Allow me to be vulnerable----which means this could get really ugly.
When I walked across the stage receiving my bachelors degree from Auburn University and packed up all my stuff and moved away from Auburn, I was picturing the movies. You know the movies. The one where the young man is all packed away to go to college, but he gets this mysterious note to take his box of toys down the street to a little girl who is as cute as any puppy you'll ever see, and he introduces each of his favorite toys to her, but then she finds his cowboy doll that he wanted to take to college with him, and he hesitates, dramatic pause and quivering of the lips from both characters, but then he gives in to the darling little girl and they play together and after a few minutes he gets into his car and he drives away down the long street with the toys watching him drive off.
For some reason, we expect this.
If you missed that, that scene was from Toy Story 3. But we expect this dramatic scene as we are transitioning into new seasons of our lives. We picture the glamorous movie scene where we are driving off to face new adventures, new voyages, new beginnings, with trumpets playing and slow classic tunes are creating this emotionally driven moment where you just know something great is about to happen. But then, the credits start and the movie scene deflates and you see the real thing.
Nothing.
Hey, I won't be a negative Nancy. Maybe for other people this actually happens, but see, that's been my problem. The other people. And I've had to force myself to stay off of social media sites because Satan is using it as a playground to throw doubt in my face.
"Look at all the people that everything they want is happening for them. And look, another Save The Date invitation. Oh look, you just got back from a wedding and here's three more this year that you're going to. They look so happy don't they? Oh Claude. Where are those great things everyone has told you that you are going to do for God?"
That last one stings. It stings hard my friends. I've had SOO many people tell me that I'm going to do these great things for God. And my idea of GREAT THINGS FOR GOD did not look like this. I pictured me going to this great NEW city and joining a new church and getting plugged into some revival somewhere and letting fire fly out of my mouth as I proclaim the Gospel. I was so ready for a new season. The chapter of my life entitled Auburn was closed and I was headed towards a new season. But my NEW season was not supposed to be an old return. It was not supposed to include my old bedroom, which has been updated with nicer furniture and a nicer smell. Did I not steal away in the night from Auburn only to return to this mediocre existence?
This is where my 6.14 ounces of faith kick in. I can't help but think about Abraham when God first tells him the promises of making him a great nation through a son. And Abraham laughs and says he and his wife is old and God reassures him that it can be done because He's God. But can you imagine the next day? Waking up, making breakfast, expecting something cool to happen all day. You put on some Marvin Gaye or Trey Songz and you have sex with your lovely wife------but she doesn't end up pregnant.
God? What the heck? Didn't you say I would have a son?
But they shake it off and go try again. And...still...no pregnant wife. Can you imagine the gut feeling? God? Um? What's up?
So that's where I am. Before all the prophecies coming from other people of the great things God was going to do in me and through me, God had whispered some dreams deep into my heart as he did Abraham and today I am nowhere near achieving them!
Or yet? Am I?
What is "great things for God"? Is everything done for the glory of a great God not considered to be of great worth? Is my Father's will not great? Because I feel that my church has conditioned me to think that "great things for God" looks like big ministries and big movements and big gatherings and big salvations. But what are great things? I'll say great things are things that my Father wills to be done through me. That's it. And here I am, sitting on my butt complaining about what God isn't doing for ME and I'm hearing story after story of my hurting family and I have yet to go visit them to share the love of Jesus. Want to know why great things are not happening in your life? Because you're misunderstanding the prophecy. No one ever got to the great you're imagining over night. They started with the one. My pastor, Chris Hodges, did not reach 9 campuses as soon as he received the call from God to do full-time ministry. It started with the voice, with a relationship, with a God who intimately speaks and shepherds and loves His sons that He breathes these big dreams into their hearts and positions them to have to depend on Him fully with no room for doubt. Son, do you not TRUST ME?! Abraham, I'm going to tell you about this son and it'll be years before you see it happen, but I want you to trust me, and I'll make you great. And people, he was made great. Why? Not because of what he did, but because what his father willed for his life. Abraham was just a man who had a son, but God willed for this man to have a son who would father nations--therefore he was made great.
So here I am...with just a faith in a God in a place I really don't want to be. But my Father has willed it, therefore it is a part of a great work He is doing. Great things does not always look like churches being filled, but instead a God who is willing for things to happen. The ultimate gain is Jesus. And at the end of the day, I could end up being stuck in Oxford for the rest of my life (GOD FORBID!) but joy will rise from deep within the Holy Spirit within me and breathe new life and give me new desires because I have all that I need in Jesus. I have all that I need in my Savior. I can be stuck in a mud pit being forced to watch Miley Cyrus twerk videos with no way out, (couldn't help that), as long as I have my Jesus I am really alright.
Don't misunderstand your prophecies. Don't misunderstand what God is trying to do in your life. The ultimate gain is Him. And He will not stop until His glory is made known...and that's from my life and yours.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Mirror Preaching
Oh dear God, who would have thought that you actually had to practice what you preach?
Hello reader. Thank you for reading today. As some of you may know, I have graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Environmental Design, which is one of those majors invented for future jobs. "Future jobs?" You ask. Yes, the kind of jobs that Auburn has said, "This is going to be a real "thing" one day," and they have chosen to create a major that can support it when it comes. Which means what? Are there any present jobs? Oh, that is why I'm writing the blog.
My ideal post graduation time looked differently in my head. I was not sitting in my old home in Oxford Alabama, sleeping in my old room and driving up in my old driveway. Instead, I was seeing me transitioning to some big boy job in some big boy city and tackling some big boy transition problems. NOT the "you're back at home" transition problems. Those are lame. No one likes those. That's not the American Dream kind of path you're supposed to take after graduation.
Says who?
I don't know, those people that have us under their thumbs. You know the people, the ones who make you feel like you should be married by...well now, and the ones who says you should be making more money, or you should be thinner or taller or---yes, those people. Sometimes those people have faces, sometimes those people are just expectations created by movies and TV shows and relatives that you don't even think about unless they post something on Facebook. And I have found myself mirror preaching. I'll explain.
Mirror preaching is pulling out all the counseling and encouraging and sermons I've done in the past in my tenure in Auburn and serving in my church and sharing the content with yourself. And there was a lot of content. From talking to college friends to high schoolers to middle schoolers and even to some adults, I've done my share of me being the mouthpiece for some simple biblical trues for God's mighty work to be done and in hopes of pointing people to Him in their trials. Well...now it's my turn. And since I've done so much counseling and encouragement and sermons, maybe I'm decent at it so I go to the mirror and ask myself what the heck are we supposed to do. And this guy in the mirror, he doesn't look like me. He seems confident and assure of himself. Confident in his faith and confident in the God that made him. And he's a good listener. He listened to me vent about my doubt but exhibit some level of faith in the doubt. He had this gentle smile where I felt comfortable telling him anything. And he had this reassuring look that I would seriously be okay. But it was when he opened his mouth was when I really felt like man, this guy must know something.
"Jesus". He says.
"Excuse? That's it? I need something more practical than that Mr. Guy In The Mirror." I asked.
"No you don't. You just need Jesus. And you have Him. So you have everything you need."
"Well I know that, but.."
"Dude, there is no but. You remember all those times you pointed people to Jesus. Well now it's your turn. You turn your head and go to Jesus."
