolatry issue. It’s a worship issue. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether it is pride or performance, it still reveals that we are jealous for the approval and affections of others for ourselves and not for the approval and affection that we find in Jesus alone. We are never going to be good enough, smart enough, have good enough ideas, etc. to win the favor of God. Ultimately God's opinion of us is what matters most, and the only way we receive His favor is through accepting by faith the finished work that Jesus already did for us (see John 3:16). Once God opens the eyes of our heart to see this and the faith to rest in this, we realize that we can stop trying to earn an approval/favor from God that is utterly impossible to obtain. It is simply being granted to us through faith alone in Jesus alone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's not to say that there isn't a time and place to share our ideas and perspective. It's more a matter of the heart. It's a realization that we don't have it all figured out, and we need to learn a little self control and practice some humility as we ask a couple questions: </span><ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it truly helpful information? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is it really necessary to share? </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Maybe you have other filter questions that work for you - I'm sure there are others that are more helpful. Whatever the filter, find some means of keeping your opinions and ideas soaked in humility and love.</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what am I going to do with those two pennies I found in my wallet? I think I’ll keep them in my wallet as a reminder that I should be a little more prudent in my opinion philanthropy. If God prompts me to share my ideas, I want to make sure that when it is offered, it is done without the pursuit of pride and performance, but instead with humility and love.</span>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-33099514653644548982013-07-16T05:51:00.000-05:002013-07-16T05:51:32.550-05:00Nineveh: A difficult assignment
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah
the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and
call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose
to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and
found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to
go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:1-3<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jonah did
not do as God had commanded him and fled from the presence of the Lord. Jonah
was a prophet; he was one who spoke for God. God created him and called him to
do a certain work. Jonah’s job was to share the message God gives, to whomever
Got commands it to be given to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God had
given Jonah an assignment: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out
against it, for their evil has come up before me.” We will learn later in the
book of Jonah that Jonah did not want to be on this assignment. He did not want
to do anything that might cause the Ninevites to repent and be saved. He did
not want them to hear the warning of God, lest they humble themselves and
repent of their sin and receive mercy from God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God has
created each of us according to His plans and purposes. When we choose to go
our own way, we sin against God. Sometimes it is an identity issue that we
struggle with; we are envious of another’s life, of their prestige, or of their
calling and we wrongly try to be like them and live their life. Other times it’s
just the difficulty of our work and the current circumstances of life that lead
our wayward hearts to turn away from the work that God has called us to, and
pursue other more attractive opportunities, more money, or more power.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reflection<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the work that God is calling you to do in this season of life? When answering, don’t think in terms of vocation, but instead think of assignments (ie: there’s a broken relationship in my life and I know God wants me to reconcile it).</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prayerfully consider why you are resistant to doing this work.</span></span></div>
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<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Jonah rebelled from the work God called him to, there were consequences that not only affected him, but those around him. How has your resistance to this assignment impacted your heart towards God and others?</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you identify the sin that you need to turn from, and the resolve and help of the Holy Spirit to do so. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Share your
answers to these questions with someone from church and encourage and pray for
one another that you each may complete the assignments that God has called you
to do.</span></span></div>
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leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-16295258239406093412013-06-20T08:24:00.001-05:002013-06-20T08:24:02.070-05:00I see lost people<div>Listening to a message on Luke 15 about the lost coin and the prodigal son, a very keen observation was made by the speaker: </div><div><br></div><div>lost things don't know that they are lost; lost people don't know their lost. </div><div><br></div><div>While the prodigal son parable is very much about the lost son who ran away and came home to the compassionate father, it is also very much about the outwardly obedient son who stayed home, yet who was inwardly lost. The younger son saw his sin and repented both inwardly and outwardly. And the father showed compassion on his lost son and received him, for the son knew he had sinned but also knew that the father was gracious to forgive those who repent. The older son, though he did all the right things outwardly, was blind to his own sin and his equal need for the Father's compassion. </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://youtu.be/QUYKSWQmkrg">http://youtu.be/QUYKSWQmkrg</a></div><div><br></div><div>The link above has a clip from the movie The Sixth Sense. It is one of the most sobering scenes I have ever seen. Dead people don't know they're dead. Lost people don't know they're lost. And if lost people don't know they are lost, they will most assuredly not seek to be found. </div><div><br></div><div>Follower of Jesus: God is light, and he placed his light in you, not to be hidden, but to be shared wherever He has placed you. We are ambassadors for Christ, 24/7, 365 days a year, for as many days that God gives us. </div><div><br></div><div>There are literally millions upon millions of people, who though they are physically alive today, are spiritually dead and don't even know it. The Father loves the lost, and will do whatever is necessary to find that which is lost. And we who have been reborn also have the will and compassion of the Father in our hearts. </div><div><br></div><div>Let us eagerly and diligently do all that we can to seek the lost, and let us also persist in prayer for the lost to see their lostness, so that we can point them to the Father who not only found us, but also wants to find them. </div>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-53013234225324716452013-05-05T15:17:00.001-05:002013-05-05T15:20:31.213-05:00So... What did you think of the service?"I thought it was good."<br />
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Long pause. <br />
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"Yep. Me too."<br />
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More often than not, this is usually how our conversation goes on the way home from church. Sometime we'll talk about some of the main points, but rarely do we get past the listening comprehension phase of talking about a sermon. <br />
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Of course there are those days when the pastor brought a really strong word, or maybe the topic had our attention. After those messages, we have little trouble moving past the facts of the message and taking it to another level as we talk about our feelings, how we felt when he talked about x. But is this how we should be responding each week? Should our response and motivation to reflect on what we heard be conditional to how well we "liked" the message?<br />
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Let me offer to you that the answer to those questions is no. Yes, some days we are more in tune with the Spirit, and have no trouble feasting on the message for the rest of the week. But more often than not, this will not be the case. Most of the time, we have to do some work. <br />
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We have to move past the reciting of facts that are delivered to us. We need to let the facts sink into our hearts and minds so that our feelings about reflecting on those facts begins to surface. <br />
