I heard a saying a few days ago; "If you don't believe in something, you will believe anything,".
I think that saying really resonates with my topic of choice for today.
I am reading through the book of Isaiah and I came across a verse in Chapter 8, it says this; "And when they say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,' should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?" (Isaiah 8:19).
A few months ago my wife was at a ladies church tea and overheard a conversation from some of the women who attend our church. They were talking about their houses being haunted by ghosts and/or spirits. This trend is not uncommon, we always have debates in Youth Group about ghosts and haunting and such.
Frankly this whole argument makes me utterly sick to my stomach. Not because I am afraid of ghosts, my view is quite the contrary. I CANNOT believe that people who claim to follow Jesus would give any kind of credit, credence, or acknowledgement to such things. I apologize but this is one of those subjects where I will get on my soap box and scream. It is completely appalling to me to believe in ghosts, ghouls or haunting in any capacity.
Now that is not to say that there is no such thing as a Spirit real or world, if you like, the bible is clear that such a matter exists. However let us look at this logically. We humans are a Spirit with a body. When the body stops working and we die, what happens to our Spirit. The book of Hebrews says that it is appoint for every man to live once, then judgement. The word judgement here is referring to how we spend eternity (spirit world after our bodily death). We either spend eternity with God or apart from God, there is no other option. So ghosts or spirits being on earth is impossible in that sense.
We know that in the Spiritual realm there are such things as angels and demons. The bible makes it clear that demons try to pull us away from the truth of God's word and angels are sealed for God's work. So following this logical patterns, angels can only do what God tells them but demons try and turn us away from God's truth.
So my question is why when something strange in our house happens we automatically think it must be a ghost and revel in such things. When those women were talking they were eating up the stories that were being told. That kind of talk and subject does not glorify God, quite the opposite!!
My point to this rambling is, if we are going to claim to believe in Jesus, let us believe in Jesus, 100%. No additives, no other beliefs. Belief in ghosts is a great way of ripping you away from the truth of God's word.
If you claim to believe in Jesus, believe in Jesus. No substitutes, no additives.
John 14:15- "If you love me you will keep my commandments." Jesus speaking!
may our LORD be with you
Josh
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Being called out
It has been a frustrating couple of weeks. I am having a bit of difficulty with Youth leadership (or lack there of) in our Youth group. This problem has been an ongoing issue for the past year or two. In addition to that I have had a few frustrations that I am trying to work through and resolve.
I say that to make a long story short. I will not name, names because I am not into that but I have had a young lady, who is a dear friend, helping out with the youth group and other things. Over the course of the past few months she has had some changes and adjustments and so her aid has been limited. As a result of her limits and my heaping distress, I had been unintentionally taking out my frustrations on her. Nothing overtly mean, but subtle, curt, short responses. My attitude and demeanor would change quickly when she would tell me she couldn't help out or stay the whole time.
Now I have always tried to be one who lets things role off my back, so I would try and put on a "That's cool," or "It's not problem" face but the truth is, inside I was getting more and more angry.
I am a big believer in Behavior Psychology. I believe that we as humans have a Psychological element to our make up. We can't stuff emotions or thoughts down and forget about them, one way or another they will find a way to come out and be expressed. So that happy face I tried to put on would often be replaced by my angst.
So this past Sunday morning we had an encounter and I tried to put on that happy face but it was fruitless, she could see right through it and I'm sure glad she did. Later that day she confronted me and ask me straight up if we were okay. In that moment I was totally convicted by the Holy Spirit. I had been acting like a real jerk to someone who did not deserve it. She was not the problem, my attitude was the problem.
Now the lesson here is in what happened next, I didn't make excuses, I did explain myself and the situation, but I asked for forgiveness right then and there. I admitted that I had been a jerk and I was wrong, and I needed to make amends with my friend. She was the picture of God's amazing grace even though I didn't deserve it, she forgave me and everything was made right.
The bible says that we are to forgive as God forgave us. Period. If you are a follower of Jesus you know how much God has forgiven you and you are to extend that same amount of forgiveness to everyone else.
Jesus told a story of a man whom had been forgiven a debt that he would never be able to pay back, but then went out and threw his buddy in jail over a debt of five bucks! That guy did not understand forgiveness, nor did he really appreciate the forgiveness he was given.