"That's it?"
"Yep. That's it. And of course, there's practical things for you to get done today, but first, go to Jesus."
And immediately, this flood of words and moments enter into my mind like a picture slide show, all the times I looked people in the eyes or crowds in the eyes and said your hope is Jesus. Your only hope is Jesus. Your circumstances does not define you, if you have Jesus, you are alright. We're alright. He will take care of us. And even if He doesn't according to OUR will and interpretation of what He should do for us, I AM WITH HIM SO IT IS ALL ALL ALL GOOD, IT IS ALL RIGHT.
And I stare at the guy in the mirror and now he looks just like me. He doesn't look like some Mr. Know-It-All with his wisdom and calmness and superior faith. That guy is me. And I'm staring opposition in the face like "Yo, my God is so much bigger than you." I'm staring my insecurity in the face like, "Yo, my God is so much cooler than you." I'm staring "them people" in the face like, "Yo, my God's plan for me is so much bigger than your expectations for me". So I may look like a failure or a whatever, but my God has the last say. He always has the last say.
Don't miss that. My God has the last say.
And thank goodness for that huh? You remember Satan when he tempts you into sin and you fall short and you're just a terrible person? Remember that? Well don't you worry. God has the last say. He does. And He said He loves you and He paid the price for that sin that is tempting you. Satan doesn't have the last say. God does. God does. Every time. That's why He is the ultimate gain. He is the last. You get Him, you get eternal victory, because He always has the last say. Thank you Jesus for the peace that surpasses all understanding. I should be freaking out, but I'm not. Why? Because my God has the last say.
Good job mirror preacher. You have blessed me today. I'll put a little bit more in the offering plate. ; ) See you next Sunday.
Hello reader. Thank you for reading today. As some of you may know, I have graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Environmental Design, which is one of those majors invented for future jobs. "Future jobs?" You ask. Yes, the kind of jobs that Auburn has said, "This is going to be a real "thing" one day," and they have chosen to create a major that can support it when it comes. Which means what? Are there any present jobs? Oh, that is why I'm writing the blog.
My ideal post graduation time looked differently in my head. I was not sitting in my old home in Oxford Alabama, sleeping in my old room and driving up in my old driveway. Instead, I was seeing me transitioning to some big boy job in some big boy city and tackling some big boy transition problems. NOT the "you're back at home" transition problems. Those are lame. No one likes those. That's not the American Dream kind of path you're supposed to take after graduation.
Says who?
I don't know, those people that have us under their thumbs. You know the people, the ones who make you feel like you should be married by...well now, and the ones who says you should be making more money, or you should be thinner or taller or---yes, those people. Sometimes those people have faces, sometimes those people are just expectations created by movies and TV shows and relatives that you don't even think about unless they post something on Facebook. And I have found myself mirror preaching. I'll explain.
Mirror preaching is pulling out all the counseling and encouraging and sermons I've done in the past in my tenure in Auburn and serving in my church and sharing the content with yourself. And there was a lot of content. From talking to college friends to high schoolers to middle schoolers and even to some adults, I've done my share of me being the mouthpiece for some simple biblical trues for God's mighty work to be done and in hopes of pointing people to Him in their trials. Well...now it's my turn. And since I've done so much counseling and encouragement and sermons, maybe I'm decent at it so I go to the mirror and ask myself what the heck are we supposed to do. And this guy in the mirror, he doesn't look like me. He seems confident and assure of himself. Confident in his faith and confident in the God that made him. And he's a good listener. He listened to me vent about my doubt but exhibit some level of faith in the doubt. He had this gentle smile where I felt comfortable telling him anything. And he had this reassuring look that I would seriously be okay. But it was when he opened his mouth was when I really felt like man, this guy must know something.
"Jesus". He says.
"Excuse? That's it? I need something more practical than that Mr. Guy In The Mirror." I asked.
"No you don't. You just need Jesus. And you have Him. So you have everything you need."
"Well I know that, but.."
"Dude, there is no but. You remember all those times you pointed people to Jesus. Well now it's your turn. You turn your head and go to Jesus."
"That's it?"
"Yep. That's it. And of course, there's practical things for you to get done today, but first, go to Jesus."
And immediately, this flood of words and moments enter into my mind like a picture slide show, all the times I looked people in the eyes or crowds in the eyes and said your hope is Jesus. Your only hope is Jesus. Your circumstances does not define you, if you have Jesus, you are alright. We're alright. He will take care of us. And even if He doesn't according to OUR will and interpretation of what He should do for us, I AM WITH HIM SO IT IS ALL ALL ALL GOOD, IT IS ALL RIGHT.
And I stare at the guy in the mirror and now he looks just like me. He doesn't look like some Mr. Know-It-All with his wisdom and calmness and superior faith. That guy is me. And I'm staring opposition in the face like "Yo, my God is so much bigger than you." I'm staring my insecurity in the face like, "Yo, my God is so much cooler than you." I'm staring "them people" in the face like, "Yo, my God's plan for me is so much bigger than your expectations for me". So I may look like a failure or a whatever, but my God has the last say. He always has the last say.
Don't miss that. My God has the last say.
And thank goodness for that huh? You remember Satan when he tempts you into sin and you fall short and you're just a terrible person? Remember that? Well don't you worry. God has the last say. He does. And He said He loves you and He paid the price for that sin that is tempting you. Satan doesn't have the last say. God does. God does. Every time. That's why He is the ultimate gain. He is the last. You get Him, you get eternal victory, because He always has the last say. Thank you Jesus for the peace that surpasses all understanding. I should be freaking out, but I'm not. Why? Because my God has the last say.
Good job mirror preacher. You have blessed me today. I'll put a little bit more in the offering plate. ; ) See you next Sunday.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Jesus, Do You Not Care?
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But
he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said
to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Mark 4:35-38
I really enjoy this Bible story. First of all, for some reason picturing Jesus asleep is a little funny. God Himself, actually becoming man and is fully man so much that He take naps. And you think God is not for your joy...Jesus napped. Come on. That's great.
Anyways, I wanted to point at some things in this story. But let me set it up in modern day terms because I think we do this a lot. The "they" in these verses are the disciples Jesus were traveling with. They are observing the windstorm and the waves crushing their boat. Symbol? When storms come into our lives. When life hands us lemons. When life punches us in the gut. When bad things happen to good people. When the good die young. When troubles arise. When something doesn't go our way. I've heard time and time again from avid atheists or agnostics or unbelievers that they have a hard time imagining a "good" God with so much evil in the world.
Great concerns.
If anything, I give atheists and agnostics credit for being extremely and painfully honest about their concerns about God. A lot of Christians are afraid to bring their frustrations to Jesus just as the disciples did in this story. But let's go there and look at what is being said and who its being said to. Because I think stories like this point to the depths of human pain and our awareness of our condition. God, why does bad things happen? Why have you forsaken us? Why are you allowing so much evil? How can you just sit there and let it happen? Why did you let me get raped? Why did you let me get abused? Why did you allow sex trafficking to plague women across the world? Why are people homeless? Why are people starving to death? Why are we hurting? Why are we sad? Why are we broken? God, can we have answers!?
Jesus!?? Do you not care that we are perishing!!!??? I mean look at us!?
Let's finish the story.