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As we process our feelings, we return to the scriptures and make sure we are correctly understanding what we heard. Then we form conclusions, identifying where our understanding needs correction. Those conclusions should then be shared with other believers to help us make sure we are not making mistakes in our thinking. We also invite others to learn how to encourage us and celebrate how God is at work in our hearts. And finally, we move to identifying what our next steps are for us to apply the preaching of God's word to our lives. <br />
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Yes, this is hard. Yes, this requires some effort and work. But the fruit of asking some hard questions of our hearts in light of hearing the preaching of God's word will become evident. We will no longer be mere hearers of the word, but doers. <br />
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"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:22-25 ESV)<br />
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Facts: What was discussed?<br />
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Feelings: How did I feel about those facts?<br />
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Conclusions: What did I learn about God? and myself?<br />
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Community: Are my conclusions correct? What do I need to hear from other believers about this?<br />
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Next steps: What will I do about it today? This week?<br />
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Make it a point today to work through these questions and consider what you heard from the preaching of God's word. Let's move past, "what did you think?" to "what are you going to do about it?"leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-30415333064862134852013-04-28T15:24:00.001-05:002013-04-28T15:24:43.038-05:00Big questionsWhat big questions do you need to ask yourself? <br />
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Maybe you've been avoiding them because you don't want to deal with the emotions that are there. Or maybe you avoid the big questions because its easier to live in the shallows and you don't wan to deal with the deep. <br />
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Regardless of the reasons, I would commend to you to making time each week to reflect and ask yourself some key, big, deep questions. <br />
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These aren't for everyone, but I've come up with a short list of big questions that work for me- they help me refocus, recharge, and remember what is most important. <br />
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What is my struggle?<br />
What is my joy?<br />
What is my fear?<br />
What do I now see?<br />
What sin am I still clinging on to?<br />
What do I need to repent of?<br />
What shame do I need to let go of?<br />
What kindness do I need to thank God for?<br />
To whom do I need to show kindness to today?<br />
What things in this season of my life do I need to daily and continually be in prayer for? (Identify and then pray for these)<br />
What big prayer do I need to pray today? (Identify and then pray)<br />
Today's reminder<br />
Next stepleaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-35176431940017175492013-04-17T06:38:00.001-05:002013-04-17T06:38:34.271-05:00Worshipful AwarenessMost churches start their services with the singing of several songs and hymns to God. While this isn't the only way to order a service, I do think that singing to God at the beginning is helpful to prepare our hearts to receive instruction from the Lord through the preaching of His word. <br />
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We know that the worship part of the service should stir up our greatest affections, and should be the overflow of our walk with God. Unfortunately though, our hearts have a way of wandering. When our hearts are hardened, we become spiritually numb to the words we sing, and rob ourselves of the joy of seeing God for all that He is, seeing His holiness, and most of all seeing how sinful we are in light of how holy He is. <br />
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I think that it is becoming aware of how holy that God is that enables us to see how unholy we are, apart from the finished work of Jesus for us. When we are able to see our sin as God sees it, we agree with Him that it is in fact sin and that something must be done about it. <br />
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The good news is that in Jesus, something has already been done about our sin. For us who place our trust in Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and the perfect life of Christ is now imputed to us, making us pure and holy before God. Apart from Him, we are done, totally lost, and fully deserving God's wrath for our sin that we continually commit against Him and others. But God has declared that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because he paid the debt we could not pay and gave us new life. It is through Christ that we find fulfillment, purpose, joy, our identity, and most of all, life. <br />
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It is the awareness of his holiness that leads us to repentance, but it is awareness of our adoption as sons and daughters of God through the cross of Jesus that leads us to life and joy!<br />
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It is my prayer that our hearts would not be hardened and that God would cause us to constantly remain spiritually aware of these realities, so that we would continue in repentance, and grow in our affection for the ultimate Father who has adopted us as His own. leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-4094371384577669692013-04-16T07:00:00.001-05:002013-04-16T07:02:59.928-05:00I love the one who tells me the truthIt's great to listen to others singing our praises. We love to hear all the good things that people say about us. Makes us feel good, right? Boosts our all important self esteem! <br />
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But that's not what we seek when we see the doctor, is it? When we see the doctor, we want him to tell us the truth, right? Not, "hey, so good to see you! Your health is great!", when really he knows that you have cancer. <br />
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There are few who deserve our deepest affections than those who tell us the truth. <br />
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When we know the truth, we know what to do. If we are diagnosed with cancer, we then will focus on getting treatment so we can be made well. But if we don't know the truth, we will continue in ignorance thinking that everything is fine, and never seek the cure that we think we don't need. <br />
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Yes I know. Bad news is unpleasant, and hearing it will probably make me unhappy. But my happiness is not the most important thing. Knowing the truth and responding to it is far more important than my temporary discomfort and pain of discovering I had believed a lie but now know the truth. <br />
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In the end, I am thankful and praising God for the one who tells me the truth, who calls out my sin, who causes me to seek repentance and seek forgiveness from the only One who can ultimately forgive the debtor. Yes, this person I thank and love profusely, because they have shown me my sin and caused me to return to Jesus where I find the only grace sufficient to save me from myself. <br />
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I'll say it again, because we will need to remember it the next time someone tells us the truth about us: There are few who deserve our deepest affections than those who tell us the truth. leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-85116968371631740062013-01-25T06:44:00.001-06:002013-01-26T09:52:57.617-06:00Lead wellHow would you define the culture of your office, your church, or the team you serve with? Is it a fun place to work? Do you like the people you work with? How about problems versus solutions- are the people you work with driven to find solutions or do they campout and critique the evidence of the problem? Do they dream about what's possible? Do they get excited about what could be? Do they celebrate when their coworkers succeed? <br />
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These questions and many like them will reveal if healthy leadership is present within your team or office. It is because of good leadership that people learn to discover solutions to problems, find satisfaction in their work, persevere through difficult assignments, and enjoy working with the people on their team. <br />
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In small teams, the leader has direct access to the team, and they to him. The leader can develop relationships, help them grow in weaknesses, develop them as leaders themselves. <br />
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Large organizations with multiple layers of management and leadership are different. Someone with 100 people under their care cannot foster a leader/learner relationship with each person. Not only is it impossible, but to attempt to do so discredits the authenticity of their attempt while stunting the growth of the people he leads. <br />
