What would my life look like if I really trusted the words, the way, and the will of Jesus, and shaped my life accordingly?

I would be more accepting of others, and less critical of their shortcomings.
I would spend more time entertaining my kids and less time being entertained by my TV.
I would give more money to the less fortunate.
I would pray more and worry less.
I would use more energy doing what Jesus says to do and talk about it less.
I would feel more thankful and less entitled.
I would love my wife more and be less of a jerk.
I would talk more openly about how precious Jesus is to me and deny him less.
I would hide more of the Word in my heart and fill my head with less triviality.
I would pursue more things that stir my affections for Jesus, and engage in less activities that numb me.

II Corinthians 7:1 – “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

It always makes me feel good to vote. I leave the polling place feeling so privileged to live in America, with the right and privilege to cast my vote in the democratic electoral process. For all intents and purposes – we all wake up tomorrow with a new president-elect. No matter how you lean politically, or who you vote for – here are some beautiful reminders that can help keep all of this in a proper, Kingdom perspective:

No matter who wins today’s election:

• Jesus is still the only answer for America.
• Our role in the world as students of Jesus will not change.
• The greatest agent for social reform in our country and the world will be by preaching the gospel, not by passing legislation.
• The tomb will still be empty.
• The cross, not politicians, will be our salvation.
• Abortion and gay marriage will ultimately and completely be defeated only as people embrace the Biblical view of God’s immense value of life and marriage.
• God is still in control.

The night went very well. The sessions were somewhat shorter, because this is the night of the big party – where the different countries and regions are represented with the specific culture and food. I preached through most of Luke 9, with the overriding theme that following Jesus can be perplexing at times, especially the last part of the chapter – where it is clear that following Jesus does not always look like we think it might, and it is going to be difficult. I’m not sure what John Bell preached, because I don’t speak Spanish – and I forgot to ask him. But, the students were tuned in, and I am confident that God spoke to their hearts!

So, after we both preached our final session, and we prayed for each person that wanted prayer (especially those who felt called to the mission field), then the party started. It was awesome! Below are a couple of cool video clips of the night.

First is a spot-on Brittish accent that was hilarious!

Next, is at the party following the Missions Conference, where the Colombians show off their spirit and fun-natured side! They are saying: “Somos de la costa y no mas” which basically means “We are from the coast and nothing more!” (The various regions of Colombia divided and gave a presentation on the food, culture, and specifics of their region.)

Okay. True confessions: Juan (from the first video) is really named Mike. He is a missionary from London, England – fluent in Spanish, and with the look of a Colombian. He is in Bogota with his wife, and they are a part of the school. He was great!

Click here to view my pictures from the trip. (All pictures are on this flickr set, not just from Day 2)

Bogota, Colombia

 To get a glimpse of Bogota, Colombia: picture Collin County – which has a land mass of 848 sq. miles, and a population of 700,000. Then compare it to Bogota – which has a land mass of 649 sq. miles, and a population of 8.5 Million. It’s a pretty densely populated place, but a beautiful, clean city, with some of the greatest people in the world!

Thursday, we got out about 10am or so and stopped in a sidewalk cafe across from our hotel. Christian was our guide for the day. The cafe was great. Eggs with tomato & onions, coffee (delicious), and bread.

Then we set out for a day of seeing the city. Bogota is a beautiful place.  First, we went to the downtown financial district to exchange money. The exhange rate was 1,950 Colombian pesos to $1 USD. So, after giving $60 cash, I walked away with $117,000 pesos. I was loaded. So, we went here:

 to take this

 up these

to get a great view of the city (see above). Monserrate is the name of the mountain we went up, and it is at an elevation of 10,341′, and once up there, walking around was brutal (for me). I knew I was out of shape, but when these nuns blew past me as I was taking a break to make sure my heart didn’t jump out of my chest…I was embarrassed, and I sucked it up and passed them and got to the top where it was great to take in the sites of the city! It was amazing. I wanted to stay up there for a long time (mostly just to catch my breath and rest!!)

Night one was great. The students at Canzion Institute in Bogota Colombia are amazing! True worshippers, teachable, and very eager to follow Jesus. My message was 2 parts, with John Bell in the middle. I preached Romans 13:11-14, with the main emphasis being that we live in a unique time, so we need to wake up and arm ourselves with the light and life of Jesus, and take every opportunity we can to live our life for the glory of our King. Someday, I’ll post the notes from these sessions here (someday soon). I feel they were able to overcome the obstacle of translation (by the way, my translator, Veronica was very good!). John taught about the compassion of Christ. I understood about 10% of what he said, but the students were really tracking with him! He also showed a video on hunger in Africa that helped to drive his point home. It was awesome.