"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39
Can you imagine that? Put yourself in the boat. Put yourself in your situation, staring at something so frightful, so pressing with fear and anxiety nearly consuming you, and Jesus wakes up and says to the storm, "STOP IT!" And it does..........
What is this saying?
Well it's saying a lot of things. First, I can picture Jesus after calming the storm answering their question."You ask me if I care? Am I not here with you?"
My friends. Hear that. Is Jesus not here with you?
Why was He even in the boat? Why was He even on the Earth? I'll give you the answer. To proclaim the truth of God and to redeem man from sin and death. So....OF COURSE HE CARES! IT'S THE WHOLE REASON HE WAS EVEN IN THE BOAT!
All your questions about the evil you see in the world is the whole point of the Gospel. We're the ones putting all this credit in man, even when we see how evil man is continuing to become. And Jesus sees us as wicked sinners BUT STILL chose to love us and claim us as His own and reconcile us back to God. And in all of that we get life and life more abundantly. We get a hope....the hope of eternity with Him. The evil you see points to the cross and Jesus taking the sins of the world and absorbing the wrath of God. The evil you see is why God's wrath had to be satisfied with the death of Jesus. Your awareness of the storm should point to this-----> THANK YOU JESUS FOR COMING TO REDEEM MAN FROM THIS WICKED WORLD.
And yet...we do what the disciples did. We see the storms and we fear for our lives and we freak out and run to Jesus and scoff and form other religions and stop going to church and hate Christians, "Jesus, you don't care if we die at the hands of this storm.... you lousy savior" and Jesus wakes up and speaks to the storms and it stops immediately. Let's finish the story.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
We gotta stop there. Your awareness of your storm is great, but your current fear may be because you have no faith in Jesus? So a lot you atheists and agnostics, it's hard to see God move without having faith in Him. He doesn't work like that. And maybe you've been around some faithless Christians posing as having "the faith" but you haven't been able to experience their faith. Let's keep reading.
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:40-41
You see how the fear shifted? Remember that bully in high school? And you're afraid of the bully, but then another bully comes along and beats that bully up. So now you're more afraid of the bully that beat up the bully? That's what just happened.
The disciples feared the more powerful presence---and it wasn't the storm----it was Jesus.
And friends. Your storms are not the most powerful presence. The present evil is not the most powerful presence. Jesus is. And He is a loving Savior, compassionate and gentle. Have fun trying to wrap your mind around something being for your joy but has completely and fully conquered evil. So you shouldn't be afraid of the mysteries of the Illuminati and the Bermuda Triangle...or UFO's or underwater dragon sharks...(or that's probably just me) Jesus speaks to those things and they listen. So lose the faith in your storms ability to kill you, and place the faith in Jesus who is able to make those storms obey His command.
And of course He cares. He came and died didn't He? The cross is the proof that He cares. He never promised a better today, He's promising a better eternity. You don't have to die...you can live forever in Him.
I really enjoy this Bible story. First of all, for some reason picturing Jesus asleep is a little funny. God Himself, actually becoming man and is fully man so much that He take naps. And you think God is not for your joy...Jesus napped. Come on. That's great.
Anyways, I wanted to point at some things in this story. But let me set it up in modern day terms because I think we do this a lot. The "they" in these verses are the disciples Jesus were traveling with. They are observing the windstorm and the waves crushing their boat. Symbol? When storms come into our lives. When life hands us lemons. When life punches us in the gut. When bad things happen to good people. When the good die young. When troubles arise. When something doesn't go our way. I've heard time and time again from avid atheists or agnostics or unbelievers that they have a hard time imagining a "good" God with so much evil in the world.
Great concerns.
If anything, I give atheists and agnostics credit for being extremely and painfully honest about their concerns about God. A lot of Christians are afraid to bring their frustrations to Jesus just as the disciples did in this story. But let's go there and look at what is being said and who its being said to. Because I think stories like this point to the depths of human pain and our awareness of our condition. God, why does bad things happen? Why have you forsaken us? Why are you allowing so much evil? How can you just sit there and let it happen? Why did you let me get raped? Why did you let me get abused? Why did you allow sex trafficking to plague women across the world? Why are people homeless? Why are people starving to death? Why are we hurting? Why are we sad? Why are we broken? God, can we have answers!?
Jesus!?? Do you not care that we are perishing!!!??? I mean look at us!?
Let's finish the story.
"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39
Can you imagine that? Put yourself in the boat. Put yourself in your situation, staring at something so frightful, so pressing with fear and anxiety nearly consuming you, and Jesus wakes up and says to the storm, "STOP IT!" And it does..........
What is this saying?
Well it's saying a lot of things. First, I can picture Jesus after calming the storm answering their question."You ask me if I care? Am I not here with you?"
My friends. Hear that. Is Jesus not here with you?
Why was He even in the boat? Why was He even on the Earth? I'll give you the answer. To proclaim the truth of God and to redeem man from sin and death. So....OF COURSE HE CARES! IT'S THE WHOLE REASON HE WAS EVEN IN THE BOAT!
All your questions about the evil you see in the world is the whole point of the Gospel. We're the ones putting all this credit in man, even when we see how evil man is continuing to become. And Jesus sees us as wicked sinners BUT STILL chose to love us and claim us as His own and reconcile us back to God. And in all of that we get life and life more abundantly. We get a hope....the hope of eternity with Him. The evil you see points to the cross and Jesus taking the sins of the world and absorbing the wrath of God. The evil you see is why God's wrath had to be satisfied with the death of Jesus. Your awareness of the storm should point to this-----> THANK YOU JESUS FOR COMING TO REDEEM MAN FROM THIS WICKED WORLD.
And yet...we do what the disciples did. We see the storms and we fear for our lives and we freak out and run to Jesus and scoff and form other religions and stop going to church and hate Christians, "Jesus, you don't care if we die at the hands of this storm.... you lousy savior" and Jesus wakes up and speaks to the storms and it stops immediately. Let's finish the story.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
We gotta stop there. Your awareness of your storm is great, but your current fear may be because you have no faith in Jesus? So a lot you atheists and agnostics, it's hard to see God move without having faith in Him. He doesn't work like that. And maybe you've been around some faithless Christians posing as having "the faith" but you haven't been able to experience their faith. Let's keep reading.
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:40-41
You see how the fear shifted? Remember that bully in high school? And you're afraid of the bully, but then another bully comes along and beats that bully up. So now you're more afraid of the bully that beat up the bully? That's what just happened.
The disciples feared the more powerful presence---and it wasn't the storm----it was Jesus.
And friends. Your storms are not the most powerful presence. The present evil is not the most powerful presence. Jesus is. And He is a loving Savior, compassionate and gentle. Have fun trying to wrap your mind around something being for your joy but has completely and fully conquered evil. So you shouldn't be afraid of the mysteries of the Illuminati and the Bermuda Triangle...or UFO's or underwater dragon sharks...(or that's probably just me) Jesus speaks to those things and they listen. So lose the faith in your storms ability to kill you, and place the faith in Jesus who is able to make those storms obey His command.
And of course He cares. He came and died didn't He? The cross is the proof that He cares. He never promised a better today, He's promising a better eternity. You don't have to die...you can live forever in Him.
Friday, July 19, 2013
A Better You or Jesus?
Which do you want more? A Better You or Jesus?
