"Love suffers long, and is kind;
love envys not; love does not push
itself forward, is not puffed up,
Love does not behave itself unseemly, love
seeks not her own, it is not easily provoked, love
thinks no evil;
Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices
in the truth
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."
1 John 4:8 - "He that loves not knows not God,
for God is Love
"God suffers long, and is kind;
God envys not; God does not push
himself forward, is not puffed up,
God does not behave himself unseemly, God
seeks not his own, he is not easily provoked, God
thinks no evil;
God does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices
in the truth
God bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."
"I and my Father are One." - Jesus (John 10:30)
"Jesus suffers long, and is kind;
Jesus envys not; Jesus does not push
himself forward, is not puffed up,
Jesus does not behave himself unseemly, Jesus
seeks not his own, he is not easily provoked, Jesus
thinks no evil;
Jesus does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices
in the truth
Jesus bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."
Romans 8: 29 - From whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren.
Phillippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus
"Brian suffers long, and is kind;
Brian envys not; Brian does not push
himself forward, is not puffed up,
Brian does not behave himself unseemly, Brian
seeks not his own, he is not easily provoked, Brian
thinks no evil;
Brian does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices
in the truth
Brian bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things."
*******************************************
Is this true of myself? More often than not, no!
I have some work to do.
Feel free to enter your name when you read this.
This is a direct correlation and is a a new way I have
never looked at this passage of Scripture before.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Buzz Words
I love buzz words. Well, not love, but I like them a lot. Maybe that is part of the reason I studied Marketing and Advertising in College. Even the real lame and stupid ones. I like some of the real catchy ones too. My wife Michele is always laughing or mocking me at my hypocrisy. My hypocrisy in the fact that I allow pop, mainstream, corporate, etc. culture to enter my life and live it to an extent. You see, I really cannot stand when people let this happen to themselves. Examples of this (and whether or not I have fallen victim) are American Idol (no), Fear Factor (no), MTV (check), People Magazine (no), Donald Trump (check), and Reality TV (no). The list goes on. Feel free to add your own.
Anyway, I digress slightly. The Pastoral leadership at my church has started using some of our own buzz words. These are classic buzz words and the more you think on them the more you have to question yourself and ponder them. Unwrap them and see where they apply to your life.
In no particular order here they are (well they are in some order, you'll see later):
Anyway, I digress slightly. The Pastoral leadership at my church has started using some of our own buzz words. These are classic buzz words and the more you think on them the more you have to question yourself and ponder them. Unwrap them and see where they apply to your life.
In no particular order here they are (well they are in some order, you'll see later):
- Club Church
- Christian Ghetto
- Constipated Christian (introduced this past Sunday into our lexicon)
I really love using these terms in day-to-day conversation with believers and non-believers alike. When I hear them I cannot help but snicker a little bit. I'll break these down for you here a little in hopes that you will start to use them yourself.
1 - Club Church - When the church is more worried about:
- who is allowed in (clientale of the club)
- what you wear (dress code of the club)
- the music that is played (format of the club)
- the Bible translation that is used (the proper language to use in the club)
you have become a club. A location where rules dictate activity and not God and the Holy Spirit.
2 - Christian Ghetto - It's where only Christians hang out and compound each other's problems and fail to get out and experience what God has for them in their life. They know nothing else. Worse, they are pressured by the owners of Club Church (you see, they run and operate the ghetto) to stay there and complain about everything outside of the ghetto and how they always get the raw deal.
3 - Constipated Christian - the Christian who receives God's love and blessings. The power of God has moved them in their lives (the same power that has defeated the grave). They recognize it and know it. Yet, they keep it all to themselves and keep it packed inside themselves. Then they harass and proclaim that people who do not have as much as they have are weak and need a revival. Nevermind that they go against
And no matter what they do, when they do not share this love of God, they fail to realize this is what they are: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
And if they continue it, Jesus has said: Revelation 2: 2 - 5
Buzz words, I really like them. Especially when they are dead center right on.