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<b>If you want to lead your people well, lead your leaders well. Leaders who are led well will lead well. </b><br />
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The leaders within the organization are the culture shapers. They are intimately familiar with the issues and concerns of the people. If the leaders don't have vision and drive and and desire to improve, to create, do do the impossible, if they don't enjoy what they do, then neither will their team. <br />
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A leader can only lead as high as the leadership he reports to. If the leadership above him is strong and leading him well, then he will rise to that level of leadership with his team. If the leadership above him is poor, then the leader will either resign his will to lead, or more likely, he will simply leave and go to a place that has a higher level of leadership. <br />
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If you are frustrated with the culture of your organization, then start leading your leaders well. Leaders who are led well will lead their leaders well. And as the leader goes, so does the culture. <br />
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The right leadership at the wrong level is the wrong leadership for all levels. If you want to lead your people well, lead your leaders well. leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-86385458644545632732012-12-13T07:36:00.000-06:002013-01-26T23:41:38.592-06:00The Traditions of Men<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, "Honor your father and your mother," and, "Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." But you say, "If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God," he need not honor his father." So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ""This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."" (Matthew 15:1-9 ESV)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">Jesus has no problem telling it like it is. </span></div>
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<i>"for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God."</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">What's a Tradition?</span></h2>
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Traditions in this context is describing a set of beliefs and values that are passed down from generation to generation. Each generation has an obligation and privilege of passing on to the next what they esteem to be most important, most valuable. The passing down of traditions is a means of preserving values and beliefs with respect to many things, including culture, family, and faith. They are like containers, that encapsulate what we think is most important for the next generation to believe and to do. </div>
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So traditions in and of themselves are neither good or bad because they are just containers. It's the things we put inside the container, the things that a given tradition is comprised of that, when measured against an objective moral standard, are determined to be good or bad. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">It's What's On The Inside That Counts</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">In this interaction, Jesus is making it clear that the objective moral standard for determining if a tradition is good or not is the commandments of God- the Bible. And this is the very basis for which he uses to judge the teachings of the religious teachers of his day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">The scribes and pharasies were teaching a tradition with respect to children giving honor to their parents. It is a good thing to give a tradition that instructs how children should think of and interact with their parents. But if that tradition violates the teaching of the objective moral standard, then that teaching is determined to be a bad tradition. </span></div>
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So seems simple enough right? Bad traditions are bad, and since no one wants to pass on something that is bad to others who we esteem, then why anyone ever pass on a bad tradition? It is for the same reason that Jesus came and gave his life: our sin. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">The Problem</span></h2>
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As the saying goes, we are not sinners because we sin, rather we sin because we are sinners. We like to do what We like to do. We rely heavily on emotion, on what "feels" right to us, and because we are absolutely convinced that we know best, we close our minds to all other supposed authorities and do what we want to do, because we want to do it, because it makes sense to Us. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">It is because we are sinners that we look at the bible and say, "hey God thanks for the advice, but I don't really like what you have to say about "x". I think your teachings are a little dated; your ideas may have been good back then, but not in the 21st century. We really know better now, and are going to make sure that the next generation knows better like us too."</span></div>
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The Rebuke</h2>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">And the rebuke of Jesus is to the heart of the issue: since your tradition is so good, and God's is so unuseful/irrelevant/whatever, then why do you continue to bother with all the worship and praise for God and his word? Jesus is rebuking them for two things: their blatant hypocrisy, and their blindness of heart, their ignorance, as they are the teachers of the Law and are unable to discern that they are teaching traditions that nullify the word of God. </span></div>
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<i>"for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God."</i></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">So what?</span></h2>
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A couple of key takeaway applications:</div>
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<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The scribes and pharasies were not perfect. They were sinners just like you and me. They needed a savior just like everyone else. So be careful to not judge them for their sin without also judging yourself for doing the same things. </li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and illuminating His Word when we read it, we too are capable of inventing all sorts of ill advised traditions that would contradict the word of God. We need The Lord to illuminate his word in our lives daily, moment by moment, or we too will be like blind guides. </li>
<li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pray. Pray that God would reveal our sin in this area so that we would confess it and repent from it. When God reveals the hypocrisy in our lives, adn the things that we have believed in ignorance, then acknowledge it, confess it as sin, and stop doing it. Otherwise we too will continue in the sin of the scribes and pharasies by passing on the commandments of men as doctrine, above the Word of God. </li>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00392157);">What other points or takeaways do you have from this passage?</span></div>
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leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-33282245831933767992012-12-10T23:06:00.001-06:002012-12-10T23:06:42.731-06:00Still in need of a saviorTime has a way of making the heart forgetful.<br />
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If you are a true believer in Christ, don't ever let this reality escape you: Apart from Jesus, you are dead in your sins. No amount of bible reading plans, quiet times, church attendance, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio, keeping a list of "do's and don'ts" or any other religious activity will get you any further into God's grace than you already are. Your salvation, your standing with God has everything to do with what Jesus... the one and only God, Holy and blameless... did for you... a hopelessly lost sinner that is totally unable to gain salvation apart from Jesus.<br />
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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9<br />
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We are all sinners and are in need of a savior. Before you believed, you were a sinner in need of a savior. And this never changes, even after you first believe- no matter what good works you do, no matter what sins you continue to wrestle with and succumb to. Your salvation has everything to do with what Jesus has done, and nothing to do with what you have or will ever do.<br />
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"The only thing of our very own which we contribute to our salvation is the sin which makes it necessary."<br />
William Temple<br />
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For all believers, I pray that you would not let your heart forget what our Lord has done for us. Do not forget- apart from Christ, we are lost, dead in our sins. Jesus is our savior, now and forever. We never out grow our need for him, we never out earn our need for salvation. Though you may sin less, you are not sinless.. you and I are still sinners, still in need of a savior... Do not let your heart forget what our Lord has done for us. Live from His salvation everyday, moment by moment. The war is over, the victory over sin and death is Christ Jesus's. His rest is ours.<br />
