New Life Has Begun

As Christ followers, we hear how we are new creations, but what does that mean? When each of us first came to Christ we confessed our depravity and our need for Him. We made a conscious decision to believe that He is the living Son of God who came to die for our sin, taking our penalty upon himself. We also made a statement to make Him our LORD.

His role of Savior AND Lord are purposefully interlinked. Trusting Him as Savior may happen for us at a single point in time, while giving Him Lordship is a daily decision. This truth is at the heart of our 2011 theme TRANSFORMATION.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

It is as we daily surrender ALL the details of our lives to Christ, that he TRANSFORMS our lives. In 2011 may allow Jesus Christ TRANSFORM OUR LIVES, by letting Him live through us.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

The World is Worshipping. Are You?

Something occurred to me over the weekend. I'm sure that I've tried to think this thought before, but a combination reading tweets and reading bloggers takes on the Oscars over the weekend caused me to have an epiphany. This is what the world worships; ENTERTAINMENT. At least, it is one of their idols or false gods.

Actors and Actresses on a "silver screen" or on the "idiot box" getting our love.
Athletes and Ballplayers on a court a diamond or a field getting our praise.

I am under the same self condemnation as Paul spoke:
1 Timothy 1:15
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.

Yes I love the movies and tv shows. I watched "True Grit" and enjoyed myself immensely. Our whole family watched Toy Story 3D this past year and it was a great entertainment experience. And I'm seriously considering talking my wife to see "The Kings Speech." I am a huge fan and follower of baseball and devote more time than I should at studying the stats and reading the scouting reports of players who might not even make it to the big leagues. (Yes; I'm a nerd!)

I confess all this for 2 reasons:
1. Confession is Biblical and yes it is good for the soul.
2. I trust that I am not alone in at least one of these categories.

Now, please remember that I offer these blogs as a chance to get myself thinking and hopefully those of you that read it... (hi mom) So remember this isn't a condemnation of any one of us, but perhaps we may find ourselves rethinking the worth of our worship to the Father who is worthy of far more than any earthly treasure.

For your comparison.

The International Mission board approved it's Annual budget for 2011;
$308.5 Million dollars for global missions 5,000 Missionaries.

The Combined Yankees and RedSox 2010 payroll;
$380.5 Million

Remember that even with a budget like that those ball teams make a profit, while IMB is had to 600 missionaries out of its budget for 2011. That is a cut of almost 11% of missionaries; taken out of the mission field! This is our responsibility? What do we do to change it.

Of course money isn't the only measurement of giving ourselves to God.
You fill in this blank:
Time I spent talking to friend about my favorite show or sports team _____?
Time I spent bragging to friend about the greatness of God in my life______?

Trust me I don't even like asking these questions, so I don't want to answer them either.
So the last one is a question of our testimony, what about giving God our attention.

If you evaluate your own worship to God by your enthusiasm; what are you more enthusiastic about?
A. Christ in You the Hope of Glory (Col 1:27)
B. The Big game
C. A night on the town
D. Payday

I won't reveal to you my answer; trust me... it wasn't A. I wish it was. God forgive me when it's not.

I better wrap this up, lest I go put my own head in the sand. How much attention does God get compared to the world?

_____ hrs spent in scripture and prayer versus ______hrs spent being entertained?

Do I evaluate the worship service by how I'm captivated or by what I bring to God?

Do I look for a worship SERVE US?
Do I offer SURFACE worship?
Do I come to SERVE AS the worship offering and gift to my God?

Dear Father, as I answer these questions in my own life, please guide me toward the unselfish. Forgive me when you have looked upon my so called worship offering and found me doing something else. Nothing but Your presence and glory in my life will truly satisfy me. Help me not to look elsewhere. Amen

Another Garden/Life Illustration

My brother found this on a gardening website and we both liked it. I hope you do too.

How To Plant Your Garden.

First, you "Come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses"....

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

Author unknown. Thanks whoever you are for such a thoughtful piece.

Dream the Impossible Dream

I have always been a dreamer. My parents can bear witness to this fact. In elementary school my struggle with classwork or homework was never my ability to understand what I was learning, but rather my extraordinary ability to "drift off." I was a world class day dreamer. The teacher would begin teaching and without even trying I could make the world outside the window draw closer and closer until, in my mind, I was no longer in the class room but in another world altogether.

(sigh)

I'm still good at that.

