“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matt 6:25-27
How much time do you spend on homework?
How much time do you spend working?
How much time do you spend on facebook?
How many movie quotes can you recite?
How many TVs do you have?
How many clothes do you have?
How many girls are you dating?
Do you have enough THINGS?
When is the last time you were alone on purpose?
When is the last time you sat in silence?
When is the last time you cried?
When is the last time you asked a friend for help?
When is the last time you
took
a...
deep...
.....
breath?
"Why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matt 6:28-34
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
WORTHY CONVERSATION
Christians often don’t talk about things that Christians should talk about. Yes, we are to be “in the world, not of the world,” but I believe that that for the most part, our conversations are no different from atheists or agnostics.
Beau Hughes, the Denton Campus pastor of The Village Church mentioned this past Sunday that all we ever talk about is news; that every conversation is a news update in some fashion... which is why I used last post to talk about “what is good news?” Unfortunately, i got a bit side-tracked.
My vision for this blog is to mobilize Christians with topical conversation that can be practically applied to a broad range of relationships. I believe that to wake up the Church (capitol C), Christians have to get fired up about something; but when left to our own devices, the flesh will pull the eager sails of our faiths to the islands of self gratification and shallow existence. For this reason, it is crucial that we unite as the Body of Christ, and sail on together, well versed and studied on topics that influence our faith and the eternity of the world. Therefore, it is my will (and I believe God’s will too) that we begin to see our purpose as being in the world IN ORDER TO point people to the Savior.
May the news posted on this blog start more influential conversations among us, and may it begin to change our paradigm of what we see as important.
To start with, kick around the ideas of Aaron Weiss.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.“
Philippians 4:11-16
Beau Hughes, the Denton Campus pastor of The Village Church mentioned this past Sunday that all we ever talk about is news; that every conversation is a news update in some fashion... which is why I used last post to talk about “what is good news?” Unfortunately, i got a bit side-tracked.
My vision for this blog is to mobilize Christians with topical conversation that can be practically applied to a broad range of relationships. I believe that to wake up the Church (capitol C), Christians have to get fired up about something; but when left to our own devices, the flesh will pull the eager sails of our faiths to the islands of self gratification and shallow existence. For this reason, it is crucial that we unite as the Body of Christ, and sail on together, well versed and studied on topics that influence our faith and the eternity of the world. Therefore, it is my will (and I believe God’s will too) that we begin to see our purpose as being in the world IN ORDER TO point people to the Savior.
May the news posted on this blog start more influential conversations among us, and may it begin to change our paradigm of what we see as important.
To start with, kick around the ideas of Aaron Weiss.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.“
Philippians 4:11-16
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
EXTRA EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
Of all the things we talk about, why don’t we talk more about good news? You can assume you know what I mean, but what if our entire perception of good news (and the gospel) is a bit off-kilter?
What I mean is this: most of us Bible-belt-Sunday-school-raised-in-the-church “Christians” have a pretty accurate portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin, grew up and did miracles, claimed to be the Son of God, died for the sins of the world, raised from the dead, and went up to heaven. The problem is that most of us think that is the good news in itself. We’ve over-commercialized John 3:16 and reduced it to a simple application of fire insurance accessed by the repeating of a designated prayer.
This is not the good news Jesus testifies about, and I wonder if it is also the source of so many sleeping “Christians.”
Yes, it is stunningly beautiful news to know that God became flesh and died for us, but what does the resurrection entail, and what did He mean when He said “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full?" For hundreds of years we’ve searched for fulfillment in things that have proven to be meaningless. Even Solomon, who had more money, more sex, more alcohol, more things, etc declares that “everything is meaningless.”
So what are we doing?
What are we counting as gain? What will that thing I'm obsessing over really bring me? Solomon had more things than I’ll ever have, and he says “everything is meaningless.” So surely no thing can be counted as gain. What about her? Will she really satisfy? And I’m not raising the question about lust, just the simple obsession with finding a spouse. Solomon said that even his 300 wives and 700 mistresses were “meaningless,” and Paul said it was good for the single “to stay unmarried.” What about comfort? Why is it that in the comfort of our friend groups we all too often find ourselves stagnant? And why do we often loose what the Lord has put on our hearts because it would just be uncomfortable to bring it up- especially among our “Christian” friends.
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Phil 3:7-8
This verse is not necessarily saying that you have to be homeless to follow Christ, but it is saying that when you truly follow Christ, nothing else will matter. This is life lived to fullness- To be joyful when you have money and when you don’t. To be satisfied when you’re on a mountaintop or in the desert- because God Himself is consistent and His grace is sufficient. This is ultimate freedom! This is news worthy! This is truly good news!
This is what I want my life to look like, and this blog will notate my journey to decrease and let the Lord increase. I hope it will encourage you.
What I mean is this: most of us Bible-belt-Sunday-school-raised-in-the-church “Christians” have a pretty accurate portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin, grew up and did miracles, claimed to be the Son of God, died for the sins of the world, raised from the dead, and went up to heaven. The problem is that most of us think that is the good news in itself. We’ve over-commercialized John 3:16 and reduced it to a simple application of fire insurance accessed by the repeating of a designated prayer.
This is not the good news Jesus testifies about, and I wonder if it is also the source of so many sleeping “Christians.”
Yes, it is stunningly beautiful news to know that God became flesh and died for us, but what does the resurrection entail, and what did He mean when He said “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full?" For hundreds of years we’ve searched for fulfillment in things that have proven to be meaningless. Even Solomon, who had more money, more sex, more alcohol, more things, etc declares that “everything is meaningless.”
So what are we doing?
What are we counting as gain? What will that thing I'm obsessing over really bring me? Solomon had more things than I’ll ever have, and he says “everything is meaningless.” So surely no thing can be counted as gain. What about her? Will she really satisfy? And I’m not raising the question about lust, just the simple obsession with finding a spouse. Solomon said that even his 300 wives and 700 mistresses were “meaningless,” and Paul said it was good for the single “to stay unmarried.” What about comfort? Why is it that in the comfort of our friend groups we all too often find ourselves stagnant? And why do we often loose what the Lord has put on our hearts because it would just be uncomfortable to bring it up- especially among our “Christian” friends.
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”
Phil 3:7-8
This verse is not necessarily saying that you have to be homeless to follow Christ, but it is saying that when you truly follow Christ, nothing else will matter. This is life lived to fullness- To be joyful when you have money and when you don’t. To be satisfied when you’re on a mountaintop or in the desert- because God Himself is consistent and His grace is sufficient. This is ultimate freedom! This is news worthy! This is truly good news!
This is what I want my life to look like, and this blog will notate my journey to decrease and let the Lord increase. I hope it will encourage you.
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