Well, Claude, why can't I have both?
Interesting question I'm proposing for you to consider. And I'm going to try to be very graceful when it comes to tackling this topic, because this is simply a blog about perspective. I think deep within us we all wish we were "better". I think a lot of things we pursue and desire is rooted in what we believe will make us better people. If I gain this happiness, then I'll be a happier person and a nicer person.
But the reason why I gave just these two options is because of verses like this.
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
And even this one...
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:23-24
Let's nail our attention to Luke 9:23-24 and pay attention to the language Jesus is using. Because again, this is us focusing on a perspective shift. The first part of that verse, "for whoever would save his life will lose it," What is Jesus setting up for us? Whoever would try to save his own life will lose it. The definiton of save is: to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction one from injury or peril; to save one from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health. So in context, that would mean I want to keep safe and sound my desires, my passions, my dreams, my pursuits, my loves, my hates, my understanding of my life. I think of saving money, what we are doing is storing up protection. I want to protect the life I have. I know what makes me happy Jesus. And it would mean that I think that I know what's best for my life, I know what's best to rescue me out of what I'm dealing with. Because again, I feel like we ALL essentially want to be better people...and you're saying I know how to make myself happier. I'm broke and bitter, I just need more money and I'll be happy. I'm insecure, I just need attention and I'll be better.
Did you notice a trend in that list? The idea of saving my own life puts a lot of power in my own hands.... it puts the focus on, ME. My wants, my desires, my dreams---all the focus is on me. Jesus I know what I need. I know what satisifies, I know Jesus. I know. And Jesus is telling us that we can't come to Him with our own agenda, He doesn't respond well with someone approaching Him, the Lord, demanding duel Lordship. Because you... sir.....and ma'm.... Jesus understands who you really are. Because here's what I dare you to think about, a better you is still a screw up.
Slow down. Can't miss that. Again.
A better you is still an awful mess.
But don't let that discourage you. Friends, that's a good thing. Because something has already been done about that. The cross! The cross is an exclamation of this fact. Even on your best day you still fall short. Even when you have been loving people, serving the community, buying free apple pies and jelly biscuits for the homeless, your deeds are still as filthy rags to God. So Jesus is saying you who think you can actually do some good, you really can't. You're incapable. You're just incapable of understanding everything He does. Your wants and desires are probably not even good for you. Jesus can see that, but you can't. But we'll hold on tight to those things and plead for Jesus to let us have it! The kid running with scissors is angry because his loving dad is trying to save his life but all the kid is wanting to do is play with the cool scissors.
But again, don't let that discourage you....because Jesus isn't done with the verse. How does He finish it? "BUT, whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." I love that ending. There's the good news. So, this is what Jesus is offering you.
You have a lot of stuff that you've built your identity around. You have your own idea of what's best for you. You have your own idea of what protects you, what warms and comforts your soul. You have a framework of that. But hear this in what Jesus is saying....if you drop all of that, if you lose that, all that, ALL of that for my sake, your life will be saved.
What is Jesus pointing to!?
HIMSELF! He says, "For my own sake." Hey, children. I may know something you don't! I may actually be the one true Savior. I may actually be the all-knowing God who knows you better than you know yourself. I may actually BE for your joy! I may love you endlessly and unconditionally and will never forsake you! I may actually be a better Lord than you are!
So again I ask, which do you want more? A better you or Jesus? If you're chosing the first one, a better you is still YOU. The same silly person you are today will be the same person you are when you become better. So read the books and try to fix the external things those authors point to in 5 easy steps. But hear me right now...sometimes.....the only practical advice you need is Jesus. Sometimes...you just need 1 point..... Jesus. Some of you may ask. "Well Claude, how do I practically pursue Jesus?"
You don't have to ask that. If you just asked that I'm praying for you. You need advice on pursuing the Jesus that saved you? My advice wasn't there when He saved you, and sometimes you don't need advice on how to go after Him. Just go after Him. Die to yourself, lose yourself, and let Him be Lord. He's a better Lord than you are. I can guarantee it.
You want it that way. Trust me. He's much better at it. So give up trying to pursue a better you, and pursue Jesus.
Well, Claude, why can't I have both?
Interesting question I'm proposing for you to consider. And I'm going to try to be very graceful when it comes to tackling this topic, because this is simply a blog about perspective. I think deep within us we all wish we were "better". I think a lot of things we pursue and desire is rooted in what we believe will make us better people. If I gain this happiness, then I'll be a happier person and a nicer person.
But the reason why I gave just these two options is because of verses like this.
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
And even this one...
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9:23-24
Let's nail our attention to Luke 9:23-24 and pay attention to the language Jesus is using. Because again, this is us focusing on a perspective shift. The first part of that verse, "for whoever would save his life will lose it," What is Jesus setting up for us? Whoever would try to save his own life will lose it. The definiton of save is: to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction one from injury or peril; to save one from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health. So in context, that would mean I want to keep safe and sound my desires, my passions, my dreams, my pursuits, my loves, my hates, my understanding of my life. I think of saving money, what we are doing is storing up protection. I want to protect the life I have. I know what makes me happy Jesus. And it would mean that I think that I know what's best for my life, I know what's best to rescue me out of what I'm dealing with. Because again, I feel like we ALL essentially want to be better people...and you're saying I know how to make myself happier. I'm broke and bitter, I just need more money and I'll be happy. I'm insecure, I just need attention and I'll be better.
Did you notice a trend in that list? The idea of saving my own life puts a lot of power in my own hands.... it puts the focus on, ME. My wants, my desires, my dreams---all the focus is on me. Jesus I know what I need. I know what satisifies, I know Jesus. I know. And Jesus is telling us that we can't come to Him with our own agenda, He doesn't respond well with someone approaching Him, the Lord, demanding duel Lordship. Because you... sir.....and ma'm.... Jesus understands who you really are. Because here's what I dare you to think about, a better you is still a screw up.
Slow down. Can't miss that. Again.
A better you is still an awful mess.
But don't let that discourage you. Friends, that's a good thing. Because something has already been done about that. The cross! The cross is an exclamation of this fact. Even on your best day you still fall short. Even when you have been loving people, serving the community, buying free apple pies and jelly biscuits for the homeless, your deeds are still as filthy rags to God. So Jesus is saying you who think you can actually do some good, you really can't. You're incapable. You're just incapable of understanding everything He does. Your wants and desires are probably not even good for you. Jesus can see that, but you can't. But we'll hold on tight to those things and plead for Jesus to let us have it! The kid running with scissors is angry because his loving dad is trying to save his life but all the kid is wanting to do is play with the cool scissors.
But again, don't let that discourage you....because Jesus isn't done with the verse. How does He finish it? "BUT, whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." I love that ending. There's the good news. So, this is what Jesus is offering you.
You have a lot of stuff that you've built your identity around. You have your own idea of what's best for you. You have your own idea of what protects you, what warms and comforts your soul. You have a framework of that. But hear this in what Jesus is saying....if you drop all of that, if you lose that, all that, ALL of that for my sake, your life will be saved.
What is Jesus pointing to!?
HIMSELF! He says, "For my own sake." Hey, children. I may know something you don't! I may actually be the one true Savior. I may actually be the all-knowing God who knows you better than you know yourself. I may actually BE for your joy! I may love you endlessly and unconditionally and will never forsake you! I may actually be a better Lord than you are!