When we don't forgive others, we don't appreciate the forgiveness God has given us. We need to forgive as God has forgiven us...completely.
Also we need to not hold onto feeling of bitterness and anger. I was doing that and it was hurting my friendship, even if I didn't mean it to. Those feelings can really mess you up. The bible says to let go of those feeling, rid yourself of them.
In addition we need to admit when we are wrong, or have done something wrong. The truth is I had been wanting to talk to her about this for a while but I always put it off or forgot about it, but that didn't help the situation. When you are in the wrong, ask for forgiveness, clear the air right away, don't hold onto it.
It is such an awesome thing to forgive others and be the one who is forgiven.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
I added a song, enjoy!!
http://youtu.be/oIbCpy0CQEo
I say that to make a long story short. I will not name, names because I am not into that but I have had a young lady, who is a dear friend, helping out with the youth group and other things. Over the course of the past few months she has had some changes and adjustments and so her aid has been limited. As a result of her limits and my heaping distress, I had been unintentionally taking out my frustrations on her. Nothing overtly mean, but subtle, curt, short responses. My attitude and demeanor would change quickly when she would tell me she couldn't help out or stay the whole time.
Now I have always tried to be one who lets things role off my back, so I would try and put on a "That's cool," or "It's not problem" face but the truth is, inside I was getting more and more angry.
I am a big believer in Behavior Psychology. I believe that we as humans have a Psychological element to our make up. We can't stuff emotions or thoughts down and forget about them, one way or another they will find a way to come out and be expressed. So that happy face I tried to put on would often be replaced by my angst.
So this past Sunday morning we had an encounter and I tried to put on that happy face but it was fruitless, she could see right through it and I'm sure glad she did. Later that day she confronted me and ask me straight up if we were okay. In that moment I was totally convicted by the Holy Spirit. I had been acting like a real jerk to someone who did not deserve it. She was not the problem, my attitude was the problem.
Now the lesson here is in what happened next, I didn't make excuses, I did explain myself and the situation, but I asked for forgiveness right then and there. I admitted that I had been a jerk and I was wrong, and I needed to make amends with my friend. She was the picture of God's amazing grace even though I didn't deserve it, she forgave me and everything was made right.
The bible says that we are to forgive as God forgave us. Period. If you are a follower of Jesus you know how much God has forgiven you and you are to extend that same amount of forgiveness to everyone else.
Jesus told a story of a man whom had been forgiven a debt that he would never be able to pay back, but then went out and threw his buddy in jail over a debt of five bucks! That guy did not understand forgiveness, nor did he really appreciate the forgiveness he was given.
When we don't forgive others, we don't appreciate the forgiveness God has given us. We need to forgive as God has forgiven us...completely.
Also we need to not hold onto feeling of bitterness and anger. I was doing that and it was hurting my friendship, even if I didn't mean it to. Those feelings can really mess you up. The bible says to let go of those feeling, rid yourself of them.
In addition we need to admit when we are wrong, or have done something wrong. The truth is I had been wanting to talk to her about this for a while but I always put it off or forgot about it, but that didn't help the situation. When you are in the wrong, ask for forgiveness, clear the air right away, don't hold onto it.
It is such an awesome thing to forgive others and be the one who is forgiven.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
I added a song, enjoy!!
http://youtu.be/oIbCpy0CQEo
Monday, August 13, 2012
Could not say it better myself!!
I love writing. I love doing this blog. But sometimes it is best if I shut my yapper and let someone else do the talking, especially when that someone else is Jesus.
We were discussing Matthew Chapter 18 yesterday, talking about temptation, sin, causing each other to stumble, forgiveness and forgiving each other. During one of the section we came across this verse that made me think of our Youth girls.
Jesus is speaking here, Matthew 18:6, "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Wow!!
Talk about the love of Jesus! Those are some pretty intense words.
Now the reason I thought about the Youth girls with this verse is because we have had the argument with them about wearing modest clothing. We have brought up the point that wear clothing that has low amounts of fabric and thus exposes great amounts of skin, contributes to the male battle with staying on the pure and NOT lustful road. There argument of course is, it's not their problem if a guys sins because of what they are wearing, that is on the guy. Then others make it clear that they love the attention they receive from the male population when they wear skimpy clothing...but is that the kind of attention a girl should desire from a guy?!?
