Everything....

Have you ever wondered what good this religion thing does for us? I mean, there are plenty of people, who do not claim to be Christians, that live a great life.

When asked what Jesus though was the most important commandment, He surprised the traditionalists who were asking....."love Your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself."

See, the pharisee's, who were doing the asking, were a group of guys who were quite conceited in their religion. They prayed the loudest, where the most people could hear them, the made sure everybody knew how "Holy" they were, and they had based their entire religious foundation on rules and regulations. Jesus was telling us that this whole thing should be based on relationship.

The thing about this commandment He gave us was the way He said it. Jesus was not talking about loving God, but being "in love" with God. Love Him with everything!! Love your neighbor with everything.

The reason it is easy for us to settle for a limp religion is because it's easy. We go to church, pay tithe, sing the songs they put on the screen, and smile. But there is something out there that is so much more beautiful than that. There is something out there that is so much more powerful than that. If we could give everything we are to love this God who so much deserves it, and if we could dedicate ourselves to loving those around us, we would experience a life that we did not even imagine was possible.

Ask yourself the question today: Am I giving everything? Do I have a loving relationship with God and those around me, or have I only scratched the service?

The answer is the beginning of a beautiful thing.....let's follow it, and see where it takes us.

Spiritual Schizophrenic

So, exactly what is it that brought us here? We walk into each day so willing to except any and all of “the latest news breaks” as gospel, but when it comes to the Gospel, we…somehow check out.

There are so many instructions and insights in scripture – to guide our lives – and yet we are as medicated a society as has ever been. We need direction, it is there, but we don’t take it. As we tell people, we serve an all powerful God who can divide rivers, walk on water, and heal the blind, but we freak out when we cut it close on the bills, or come down with a common cold. Does that not make you wonder if you really believe God is all powerful? Do you wonder why those who are not serving God question Him when this is what we show them?

While we could be living in a reality of beauty, grace, love, and glorious eternity, we choose to hold ourselves to the reality that’s presented in the latest “reality” series, evening news, or even in our homes. There is a reality that is beyond any of that. There is a God who cares, and there is a God who is more than capable of dealing with whatever reality He chooses to in whatever way He see’s is right.

I’m not talking about neglecting the world that is at our front door. God has given us very clear instructions about how we are to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” and we cannot very well do that if we are totally unaware of the current condition. But we need to be careful about who’s reality we are subscribing to..

Romans says, “for they that are after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit, but they that are after the flesh, the things of the flesh.” Perhaps we are caught up in this reality of the world because we have committed ourselves to “the flesh.” Maybe survival in this world has become more a priority than fulfilling our Spiritual call; the very thing we were created for.

This is not something new. Jesus was constantly having to remind the disciples that His messages and parables were Spiritual narratives, not sociological ones. At one point, Jesus even points directly to the fact that people will see and hear, but not grasp what is going on……I believe that is where we are today.

The Church unfortunately is not exempt. We believe that we are all set if we go to church consistently, pay our tithe, and come close to singing on pitch while the cheerleader – sorry, I meant Worship Leader – is pressing us ever closer to the presence of God. How is that different than what the Pharisee’s were except for the part where they new the scripture from beginning to end?

There are 2 distinct realities that are present in our lives, and we must choose which of those is going to drive our passions, motivations, and ultimately, our decisions. There is a beautiful world all around just waiting for us to step in. It will be painful, because as the Spirit lives, part of us dies. But we need to ask ourselves the question….is it worth it?

Are we ready to grasp everything that God has for us? The church needs a revival. A “getting back to basics” where we realize that love of God, and love of others is our 1 true reality; a place where our worship is passionate, our prayer is intimate and honest, and our lives are lived out with humility.

That, after all was the life of Jesus……

Not If? But What?

At times, we all question our ability, or at least the ability of "others", of being touched. When I say "touched", I am talking about that place that we find inspiration, strength, and hope. That place where we are reminded that life is not always about what "is", but is a journey full of posibilities; things that could be.

It is so important for us to find reminders of this. At times that we are facing difficulty and maybe even complacency, to be reminded that life is beautiful and full of wonder, and we are here to share that beauty and wonder [which comes from God] with those around us.

So, I don't believe the question is whether or not we can be inspired, moved, or touched in a very real way, but moreso what it is that inspires, moves or touches. It's different for all of us, but it is there all the same.

Awesome Rehearsal....

We had an awesome rehearsal tonight. I am so excited at the fact that worship band of Genesis is truely developing into just that, a "worship band."