So again I ask, which do you want more? A better you or Jesus? If you're chosing the first one, a better you is still YOU. The same silly person you are today will be the same person you are when you become better. So read the books and try to fix the external things those authors point to in 5 easy steps. But hear me right now...sometimes.....the only practical advice you need is Jesus. Sometimes...you just need 1 point..... Jesus. Some of you may ask. "Well Claude, how do I practically pursue Jesus?"
You don't have to ask that. If you just asked that I'm praying for you. You need advice on pursuing the Jesus that saved you? My advice wasn't there when He saved you, and sometimes you don't need advice on how to go after Him. Just go after Him. Die to yourself, lose yourself, and let Him be Lord. He's a better Lord than you are. I can guarantee it.
You want it that way. Trust me. He's much better at it. So give up trying to pursue a better you, and pursue Jesus.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
An Artist's Shackles
I remember hearing the story of Gillian Lynne, a famous British ballerina. Before she was who she became, she struggled with finding her identity. Lynne's gift for dancing was discovered by a doctor. Lynne had been
underperforming at school, so her mother took her to the doctor and
explained about her fidgeting and lack of focus. After hearing
everything her mother said, the doctor told Lynne that he needed to talk
to her mother privately for a moment. He turned on the radio and walked
out. He then encouraged her mother to look at Lynne, who was dancing to
the radio. The doctor noted that she was a dancer, and encouraged
Lynne's mother to take her to dance school. The rest of the story is history, remember I said "famous" British ballerina.
Now I'm really not trying to make something small into a bigger thing, however, I do believe in the uniqueness of each and every one of us. I do believe that this story could have gone two different ways. Number 1, Gillian's mom could have screamed at her for her poor grades and lack of focus, the doctor could have given her medication to help her focus, and she could have disciplined herself to be a better student. Or, the way it happened. The doctor believing in a person's ability outside of institutional learning and the mother allowing it to be an option for her daughter. Here's the point of why I'm writing this, and I'm being extremely transparent.
I've been restless here lately. Not just today, but for a few months now, honestly for almost a year now. And I've responded the first way the mother could have responded to young Gillian, Hey, Claude, man up and get it together. You know how you should act. Act like that. You're supposed to be do this. You're supposed to submit here, you're supposed to do things this way. Your mother expects this of you. Your pastors expect this of you. Your friends expect this from you. Get it together.
And I've obeyed.
But now, why have I not found any release. Why do I feel more alive when I'm able to visioneer and design? Why do I cheer for music artists who love the craft?
Today, I'm allowing myself to respond like the doctor did to young Gillian. I don't think I'm anti-institution, but I am anti-normality. Anything that gets too normal freaks me out. Traditions bug me a little bit, I won't lie. Anything a person can say this phrase, "We've always done it this way", causes my skin to cringe. I've noticed that I do not enjoy being in the "it" crowd. I do not enjoy being around people that seem to enjoy being just like each other. And it's like I'm surrounded by clay, but instead of allowing God to mold them they become more comfortable with the cookie cutter mass production of clay pots.
When I was in Seattle this past week, I quickly noticed something. There was a very keen culture of acceptance of different, a culture acceptable of a person's expressing themselves how they see fit. Now, I know there's a line that probably shouldn't be cross, but honestly I respect that person more than I do the conforming person. I had the pleasure of meeting this girl that worked in Downtown Seattle. She had a pin up hairstyle, wearing a vintage dress probably from the 1950's, and a sleeve of tattoes down her right arm. She was having a career crisis, meaning she couldn't figure out which direction she wanted to go in. She either wanted to be a pastry chef or a car mechanic. Lol.
I loved this girl, with her bizarre skill set.
Now please hear me, I'm not necessarily attracted to those things, and I'm not suggesting people doing crazy things in hopes of being "not normal", I'm more referring to the natural desire to express. I'm noticing in myself that I get this pinned up anxious and eagerness when I'm unable to be myself. I get anxious when I can't lead how I want to lead, love how I want to love, be passionate about what I want to be passionate about, and I wrestle and wrestle and it doesn't budge. Which I think is why I'm restless.
I called this blog "An Artist's Shackles", because a person's ability to express himself is directly linked to his or her identity. And when they are unable to, they become a prisoner within themselves. Like a person born to play music and he's forced to not play for a year. Like Gillian, she was unable to dance which was a natural talent, and she couldn't focus on what she was forced to do. Had no interested in what she was being forced to do. And that's where I am. I have no interest in what I'm doing right now. I'm unable to express myself. I'm not being challenged. It's too easy to be a Christian in Alabama. It's too easy to be a leader in my church. I really don't know what I'm even looking for or asking for, I just know that I have no fulfillment right now. I feel hindered, held back. Someone has taken my paintbrush from me and handed me this gray suit to put on. And I'm desperately looking for some pink or blue puddle to jump in, ruining the conformity I'm forced to consider.
I remember talking to some Koreans at work. And we were laughing about something, and I asked to look at one of their hands. And what was revealed to me was astounding. The prints of their hands looked just like man. Look at your hand right now, it has that capital A and lower case L shape right. And she had five fingers.
Seriously, I'm not trying to make small things into bigger things, but please at least try to take me seriously here. She was just like me, but completely different. Her face was no where close to mine. She spoke Korean. She was kind of pale, but her hands looked just like mine. Cool huh?
Lol. Here's my heart friends. Thanks for plunging into this chaos. I really don't even know what's going on in my heart, I'm still trying to figure it out. That's why I'm writing it, hoping something connect or makes sense. But here's my heart. This is what I want for you. I want you to feel comfortable being yourself. I think we are too messed up to be pretending on any level. I think the severity of our condition is too far gone and too far beyond understanding, And when I'm surrounded by a culture that would rather smile and say I'm fine to everyone, it bugs me. Not that I want you expressing your hurts to every stranger, but I hope you're getting it out to somebody. But if you're surrounded by a bunch of posers then we will all be posers. I just want people to be better. And you cannot get better without facing and acknowledging how completely crazy and dysfunctional you are. Or maybe I'm the only one that's completely out of his mind and battling sin and insecurities and direction.
Hmm...I'll stop. Because again, I have no idea what I'm really trying to say. I thought I had a better grip on it but I'm seeing I really don't as I wrote this. Oh well. Thanks for reading. Lol. Maybe you can make sense of it. Maybe I should go see that doctor. Haha.
Now I'm really not trying to make something small into a bigger thing, however, I do believe in the uniqueness of each and every one of us. I do believe that this story could have gone two different ways. Number 1, Gillian's mom could have screamed at her for her poor grades and lack of focus, the doctor could have given her medication to help her focus, and she could have disciplined herself to be a better student. Or, the way it happened. The doctor believing in a person's ability outside of institutional learning and the mother allowing it to be an option for her daughter. Here's the point of why I'm writing this, and I'm being extremely transparent.
I've been restless here lately. Not just today, but for a few months now, honestly for almost a year now. And I've responded the first way the mother could have responded to young Gillian, Hey, Claude, man up and get it together. You know how you should act. Act like that. You're supposed to be do this. You're supposed to submit here, you're supposed to do things this way. Your mother expects this of you. Your pastors expect this of you. Your friends expect this from you. Get it together.