****************************************************************************************
***Continue to pray for Michele and the missions team in Brazil. As well as there families.
If you are not sure what I am talking about, read my previous post (just below this one).***
Rio Branco, Brazil
Well, Michele departs today for an 11-day adventure as a missionary for the gospel of Jesus to the natives of Rio Branco, Brazil and the Amazon Jungle. Her and 5 others are going on behalf of our church to aid our missionaries (Aaron and Tiffany Epps) already there during the time of Carnival.
Carnival is Mardi Gras all juiced up on drugs and steroids. During this time, the natives from the Amazon come into the city. By law, no one can enter the jungle and spread the gospel. So this time is the only time some of these people will ever hear the name Jesus. It just so happens to coincide with a week of drunken debauchery, spirit worship, occult happenings, and wild and lewd laschivousness.
They will be doing prayer walks and street evangalism (by doing paint talks) as well as children's ministry. They will have one day at the end of the trip to be a "tourist."
Pray for Michele and the other members (Julie Jones, Matt Mathis, Bob Mydlowski, Silas Gray, and Chandra Gray).
Carnival is Mardi Gras all juiced up on drugs and steroids. During this time, the natives from the Amazon come into the city. By law, no one can enter the jungle and spread the gospel. So this time is the only time some of these people will ever hear the name Jesus. It just so happens to coincide with a week of drunken debauchery, spirit worship, occult happenings, and wild and lewd laschivousness.
They will be doing prayer walks and street evangalism (by doing paint talks) as well as children's ministry. They will have one day at the end of the trip to be a "tourist."
Pray for Michele and the other members (Julie Jones, Matt Mathis, Bob Mydlowski, Silas Gray, and Chandra Gray).
- They will be strong and courageous and stand upon the truth and gospel of Christ.
- That God's will would be done in the people that they meet and talk to.
- Safe travels to and from - today alone they leave Detroit for Miami, then to Sao Paolo where they have a 12 hour layover!!! From Sao Paolo to Brasilia and then finally to Rio Branco. Whew!!!! She returns home on March 4th, but the flying starts on the 3rd and isn't quite as bad.
- Pray for all their families too. All involved will feel God's provedintial hand and his protection.
On a personal note, Michele's leap of faith and heed to God's call has been an inspiration to me and caused me to look a lot deeper at myself and the things I do. I am so proud of her and still cannot believe she is the woman God put in my life to marry.
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds...let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10: 23 - 25).
Thursday, February 16, 2006
When I Look at the World
When you look at the world
What is it that you see
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees
I see an expression
So clear and so true
That changes the atmosphere
When you walk into the room
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
When the night is someone elses
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep
When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now, do you
Or even look away
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
I can't wait any longer
I can't wait till I'm stronger
I can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world
I'm in the waiting toom
Can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
While the rest of us choke
Tell me, tell me, what do you see
Tell me, tell me, what's wrong with me
- U2 "When I Look at the World"
**************************************
Brother Bono
What is it that you see
People find all kinds of things
That bring them to their knees
I see an expression
So clear and so true
That changes the atmosphere
When you walk into the room
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
When the night is someone elses
And you're trying to get some sleep
When your thoughts are too expensive
To ever want to keep
When there's all kinds of chaos
And everyone is walking lame
You don't even blink now, do you
Or even look away
So I try to be like you
Try to feel it like you do
But without you it's no use
I can't see what you see
When I look at the world
I can't wait any longer
I can't wait till I'm stronger
I can't wait any longer
To see what you see
When I look at the world
I'm in the waiting toom
Can't see for the smoke
I think of you and your holy book
While the rest of us choke
Tell me, tell me, what do you see
Tell me, tell me, what's wrong with me
- U2 "When I Look at the World"
**************************************
Brother Bono
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Do You See Your Calling?
. . separated to the gospel of God. . .
—Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.
Paul did not say that he separated himself, but "when it pleased God, who separated me . . ." ( Galatians 1:15 ). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. "Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3 ).