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For all who not sure about all of this Jesus stuff, or maybe who flatout reject Christ, I pray that your heart would hear the call of hope, of life... I pray that you would understand that you and I are sinners and are totally unable to earn God's approval, his favor, his forgiveness. It's only found in Jesus, who freely gives to those who believe, who would receive the free gift that He offers all who would come to him. Do not let your heart continue to believe the lie that it's too late. You're not too bad to be saved, you're not too far for His reach. There's still time on the clock, there's still breath in your lungs. If you are ready to receive this free gift, or have questions about it, please email me- I'd love to see how I can be of help! leavingthegray@gmail.comleaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-84071410168051904382012-12-03T07:22:00.001-06:002012-12-03T07:22:03.115-06:00Doubting FaithNow when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:2, 3 ESV)<br />
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Life is full of unmet expectations, of disappointments, of hurts, and pains. And when life wounds us, we inevitably ask the question (or at least acknowledge that it is there): "God, are you still there?"<br />
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John the Baptist had been put into prison for doing the work that God had called him to do. We don't know for sure, but scripture gives clues that perhaps, like many others, John expected that the Messiah would overthrow the Roman government and restore Israel to its former glory. And so Jesus enters, and one by one begins to fulfill the prophecies of old about the coming messiah. Finally! It's finally happening!<br />
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But... John is in prison. Jesus is active in his ministry, but doesn't seem to be doing anything about the Romans, or establishing his kingdom. "Maybe he's not the One... Maybe there's another coming... "I'm not sure I can wait for another... Jesus, are you the promised Messiah?"<br />
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What do we do with unmet execrations of God? With the best intentions, we all form different ideas about what we think God should do, how He'll do it, and when. But what happens when He doesn't follow the script we've made for Him? <br />
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We first have to check our work. Did God really say (fill in the blank)? How did I come to that conclusion? What source am I relying on for that information, and is that source time-tested and proven to be reliable? There may be many other questions to consider, but the point is don't simply dismiss the possibility that you're wrong. Check your work, and let other trustworthy and objective people check it too. <br />
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Jesus replied to John's disciples:<br />
And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." (Matthew 11:4-6 ESV)<br />
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Jesus was reminding John of all the things that he was doing, thus proving to John that he was in fact the Messiah. He was communicating to John: "I'm the man, John. I'm about my Father's business, not yours or anyone else's. Everything promised will come, when it is supposed to. I know you're beginning to doubt, but you gotta trust me bro."<br />
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No one has perfect faith. No one trusts God perfectly. And without His Spirit, none of us can trust Him at all. When (not if, but when) doubt comes, remember that God is in control, that He loves us, an that He is able to do what He has promised. <br />
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The following is from a song that I think really captures the heart of doubting faith. I hope it stirs your heart to return to The Lord and restore your hope in Him. He is able. He is faithful. He is our strength, always. <br />
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I’ve tried to stand my ground<br />
I’ve tried to understand<br />
but I can’t seem to find my faith again<br />
<br />
like water on the sand<br />
or grasping at the wind<br />
I keep on falling short<br />
<br />
please be my strength<br />
please be my strength<br />
Cuz I don’t have anymore<br />
I don’t have anymore<br />
<br />
I’m looking for a place<br />
that I can plant my faith<br />
one thing I know for sure<br />
<br />
I cannot create it<br />
I cannot sustain it<br />
It’s Your love that’s keeping (captured) me<br />
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Please be my strength…<br />
<br />
at my final breath<br />
I hope that I can say<br />
I’ve fought the good fight of faith<br />
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I pray your glory shines<br />
through this doubting heart of mine<br />
so my world would know that You<br />
<br />
You are my strength<br />
You and You alone<br />
You and You alone<br />
Keep bringing me back home<br />
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Please be my strength- Gungor, Beautiful Thingsleaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-6158777317742024952012-10-25T07:59:00.001-05:002012-10-25T07:59:59.052-05:00Notice of Termination: PrideDear pride,<br />
Your services are no longer desired or necessary. Your permissions to control my decisions and emotions are hereby revoked. You must cease and desist immediately. Your presence in my life is no longer welcomed and is hereby terminated. <br />
Signed,<br />
Chris Grayleaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-84355872781420199322012-06-24T15:18:00.001-05:002012-06-24T15:22:22.683-05:00Preparing my mind: A different perspective on worryWe are just finishing up a great series at church through the book of Philippians on the topic of Perspective. The concept of perspectives is huge to me, and so I need to write out and process what I learned today, and hopefully pass on to you something of value along the way. <br />
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1. Do. We always should be doing something. Our actions can't always fix everything, but worrying will never fix anything. <br />
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2. Remember. There's no way to stop anxious thoughts from entering your mind, but you can redirect your anxious energies by reminding yourself that the Lord is in control, that He cares for us, and that He wants us to cast our cares and concerns on Him. When we've done all that we can do, do not cease to remind ourselves that the Lord does all things well- for His glory and for our joy. <br />
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3. Pray. Pray while you're doing all that you can do, and pray some more once you've done all you can do. Pray for God to do what you cannot do. <br />
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4. Trust. Place your cares, your trust in God. He's faithful to accomplish His good and perfect purposes through our bad circumstances and imperfect actions. <br />
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Seems easy enough; just remember those four things and all is well, right? If it were only so easy... <br />
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We all know these things to be true but have trouble remembering them and putting them into practice when the rubber meets the road. It's like we have spiritual amnesia, forgetting those basic and essential truths that we need the most when life takes over, and the illusion of our control over our life quickly vanishes. <br />
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"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."(Romans 12:2 ESV)<br />
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Anxiety and worry are knocking at our door, waiting for us when we get to work, and when we wake up each day. But if we take time to renew our mind and realign our perspective with God's, then we are less likely to be caught off guard when things don't go as planned, or when we get some disappointing or unexpected news. <br />
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"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13 ESV)<br />
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Every day, our minds are under attack from our flesh and from our advisary with an unrelenting effort to get us to worry. As the scripture above says, we need to prepare our minds for action. We need to do what we can do, remember who is in control, to pray for the Lord to do what we cannot, and to trust God with the results. These things are like pieces of spiritual armor for our minds. When we don't take time to renew our minds and to prepare our minds for action, our minds will become hopeless casualties against our foe of worry. <br />