And I've obeyed.
But now, why have I not found any release. Why do I feel more alive when I'm able to visioneer and design? Why do I cheer for music artists who love the craft?
Today, I'm allowing myself to respond like the doctor did to young Gillian. I don't think I'm anti-institution, but I am anti-normality. Anything that gets too normal freaks me out. Traditions bug me a little bit, I won't lie. Anything a person can say this phrase, "We've always done it this way", causes my skin to cringe. I've noticed that I do not enjoy being in the "it" crowd. I do not enjoy being around people that seem to enjoy being just like each other. And it's like I'm surrounded by clay, but instead of allowing God to mold them they become more comfortable with the cookie cutter mass production of clay pots.
When I was in Seattle this past week, I quickly noticed something. There was a very keen culture of acceptance of different, a culture acceptable of a person's expressing themselves how they see fit. Now, I know there's a line that probably shouldn't be cross, but honestly I respect that person more than I do the conforming person. I had the pleasure of meeting this girl that worked in Downtown Seattle. She had a pin up hairstyle, wearing a vintage dress probably from the 1950's, and a sleeve of tattoes down her right arm. She was having a career crisis, meaning she couldn't figure out which direction she wanted to go in. She either wanted to be a pastry chef or a car mechanic. Lol.
I loved this girl, with her bizarre skill set.
Now please hear me, I'm not necessarily attracted to those things, and I'm not suggesting people doing crazy things in hopes of being "not normal", I'm more referring to the natural desire to express. I'm noticing in myself that I get this pinned up anxious and eagerness when I'm unable to be myself. I get anxious when I can't lead how I want to lead, love how I want to love, be passionate about what I want to be passionate about, and I wrestle and wrestle and it doesn't budge. Which I think is why I'm restless.
I called this blog "An Artist's Shackles", because a person's ability to express himself is directly linked to his or her identity. And when they are unable to, they become a prisoner within themselves. Like a person born to play music and he's forced to not play for a year. Like Gillian, she was unable to dance which was a natural talent, and she couldn't focus on what she was forced to do. Had no interested in what she was being forced to do. And that's where I am. I have no interest in what I'm doing right now. I'm unable to express myself. I'm not being challenged. It's too easy to be a Christian in Alabama. It's too easy to be a leader in my church. I really don't know what I'm even looking for or asking for, I just know that I have no fulfillment right now. I feel hindered, held back. Someone has taken my paintbrush from me and handed me this gray suit to put on. And I'm desperately looking for some pink or blue puddle to jump in, ruining the conformity I'm forced to consider.
I remember talking to some Koreans at work. And we were laughing about something, and I asked to look at one of their hands. And what was revealed to me was astounding. The prints of their hands looked just like man. Look at your hand right now, it has that capital A and lower case L shape right. And she had five fingers.
Seriously, I'm not trying to make small things into bigger things, but please at least try to take me seriously here. She was just like me, but completely different. Her face was no where close to mine. She spoke Korean. She was kind of pale, but her hands looked just like mine. Cool huh?
Lol. Here's my heart friends. Thanks for plunging into this chaos. I really don't even know what's going on in my heart, I'm still trying to figure it out. That's why I'm writing it, hoping something connect or makes sense. But here's my heart. This is what I want for you. I want you to feel comfortable being yourself. I think we are too messed up to be pretending on any level. I think the severity of our condition is too far gone and too far beyond understanding, And when I'm surrounded by a culture that would rather smile and say I'm fine to everyone, it bugs me. Not that I want you expressing your hurts to every stranger, but I hope you're getting it out to somebody. But if you're surrounded by a bunch of posers then we will all be posers. I just want people to be better. And you cannot get better without facing and acknowledging how completely crazy and dysfunctional you are. Or maybe I'm the only one that's completely out of his mind and battling sin and insecurities and direction.
Hmm...I'll stop. Because again, I have no idea what I'm really trying to say. I thought I had a better grip on it but I'm seeing I really don't as I wrote this. Oh well. Thanks for reading. Lol. Maybe you can make sense of it. Maybe I should go see that doctor. Haha.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Immodest Culture
Lol. I have gotten exhausted with this subject. I've looked women in the face and had conversations about modest dress and they laugh at me. Almost like a "Dude, are you crazy?" And even though the Bible offers scripture speaking directly to the way women should dress, still, no submission. But ladies breathe, this is not what I'm talking about today. I am, however, addressing why maybe you fear it. Or why you have not considered it. Let's work.
I think we live in an immodest culture. Before we begin, we must define what the word "immodest" means. It means: Not modest in conduct, utterance, indecent, shameless. Not modest in assertion or pretension; forward; impudent.
So you can get a clearer understanding, the word modest means: Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own talents, abilities, and value. willing to call attention to oneself; Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress. Free from showiness or boastfulness or attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
So immodest is that our culture is NOT the things above. Crazy huh? And how much of what we do everyday is subconsciously to glorify ourselves? I said subconsciously, which means we do it without even thinking about it. There's a lot of things that points to this being true. I won't call you out, I'll just be brutally honest about myself. Ready?
Deep within my heart, what's the purpose of this blog? Yes, I enjoy sharing my heart with you all and hoping to encourage you, but what if a little bit of me has my ego struck when you're reading it? I feel good when 70+ people are reading what I have to say. And how many of my "encouraging" Tweets is for self glory? "Yeah, look at me. I got this Jesus thing down don't I?" How many times do I dress nice to go anywhere to impress? Maybe I like to hear people say, "You look nice today Claude." How often are the things I say only to promote myself? How often do I name drop so people will know who I hang with? "Yeah, I'm in that club and that level at the church. You're not." I may walk into my church with a certain swagger because people know me. Everyone runs up to me saying, "Hey Claude", and yes, maybe I enjoy it.
Scary huh? God and I deal with that pretty often in my quiet time, one of the first things I pray for is for Him to remind me that it's not about me and my own glory but Him. That the influence I have is not mine but His. But I have that reminder. Our culture doesn't. And look at our culture. I mean all the social media is for YOU to express your opinions about everything. Sportscasters sit in their comfortable chairs and share their "valued" opinion of everything in sports. And we don't live in a modest culture at all when it comes to sexuality. Every TV show talks about sex as if it's not a personal, intimate, and private moment between two couples committed to each other. And we'll watch sex scenes that we wouldn't allow to happen right in front of us. The level of profanity and disrespect to each other. The selfishness expressed throughout our days. When I'm mad that I have to wait in line at Wal-Mart. I'm mad when someone pulls out in front of me on the road and then drive slow! Are you kidding me!? Do they not know who I am? I deserve to go to Wal-Mart for one thing and not have to wait 32 minutes in a line! I deserve to drive in peace and ease to my destination without someone cutting me off or slowing my speed down. ME ME ME! I, I, I!
So even trying to speak with a woman about modest dress is funny now. Because I love their response. "Well nothing is cute in modest dress."
Sadly and terribly true. And why? Because our culture is telling them that showing their bodies is womanly. It's women's fashion to wear tight and revealing clothes. So why would I dare call women to conform to scripture rather than the culture?
I'll say it again. Who am I to point women to conform to scripture and grow in godliness by doing so with the pressures of culture for them to look a certain way?