-Oswald Chambers - "My Utmost for His Highest" (January 31)
—Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.
Paul did not say that he separated himself, but "when it pleased God, who separated me . . ." ( Galatians 1:15 ). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. "Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes." To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose— to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3 ).
-Oswald Chambers - "My Utmost for His Highest" (January 31)
Friday, January 27, 2006
We are all doomed, start running to your Y2K bunker now!!!!
Ok, the title exaggerates....only slightly. Why do political parties feel the need to make everything sound like it is the end of the world and all civiliazation if something happens that goes against their ideological belief?
http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=703
http://www.jesuscreed.org/?p=703
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Wonder - RESURRECTION WONDER
It is a wonder that is unfathomable. Resurrection wonder. It is a wonder of the power over the grave: "O' death where is thy sting!" The power that has been given to all born-again Christians, resurrection power. This power over death brings utter and total wonder. This same resurrection wonder should captivate all elements of my life. Stop and look around at all of God's creation with resurrection wonder. Resurrection wonder (and our faith in it) allow us eternal life. Eternity is near impossible to understand (if not completely). The totality of this amazing, phenomenonal, wonder is gripping. I've grasped this and it makes me shudder, resurrection wonder shakes me to my bones.
Resurrection wonder - how can I look at anything the same again?
Resurrection wonder - awe...in all of God's creation.
I canot stop to smell the roses or the coffee. I do not stop to notice the small things. Instead, I stop to look around, with resurrection wonder, at the Master's Creation.
Take it all in - there will be no more mundane, no more boring.
RESURRECTION WONDER!!!!
Resurrection wonder - how can I look at anything the same again?
Resurrection wonder - awe...in all of God's creation.
I canot stop to smell the roses or the coffee. I do not stop to notice the small things. Instead, I stop to look around, with resurrection wonder, at the Master's Creation.
Take it all in - there will be no more mundane, no more boring.
RESURRECTION WONDER!!!!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Amen!
Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Personal Reflection: Resolution?
I guess this qualifies as one, but it is kind of coincidence. A day or two after the new year, I was walking around the local Christian bookstore in my community trying to find one specific item and just perusing everything else. I came across the "Sale Bin" where everything in the bin was drastically reduced in price. Right there on the top was the world famous Oswald Chambers' 'My Utmost for His Highest' for $3 (maybe $4, that whole $2.99, $3.95 pricing strategy gets me sometimes). My eyebrows raised and I grabbed it. I mean for $3 I am getting a world's bestseller! Anyway, I finshed my wandering of the aisles, paid for my couple items and walked out of the store. As I drove home I decided that for 2006 I would use this book as my daily devotional. I have never read any part of the book (as far as I can remember) and had heard many people talk about it. So when I got home, I promptly read the 3 or 4 days I needed to catch up on.
A week or so later, I am reading it everyday, I also have made sure to read each Bible entry that Chambers used for his text that day and in his exposition of that text. I read this (takes maybe 5 minutes to do all the reading), mull it over in my mind for a couple more and then I just say a simple prayer in regards to the "lesson." I also do this same thing at lunch time as a refresher to myself, also as a checkup to see how I did or have done so far.
I am very happy with this. I am no where even close to a morning person. My wife "harasses" me alot over the fact that I hit snooze on my alarm clock more than once every morning. I wake up with about 10 minutes to get ready every morning. So that early morning devotional was rarely happening. This new method allows me to do it at work at my desk and takes maybe 10 minutes. Additionally, a co-worker spotted me doing this and asked. This allowed me the chance to be a witness to them. Open the door or plant an initial seed.
This is one resolution that I am going to keep.
A week or so later, I am reading it everyday, I also have made sure to read each Bible entry that Chambers used for his text that day and in his exposition of that text. I read this (takes maybe 5 minutes to do all the reading), mull it over in my mind for a couple more and then I just say a simple prayer in regards to the "lesson." I also do this same thing at lunch time as a refresher to myself, also as a checkup to see how I did or have done so far.