We could so want to get up and impress the socks off of everybody, and choose to use our time working for that end, but tonight, we were a group of guys (and Girl) that were honing our gifts for the 1 true audience, and in the process, experiencing Him.....that is what his thing is all about.

But, hey.....if we sound good in the process, that is what God deserves; nothing less.

Beyond Understanding....

April and I have been going through a lot these days. We recently found out that our daughter, that April is still carrying in her tum-tum, has a condition called "Turner Syndrome." This is a genetic disorder that usually results in miscarriage.

It is so hard for me to understand why we have such peace right now. In fact, I find myself feeling guilty because I feel such peace.

This has brought a whole new perspective to the scripture that is heard in churches everywhere, that refers to "peace beyond all understanding."

I have determined that, because this peace is a gift from God, I have no right to feel guilty about this. This thing is in God's hands.

I can't say that I have had a vision given me that says our daughter is going to make it; the statistics contradict this. But, that said, I trust that whatever outcome happens, it is in God's hands. God is of healing, but that is His choice, and no matter the end result....God is just.

I don't think it would be healthy to not mourn over this situation, and subsequently, if God decides to take this child, but this natural process of healing is still held up by a general since that "everything is going to work out as it should."

That may sound weird, but then again.....maybe that is why the scripture says, "beyond all understanding." Perhaps, the understanding that it is referring to is the "reason" that we instantly try to attach to everything....

Psalms 73:25-26

I have so many needs/wants. On a daily basis, I go through a million preferences of how I want this or need that, and rarily do I ever pay attention to whether or not those needs/wants are really necessary.

The best example is given in the fact that, for the most part, we Americans are spoiled. It's easy for me to overlook the point that I am having trouble with what I want for lunch (100's of restaurants within driving distance, and I am blessed enough to afford any of them). All the while, there are thousands of kids in Soweto South Africa who hope to chew anything today.

I know, in our spoiled state, we have found this to be cliche, but really....

That brings me to this verse...

Psalms 73:25-26
Who have I in heaven but You?
And this earth has nothing I desire besides You.
My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Man, would it be awesome to have the heart of the pslalmist. To have a heart so hungry for God that I cannot even consider anything else as relevant.

Perhaps this place is where our hearts can truely begin to woship; this place of desparation.

If only I found myself as torn over how I can please God (the maker of all things and still the lover of my soul) as I am about whether I eat a Gyro or another round of Orange Chicken....

Mumbo Jumbo.....and it's Profound Impact.

Have you ever been reading the Bible and come across a part that makes no sense? Like when it lists all those names, places, etc.....

Well the following passage from the Bible had one of those, for me....

Jeremiah 2:18
18.Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Shihor ? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the River ?

When I first read this, I had no idea what the Shihor was, and had very little interest.

The Shihor is a heavily debated topic, but it is either a stream that serves as the border of Egypt and Jerusalem, or it is the Nile itself, which served as the border for Egypy and Jerusalem.

Now, knowing that, let's look at this scripture again....

18. Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Shihor ? And why go to Assyria to drink water from the River ? (The red letters in know way indicate Jesus said this...)

The issue that God had with the Isrealites at this time was that they had little-to-no concern about their relationship with Him; they were complacent. Their hearts were so full of "other things" that they had little need for God.

So what is the relevance of the mention of these two rivers? They Represent Captivity, but it takes it a step further; it presents a truth that is hard to believe about ourselves, but true.

The Isrealites were actually escaping a beautiful relationship with God Himself to go look for what they needed from the very place of their captivity....They had everything!! God was with them daily, and yet they went elsewhere to find their pleasure. Andthat elsewhere was the exact place that held them captive!!!!

Now, before you get judgemental, keep in mind that most of us do the same thing. How many people have totally missed an encounter with God, because they were looking for whatever preconceived notion their religion gave them about what He looks/feels/sounds like? How many of us can emotionally celebrate our team winning the championship game, and look down our noses at "emotional worshipers..."? How many of us run from unhealthy relationship to another? How many of us just need "one more" to enjoy ourselves?

We need to get back to the place where God is the center of our attention and affection. Even when we are living these lives He gave us to live, we need to take pleasure in the fact that we live them to put a smile on His face.

And as this "nonsense of a scripture" teaches us, we need to avoid taking refuge in the place our captivity, and live daily in the freedom that His salvation has provided.

Result....

Jeremiah 4:1
1. "If you will return, O Israel, return to me," declares the Lord. "If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray,
2. and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory."
3. This is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: "Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.