So anyways, with our immodest culture, how do we even pursue modesty? Because from the definition, it isn't just women that need to get better at it. I'll just ask some questions for you to measure the motives behind some of your actions.
Why do you Tweet those godly sayings?
Why do you post when you've given to charity and paid for someone else's meal or left a big tip for a waitress?
Why do you share with us on Facebook that you ministered to somebody and they started crying?
Why do you post pictures of you on your glorious and beautiful vacation?
Why do you post pictures of your food?
Why do you dress the way you dress?
Why do you do the things you do at the church?
Why are you leading that small group?
Why are you tweeting the lunch you were just on?
Claude. You're asking me to be honest with myself?
Why yes. Yes I am.
And what's funny, we really don't want to do this to ourselves. And I'm not saying these things are bad within themselves, I'm just asking you to ask the tough questions and see if you don't experience some convictions. I've gotten a funky answer for some of these questions and I don't do certain things because of the answer I got. And who knows, your answer to these questions may be 100% Godly and perfect. That's fine too. But, it's beneficial to ask just to be sure.
My goal for this blog is for you to realize how much culture is discipling you. It is shaping everything we do. And if you're a believer in Jesus, you must know that this is unacceptable.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
Why is this important? In the context of Romans 12, Paul makes a statement that is powerful.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Conforming to God and not the culture is our true and proper worship. Living sacrifices, which means while we are alive we are to be sacrificially living our lives that reflects our relationship with Christ, in which since Christ calls us under His Lordship, that means we are constantly adjusting to being made into the likeness of Him. So yes, it doesn't matter what culture says----Christ is the ultimate authority.
I think we live in an immodest culture. Before we begin, we must define what the word "immodest" means. It means: Not modest in conduct, utterance, indecent, shameless. Not modest in assertion or pretension; forward; impudent.
So you can get a clearer understanding, the word modest means: Having or showing a moderate estimation of one's own talents, abilities, and value. willing to call attention to oneself; Observing conventional proprieties in speech, behavior, or dress. Free from showiness or boastfulness or attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
So immodest is that our culture is NOT the things above. Crazy huh? And how much of what we do everyday is subconsciously to glorify ourselves? I said subconsciously, which means we do it without even thinking about it. There's a lot of things that points to this being true. I won't call you out, I'll just be brutally honest about myself. Ready?
Deep within my heart, what's the purpose of this blog? Yes, I enjoy sharing my heart with you all and hoping to encourage you, but what if a little bit of me has my ego struck when you're reading it? I feel good when 70+ people are reading what I have to say. And how many of my "encouraging" Tweets is for self glory? "Yeah, look at me. I got this Jesus thing down don't I?" How many times do I dress nice to go anywhere to impress? Maybe I like to hear people say, "You look nice today Claude." How often are the things I say only to promote myself? How often do I name drop so people will know who I hang with? "Yeah, I'm in that club and that level at the church. You're not." I may walk into my church with a certain swagger because people know me. Everyone runs up to me saying, "Hey Claude", and yes, maybe I enjoy it.
Scary huh? God and I deal with that pretty often in my quiet time, one of the first things I pray for is for Him to remind me that it's not about me and my own glory but Him. That the influence I have is not mine but His. But I have that reminder. Our culture doesn't. And look at our culture. I mean all the social media is for YOU to express your opinions about everything. Sportscasters sit in their comfortable chairs and share their "valued" opinion of everything in sports. And we don't live in a modest culture at all when it comes to sexuality. Every TV show talks about sex as if it's not a personal, intimate, and private moment between two couples committed to each other. And we'll watch sex scenes that we wouldn't allow to happen right in front of us. The level of profanity and disrespect to each other. The selfishness expressed throughout our days. When I'm mad that I have to wait in line at Wal-Mart. I'm mad when someone pulls out in front of me on the road and then drive slow! Are you kidding me!? Do they not know who I am? I deserve to go to Wal-Mart for one thing and not have to wait 32 minutes in a line! I deserve to drive in peace and ease to my destination without someone cutting me off or slowing my speed down. ME ME ME! I, I, I!
So even trying to speak with a woman about modest dress is funny now. Because I love their response. "Well nothing is cute in modest dress."
Sadly and terribly true. And why? Because our culture is telling them that showing their bodies is womanly. It's women's fashion to wear tight and revealing clothes. So why would I dare call women to conform to scripture rather than the culture?
I'll say it again. Who am I to point women to conform to scripture and grow in godliness by doing so with the pressures of culture for them to look a certain way?
So anyways, with our immodest culture, how do we even pursue modesty? Because from the definition, it isn't just women that need to get better at it. I'll just ask some questions for you to measure the motives behind some of your actions.
Why do you Tweet those godly sayings?
Why do you post when you've given to charity and paid for someone else's meal or left a big tip for a waitress?
Why do you share with us on Facebook that you ministered to somebody and they started crying?
Why do you post pictures of you on your glorious and beautiful vacation?
Why do you post pictures of your food?
Why do you dress the way you dress?
Why do you do the things you do at the church?
Why are you leading that small group?
Why are you tweeting the lunch you were just on?
Claude. You're asking me to be honest with myself?
Why yes. Yes I am.
And what's funny, we really don't want to do this to ourselves. And I'm not saying these things are bad within themselves, I'm just asking you to ask the tough questions and see if you don't experience some convictions. I've gotten a funky answer for some of these questions and I don't do certain things because of the answer I got. And who knows, your answer to these questions may be 100% Godly and perfect. That's fine too. But, it's beneficial to ask just to be sure.
My goal for this blog is for you to realize how much culture is discipling you. It is shaping everything we do. And if you're a believer in Jesus, you must know that this is unacceptable.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
Why is this important? In the context of Romans 12, Paul makes a statement that is powerful.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Conforming to God and not the culture is our true and proper worship. Living sacrifices, which means while we are alive we are to be sacrificially living our lives that reflects our relationship with Christ, in which since Christ calls us under His Lordship, that means we are constantly adjusting to being made into the likeness of Him. So yes, it doesn't matter what culture says----Christ is the ultimate authority.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
For The Lonely
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30
I'm aware of the transparency a topic like this requires. But I'm honestly sharing this in hope of being a help to my friends who struggle with the same things I struggle with. Because deep into the root of ALL of us we want to be loved. Now we pursue those things in different ways because we define it in different ways, but it is all from the pursuit of love. And I'm praying that you are able to grow in your understanding of how the "all who labor and are heavy laden" looks like, and how it sounds. Here's how I read the world around me.
When I'm listening to people boast in how drunk they got the previous night, to me I see them trying to show the people listening that they are acceptable. Acceptance is a pursuit of love. Being in any kind of community or sense of family is better than none at all. That's why guys join gangs. A sense of family is a strong connection. A feeling of belonging is strong, and it runs deep within us creating connections and usually behavior follows.
I also know some people who are deeply desiring to be successful. Nothing wrong with ambition, but the pursuit of status is simply still a desire for love. We associate great status with again being accepted, which we have somehow equated as love. I've seen this in myself, when I'm notice the football players on campus getting attention and somewhere within me a jealous cord chimes, and I feel less loved because they love this football player because of his status.
Now I love the text above because it seems to be pointing at the fact that these pursuits are exhausting. These vain pursuits are exhausting because they don't fully satisfy. We always want more. We always want more money, a greater high, greater drunken nights, higher status, higher profits, higher acceptance. That's why we name drop. That's why we puff our chest out because we got new clothes or shoes. We want to be admired and loved, we all want this.