One of my favorite songs in musical theater is about dreaming. At first impression everyone considered Don Quixote to be crazy. But he was the Man of LaMancha, dreaming the impossible dream and fighting the unbeatable foe!!

The Impossible Dream.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

(sigh, again)

These days we have seen the impossible dreams of others come to reality. Not long ago we would have scoffed at ideas like the internet or satellite radio. We would have thought it absurd if someone would have suggested that millions of people would meet all their friends on a daily basis at a single internet location called facebook.

We all have had dreams of seemingly impossible magnitude, and many of us have given up on them. Dreams are good. Giving up, maybe not so much. Did you know that God has a dream for you too? He, His Son and Holy Spirit have been planning this for you from the beginning of time. This dream was a reality for a brief time before sin entered the picture. Because of the cross and resurrection, however this dream is back on track; for those who call on the name of Jesus. His dream is this; to dwell IN you. It is his dream of joyful fellowship with us.

John 17:22, 23
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

This indwelling means that as we live our lives Christ is living IN us. He is transforming us.Why do we believe that transforming our lives would be just as impossible? Perhaps it is because we still, somehow believe that it is up to us.

Follow me briefly on a little trip down the imaginary street; Semantics Boulevard. This is my favorite street in Blogsville. I love it so much I'm considering building my second home there. Here we go; Some might say that Christ want's you to do the impossible! I disagree! Rather, Christ wants do to the impossible IN you. If we are going to trust Jesus to do the impossible IN our lives we are left with only one option. Get out of the way!

Stop trying to do it YOUR self
Stop trying to do it in YOUR power
Stop trying to do it for YOUR glory
Stop trying to control
Stop trying to take ownership

Love Christ
Let Christ,
Live Christ

This can only happen with a living, growing relationship with the Son.

Acts 17:28
28 ‘For IN him we live and move and have our being.’

Galatians 4:19
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed IN you

We only see this as impossible because of the fallen and broken state of our humanity. If we could only see with out spiritual eyes this indwelling principle would seem only natural. To be IN Him would seem as automatic as breathing. So no longer is it a dream.... it is spiritual reality, and no longer is it impossible.... it is spiritually natural.

Colossians 1:27 (The Message)
The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple.

SURRENDER

Today's word is... "Surrender"

This is such an important word when it comes to worship. Joe spoke yesterday about the big "S" as well as the big "O" obedience and the big "C" commitment. I'll focus on Surrender. We must surrender in order for worship to take place. In fact God says this through His prophet Isaiah

Isaiah 29:13

13 And so the Lord says,

“These people say they are mine.

They honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

And their worship of me

is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

I pray to my Father not to be guilty of this, but daily I find myself failing to but away the temptations that invite me to put myself first and ignore God's voice. I am not first. I cannot be first. It is not about me. This life I have been given to steward is not my own.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Our bodies, Our whole selves, inside and out, top to bottom, mind, heart, will and soul belong to God! We are just stewarding this earthen vessel. Daily, I want to acknowledge the truth of this and surrender my body, mind, heart, soul and my very will to the One who has saved me and loves me everyday. Echoing Paul's words;

Romans 7:18-20

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

When we surrender, this is what we are giving up. Nothing good lives in me (my sinful nature). That should be easy to surrender because I don't even want that. Why is it not?

Romans 7:24-25
24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

So we MUST surrender. It is a prerequisite to worship. The very act of worship is acknowledging the object of your worship to be what you are giving your life to. When we give our life to Jesus, it is an act of worship. When we give our will to the Father, it is an act of worship. Too many times we define worship as a "feeling" or "emotional expression." It is NOT. While feelings and emotional expressions may be byproducts of this act of worship, they are not themselves the definition of worship. Let's think of it this way; Surrender and Obedience are the opening act of worship. Thanks and Praise and Songs are what follows.

Feeling Enriched

...And yet I/We have so much work to do!

What a great Marriage Enrichment Workshop at FSBC family. Thanks to all the team who worked so hard today so that other couples could relax and take it all in and focus on their spouses! Also, thanks to the team from West Side Family Church for their great leadership and all the break out classes.

It helps all of us to take an honest look at ourselves in regard to all walks of this Christ life but even more so in this most precious gift of God... MARRIAGE. I think we can easily get weary of continually trying to compromise/get our way/give in/give up, that we take so much of the simple wisdom for granted. Jesus is the center - period. There is no other way. We honor Him to work hard at unity. Here is the the list of things I'm trying to apply from this weekend. Remember this is just me, not Melanie. She has her own take away which will also benefit us both.