Like I said earlier sometimes it's best to let someone else do the talking. I found this article on crosswalk.com, talking about this very subject. Here is the link.
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/why-what-women-wear-matters.html?utm_source=facebook
check it out!!
Remember the words of Jesus, if you cause someone else in the faith to sin...the results are not good!!
May our LORD be with you
Josh
We were discussing Matthew Chapter 18 yesterday, talking about temptation, sin, causing each other to stumble, forgiveness and forgiving each other. During one of the section we came across this verse that made me think of our Youth girls.
Jesus is speaking here, Matthew 18:6, "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Wow!!
Talk about the love of Jesus! Those are some pretty intense words.
Now the reason I thought about the Youth girls with this verse is because we have had the argument with them about wearing modest clothing. We have brought up the point that wear clothing that has low amounts of fabric and thus exposes great amounts of skin, contributes to the male battle with staying on the pure and NOT lustful road. There argument of course is, it's not their problem if a guys sins because of what they are wearing, that is on the guy. Then others make it clear that they love the attention they receive from the male population when they wear skimpy clothing...but is that the kind of attention a girl should desire from a guy?!?
Like I said earlier sometimes it's best to let someone else do the talking. I found this article on crosswalk.com, talking about this very subject. Here is the link.
http://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/why-what-women-wear-matters.html?utm_source=facebook
check it out!!
Remember the words of Jesus, if you cause someone else in the faith to sin...the results are not good!!
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Ministry Mishaps
I read recently in a book that all believers should read through the book of Acts at least once a year. I found this statement interesting because I am currently reading through the book of Acts.
So today I came across this story that always makes me a little sad. It is found in Acts 15:36-41. It is the story of Paul and Barnabas separating. I can't help it, every time I read this story it makes me feel slightly discouraged. Not because I foresee this happening in my own ministry but, I suppose I see Paul and Barnabas as a great team and it makes me sad that a great team like that split.
The situation went like this, Paul and Barnabas had just returned from the Jerusalem Council. At this point they had already completed one missionary trip, planting several church, now Paul and Barny were getting ready to set out on their second mission excursion. Barny wanted to bring along John Mark (the author of the gospel from Mark). Scholars report that John Mark was somehow related to Barnabas, so we can see he had a connection with this guy. Paul however did not want John Mark to come along on this trip, and that was the crux of their argument. John Mark had come along on the first trip and left them to go back home. So this time Paul refused to bring him along because he felt he was unreliable and Barny disagreed, thus the split.
Now the story doesn't end there, in the book of Philemon, Paul mentions that Mark is there with him as well as several other saints. So ultimately the story ends on a happy note but still the beginning of it makes me sad.
I guess I think about my own ministry when I read this story. I think about the people that are involved with me, that trust me if I am the one in charge. I know we all may have differing opinions about the work that we do, different gift, different methods and we all read the scriptures and see different things because that is one of the ways God works on us. If we all saw the same things when we read the bible, there would be nothing to learn from each other. God created us like a body, each having a different function but ultimately operating as one. However, will all our differences, it could be easy for conflict and disagreements to arise.
In my quote book I wrote down a fortune I got from a cookie once, that really sums up what I am getting at here. Conflict should never be about victory but progress.
Conflict should never be about victory bur progress.
When we disagree and see things differently I think there are a few things we need to consider.
1. Find middle ground. Part of progress is growing as an individual. Maybe through a situation of conflict God is trying to grow you and stretch you. Be open to meeting someone half way and allow yourself to grow from the experience.
Now in this I need to say that there may be situation where you cannot, I repeat cannot, compromise. The biggest example is anything that contradicts the truth of scripture. If you are in a conflict with someone over something that is clear in scripture, do not budge. As I said earlier, we each will learn different things from reading our bibles but the basic truths should never differ. We may glean different lessons from scripture but the truth of scripture is eternal.
2. Trust God. Even though Paul and Barny separated in the end we see Paul had great use for John Mark. He was one of his comrades, helping and serving with Paul toward the end. We may get into conflict with others in our own ministry but be honest with each other and trust in God that He knows the end and has it all under control.
Romans 9 says that for all who love God, He work out all things for good.
