I saw this sign that said, "Life is not about enduring the storm, it is about dancing in the rain."
That is a cool thought! From my point of view, "dancing in the rain" is when Christians shine the brightest. When life gets rough, something doesn't go your away, or when everyone else is complaining, we have the greatest opportunity to display our faith.
Battening down the hatches, or circling the wagons as a storm arrives doesn't take faith. It is knowing that God will use every difficulty for good that makes life great!
So, next time it rains... Trust God!
... and dance in the rain!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
God's Beauty
What a great day we had a Cloudbreak today talking about God's beauty. By that I mean that God everything about God is perfect, and He lacks no quality that is desirable. What does that mean for us as followers of Christ?
Basically, if God has it, we should love it.
If He doesn't have it, we should avoid it at all costs!
Beauty is not what we look like, but how much we reflect the character of Jesus.
Basically, if God has it, we should love it.
If He doesn't have it, we should avoid it at all costs!
Beauty is not what we look like, but how much we reflect the character of Jesus.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Why God's wrath is something to praise Him about
Outside of Jesus' death on the cross, wrath is probably the hardest thing to deal with for most people. It is difficult to read in the Bible of times in the past when God deal severely with sin. It is also almost beyond comprehension what will happen in the book of Revelation as God's wrath is seen most clearly and emphatically.
People ask how a loving God can also have so much wrath?
What we should be asking is, what if He didn't?
Imagine if God didn't really care about sin. What if He were ambivalent about it? Or worse, what if He liked sin? Get where I am going here? If God didn't care one way or another about sin, it could be possible for Him to actually become evil. If God, who is eternal, all powerful and all knowing, became evil... well, the results would make the wrath in the book of Revelation look like a cakewalk.
We should be praising God that He hates sin enough to send His Son so we could be reconciled to God through faith. If Jesus had not come, everyone (including those who now call themselves Christians) would be facing an uncertain future at best and nothing but an expectation of eternal wrath at worse.
But, God gave us the way home to Him in His Son. Jesus died so that every person could choose for God or against Him. Faith is free, and it comes with an eternal promise of God's love. The Bible tells us to "count the cost" of faith.
Ok, here is the cost:
He says, if we will just believe... JUST BELIEVE... will have nothing to fear. No wrath. Only love.
I am glad I chose Jesus. Did you? It is not too late. Today can be the day you choose freedom!
Choose Jesus...
People ask how a loving God can also have so much wrath?
What we should be asking is, what if He didn't?
Imagine if God didn't really care about sin. What if He were ambivalent about it? Or worse, what if He liked sin? Get where I am going here? If God didn't care one way or another about sin, it could be possible for Him to actually become evil. If God, who is eternal, all powerful and all knowing, became evil... well, the results would make the wrath in the book of Revelation look like a cakewalk.
We should be praising God that He hates sin enough to send His Son so we could be reconciled to God through faith. If Jesus had not come, everyone (including those who now call themselves Christians) would be facing an uncertain future at best and nothing but an expectation of eternal wrath at worse.
But, God gave us the way home to Him in His Son. Jesus died so that every person could choose for God or against Him. Faith is free, and it comes with an eternal promise of God's love. The Bible tells us to "count the cost" of faith.
Ok, here is the cost:
- Following God in obedience actually frees us to become the people we are designed to be...
- Turning our backs on a life spent toiling for the spoils of this world which fall through our hands like sand at the end of our life and ultimately are meaningless.
- Being willing to live a life that makes others lives better through serving them. But, here is the catch 22. If you are connected to an authentic group of Christians, they will be looking to make your life better also. Win - win!
- You will have to worship God, but that is no cost. It is a joy!
- You will be blessed by God in ways you never imagined as a result of obedience. Wait, that is no cost either.
He says, if we will just believe... JUST BELIEVE... will have nothing to fear. No wrath. Only love.
I am glad I chose Jesus. Did you? It is not too late. Today can be the day you choose freedom!
Choose Jesus...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Preach Christ Crucified
I just can't get off this topic.