1. Be the Lamb and/or Owl (the other animals don't work)
2. Compromise sometimes means the other person gets their way. (and it's okay!)
3. Communicate at level 5 always (even when you don't feel like going upstairs)
4. When you come to an agreement keep it (and forget the other options you passed over - they are no longer relevant or helpful)
5. Talk about your budget (yeah that means together)

Well, If I can do these things and keep Jesus at the CENTER of 1-5 and all the rest that well follow, then our marriage will keep getting better and better. It's what we wanted when we said "I Do" and we want it more than ever now and for tomorrow. I'm so happy I have a godly, patient and growing wife! It was a great time for us to stop and refocus.

Ketchup? Yuck!

Maybe the closest thing to a phobia that I have is this; I don't like ketchup. I didn't always feel this way. It just is something that has developed in my adult life. Not that I don't like ketchup on delicious food such as hot dogs and hamburgers, but given the choice I'd rather have BBQ sauce or spicy mustard. What can I say? I'm complicated.

But here is what I can't stand:

The smell of ketchup!
Ketchup, gooey and sticky around the lid of the ketchup bottle!
Ketchup dripped on the floor, now on my shoe!
Ketchup drops on the counter, on the table, on the island!
Ketchup now on my sleeve!
Ketchup on the wash rag that wasn't rinsed after cleaning up spilled ketchup!
Ketchup now on my hands!
Wash my hands with soap and water, but they still smell like KETCHUP!

To me ketchup is like a real life miniature version of the old sci-fi character THE BLOB! Touch it and it sticks to you and will not come off. Pretty soon it's everywhere, all over your fingers and elbows, clothes. Of course the smell never goes away! It reminds me of a painful grade school memory when someone stomped a ketchup packet and it sprayed all over my shoes and pant legs. The smell reminded me of the humiliation all...day...long...

Tomatoes are a wonderful vegetable, er, um, fruit (whatever). The best tomatoes come fresh from the garden and usually you have to wait until July. So sad that they have to ship them green so that they don't rot before they reach the grocer. The Problem is they never taste any good from the store because of this. So I only eat tomatoes from July - September. Not Good Enough! I suppose that is why someone came up with the solution of pureeing fresh tomatoes and adding them to the recipe for glue! That just irreverent!

Beyond the gross qualities of it, getting ketchup as a topping is like watching black and white TV in an age of advanced 3D television technology. When I use ketchup as a topping it is more for the sentimental value it adds remembering childhood bonfire and hot dog roasts. If you dislike plain off-white wall color spanning the walls throughout the inside of your home, that's how I feel about ketchup. Buh-Lah! (that's blah emphasizing both syllables)

The final reason I dislike ketchup so much is the word association of it all. It reminds me how many of my goals I'm behind on; books to read, songs to learn, people to know better, prayers to pray, scripture to memorize, new worship artists to listen to, send that email, make this contact.... it's overwhelming! I Have To Ketchup! I mean Catch Up!

Take it one day at a time sounds so cliche, but it's something to keep in mind. God never said we were to "get it all" and "get it all done" in 24 hours. I believe each lesson, every growth experience is to be savored, because it is an encounter with the almighty. There is no such thing as microwave discipleship. And even if there was, I'm not sure I'd like it very much. Like the juicy tomato ripened on the vine after months of feeding and watering, sunshine and rain, savor every bite. Take it in and be reminded of the rewards of the slow and laborious process. I might be behind on my goals and on lessons I wish I had already learned, but the answer isn't to get all caught up in a single day or even a single week. Rather, the slower, more intentional route is the way to go. One day at a time, one lesson at a time. Steady growth that lasts. That's something I can appreciate.

(No ketchup was ingested during the writing of this blog)

A Theology of Technology (sort of)

Blogging from my iPad. I'm excited about new gear. Mostly because it is a tool to help me do ministry... And it's cool. Okay, perhaps mostly because it's cool! But I'm working on that motivation even as I blog from my iPad.

1 Corinthians 7:30-31 "those who weep or rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away." NLT

So I'll purposefully be excited in the ministry uses of my "tools" rather than the coolness factor. The Corinthians must have been dealing with iPads, iPhones or at least iPapyrus' or iPapy's as I'm sure they used to call them. (I bet the "scroll it" app was cool and everybody was addicted to the game "zombie gladiator") okay I'm getting off track. But that must be why Paul wrote those words, because those 1st century words have incredible 21st century application!