This is one thing I really struggle with because I don't really enjoy conflict but I need to trust him that if I speak what I feel him leading me too, in the end it will be good. Even if for the moment I lose a friend or partner in ministry.
Let us not be afraid of conflict but let us also use conflict in our ministries not for victory but for progress.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
P.S. Here is a song by Casting Crowns that sums this up quite nicely.
Enjoy!! http://youtu.be/gK92TZrE-SA
So today I came across this story that always makes me a little sad. It is found in Acts 15:36-41. It is the story of Paul and Barnabas separating. I can't help it, every time I read this story it makes me feel slightly discouraged. Not because I foresee this happening in my own ministry but, I suppose I see Paul and Barnabas as a great team and it makes me sad that a great team like that split.
The situation went like this, Paul and Barnabas had just returned from the Jerusalem Council. At this point they had already completed one missionary trip, planting several church, now Paul and Barny were getting ready to set out on their second mission excursion. Barny wanted to bring along John Mark (the author of the gospel from Mark). Scholars report that John Mark was somehow related to Barnabas, so we can see he had a connection with this guy. Paul however did not want John Mark to come along on this trip, and that was the crux of their argument. John Mark had come along on the first trip and left them to go back home. So this time Paul refused to bring him along because he felt he was unreliable and Barny disagreed, thus the split.
Now the story doesn't end there, in the book of Philemon, Paul mentions that Mark is there with him as well as several other saints. So ultimately the story ends on a happy note but still the beginning of it makes me sad.
I guess I think about my own ministry when I read this story. I think about the people that are involved with me, that trust me if I am the one in charge. I know we all may have differing opinions about the work that we do, different gift, different methods and we all read the scriptures and see different things because that is one of the ways God works on us. If we all saw the same things when we read the bible, there would be nothing to learn from each other. God created us like a body, each having a different function but ultimately operating as one. However, will all our differences, it could be easy for conflict and disagreements to arise.
In my quote book I wrote down a fortune I got from a cookie once, that really sums up what I am getting at here. Conflict should never be about victory but progress.
Conflict should never be about victory bur progress.
When we disagree and see things differently I think there are a few things we need to consider.
1. Find middle ground. Part of progress is growing as an individual. Maybe through a situation of conflict God is trying to grow you and stretch you. Be open to meeting someone half way and allow yourself to grow from the experience.
Now in this I need to say that there may be situation where you cannot, I repeat cannot, compromise. The biggest example is anything that contradicts the truth of scripture. If you are in a conflict with someone over something that is clear in scripture, do not budge. As I said earlier, we each will learn different things from reading our bibles but the basic truths should never differ. We may glean different lessons from scripture but the truth of scripture is eternal.
2. Trust God. Even though Paul and Barny separated in the end we see Paul had great use for John Mark. He was one of his comrades, helping and serving with Paul toward the end. We may get into conflict with others in our own ministry but be honest with each other and trust in God that He knows the end and has it all under control.
Romans 9 says that for all who love God, He work out all things for good.
This is one thing I really struggle with because I don't really enjoy conflict but I need to trust him that if I speak what I feel him leading me too, in the end it will be good. Even if for the moment I lose a friend or partner in ministry.
Let us not be afraid of conflict but let us also use conflict in our ministries not for victory but for progress.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
P.S. Here is a song by Casting Crowns that sums this up quite nicely.
Enjoy!! http://youtu.be/gK92TZrE-SA
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Pray...Really Pray
"So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church." Acts 12:5
Can I ask you a question? I guess I just did! Let me ask you another question. When you pray do you expect anything to happen? When you ask God for something or to do something, do you really expect anything to happen?
You should!
There is this story in the book of Acts where Peter gets thrown into prison, so the church starts praying for his release. Now at this particular time that Peter was in prison, James the brother of John had just been killed. Obviously they had the same plans for Peter. So the church hold an all night prayer meeting and prays for his deliverance. In the middle of the night an angel of the LORD comes and gets Peter out of prison, so Peter runs to the home where the meeting was taking place to tell the people of the church all that God had done.
The funny thing is...at first they didn't believe it was him, they thought it was his ghost or his angel or something. They spent all that time praying that God would get Peter out of this situation and when he did the people didn't believe it.
Why do we do that?
