Tuesday Thoughts

Here’s more of what’s in my mind today:

1) I think I got fed up with 24 last night.  I’m not sure I want to watch anymore.  It bores me to tears most nights, seems like it’s just trying to fill time and is a waste of an hour.

2) I can’t imagine being the disciples and feeling all of the feelings they must have felt in Matthew 17.  But I know what it’s like because some ministry days feel like this:  awe/wonder, pride shattered, fear, failure, faithless, grief, frustration with religion – to name a few.  The good news is that they talked to Jesus about it when they felt this way. So should we – don’t let emotions lord over you.  Let the Lord be lord over you.

3) Students at school have been really crazy lately.  Teachers are stressed and students are stir-crazy.  I’ve been feeling it myself as well.  I really need to step up my prayer life – b/c I just might hurt someone if I don’t.

4) Did I mention I WANT A SNOW DAY TOMORROW?!

5) A lot of our people were sick on Sunday when our bus team at church called them.  We missed them, but still had a great service with those who were there.

6) Here’s to some of my hero pastors in the faith right now – Psalm 16:3 – Pastor Chilly, Netta, Tim Dilena, Noah Kaye, Brad Leach, Rick Warren, Ed Young, Jeanne Mayo, Mark Batterson, Jeff Leake, Ben Arment, and I’m sure there’s many more.  Are there others who would be on your list?

Monday Mania.

I’m interested in who reads this blog – b/c I see a certain amount of hits, but don’t have a name to associate with it.  So if you comment today and let me know your name and where you’re from – I’ll randomly choose someone from the list and give you a brand new storybook called “The Greatest Stories of the Bible” – postage on me.  It’s in NKJV – so if that’s not your thing – that’s fine.  But I think it would be cool for families to read together and enjoy.  So comment away!

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Now, just some other thoughts on my mind…

1.  I love REAL Church!  I especially love our church in Hamtown.  It seems that so many people are stepping up and doing what God has called them to do.  I love being the campus pastor in Hamtramck.

2.  The team at RC Hamtown is incredible too!  They are doing an amazing job of stepping up, serving, and leading people to Jesus.  I’m grateful for the lady team members: Jess, Erika, Erin, Sarah, Crystal, Genea, and Ruth.  And for the men team members: Anthony, Chris, Dan, Steve K., and Adam.

3.  Those people who have been serving so selflessly and loving people here in Hamtown also include:  Andre, Chrissy, Ross, Bonnie, Mark D., Ilene, the many amazing teens of REPO like Lakeya, Shekila, Paco, Antuan, Lorene, Drew, Justina, Brenette, Jubilee and many others.  If I forgot your name – know that I still so greatly appreciate you and that Jesus sees you and knows that what you do is important.

OK, WELL THOSE FIRST THREE WERE ABOUT MY CHURCH – BUT I’M SURROUNDED BY CHAMPIONS.  HOW COULD I NOT BE EXCITED AND THANKFUL?

4.  The Saints won!  And by the exact amount Tony Dungy said they would lose by – that makes me happy.

5.  Last week I read through the entire book of Psalms – it was an amazing experience – and one that I’m still digesting and journaling as I get the opportunity. God’s Word is SO much better than even the latest Christian living book – and SO much more relevant!

6.  I WANT A SNOW DAY WEDNESDAY!  There, I said it.

7.  We have a group from our church going to minister at Mardi Gras next week.  It should be crazy – considering the Saints won the Super Bowl!  Pray for them as they go.

8.  It’s my dad’s birthday tomorrow (Tuesday).  He’s taught me so much in my life – I’m so grateful for his influence and love.  He has helped to change so many lives because of His belief in the Bible and love for God.

That’s it I think for today – don’t forget to comment if you want the Greatest Stories book.

The Voice of Psalms Review

“Why can’t I just hope in God?”  Psalm 42:11, The Voice

The Voice of Psalms is the entire book of Psalms in the Voice Project Translation.  It has a Psalms reading plan in the front.  Explanatory notes in the passage.  One of the coolest parts of the Voice are the italicized words which would have been understood or implied by original readers.  When I first read the Voice I wasn’t a fan of them – but I’m starting to appreciate their placement in the book.  There are also 75 small devotions scattered throughout these 150 Psalms.