I'm blogging, I'm on twitter, I'll begin reading my chord charts from my iPad as well, but my desire is to minister the love of Christ using the language of the culture with the appropriate tools to do the job. However, I'm honestly tempted by the cool stuff available to us to do all this in 2011. Paul, how did you know I would have this temptation? I have no doubt that those words that seem to be about iPads, iPhones, facebook and twitter these days have spoken to all kinds of people and all kinds of possessions for every generation. I'll heed those words and live my life for the future home which will never pass away.

At second glance I would be well served to look beyond iPads and iPhones as the full application of Pauls words of encouragement. He says those who weep or have joy should be absorbed in that weeping or joy. I wonder what I weep over in vain (a perennially loosing baseball team? the government? the presidents' job performance? health care?) or what do I rejoice over in vain (a perennially winning baseball team? the government? the presidents' job performance? health care?) All... ALL those things will pass away. Why do I spend so much of my time frustrated with or boasting in these and other temporal things? ...God forgive me. Help me see and keep my eyes on the lasting joys and concerns of the world beyond.

BROKENNESS

Today’s word is… “BROKENNESS”

One of the things that make me more than a little OCD is my idea that the phrases or words we use have an effect on how we think about things. The more we speak negatively on a subject the more strongly we will feel, well, negative about it. I want to tread lightly here because sometimes we will dwell on an unbiblical idea such as “God helps those who help themselves,” hear it then say it and start to believe that it is a biblical principle. You get the idea.

This happened to me and Melanie once back in the day when we were young(er) worship leaders. Singing a song about brokenness being what we long for, you know the song, we received a “unpleasant” anonymous letter pointing out to us how wrong it was to make such a statement because God doesn’t want us to be broken, he wants to heal us. I can say that I get where mr/mrs anonymous is coming from, but they missed the point regarding brokenness. The kind of brokenness we were singing and speaking about was a (Psalm 51:16-17) version where David says this…

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Until we change the way that we think about our sin, God can not change the way our hearts view it. We must seek to be truly broken about our sinful state as well and about specific, recurring sin in our lives so that He can start over with us and make us into something beautiful, more like His Son, Jesus.

If the Hood fits!

A couple years ago I read the trilogy "King Raven" by Stephen R. Lawhead. I was expecting a simple retelling of the old Robin Hood stories told so many times by Disney and others. What I found instead was a great work of fiction and historical fantasy that made me wish I could be watching this on the big screen in epic form like "Lord of the Rings." It was really that good! Now my eldest son is reading this and loves it just as much.

If you like fiction, fantasy and/robin hood, you really should get a hold of this book. If you do, enjoy the journey and let me know when you get back and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Soups On!

Each January for the last several years, we as a staff, have made soup and served our Senior Adults the lunch at their monthly fellowship here at First Southern in Lawrence. (We mooch off them the rest of the year) They, of course, provided many desserts which we were only too happy to help eat.

I LOVE serving these great members of our church. So many of them have been extremely kind and encouraging toward me and my family over the many years we have served FSBC. It is my delight to give back to them every opportunity I have.

I hope and pray that they know how valuable they continue to be to their staff and to this church. These dear ones aren't just our churches history but our present as well. These are Bible Study Teachers, Deacons, Choir Members, Accompanists, Prayer Warriors, Missions Givers, Missions Goers, and part of the heartbeat of this church.

Providing the soup meal today was our way of saying that you are a part of the very important ingredients in the substance of this church. Thanks you for all you do.

Please leave a comment below in appreciation for the senior adults in your life.

My Baby's Back

What difference it makes to be playing on my own guitar. My level of comfort went way up Sunday as I lead worship from behind my own guitar for the first time in 3 weeks. I borrowed some nice guitars but just didn't feel comfortable. My guitar had spent the last 3 weeks in a repair shop and I finally got it back on Friday. Thank God for the tools that help us to lead people in singing and praise.

Be Transformed

Transform: alter, amend, modify, adjust, bend, fine-tune, revise, rework, correct, change, revolutionize.

We have watched fall turn into winter and while I love the fall, I also enjoy the winter and all it brings. Living in the Midwest, folks can enjoy each season (not like my brother in MN who gets just 2 weeks of fall). But inevitably it seems I am never ready for the change. It happens too fast. Am I the only one who wasn’t ready for negative temperatures!?!