The problem now is, we have de-evolved to the point of skipping the prayer part and going right to the non-belief part. We don't pray for anything serious anymore. When we do pray, it for stuff like our pets, or safe travelling, or my friend is being mean to me, or fluffy stuff like that.
We don't seriously pray for things because we don't seriously believe that God will do anything. I don't know if it is because we would rather rely on ourselves than see God move or we just plain don't think He will do anything. The fact is, in our story, what they prayed for they got. God moved!! He delivered Peter just like they asked!
What do you have going on in your life that you could pray...and I mean seriously pray about. I am talking about falling on your knees and asking God to move in this situation or that and believing that HE WILL DO IT!!!
What non-believing friend could you pray for, for opportunities to speak to them about Jesus?
Whose marriage is on the rocks that you could pray for restoration?
Who has an illness that you could pray for healing?
What situation in your own life are you struggling with that you could pray for guidance?
Jesus said ask whatever you want in my name and you will receive it. James says that you receive not because you ask for the wrong reasons. What that means is when you ask for something, why are you asking? Because you think it is the right thing to do? Or because you believe with all your heart that what you are praying for God will deliver?
Pray, talk to God like you believe what you are asking for will happen!!
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Can I ask you a question? I guess I just did! Let me ask you another question. When you pray do you expect anything to happen? When you ask God for something or to do something, do you really expect anything to happen?
You should!
There is this story in the book of Acts where Peter gets thrown into prison, so the church starts praying for his release. Now at this particular time that Peter was in prison, James the brother of John had just been killed. Obviously they had the same plans for Peter. So the church hold an all night prayer meeting and prays for his deliverance. In the middle of the night an angel of the LORD comes and gets Peter out of prison, so Peter runs to the home where the meeting was taking place to tell the people of the church all that God had done.
The funny thing is...at first they didn't believe it was him, they thought it was his ghost or his angel or something. They spent all that time praying that God would get Peter out of this situation and when he did the people didn't believe it.
Why do we do that?
The problem now is, we have de-evolved to the point of skipping the prayer part and going right to the non-belief part. We don't pray for anything serious anymore. When we do pray, it for stuff like our pets, or safe travelling, or my friend is being mean to me, or fluffy stuff like that.
We don't seriously pray for things because we don't seriously believe that God will do anything. I don't know if it is because we would rather rely on ourselves than see God move or we just plain don't think He will do anything. The fact is, in our story, what they prayed for they got. God moved!! He delivered Peter just like they asked!
What do you have going on in your life that you could pray...and I mean seriously pray about. I am talking about falling on your knees and asking God to move in this situation or that and believing that HE WILL DO IT!!!
What non-believing friend could you pray for, for opportunities to speak to them about Jesus?
Whose marriage is on the rocks that you could pray for restoration?
Who has an illness that you could pray for healing?
What situation in your own life are you struggling with that you could pray for guidance?
Jesus said ask whatever you want in my name and you will receive it. James says that you receive not because you ask for the wrong reasons. What that means is when you ask for something, why are you asking? Because you think it is the right thing to do? Or because you believe with all your heart that what you are praying for God will deliver?
Pray, talk to God like you believe what you are asking for will happen!!
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Friday, July 13, 2012
Worthless things
"Incline my heart to your testimonies
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your way."
Psalm 119:36-37-He
There is this picture post...thingy...floating around facebook. I posted it on my wall because it is a great saying and the speaker is one of my favorite authors, Francis Chan. The saying goes like this, "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter".
I am a schemer by nature. I have so many ideas and so many things that I want to accomplish, it can get kind of annoying at times...just ask my wife. I have a tendency to float from one thing to another before accomplishing the first thing. I have had to learn to complete a project and see it to the end before I start another one, even if it is not going the way that I had planned originally. I'm not great at it but I am better than I used to be.
With all of these things that I want to do and want to accomplish, sometimes I have to stop and think...do the things that I do really matter??
All of these dreams and stuff I want to accomplish, does it really matter?
Is it going to make a difference?
Is what I am doing for my glory or for God's glory?
In Psalm 119 David writes and asks God to turn his eyes from worthless things. I love that phrasing. But I have to ask, do we ever ask that of God?
Are the things that you are doing worthless?
In the grand scheme of eternity, are they going to matter?