That is really what it is all about after all. Three simple words: "Preach Christ crucified." These three words come from 1 Corinthians 1:23. In fact, I want to challenge you today to go back and read the whole passage from verse 18-31.
God calls us to follow His wisdom. He calls us to stop fooling ourselves into thinking our so-called wisdom is the best. The cornerstone of God's wisdom is: Preach Christ crucified.
We don't hide, we don't avoid, and we don't run away from teaching God's truth in love. We speak about the savior of the world dying on a cross to give us the only way to know God and experience His goodness, love, mercy and grace for all eternity through faith.
Why is a cross wisdom? Because without it, we would never come to know God. Or, if we did, it would mean that He did not really oppose sin. If God did not oppose sin, He would not really be good, and we would never be able to have confidence in His love and grace.
Praise God that we preach Christ crucified... FOR YOU AND ME!
That is really what it is all about after all. Three simple words: "Preach Christ crucified." These three words come from 1 Corinthians 1:23. In fact, I want to challenge you today to go back and read the whole passage from verse 18-31.
God calls us to follow His wisdom. He calls us to stop fooling ourselves into thinking our so-called wisdom is the best. The cornerstone of God's wisdom is: Preach Christ crucified.
We don't hide, we don't avoid, and we don't run away from teaching God's truth in love. We speak about the savior of the world dying on a cross to give us the only way to know God and experience His goodness, love, mercy and grace for all eternity through faith.
Why is a cross wisdom? Because without it, we would never come to know God. Or, if we did, it would mean that He did not really oppose sin. If God did not oppose sin, He would not really be good, and we would never be able to have confidence in His love and grace.
Praise God that we preach Christ crucified... FOR YOU AND ME!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Prayer, PRAyer, PRAYER
Prayer is the most important way we communicate with Jesus. We hear it at church. We read it in the Bible. We say to ourselves, "I should pray more." But, then life sets in, and we often just can't seem to carve out the time.
BAD MOVE.
If we don't pray, we don't connect. Prayer is the time we focus on God, and find rest for our souls. Whether we are celebrating, praising or crying out to God, He uses prayer to help us press on and overcome any obstacles the enemy throws our way.
So, pray constantly, and watch God work.
BAD MOVE.
If we don't pray, we don't connect. Prayer is the time we focus on God, and find rest for our souls. Whether we are celebrating, praising or crying out to God, He uses prayer to help us press on and overcome any obstacles the enemy throws our way.
So, pray constantly, and watch God work.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Texas Ho!
After 23 hours of driving, Shelly, the kids and I finally pulled into Dallas. We are attending the Creative Churches conference at Fellowship Church in Grapevine this week. Should be an exciting time for Shelly and I to spend time learning and praising God with other pastors.
We had a fun drive over and stayed in Las Cruces last night. The kids counted windmills and oil rigs all day, and Trinity (our famous Min Pin) traveled very well. All in all, a great trip so far.
We had a fun drive over and stayed in Las Cruces last night. The kids counted windmills and oil rigs all day, and Trinity (our famous Min Pin) traveled very well. All in all, a great trip so far.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Travel Frenzy
Well, in the last week, I have been to three funerals. Last Saturday, I participated in my Aunt Peggy's service in Dallas. Then, on Wednesday, I was honored to join the Freeman's in remembering Jonathan's grandmother in Corona del Mar. As soon as that service concluded, I went to John Wayne airport and flew to Atlanta to be there with the Palmer's as they celebrated the life of Jim's father.
It has been a long week, but it was a privilege to be there with my brothers in Christ and my own family last week.
Now I will speak tomorrow at Cloudbreak, and then drive to Texas again for the Creative Churches conference at Fellowship Church in Dallas. So, keep my family in your prayers as we continue traveling.
It has been a long week, but it was a privilege to be there with my brothers in Christ and my own family last week.
Now I will speak tomorrow at Cloudbreak, and then drive to Texas again for the Creative Churches conference at Fellowship Church in Dallas. So, keep my family in your prayers as we continue traveling.
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