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So as we go about our lives in the days ahead, let us be mindful of the battles we face for our thoughts, and understanding that the battle is eminent, prepare our mind for action as do, remember, pray, and trust. leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-16580744107956349792012-05-27T08:31:00.001-05:002012-05-27T09:10:15.532-05:00Leaving the gray... right where it isOver much of the last ten years, I have spent a lot of time learning about apologetics- the part of Christian theology that seeks to provide compelling and sufficient answers for skeptics outside the faith and to those who are struggling with their faith within Christianity. I was beginning to ask questions that I had never considered before like, how could God create the world in six days, or why do we have the books we have in the bible. These and many others like them were important questions that my mind needed answers to- more than sufficient answers. I was in search for concrete bullet proof answers- not to answer others, but to answer the biggest skeptic I know- me. <br />
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And so my journey began. I found many a book that focused on providing such answers. I read as many of them as my sleep-deprived eyes would let me, and listened to as many sermons and apologetics talks that would fit on my mp3 player. And as I went along, I noticed my confidence was soaring! I had satisfied my doubts so much that i was starting to try place doubts in others and wistfully and thoroughly remove them from within others! (or so I thought)<br />
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I began writing this blog three years ago with the purpose of trying help believers become as passionate about their faith in Jesus as I was. Through my search to remove all of the doubt, all of the "gray" in my theology, I had unwittingly removed many parts of the theology that God had intended to remain. Questions like, what happens to babies and young children who die and are unable to understand and receive salvation? Or, how does God truly choose us for salvation or do we choose him? I found no bullet proof answers to these and many like them in the scriptures because the absolute answers I was looking for are not contained in a black and white way on the pages of scripture. Scripture was written to communicate to us God's plan for salvation, not to answer our every theological question. <br />
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Many of the answers I was looking for were not black and white, but gray. They were not contradictions, but either-or, both-and answers that wanted to stretch my theology so that I might see the beauty of God's sovereignty, untamed and without boarders, and still know and have full confidence that He is good, that He is faithful, and that I can trust Him with my entire life- even my theology. And if I can trust Him to continue to develop and deepen my theology, I can also trust Him enough to leave the gray, right where it is. <br />
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"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV)leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-85050443474717731312012-05-09T07:49:00.001-05:002012-05-27T08:33:35.133-05:00He even uses angelsReading Hebrews chapter 1 today in my bible reading plan. Never studied this passage much before, never realized that this was an apologetic to those who thought that Jesus was just another angel. It's pretty clear after reading this that Jesus was no angel- he was and has and always will be God. <br />
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Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14 ESV)<br />
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I never really gave much thought about angels before today. (guess today is a first for several things). Just kinda ignored the concept. And I'm glad that I haven't spent too much time on them- scripture makes it pretty clear that they are just servants and not worthy of our worship- only God is worthy of our praise. But it struck me as I read the above passage that God created the angels for a purpose, and that purpose is to minister to those who belong to Jesus. <br />
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Its not the angels that are important here, but the heart of God, that cares about us and is diligently working out his plan, preparing us for the wedding feast in heaven, and taking full responsibility and ownership of us his Bride, making sure that we finish the race He marked out for us, and that we would persevere with and by and through a spirit of hope and faith that is not our own, but given to us through the Holy Spirit, through faith. <br />
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So many things unseen. 8 billion people in the world, unique individuals with their own thoughts and perspetives on how they see the world they live in. Our souls are lulled away from seeing and perceiving the beauty and majesty and holiness of God, fully distracted by the cares, concerns, troubles, comforts, and vain and fleeting things of this world. Yet the Lord is still on His throne, careful to ensure that the Son shall lose non that the Father has given Him, and knowing that we are like sheep, easily lead astray by the lies and deception of this world, in need of our patient and loving God to comfort us, to lift up our heads, and cause us to persevere to the very end. And this great loving and holy God uses whatever means he sees fit- be it faithful men and women sent and equipped to encourage and edify His church, or angels in the realm of the unseen, going before us to accomplish the purposes directed by God, for our good, and for his praise and glory. <br />
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He is good. He accomplishes His plans. He gives us the grace that we need for today. And like the dawn of each new day, he renews his mercies toward us, so that his loving kindness would complete its purpose to draw us to repentance, and perfect us in Christ. leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-56197542448106682132012-05-07T22:09:00.001-05:002012-05-08T00:23:14.333-05:00ChangeTheoden: I will not risk open war.<br />
Aragorn: Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not.<br />
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I love The Lord of the Rings movies. The imagination of Tolkien to dream up these amazing worlds and characters is fascinating to me. And like with every fictional story, there are numerous issues and themes that surface, paralleling real life where we all live. <br />
Sometimes they are by design of the author, as hints and clues are strung out for the audience to discover. Other times, they are general statements like the one above that contain massive ideas, that communicate far more than meets the eye, if we are thoughtful and willing to stop and to ponder, to simply get lost in a thought, an idea, that transcends beyond the silver screen and into the depths of our hearts, into reality. And this was the case for me regarding this exchange between King Theoden and Lord Aragorn. <br />
A great and evil army was being assembled for the destruction of mankind. And Aragorn and his party were trying to unite rival kingdoms to fight against the forces of evil and to save the people of Rohan. But king Theoden did not perceive the army as a direct threat and was convinced that he could sit back and remain on the sidelines and not get involved. What he failed to realize, as lord Aragorn was trying to explain, was that the war was coming, and there was no way to avoid it. To sit idle and wait for the battle to come to Rohan would have been disastrous. They would have to flee to Helms Deep where they could defend themselves and have a chance at avoiding annihilation. <br />
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It's strange how the mind works, how it recalls things from the past. I haven't seen this movie in months, but for some reason this quote surfaced in my mind tonight. <br />
I currently find myself in an interesting chapter of my life. Massive change is going on in my career and in other areas of my life. For a moment I seemed to be in control, authoring some changes that I wanted to see. But then reality showed up, wadded up my plans and lit them on fire and then urinated on the ashes. (sorry). <br />
Things, they are a changing. And I knew that this day, this season would come, but I though it would be on my terms, when I was ready. What I came to realize was that change comes when God is ready for it, not too soon, not too late, and most definitely not on our timetable. <br />
As I find myself in the midst of a storm of change, my mind flashes to this quote, to remind me that in spite of our efforts to mitigate and avoid change, God brings it about, whether we want it or not, whether we would risk it or not. <br />
But change is not a bad thing. While it can be incredibly painful as it happens, it can give us incredible perspective to see what God is doing, and how He uses our struggle and adjustment to grow us and to teach us to depend on Him, and help us to see a bit more clearer our circumstances, as God sees them. <br />