I decided that I would read the Voice of Psalms in one week – and it has been an awesome experience.  The typeface rarely got hard to look at (except when I had read tons of chapters in one sitting).  It is easy to read, easy to understand, and helped along with commentaries that show the believer how to apply it to their own life.  The Bible seems to have a good binding and it’s fun to carry.  I’ve had people ask me about it – as I carried it around because it looks like any novel.  Through that I was able to share about God in those conversations.   So cool!

I think David (the author of many of the Psalms) gets the true 5 stars.  But the authors and publishers of this book should get at least 4.5 for the great presentation and commentary on these amazing prayers and stories of God’s faithfulness.  I highly recommend picking up a copy for yourself or someone you love.

What Do You Have in Mind?

John 6:5,6 – “Turning to Philip, he asked, ‘Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?’ 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.”

What was the test?  Jesus knows these guys are poor, they know they’re poor. The test really is to look beyond problem solving to expecting Jesus to perform a miracle.

You can’t buy miracles.

I wonder if Jesus just wanted Philip to say, “What do you have in mind, Jesus?”  What Jesus has in mind – is so much better than what we could pay for or even pray for in our own thoughts.  There’s some solutions we might turn to in times like these that he doesn’t want us to turn to…

• Pray for things from the past to happen again – “Give me that old time religion, Lord”.  Maybe Philip goes, “Let’s pray for manna and see what happens.”  But maybe God just wants to work in a new way.
• Pay for tons of bread with a loan – Philip could have gone to Jersualem Bank and gotten out a loan to buy food for all the people.  Just because it costs you a lot, doesn’t mean it’s what God is calling you to do.  Remember, he owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  Sometimes even ministers go into debt to keep doing the work of God – instead of believing him for a miracle (take it from someone who did that and is working his way out now).  But once again – that’s just buying bread for one day – it won’t last long.  But following the Bread of Life, Jesus, will change lives forever.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND, JESUS?

I’ve found when I say that to Jesus – his solution is much cooler, it blows my mind, and it leads people to know the Lord!

More than What I Have

Luke 9:13 – “We only have 5 loaves and 2 fish”.  “Are you expecting us to go and buy enough food?”  This is why they say, “Impossible!”

The disciples at the feeding of the 5,000 are only seeing their resources and their solutions.  But Jesus saw the PEOPLE and His POWER.

Too often I can approach ministry from the perspective of what I have (or don’t have), instead of what people need and what Jesus wants to give.  Miracles can be found in the frustration of resources or the lack of solutions.  Then the trust can be in Jesus instead of our resourcefulness.

All resource comes from THE Source.  – We need to reach His people with His power, by His plan.  Then the miracles happen!

True Blue Storms

Read Matthew 14:22-33 on your own.  Then here are a few of my observations on this passage as I studied it:

• Don’t trust my sight from the boat (v.26).  In storms we don’t see Jesus clearly from the boat we’re comfortable in.  BUT, we can HEAR him clearly (v.27).  The best way we do that is in His Word.  We can hear him clearly even when we can’t see him clearly in our lives.
• Have the guts to want to see Jesus clearly in the storms (v.28).  Say to Him, “If you’re out there in the middle of this storm, I want to know how to walk on it!”
• How easily my faith is shaken in storms is an accurate measure of my faith in Jesus at that point (v.30,31).  Jesus says to him “What little faith you have.  Why did you doubt ME?”
• The whole purpose of the storm is to hear Jesus and see Him in a new way (v.32,33).  Notice that the storm dies down when they get back in the boat together (note: storms don’t last forever – thankfully).  And then from this experience they all declare Jesus as the Son of God.

I don’t look forward to storms.  However, I do desire to do my best to hear and see Jesus in a new way the next time that one comes.

The Need for Seed

Matthew 13:1-23 tells the story of a really careless farmer – or so I think.  He scatters his seed across the field – and like 3 out of the 4 places the seed dies or is snatched away.  That sounds really inefficient and a bad waste of resources.  But I think Jesus might be trying to teach me something here…

WE NEED TO BE GENEROUS SOWERS.

Just because we come along rocky soil people – doesn’t mean we should shy away from telling them about Jesus or planting seeds of God’s faithfulness in their mind and heart.  Just because someone accepted it at one time and withered in hard times doesn’t mean that we should have avoided sharing the Good News in the first place.