Sometimes, I really have to hold my tongue when I talk to students entering their college years (but maybe I shouldn't) and they tell me their plans and what they want to major in and do with their lives. I often wonder, where does God fit into all of those plans. I hear plans to major in things that will end up being...well...worthless. It sounds like Beaker from the Muppet's, "Me me, mememe me me me". I never hear plans to the tune of, "I want to major in such and such, so I can serve God in this way". I was with a student the other day who told me they wanted to major in a field dealing with mechanics. You should have seen the look they gave me when I suggested they could use that to figure out how to build machines that would dig wells in Africa for people who don't have drinking water.
It makes me so incredible sad when I hear students who have gone to church all their lives, make plans for their lives, that puts God last in their lives. That seems to be the cycle of the "American Dream". Go to college and major in something that will make you lots of money, serve yourself, have a nervous breakdown or mid-life crisis because you are ultimately unsatisfied because you are serving only yourself.
Paul says that whatever we do... do it for the Glory of Us? WRONG!! Do it for the Glory of God!!
How can we do that?
By serving others.
God says that we should not look to only our own interests but to the interests of others. THAT is something worthwhile!!
Are your eyes focused on worthless things?
May our LORD be with you
Josh
and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your way."
Psalm 119:36-37-He
There is this picture post...thingy...floating around facebook. I posted it on my wall because it is a great saying and the speaker is one of my favorite authors, Francis Chan. The saying goes like this, "Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter".
I am a schemer by nature. I have so many ideas and so many things that I want to accomplish, it can get kind of annoying at times...just ask my wife. I have a tendency to float from one thing to another before accomplishing the first thing. I have had to learn to complete a project and see it to the end before I start another one, even if it is not going the way that I had planned originally. I'm not great at it but I am better than I used to be.
With all of these things that I want to do and want to accomplish, sometimes I have to stop and think...do the things that I do really matter??
All of these dreams and stuff I want to accomplish, does it really matter?
Is it going to make a difference?
Is what I am doing for my glory or for God's glory?
In Psalm 119 David writes and asks God to turn his eyes from worthless things. I love that phrasing. But I have to ask, do we ever ask that of God?
Are the things that you are doing worthless?
In the grand scheme of eternity, are they going to matter?
Sometimes, I really have to hold my tongue when I talk to students entering their college years (but maybe I shouldn't) and they tell me their plans and what they want to major in and do with their lives. I often wonder, where does God fit into all of those plans. I hear plans to major in things that will end up being...well...worthless. It sounds like Beaker from the Muppet's, "Me me, mememe me me me". I never hear plans to the tune of, "I want to major in such and such, so I can serve God in this way". I was with a student the other day who told me they wanted to major in a field dealing with mechanics. You should have seen the look they gave me when I suggested they could use that to figure out how to build machines that would dig wells in Africa for people who don't have drinking water.
It makes me so incredible sad when I hear students who have gone to church all their lives, make plans for their lives, that puts God last in their lives. That seems to be the cycle of the "American Dream". Go to college and major in something that will make you lots of money, serve yourself, have a nervous breakdown or mid-life crisis because you are ultimately unsatisfied because you are serving only yourself.
Paul says that whatever we do... do it for the Glory of Us? WRONG!! Do it for the Glory of God!!
How can we do that?
By serving others.
God says that we should not look to only our own interests but to the interests of others. THAT is something worthwhile!!
Are your eyes focused on worthless things?
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Follow me, Jesus?!?
Blessed are those whose ways is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
Psalm 119:1-3-Aleph
We have some big problems that we struggle with these days.
Young men looking at Pornography and teaching their bodies to naturally respond in a very unnatural way.
Young ladies giving themselves away and doing whatever they can because they think it will make them feel loved and wanted.
Teen guys and girls making terrible life choices to the tune of "YOLO", (you only live once) and then finding unthinkable ways to get rid of the mistakes that they have made.
The kicker is, these big problems are not only happening outside the church, they are happening inside the church as well. In some cases, the problems are more frequent with "believers" than non-believers. What is wrong with us, the church, these days? How did we get to this point?