For me, I have been longing for some specific changes in my life, and have really been very miserable in the waiting, very wearysome waiting for God to make His move and solve all my problems, the way I want Him to, and when I want Him to. And while the changes are not exactly what I had in mind (understatement), there is a bit of relief, of contentment, knowing and trusting by faith that It is now time for change; that God is ready to show me what He has been doing all these years that He has been so silent and seemingly inactive. <br />
Seeing my wife go through three pregnancies, I have observed some pretty obvious things: being pregnant near the end of the pregnancy is zero fun, and that delivery is painful and scary. While I'm pretty sure that I'll never really know what it is like to be pregnant, I feel like I can relate, at least in part. For 9 years now I have been burdened for change in certain parts of my life, and the grief and frustration and hope has grown as the years have increased. But as with a pregnancy, every season has an end. It is definite and eminent change. And when the labor pains come, there is a mixture of dread and fear over the pain that is coming, yet there is also a sense of excitement and relief, that FINALLY this is coming to an end, and it is all going to be worth it when it is over. <br />
That's kinda how I feel about the change i'm in. A lot of dread, but a lot of hope, knowing and trusting that God is at work, and is bringing about his plan, not too soon, and not too late. <br />
Change is upon us all, whether we would risk it or not. But we who are in Christ can embrace the change and the One who is bringing it about, for His glory, for our good, and for out joy, in the fullness of time. <br />
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Theoden: I will not risk open war.<br />
Aragorn: Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not.<br />
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leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-40587930567426596322012-03-08T22:58:00.000-06:002012-03-08T22:58:32.671-06:00Remembering what we need to remember the most<div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Sin is a wretched and deceitful thing. It draws us away from Christ by its false promises of happiness and plays on our flesh's desire to seek pleasure and gratification for ourself. </span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">sin is fun. if it were not, why would anyone do it? But we also know that sin has many consequences, first and foremost that it leads us to death. Sin focuses on the instant gratification, irregardless of the consequences. </span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"></span><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Sin takes something that God intended for good, and perverts, twists, and distorts it to become something that appeals to our flesh sin nature, and when accepted, we find that it is filled with the deadly poison which ultimately separates us from God.</span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_4 ecxselected" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4</strong> <u><b style="font-weight: bold;">But God</b></u>, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, </span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_5" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5</strong> <b style="font-weight: bold;"><u>made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!</u></b> </span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_6" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6</strong> He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, </span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_7" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7</strong> so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. </span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_8" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8</strong> </span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_8" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i>For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— </i></b></span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_9" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>9</i></strong><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i> not from works, so that no one can boast</i></b></span><span class="ecxverse ecxEph_2_9" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.3em; margin-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. Ephesians 2:4-9</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Our enemy wants to condemn us when we fail, when we sin. He takes a truth and twists it into a lie. Yes, because of our sin, we are condemned. But because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, our sin- past, present, and future- was justly dealt with on the cross, and we are now clothed in righteousness and seen as blameless in the eyes of God, if we put our trust in Him and if His Spirit lives in us!</span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we become a new creation, made holy and blameless before a holy and righteous God. Because of Christ sacrifice and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are justified before God, just-as-if we have never sinned, for all time! We experience the grief and guilt of sin so greatly because it troubles the heart of God, and Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that we have the mind of Christ! As followers of Christ, the Spirit dwells in us and makes us conscious of sin in our lives.</span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">However, just as Paul explains to us in Romans, God's mercy and grace does not give us a free license to sin just because we are covered in His grace. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we have received a new nature, one that wants to please our Heavenly Father, and one that despises sin.</span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">I know many of you reading this probably already know all this, and are wondering why i am writing this... Here is why: because as Christians, we can easily be led astray to believe that we are saved because of the good things we do, and falsely believe that the sin we commit will somehow undo the salvation that Christ Jesus has freely offered to us. I do not want you to be held in bondage to that false belief. "By grace you are saved!" And if it is by grace that you are saved, then your performance, or lack there of, has nothing to do with your permanent adoption in Christ. We can't undo our salvation. it is a gift of God. His grace is sufficient for me, for you, for all that put their trust in Him. When we sin, we should as Christians feel deeply troubled and be filled with remorse for our choice to sin. But at the same time, we must remind ourselves that our performance, whether good or bad, has no part in our salvation. As we mature in Christ, we will see the evidence of God working in us, producing the fruit of a fully devoted follower of Christ, as we pursue Christ (not the fruit) with everything we've got! Christians are not <b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><i>sinless</i></b>, but the do sin <b style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;"><i>less</i></b>.</span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Receive His grace. it is sufficient. it is more than enough. we cannot out sin the sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ, nor can we run out of grace. </span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /></span></span></div><div style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="ecxApple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, sans-seif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Margin serves us well because it provides us a boundary to keep us from those dangerous places that subject us to temptation, to sin. But we do not live in a bubble, and our best efforts to construct safe boundaries from sin are unable to insulate us from the sin nature of this world. Sometimes, we have to follow Joseph's example, and just RUN! Do whatever it takes. avoid those dangerous places, those temptations at all cost. when attacked, do NOT see how long you can withstand it. You will be captured by the lure of temptation, and apart from the supernatural protection and/or empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you will not be able to resist sin. </span></div>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-85674005538159396702011-11-19T00:43:00.001-06:002011-11-19T08:04:17.950-06:00You know what? Disappointment Sucks.Yes, you heard me. Disappointment sucks.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>It happens when goals are blocked. It happens when things don't turn out how you thought they should. It happens when people let you down. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Iowa State's fans stormed the field after they defeated the number 2 team in the country tonight, savoring the joy, the pride, the pure pleasure of watching their team do tonight what OSU has done for the last 10 games: win. Throughout the game, it was clear. This was not OSU's night, and Iowa State was out to slay a giant. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As I watched the game, I became increasingly depressed. The team that had everyone's praise, the one who was on track to meet LSU in the national championship, was not going to win the game, and their was nothing they could do about it. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I've been there before, as a player. It sucks to loose. But I am no longer play football... so why did it suck for me, watching them loose? They lost the game, not me. Why do I care so much? Why does the performance of a football team boost my joy when they win, and sink me into the gutter of depression when they loose?</div><div><br />