Plus, the person who the seed grows in and gains roots produces a harvest much more than we planted (30, 60, or even 100 times more).

WE GET BACK MORE THAN WE SOW, SO WE SHOULD SOW GENEROUSLY!

Don’t be efficient, be obedient!  Trust Christ for results, and let him trust you for willingness to scatter seed (1 Peter 3:15).

At Almost, Give ALL – not most

Luke 5:11 – “As soon as they landed, they left EVERYTHING and followed Jesus.”

These guys had just caught probably one of the biggest catches of fish in their life, and as soon as they land – they leave it all on the shore and follow Jesus. That was probably lots of money that they left on the shore as they went to follow Jesus.

Things that used to be important to us like money, our way, and occupation begin to dim in the light of being a disciple of Christ.  You need to lay down everything to follow Jesus!  These guys were told they would fish for people from now on.  Maybe God will call you to pick the fishing net back up to support your ministry as a disciple of Christ.  Or maybe He’s calling you to leave the fishing net on the shore and follow Him in trust!

When you’re at the point of ALMOST – GIVE ALL, and not MOST.

WHAT’S YOUR NET?  WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEAVE ON THE SHORE TO FOLLOW JESUS?

The Voice Review

“A Scripture Project to Rediscover the Story of the Bible”

I love God’s Word.  I love Bibles that open my dulled imagination back into engaging the Scriptures with an open heart and a curious mind.  I believe that the Ecclesia Bible Society and Thomas Nelson have done an awesome job of making a new, fresh Bible.

The cover is very modern with ancient design patterns on it.  The font inside is very easy on the eyes, and a good size.  One of the really cool features of this Bible is that in certain areas where there is dialogue – they put dramatic notations showing you who is speaking (ie.  Jesus:  “I am the Way…”).  This adds more of the story aspect to it – realizing who is really in the picture of a passage.

Another thing that I appreciate is how interspersed throughout the Scripture are little boxes that explain more in-depth the background about a passage.  It tells you what the people of that time may have been thinking about something – or what we should be seeing in this passage.  They also add some words in italics throughout the Scripture that, though not in the dynamic translation, would have been something that its original hearers would have assumed.

Now, here’s what I don’t like about it.  I feel like sometimes there is some real liberty taken in the way that they translate the Scriptures – or even add in italicized words.  Maybe I’m just more conservative with the way that I like the Bible – but that’s how I felt as I read it.  Also, the book introductions aren’t really appealing, like in some Bibles.

However, overall – if you’re looking for a new read in the Scriptures – this is definitely a Bible you want to pick up.  It will give you fresh perspective.  God’s Word is always good as Jesus is lifted up and his truth can set people free!

No More Cavities!

Today I went to the dentist for the first of my visits to get fillings in my cavities.  Besides the crazy large needles and painful pinches that come with novocaine – I began to feel the drill on one of my teeth despite the numbing.  OUCH!  I said to myself – “I don’t ever want cavities again!”

As I thought about it – I feel that way about life with God.  I don’t want cavities (growth of sin in me).  But the truth is, sometimes we have it.  How do we get “cavities”?  James 1:13-15 tells us…

1.  Our DESIRES (v.14) – If I didn’t desire candy and pop so much, I’d be in a different boat today.  But also if I had chosen the right desires of flossing and brushing my teeth more throughout the day.  Desires develop a lot of times in our laziness and just choosing “not so bad” things instead of God-desires.

2.  Our DECISIONS (v.15a) – I developed a bad no-floss habit.  I avoided checkups with the dentist for long periods of time (like our prayer time a lot).   Decisions are reflections of our directed desires coming to the surface.

3.  Our DEATH (v.15b) – Soon those desires and decisions were seen clearly by others (not just the Dentist) – by the cavities in my mouth.  Death is the revelation of decisions fueled by evil desires.

But our dentist has a good care plan.  For cavities, He gives us Christ.  He promises forgiveness and a fresh cleaning (1 John 1:9) if we’ll admit our mouth is in bad shape (or whatever sin it is).

They drilled through his arms with nails, so he could drill through our sin and give us a clean (right) relationship with God.  I’m trusting the Good Dentist tonight!