those days

It's been one of those days. One where everything that could have gone wrong did and then some. You just don't feel like breathing anymore and you don't want anything to do with anybody, even Jesus. We all have them, we sulk around and cuss at everything. It's these days that tend to make us feel alone and neglected by God. We worry about everything in our lives and try to seize control of them. Then when we do seize control, we royally screw everything up because of our depravity. There are no wise words that I have for these kind of days, but Jesus, who is Lord of all things, does. Just listen:
"And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil or spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."
-Luke 12:22-31

I think Jesus' words are enough.

giving credit where credit is due

For those who actually read this blog, it is important to me that you realize that most of these posts are discussion of topics that I did not pioneer or pretend to know anything about. These are all extensions of my own thoughts about what I read or listen to. If I do discuss my own ideas it will be noted. It is also important to know that all of the men in which I discuss are all of up most character and knowledge. For example, in the previous post I discuss a sermon by Mark Driscoll. I can trust what I heard because he read about 60 books on the subject and was well educated about the crucifixion. I will make sure and post the author and/or pastor and the work from which I hear these great thoughts. I love you and thank you all for your support in reading!

the importance of the cross

is when Holy God took not only the punishment of death for our sins, but also took the shame, guilt and defilement that comes hand in hand with sin. The cross not only had to be a murder, but also had to be one of the most shameful ones ever committed for this process to work. So, for a pastor to be able to speak of the crucifixion and smile prompts me to ask if he really knows how brutal the cross was. However, this view of the Cross is under attack by modern scholars and even some so called Christians. They believe that the cross was too bloody and violent, therefore it can't be of a loving God. If we see the true meaning behind the cross however, propitiation and Have you ever seen a preacher stand in front of the congregation and say, "Jesus died for your sins." Then smile? I recently listened to a Mark Driscoll sermon which changed my view on this subject. Don't freak out on me just yet! I still very much believe that Christ went to the cross for our sins, what bothers me is the preacher being so nonchalant about it. In his sermon entitled "Death by Love," Mark talked about how we have lost the shame of the cross in cultural context. He gave a detailed explanation of how shameful a crucifixion was. When a man was crucified he died of asphyxiation. The weight of the men's bodies would cause their lungs to eventually stop functioning after being beaten and bleeding for days. They would build a small seat under the butt of the man to keep him alive as long as possible so that he would suffer the maximum amount of time. Men then began to slump off their seat so they would die faster. So to combat this, they would nail the man's penis to the cross because they were crucified naked. This was all done in the most public place they could find, the market. Our equivalent would be in front of the main entrances to the local shopping mall. Sometimes it would take days for the men to finally die. In the mean time, bums and other low lives would sit at the bottom of their cross mocking and throwing things at the men. The pain often became so unbearable that the men would be come incontinent, and crap all over themselves and their cross. When you finally died they would just throw your body in a burn pile or dump. The reason that all of this must be discussed is because as an evangelical culture we all understand propitiation, or the forgiveness of our sins, but tend to ignore expeation. Expeation is the act of taking the shame and guilt that comes hand in hand with sin. Jesus not only took our punishment for sin, but also cleansed us from the guilt and defilement that comes with it. This view of the cross is being attacked in our culture today because some believe that it is too violent and bloody to be from a loving God. If taken in context however, the crucifixion was the greatest example of love that we have on the earth today. Now, I wish that God had done things in a way that weren't so bloody or gross. However, in Romans 11:33-36 Paul asks who can question these things, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?' 'Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?' For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen." We may not understand why God chose a bloody cross, but the fact remains that he did. Galatians 5:11 calls the cross offensive! God himself knew that it was gross, but it was his plan. Therefore, we should not question the crucifixion, but embrace and love it. God forgave us and cleansed us with the cross, do not take away from it's real, brutal, beautifully offensive reality! Preach it hard and long!

thanks to friends and family

I just wanted to take a few minutes and thank my family for all they have done for me. I know that they have made many sacrifices for me. I just want them to know how much I love and care for them! You are in my prayers!!

tatoos and nose rings for jesus?

The past week I went to Winter Park, Colorado for some skiing in the beautiful Colorado Rockies. It was a great week of relaxation and time spent with the Lord. On the way home I had 14 hours of free time so I decided to listen to the May 2006 Reform and Resurgence Conference audio podcast. The link for the audio podcast is at www.theresurgence.com. I highly recommend listening to these great men as they talk about how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ in today's culture. My favorite sessions were with Dr. Ed Stetzer as he shared the importance of being relevant and a part of the culture. There are many people who advocate the complete separation of the church and the culture. They believe in creating their own little evangelical subculture where Micheal W. Smith sings the children to sleep, and Billy Graham is the elementary school principal. This is extremely dangerous and not in accordance with scriptures. If we completely withdraw ourselves from the culture, we don't know how to present the gospel in a way in which the culture will respond. The gospel is unchanging and remains the same, but the way it is presented must change with the culture. The apostle Paul is a great example for us in Acts 17:16-34. Paul is proclaiming the gospel to the Jews in the synagogues when some Athenian philosophers question him and bring him in front of the Areopagus. The Areopagus was a council of highly trained thinkers and reasoners that did nothing but hear and decipher different thoughts and beliefs. After being questioned about what he was teaching he addresses the court by using their culture, for example v. 22 says "So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. v. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you." Paul immediately started with what they believed. He carefully observed the Athenian culture and engaged it. He continues in v. 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, v.25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Here he addresses their belief that their gods are just like humans and they need material goods. There were many altars around the city to different gods in which they would bring food and clothing daily. Paul uses their culture, but boldly points out where they are wrong. This is what we are called to do in our culture. Be relevant by using the same music and thinking styles that the culture uses, but bring them the offensive, unchanging gospel. Paul does this boldly. Verse 23b can also be translated "For what you worship in ignorance, I now proclaim to you." We must be as bold as Paul was, and it must be out of love. However, not all things in culture are bad, for example, in verse 28 he quotes their poets. It is acceptable for the church to adopt good cultural items into the church, as long as they proclaim the truth. This example from scripture proves that Paul used the culture to proclaim the gospel in ways that were most relevant to it. It is important that we become relevant to today's culture in North America. However, it is more important that we stay true to the gospel and Christ's commands. There are too many churches who have become so relevant, that they have become part of the culture and share in it's sin. It is important that we safeguard ourselves with an extreme love for Christ and his Kingdom. Constant prayer, study of God's word, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit is essential in this fight.