Christians, why do we struggle with this? I mean, it makes sense that an unbeliever would fall into this toil and tiresome cycle because they don't believe in the God of love, the Creator and Sustainer, the Joy and Peace of our souls and salvation. We actually know the Jesus that's saying come to Him so we can have rest and yet.....
We choose not to.
I'm starting to have grace for the atheists. I mean, Christian's don't live like there's a God. I don't blame them for thinking there isn't one. Doesn't make it true, just saying I understand it now.
But you, if you are a Christian and a follower of Jesus, what are you doing? Do you not know who you are connected to? Do you not know who you are in communion with? Do you not know who you are in fellowship with? Do you not know who your Father is?
You betta recognize!
No seriously, we NEED to do a better job of this. We of all people should not be turning to the things of this world to find satisfaction when we serve an infinite God. We of all people should know how to find love because we know the God of love. Can't have true love without God. Don't care how many Live, Laugh, Love shirts you wear. You're not getting to the fullness of your being without God. You'll never truly experience love without experiencing the Cross where God displayed His love for you. But in that, for the believers, what am I saying?
We are connected to the ultimate source of love. When I'm laying up at night praying for God to send me my wife ASAP, and He calls my name to come and rest in Him because He's still preparing her and me, and I turn Him away because he's not a woman and I want her now. He usually hands me over to my desires and I get hurt. I'm sure some of you can relate to that.
Do I really realize what I'm saying in that moment? God isn't as good as a woman? Like, the Creator of the woman isn't good enough? God isn't as good as marriage, so I have to help Him out because He's being slow?
Brother, all that sexual drive you have is your pursuit of love. Whether you're looking for it through porn or you're one of the fortunate ones and can get girls to have sex with you on the regular, listen,--- You're exposed. The cross already exposed you. You want love. You want it pretty bad too. You need love. And you're looking for it in terrible places, and that's why you're never satisfied. You're probably more lonely that you realize.
Sister, your desire to be married is, well, your pursuit of love. You beautifully desire the security of what marriage CAN AND SHOULD bring to you. I wish somehow culture could leave your minds alone and let you see the beauty of the cross, that in it you are already loved securely. That white wedding dress you're desperately waiting to wear is already wrapped around you because Jesus's holy blood has covered all of your sins, and you are now seen as holy and blameless before God.
But hear me. I'm not saying these desires are bad within themselves. Sex is from God. Marriage is from God. But see something....it's FROM GOD. So get in your mind how good sex feels and how good marriage is....JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE CREATOR OF IT CAN DO FOR YOU!?
You have to hear that. The Creator of all you crave is wanting your heart.
So I charge you with this. Know your God. Know who you're connected to. Those things you are longing for, trust in God's timing and enjoy the Creator of those things until He hands those precious gifts to you. Love the giver of the gifts, not just the gifts. Let's love God.
I mean, let's really love Him.
I'm aware of the transparency a topic like this requires. But I'm honestly sharing this in hope of being a help to my friends who struggle with the same things I struggle with. Because deep into the root of ALL of us we want to be loved. Now we pursue those things in different ways because we define it in different ways, but it is all from the pursuit of love. And I'm praying that you are able to grow in your understanding of how the "all who labor and are heavy laden" looks like, and how it sounds. Here's how I read the world around me.
When I'm listening to people boast in how drunk they got the previous night, to me I see them trying to show the people listening that they are acceptable. Acceptance is a pursuit of love. Being in any kind of community or sense of family is better than none at all. That's why guys join gangs. A sense of family is a strong connection. A feeling of belonging is strong, and it runs deep within us creating connections and usually behavior follows.
I also know some people who are deeply desiring to be successful. Nothing wrong with ambition, but the pursuit of status is simply still a desire for love. We associate great status with again being accepted, which we have somehow equated as love. I've seen this in myself, when I'm notice the football players on campus getting attention and somewhere within me a jealous cord chimes, and I feel less loved because they love this football player because of his status.
Now I love the text above because it seems to be pointing at the fact that these pursuits are exhausting. These vain pursuits are exhausting because they don't fully satisfy. We always want more. We always want more money, a greater high, greater drunken nights, higher status, higher profits, higher acceptance. That's why we name drop. That's why we puff our chest out because we got new clothes or shoes. We want to be admired and loved, we all want this.
Christians, why do we struggle with this? I mean, it makes sense that an unbeliever would fall into this toil and tiresome cycle because they don't believe in the God of love, the Creator and Sustainer, the Joy and Peace of our souls and salvation. We actually know the Jesus that's saying come to Him so we can have rest and yet.....
We choose not to.
I'm starting to have grace for the atheists. I mean, Christian's don't live like there's a God. I don't blame them for thinking there isn't one. Doesn't make it true, just saying I understand it now.
But you, if you are a Christian and a follower of Jesus, what are you doing? Do you not know who you are connected to? Do you not know who you are in communion with? Do you not know who you are in fellowship with? Do you not know who your Father is?
You betta recognize!
No seriously, we NEED to do a better job of this. We of all people should not be turning to the things of this world to find satisfaction when we serve an infinite God. We of all people should know how to find love because we know the God of love. Can't have true love without God. Don't care how many Live, Laugh, Love shirts you wear. You're not getting to the fullness of your being without God. You'll never truly experience love without experiencing the Cross where God displayed His love for you. But in that, for the believers, what am I saying?
We are connected to the ultimate source of love. When I'm laying up at night praying for God to send me my wife ASAP, and He calls my name to come and rest in Him because He's still preparing her and me, and I turn Him away because he's not a woman and I want her now. He usually hands me over to my desires and I get hurt. I'm sure some of you can relate to that.
Do I really realize what I'm saying in that moment? God isn't as good as a woman? Like, the Creator of the woman isn't good enough? God isn't as good as marriage, so I have to help Him out because He's being slow?
Brother, all that sexual drive you have is your pursuit of love. Whether you're looking for it through porn or you're one of the fortunate ones and can get girls to have sex with you on the regular, listen,--- You're exposed. The cross already exposed you. You want love. You want it pretty bad too. You need love. And you're looking for it in terrible places, and that's why you're never satisfied. You're probably more lonely that you realize.
Sister, your desire to be married is, well, your pursuit of love. You beautifully desire the security of what marriage CAN AND SHOULD bring to you. I wish somehow culture could leave your minds alone and let you see the beauty of the cross, that in it you are already loved securely. That white wedding dress you're desperately waiting to wear is already wrapped around you because Jesus's holy blood has covered all of your sins, and you are now seen as holy and blameless before God.
But hear me. I'm not saying these desires are bad within themselves. Sex is from God. Marriage is from God. But see something....it's FROM GOD. So get in your mind how good sex feels and how good marriage is....JUST IMAGINE WHAT THE CREATOR OF IT CAN DO FOR YOU!?
You have to hear that. The Creator of all you crave is wanting your heart.
So I charge you with this. Know your God. Know who you're connected to. Those things you are longing for, trust in God's timing and enjoy the Creator of those things until He hands those precious gifts to you. Love the giver of the gifts, not just the gifts. Let's love God.
I mean, let's really love Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)