As Christ makes us into His new creations, sometimes we can think that He is moving too fast. Other times we wonder “What’s taking so long?” But God’s timing is always perfect even when we think it isn’t. If you think God is changing you too fast, maybe He is teaching you patience. If you think He is moving too slow, perhaps you still haven’t given Him everything.

Am I A Simpleton?

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free.

Have you ever heard that before? It’s a refreshing mindset needed in this day and age of “always on/always on me” living. You know... “My cell is always on and it’s always on me.” We have a deep need to keep things simple. God meant it to be that way. Remember, He created the Garden of Eden… (Simple) but we create things like the IRS (Complicated).

Why do we always seem to fall into the trap of thinking “more is better” or “busy equals productive?” I submit that we are just WRONG! If we truly believe that God’s ways are better than ours, then let us remember that he says “Be Still and know that I AM God.”

It’s getting more and more difficult to appreciate the “simple” things in life because they seem to be going the way of the dodo bird. Let’s not merely appreciate the simple things, let’s also advocate for them.

I've Lost Something Inside

After a year or more of on-again, off-again chronic pain in my abdomen, I've had my gallbladder removed. Come to find out it was sick! This is a surgery I would not recommend. I'm left with 4 holes in my belly and forced to a strict bland, no fat diet. The positive is I've lost about 12 pounds.

I thank God for a capable surgeon who listened to me and allowed me to ask questions. Even more I thank God for a great wife who waited on me and helped me whenever I needed anything. It will be 3 weeks this coming Monday and I'm just starting to introduce "real food" to my stomach again. I even mowed part of the yard today! Since my "episodes" seemed to occur every 6-8 weeks, I won't be able to confirm that this was all about my gallbladder for a few months. But I am already feeling better than I did prior to the surgery, so I'm very hopeful that this has taken care of all my issues I've been enduring over the last 14-16 months.

Missing Papa

We lost Papa to cancer a couple months ago. It was hard to take. I regret that I waited so long to ask him to teach piano tuning to me. I had thought to do it years ago but didn't want to be an bother so I didn't ask. I will never forget the time we spent together. And I'll always remember the things he taught me. I'm sure he'll be disappointed that I didn't practice tuning for two full months following his funeral. But I did tune my piano last Saturday, so hopefully I can get back on track. There is a PTG (Piano Technicians Guild) convention in a couple months. I think I'll sign up for it and take some more training there.

That's What I Get

I've been learning the craft of piano tuning and repair from my grandfather. Both for the heritage value and to fulfill my current desire to do something new and challenging. It's been fun. I'm learning a lot but, it takes a lot of practice. I must be catching on because me Papa told me "Now when anything goes wrong you can just say 'That's what I get for being a piano tuner!'"

A Thing of Beauty

I've been looking for a new guitar over the last several years. Unfortunately I haven't set aside the money to actually get serious about purchasing. That doesn't stop me from shopping. Recently I found this guitar at the local music store downtown. I must say, I'm smitten!! Not only does it look amazing, it sounds even better. Walnut has always attracted my attention. This Grand Auditorium guitar sounds great on the low end and briliant on the high end when supplied with Elixer light strings.

Now I'm in a pickle because I've found the guitar of my dreams and all I can do is window shop. I'm available for odd jobs, love offering concerts and just about anything that pays.

If you see a vagrant on the side of the road with a sign that reads "Will work for W14-CE," It's me, so just put a 20 in the empty guitar case and start whistling your favorite James Taylor tune.

Revolutionary

I just finished a book by George Barna and I have to say it is one of the most inspiring reads I have come across in a long time. I want to be a Revolutionary Christian!

This is the statement of the common Revolutionary (according to Barna);

"I am a Revolutionary in the service of God Almighty. My life is not my own; I exist as a free person but have voluntarily become a slave to God. My role on earth is to live as a Revolutionary, committed to love, holiness, and advancing God's Kingdom. My life is not about me and my natural desires; it is all about knowing, loving, and serving God with all my heart, mind strength, and soul."

I pray that I will so live.

Successful Weekend

The Maximum Impact Simulcast was a success! As was the Worship Team Choirs Spring Concert. I'm so proud of the work our choir and praise band put into this concert. They sang with great passion and conviction. I could tell that Worshiping God was primary for the singers as we progressed through the hour. I like that about them. It makes me feel like our focus is right and that we are truly using musical expression for the reason God created.