Encouraging Song of the Day - You Are Still Holy

The View from My Morning

"...And God saw everything that he had made, 

and behold, it was very good..."Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

Challenging Song of the Day

"Seen with My Dad at the Pole"

It was a great morning. I joined my kids (perhaps to their chagrin) in their prayer gathering at the pole at their school. What a joy it is to see young people pour out their hearts to God for their classmates and teachers. Life is no cakewalk for a Jesus-Follower in the hostile environment of our high schools. It's great to see the kids recognize the strength that is theirs in their relationship with Christ. It was also great that the principle of our high school joined us and prayed.

"Thanks, Lord, for the Godly leaders you've providentially and purposefully planted in our schools."

Encouraging Song of the Day - Gentle Savior

The Laughable Pharisaical Conspiracy

"...But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him." - Mt. 12:14

Destroy Jesus?  Really?  It's a laughable proposition.  Yet it seems to be the mission of those in Jesus' day who were religious for religion's sake.  Jesus was utterly offensive to them.  The things He taught.  The things He did.  The day upon which He did them.  The authority He claimed in all of His teaching and doing.  Who did He think that He was?  God?

We're quick to gather the perfect throwing stones when we read stuff like Matthew 12:14.  But I'm not sure how foreign the conspiracy is to us religious types in our day and in our contexts.  We wouldn't dream of destroying Jesus!  Right?  We can't imagine even being thought of as opposing Jesus.  Why, look at all of the religious stuff with which we busy ourselves.  Yet, it's true that we have made an idol of religion.  It's true that when Jesus rubs our religious fur the wrong way we hiss and show our claws (in a tidy, religious way of course).  It is true that while we may not make a concerted or overt attempt to destroy Jesus, by our allegiance to what we have known and practiced traditionally and religiously we are unconsciously waging war on Jesus' Kingdom agenda.  I'm not suggesting that we indiscriminately scrap the old and look for something new.  Indeed scrapping the old for the sake of scrapping the old is no more noble than functioning religiously for the sake of religion alone.  I think what I am suggesting is that we be willing to examine all of it beneath the lens of divine revelation, expectations and agendas and be willing to part with that which brings nothing to the Kingdom table and embrace and engage ourselves in all the things that do.  In the end Jesus and His Kingdom continue undeterred - and as for the conspirators?   Well..............

Basic Church Math

"...So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied."    Acts 9:31 (ESV)

Another Great Monday Night Pregame Men's Study

Week two of our "Not a Fan" journey is in the book.  We continue to be challenged by the truth that we are, in fact, called to be true followers, not fans.

"Lord, give us a heart that goes hard after yours....."

The Challenge to Authentic Body Life

This last weekend was formative for me.  My wife and I spent a couple of days in Minneapolis at the Desiring God National Conference.  It was timely and inspiring.  On the not so distant horizon I can see a dynamic shift in my ministry.  God is leading me to be a senior shepherd.  Of this I am certain.  The uncertain parts of it are where exactly, and when.  Currently, the church which I have served for 10 years is without a "senior pastor."  It's been almost nine months.  God has done marvelous things and continues to do marvelous things as He prepares our faith family for what I think will be a deeper, richer body life and function than we have ever known.  It's exciting.  I'd love to lead these people toward a vision and mission that God has given me for something authentic and dynamic - a body life marked by commitment to holiness, passionate an perpetual growth, and biblical, practical function.  My prayer is that God will bring us to a place where we are no longer religiously stoic and static - a place where joy is evident everywhere and is realized through obedience to the mandate that we live the gospel.  I long to be characterized as a congregation by Great Commission living - a people that are reproducing themselves both personally and corporately.  I dream of missional awareness that causes us to be both effective "goers" and "senders" as God's Spirit leads us and allows us.  I beg God to develop in us an attitude of selflessness and deference as we live and serve with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.  I pray that through all of this that the name of God would be magnified and glorified to the fullest.  Yeah,  I'd love to lead a church like that.... who wouldn't.  I've experienced the joy of jettisoning religion and embracing authentic relationship with Christ.  I desire the same for this flock.................

"Do this Lord.  Please do this here and do this now."