I am very happy with this. I am no where even close to a morning person. My wife "harasses" me alot over the fact that I hit snooze on my alarm clock more than once every morning. I wake up with about 10 minutes to get ready every morning. So that early morning devotional was rarely happening. This new method allows me to do it at work at my desk and takes maybe 10 minutes. Additionally, a co-worker spotted me doing this and asked. This allowed me the chance to be a witness to them. Open the door or plant an initial seed.
This is one resolution that I am going to keep.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
The Life Group Experience
Dear Pastor Jeff,
Our Life Group experience has exceeded
all of our expectations! With open Bibles,
open hearts, and open minds we study the
Word and apply it to our daily lives. Be led
by the Spirit and share with each other the
joys of growth in our Christian lives and seek
help during difficult times. The weekly
fellowship also allows us the opportunity
to share our own individual experiences.
Weekly, through the sharing of our personal
lives, we all rejoice together, pray together,
laugh together, support each other, and
continually challenge and grow together.
The uniqueness of each individual, the
intimate setting, and the open culture have
truly benefited us all and helped us all grow
in our Christian life. Michele and I look
forward to Wednesday nights every week.
The blessings we receive from everyone
that has shared our home are too many for
us to count (honestly). The only thing that
could surpass our blessings is the group wide
eagerness and excitement that surrounds our
Life Group and praise be to God -
IT CONTINUES TO GROW!!
***************************************************************************
The Life Group concept that Friendship Baptist Church embarked up on in September of 2005 has been a truly unique experience and a Godsend. The usual Wednesday night church service has been replaced by "Life Groups" meeting in the same home, every Wednesday night, to read, study, and apply the word. To pray and sing together and share in the joy that is life and a Life in Christ.
The Life Groups are spread out through the Lincoln Park, Allen Park, Trenton, Grosse Ile, and Brownstown communities. 6 for adults and 4 for youth. Thankfully, Michele and I were asked by the church leaders to host an adult Life Group in our home. Somewhere between 8 - 15 of us gather around our dining room table and over a couple pots of coffee have a church service. I cannot help but sometimes think we are being just like the early church (like the book of Acts church). Except we are not in hiding, with windows closed and shades drawn and lights out. We may not have a Paul or Peter or Silas or Barnabas teaching us but we have open dialogue and study over God's word.
One day, God willing, the Life Group will grow too large to fit in our home and we will spin off a 2nd location. Then this location will spin off another (we'll spin off a 2nd one), and they'll spin off more, and on and on it goes. This is the "goal" or idea surrounding the Life Groups. Spread throughout the downriver community and slowly work individuals who normally do not do the "church thing" and bring more people to Christ.
The letter that kicked off this post is a letter to my Pastor in response to him asking about the experience Michele and I have had with Life Group. I would be very shocked if anyone felt opposite of the feelings conveyed in the letter. It is truly an idea many churches should attempt in one way or another.
The Life Groups are spread out through the Lincoln Park, Allen Park, Trenton, Grosse Ile, and Brownstown communities. 6 for adults and 4 for youth. Thankfully, Michele and I were asked by the church leaders to host an adult Life Group in our home. Somewhere between 8 - 15 of us gather around our dining room table and over a couple pots of coffee have a church service. I cannot help but sometimes think we are being just like the early church (like the book of Acts church). Except we are not in hiding, with windows closed and shades drawn and lights out. We may not have a Paul or Peter or Silas or Barnabas teaching us but we have open dialogue and study over God's word.
One day, God willing, the Life Group will grow too large to fit in our home and we will spin off a 2nd location. Then this location will spin off another (we'll spin off a 2nd one), and they'll spin off more, and on and on it goes. This is the "goal" or idea surrounding the Life Groups. Spread throughout the downriver community and slowly work individuals who normally do not do the "church thing" and bring more people to Christ.
The letter that kicked off this post is a letter to my Pastor in response to him asking about the experience Michele and I have had with Life Group. I would be very shocked if anyone felt opposite of the feelings conveyed in the letter. It is truly an idea many churches should attempt in one way or another.
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