</div><div>As much as I'd like to pretend that I haven't been caught up in all they hype, my heart ratted me out and told me the truth. My heart, which supposedly belonged wholeheartedly to God, had been caught in a worship affair with OSU's success. When OSU won big, I felt great! When they lost all hope of playing for a national title, I felt awful. Loosing sucks. But the thing that sucked more was coming to the realization that I had given my heart away after the performance of a football team. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Disappointment sucks. It steals our joy. It wounds us. It is painful. It is... </div><div>a <b><i><u>blessing</u></i></b>. </div><div><br />
</div><div>While experiencing disappointment in and of itself sucks, it was a blessing for me tonight. Why? Because it caused me to turn from seeking pleasure from a stupid football team's win/loss record, and return to the Lord, the One who never fails, who always accomplishes His purposes, the One who knows no disappointment, the One who won't disappoint those who trust their lives with Him. As strange as it sounds, seek out disappointment, because when you are in it, it will point you back to Christ, to experience him like never before, to know Him better like never before.</div><div><br />
</div><div>OSU's loosing tonight was the best thing that could have happened to me tonight, because it caused me to turn my heart back to God, instead of chasing after the success of OSU. Through it, God gave me the ability to see how I had been caught up in the sin of idolatry, consumed with the success of the football team. It was a reminder to my very soul that I was in desperate need of a savior. It reminded how rich and wonderful it is to really spend time with God, and not cram him inside a 10 minute devotional that will let me "check the box". It caused me to reflect on these thoughts and how much I need to spend time with God.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It's been nearly two months since I've typed a single post on here. And it probably would have been longer, had OSU not lost, had I not experienced disappointment, and redirected to the One who will not disappoint our hope in Him. Winning may build class, but loosing always builds character. Disappointment realigns our perspective with reality. It reminds us that our help, our joy, our satisfaction, our peace come not from a football team's success, but from the Lord.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-1004838732671315702011-10-02T09:06:00.000-05:002011-10-02T09:06:53.606-05:00I get toHave you ever noticed how much people complain? Hard not to go through a single day without listening to somebody gripe about something. I know its not just everyone else- at times I'm probably the biggest whiner of them all. Sometimes I wonder if I could make it through just one day with out complaining. <br />
<br />
My complaining often begins with "I have to". I have to get up early and go to work. I have to stay home and watch the kids today. I have to clean the house. And on and on I go...<br />
But what if I change "I HAVE to" to "I GET to"? <br />
<br />
Perhaps then I wouldn't see getting up early to go to work as a chore, but a privilege, thanking God that I am employed and have something to do that brings home a pay check. <br />
<br />
Perhaps then I would look at my children and count every minute with them a blessing, that they are healthy, that they are made in the image of God, that I get to be their daddy, and that I get to stay home with them one day a week while my wife works. <br />
<br />
And perhaps then I would really appreciate all that my wife does, staying home with three wonderful kids all day, knowing that when I come home to a messy house, it is not because she was goofing off and being lazy all day, but because she was pouring into our kids, teaching them, loving them, helping them learn, and just spending quality time with them because that is truly more important than a clean house. Perhaps then I would see it as a privilege to love my family by cleaning the house on the weekend, knowing that it will allow my wife and kids more quality time together instead of cleaning all day everyday. <br />
<br />
"I have to" is for whiners. "I get to" is for winners. it's all about perspective. <br />
What do you GET to do?leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-51755330119227121042011-08-16T22:52:00.000-05:002011-08-16T22:52:40.044-05:00Just one raised hand - part 2<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, I posted about something that, to be honest, really bothered me. At the end of a very powerful and convicting message, which usually draws many non-believers to repentance and faith in Christ, only one person visibly responded to the call of salvation; just one raised hand. After considering many of the likely suspects, last week I concluded that the following is making a significant contribution to the problem I noticed:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While it is plausible that any number of reasons with various combinations may in fact be the root of the problem, I am convinced that the primary reason we see so few unbelievers respond to the gospel [at my church/campus] is not because of the experience, the message, or awareness, but rather due to the evangelical philosophy of the believers who attend our church each week.</span></blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alright, so what is this "evangelical philosophy", or "evangelism philosophy?" I'm sure you won't find the term in any text book, but the idea is not a new one. It is simply a way to describe how people (Christians) think that they themselves and others contribute to non-believers becoming believers. Based on my observations of the attitudes of others and of myself, I have found that people generally have one of the following evangelism philosophies:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><ol style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1"><li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evangelism is someone else's responsibility.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evangelism is my responsibility.</span></li>
</ol><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those who would say that evangelism is someone else's responsibility would most likely say that "someone else" is their church, and maybe other Christians who have the gift of evangelism. And since someone else like the church or someone with the gift of evangelism is probably more effective at sharing Christ with non-believers, then my evangelism philosophy would be to get non-believers to my church, or to those that are evangelists.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Others might look at Matthew 28:19,1 Peter 3:15-16, or 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, and many others similar passages<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and conclude that evangelism is every believer's responsibility, noting that the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all the nations applies to all believers. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I look at these two evangelism philosophies, I don't see it as an either-or choice; either I only bring people to church to hear the Gospel, or it is dependent upon me to evangelize the lost in my life. Seems like there is a third possible philosophy, a both-and view, that not only should I be prepared to give a reason for the hope that I have with gentleness and respect, being and ambassador for Christ in the ministry of reconciliation to God, but ALSO actively pointing my unbelieving friends, co-workers, family, etc. to my church or other resources where they might hear the Gospel clearly and faithfully preached. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But if I'm honest about this, I don't truly think the reason for just one raised hand at the call for salvation was due to confusion between either-or or both-and evangelical philosophies. No, tragically, that there were so few non-believers present and that there was only one raised hand was more likely due to a <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">neither-nor</span> evangelical philosophy; a philosophy cares neither for their responsibility to personally share Christ with the lost, nor for contributing to their salvation by bringing them to church. This view of evangelism is rooted in apathy towards the lost, and is expressed as such when we rarely if at all, invite non-believers to church or tell them about our God. While most would be offended by such accusations and who would argue that they care deeply about the lost, their actions often communicate a philosophy that is very different that what they profess to believe.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am no different. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though I would adamantly attempt to defend myself of such an accusation if made against me, my actions would fail to do anything but convict me. Sure, I post a lot about God, theology, and other things with intentions that it will give people reason to pause and consider their relationship with God, to leave the gray, and be the real deal and be a true follower of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But its probably been over 2 years since I've invited a non-believing friend with me to church. And if given the opportunity to even give a hint at my faith and spiritual convictions with my non-believing friends, I often avoid speaking the name of Jesus and miss crucial opportunities to begin a conversation that might lead a non-believer one step closer to knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. No, given the evidence against me, it's pretty hard to for me to rebuke all the other followers of Christ who attend our church week after week without a guest with them, if I myself am unwilling to change.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, there was one faithful follower of Christ who was willing to change, who had the conviction that the message of the cross really is the power of God<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1 Cor. 1:18), who was bold and courageous enough to ask his friend to come with him to church. And what a blessing he received, to know that his friend was the one hand raised, who at that moment received the gift of eternal life, who now knows our risen Savior.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By God's grace, I have been saved. And by God's grace, I am now aware of His call towards a real both-and evangelism philosophy, that is substantiated not by what I say, but by what I do. It is also by this same grace that I am willing to change my actions, and I pray that you do too. </span></div>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252694267480998953.post-39250376180009329772011-08-07T16:24:00.001-05:002011-08-07T16:27:46.489-05:00Just one raised hand?<div class="MsoNormal">Just letting you know, this will be a long post. In fact, I’ll probably have to break it into parts because there is a lot of ground work that I need to do before I can get to the heart of what I want to write about. I do hope you’ll read though. I don’t have the capacity, patience, or attention to write volumes upon volumes, so rest assure, I’ll make the point as quickly and as succinctly as I can, and then you can get back to reading your twitter and facebook updates <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This weekend at church, we heard a great message about praying boldly. Too often, we pray safe prayers, because we don’t want to be disappointed if God doesn’t answer our request the way we think He should, and secondly, we know that He <i>can</i>, but we don’t really believe that He <i>will</i>. Getting to the heart of the message, we say that we believe in God, but we live (and pray) as if He doesn’t exist. Does God give us everything we ask for? Of course not. But we who believe do not have a pragmatic faith; a faith that only believes if God meets our expectations and grants our every request. No, the faith that we have, if we have been made new, is a faith not of ourselves, not of our own mustering. The faith of the believer is the gift of God that enables us to utter such profound confessions of belief, such belief that many times cannot be explained but cannot be denied by our hearts and minds. And so, if we have faith that God can do the supernatural- forgiving our sins and enabling us to believe in Him, wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect believers to have a similar faith expressed in the kind of prayers they pray? Not safe prayers; bold prayers. Not safe faith; bold faith. And most assuredly not faith in faith, but faith in God.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Needless to say, it was a sobering message to all. And like every other message taught at our church at any weekend experience, it was aptly bookended with a call for spiritually unregenerate individuals to make a bold demonstrated act of faith by raising their hand in response to the call of salvation, signifying to all present their confession of faith, acknowledging their sinful nature and need of a savior, and that they are placing their trust in Christ, to be the complete and final fulfillment of that need of such a savior; to be reconciled to God.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Experience tells me that when a strong message is given for believers to believe and live like true believers, and non-believers to leave their unbelief, there is a significant number of hands that would be raised (10 to 15 or more). This being such a message, I expected several hands to be raised. Want to take a guess at how many hands were raised?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Not two. Not ten. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Just one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In light of what is at stake- forgiveness or remaining condemned in our sin, peace or enmity with God, heaven or hell eternity- this is a big deal. Our auditorium seats somewhere around 800 people. Granted, there was probably somewhere north of 500 in attendance last night, but to have only 1 person raise their hand was anti-climatic to say the least, in response to such a strong and well-articulated presentation of the gospel and call to Christ. The tragedy of the situation is that this isn’t the first time that this has happened. In fact there have been a number of times that no one raised their hand in a given experience. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what gives? Why did only one person respond to the gospel? Was the message not clear? Was it not compelling enough? I don’t know for sure, and neither does anyone else. I am sure that there were likely several non-believers in attendance. I also acknowledge that not every non-believer will respond to the gospel when given the chance. Still, for a service as full as it was, I am compelled to believe that there were far more confessing believers in attendance than non-believers.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And this is really the question that I want to wrestle with: Why are there so few non-believers coming to our church services? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is it because our church staff and volunteers are unfriendly and unwelcoming? Definitely not. From the moment you get out of your car, you are greeted by a friendly face, and offered a ride to the front door by one of the many golf cart drivers. From there, you are greeted by warm smile and welcome as they hand you a copy of the sermon notes and campus bulletin. From the child care staff, host team, and all the other volunteers in place, you can’t help but feel welcomed all along the way as you finally make your way to your seat.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Is it because the message is irrelevant and unimportant? Hardly. Real life is relevant to everyone, and every message that is taught is tethered to reality, and the Gospel. Each summer we spend a month discovering biblical principles found in current movies- it is our most effective series each year in terms of attendance and response to the gospel. And when we are not talking about movies, we are talking about sex, pornography, finances, marriage, parenting, purpose, belonging, and many other relevant issues that affect every person on the planet.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Are non-believers not coming because they don’t know about our church? That there isn’t room for them to attend one of our experiences? No and Nope. We have 14 campuses, each offering around 5 services each weekend, not to mention our online services that are ministering to thousands through more than 40 services each week, getting them to our services through the use of Google ad words and facebook. And our means of getting the word out is not limited to the bumper stickers, social media, and other mass media that is being used. Each week we put invite materials in the hands of those who attend one of our services so that they can invite their friends, neighbors, co-workers, family, and the random guy they run into at the convenience store.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">While it is plausible that any number of reasons with various combinations may in fact be the root of the problem, I am convinced that the primary reason we see so few unbelievers respond to the gospel is not because of the experience, the message, or awareness, but rather due to the evangelical philosophy of the <i>believers</i> who attend our church each week.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the issue that I want to deal with, but needed to set the stage first. I’ll explain what I mean by this evangelical philosophy, and attempt to provide some biblical arguments for my conclusions, as well as identify some realistic solutions that might successfully address the issues I’ve noted. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what do you think? Would this assessment apply to your church as well? </div>leaving the grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15827003167020711308noreply@blogger.com1