I don't know as though I have the answer but allow me to share a theory with you. We, as the church have become so complacent, we have stopped teaching that Jesus needs to be our lives, rather than add him into what we already have going on. Its like we don't drop everything when he says "Follow Me", we come to him and say "Jesus, Follow Me, be a part of the life that I already live, but don't change anything in it. Just be my get of of hell free card".
Am I wrong? We live life the way we think is best, then scream at God for not saving us from certain situations when the outcome is not what we expected. The above Psalm says blessed are those whose way is BLAMELESS, who walk in (there own way, no way) THE LAW OF THE LORD. Blessed are those who seek after him with their WHOLE HEART!!
Jesus said the only way to save your life is to lose it to Him!! If you try and hold onto your life you will lose it for good.
This is what we need to teach our sons and daughters and youth. Lose your life to Jesus and He will save it. Follow Him, rather than Him follow you.
Here are three ways we can do this;
-Teach the word of God rather than trends and fads. Talk about God and his way of living with our kids and teach these things in our Youth groups. If we do not teach the word of God in our groups, these kids will never know about it. When we teach the Word, it will inevitably answer their life questions and problems they face.
-Let's be less sensitive to those who are not believers yet. I am not saying be mean but often times we don't give kids the truth because they "are not believers yet". Encourage those kids to cry out to Jesus, to pray, to worship. Dong this will teach them to be a disciple even before they give their lives to Christ. That is the truth and the only way to live, why would we cover that up or try and dance around that with advice. Give it to them straight, talk to Jesus, pray to him, read the Word.
-Teach those who do claim to be believers to get rid of all the things in their lives that keep them from following Jesus and get serious about following him. Sometimes you have to draw the line in the sand and say, "either you are with Jesus or you go your own way". Continuing to teach these students that they can live life and add Jesus in when they want is only doing more damage. We need to teach them and our children that Jesus needs to be their life, Period.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
Psalm 119:1-3-Aleph
We have some big problems that we struggle with these days.
Young men looking at Pornography and teaching their bodies to naturally respond in a very unnatural way.
Young ladies giving themselves away and doing whatever they can because they think it will make them feel loved and wanted.
Teen guys and girls making terrible life choices to the tune of "YOLO", (you only live once) and then finding unthinkable ways to get rid of the mistakes that they have made.
The kicker is, these big problems are not only happening outside the church, they are happening inside the church as well. In some cases, the problems are more frequent with "believers" than non-believers. What is wrong with us, the church, these days? How did we get to this point?
I don't know as though I have the answer but allow me to share a theory with you. We, as the church have become so complacent, we have stopped teaching that Jesus needs to be our lives, rather than add him into what we already have going on. Its like we don't drop everything when he says "Follow Me", we come to him and say "Jesus, Follow Me, be a part of the life that I already live, but don't change anything in it. Just be my get of of hell free card".
Am I wrong? We live life the way we think is best, then scream at God for not saving us from certain situations when the outcome is not what we expected. The above Psalm says blessed are those whose way is BLAMELESS, who walk in (there own way, no way) THE LAW OF THE LORD. Blessed are those who seek after him with their WHOLE HEART!!
Jesus said the only way to save your life is to lose it to Him!! If you try and hold onto your life you will lose it for good.
This is what we need to teach our sons and daughters and youth. Lose your life to Jesus and He will save it. Follow Him, rather than Him follow you.
Here are three ways we can do this;
-Teach the word of God rather than trends and fads. Talk about God and his way of living with our kids and teach these things in our Youth groups. If we do not teach the word of God in our groups, these kids will never know about it. When we teach the Word, it will inevitably answer their life questions and problems they face.
-Let's be less sensitive to those who are not believers yet. I am not saying be mean but often times we don't give kids the truth because they "are not believers yet". Encourage those kids to cry out to Jesus, to pray, to worship. Dong this will teach them to be a disciple even before they give their lives to Christ. That is the truth and the only way to live, why would we cover that up or try and dance around that with advice. Give it to them straight, talk to Jesus, pray to him, read the Word.
-Teach those who do claim to be believers to get rid of all the things in their lives that keep them from following Jesus and get serious about following him. Sometimes you have to draw the line in the sand and say, "either you are with Jesus or you go your own way". Continuing to teach these students that they can live life and add Jesus in when they want is only doing more damage. We need to teach them and our children that Jesus needs to be their life, Period.
May our LORD be with you
Josh
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)