Praise God! It was great to have the privilege of sharing, challenging, and motivating these beautiful people.

Click here to view my pictures from the trip. (All pictures are on this flickr set, not just from Day 1)

So I’m boarded onto the plane that takes me to Miami at just after 7am on Wednesday morning, all ready for my trip. Here’s where my trip starts on a crazy note. I’m on my aisle seat (specifically selected by yours truly in order to have just a very little extra space for the trip). Enter man/wife (40-50) to give me more of a jolt to my morning than my Venti Redeye! I stand up, move back to give them room to get into their seats A & B, aka window and middle. This is when things get a little nutty. The man is about 75lbs lighter than this heavyweight, and about 2-3 inches shorter. But his attitude was big. Prettyyyy…prettttyyyy big! Here is the conversation:
Wife to Husband: Honey, do you want the window or middle. (inside, I’m screaming “are you nuts, lady. He’s taking the window, so our hairy arms don’t have to touch for the next few hours!)
Husband to Wife: Well, I’m sure that this nice gentleman will scoot over to the window and let you and I sit on the outside. (I’m stunned, and still have not been addressed, so I play dumb/silent). H looks at me with no words, but his look was – ‘Well? Will ya?’ … Still nothing from me.
H to Me: Well, will you move to the window and let my wife and me sit on the outside? (that’s it. no medical condition, no “why” behind the ‘what”.)
Me to H: No. (just two little letters, but sometimes it feels so good to let them out!)
H to Me: (perturbed) Are you serious?!?
Me to H: Absolutely. I’m going to sit on the aisle. (said respectfully, but firmly)

After about 60 seconds of them putting their stuff in the overhead and him non-stop (and I do mean non-stop) griping under his breath to his wife and to himself…they finally sit down. My cold heart is unmoved. If anything, I feel like I do after Jake pouts after not getting his way: more convinced that I made the right decision! So, I then take my seat again – King of row 21, sprawled out on the aisle – and I strategically put in my earbuds and pretend to hit ‘play’ on my IPOD…but I don’t. So, now I get to hear him quietly and erratically make several comments and noises about how ridiculous I was, how it was the least I could do, blah-blah-blah. Until, finally, his wife (after literally 5+ minutes) said: “That’s enough! Get over it!”

And that was my morning. The rest of the flight/day was pretty uneventful. I got off the plane with no eye contact or interaction with my pouty row-mate, and I made it to Bogota just fine. My layover in Miami was from 11:15a – 5:15p, so I got tons of reading done. It was very relaxing and needed.

So, my arrival into Bogota was pretty intense. Customs was a breeze, but when I got out to the place where people are greeted, it was wild! I looked around for John or LeeAnne, but nothing. So, I finally spot my name on a card. I met up with the crew from Canzion, and they took me to the hotel. John would be coming in later, so I was going to wait for him at the hotel. Later, I found out through my bad Spanish, and their bad English that LeeAnne was NOT coming on the trip. I was worried about her until John got to the hotel and told me that although SHE was fine, she had been robbed the night before, and her passport was stolen, and she could not leave Mexico. That was terrible news, because she makes these trips so great. I love visiting with her, catching up on stories, and just being around her. But, John and I will do our best to make the conference all that God wants it to be.

After late-night pizza (great food – bad idea), and some catching up with the newly engaged John Bell…we went to bed, ready for a great weekend!

Click here to view my pictures from the trip. (All pictures are on this flickr set, not just from the Travel Day)

There is no doubt that it was much easier to ignore the ‘signs of the times’ and all the unsettling bad news that bombards us during seasons like this, when I was young, single, and broke. But now being older with a family, a small business, and a mortgage – I can find myself succombing to the pressure of placing my hope in the politics of the economy, and the kingdom of this world.

But, it is nice to remember Matthew 7:24-27: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

So, again, a great hymn moves my soul to a place of hope:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

1. Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
   Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
   See if there be some wicked way in me;
   Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
2. I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
   Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
   Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
   Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.
3. Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
   Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
   Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
   I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
4. O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
   Send a revival, start the work in me;
   Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
   For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

In looking at the humility of Christ, (Philippians 2:1-11) our call to discipleship as students following after him, and to know how prideful we can be – it is not hard to recognize that we have to fight pride in our lives.

One of the best ways to look deeply at understanding what it is to be humble, is to juxtapose (put it side-by-side) it with pride. Here are 10 (non-exhaustive) comparisons and observations between pride and humility, with some scriptures to make note of as we fight pride in our lives:

1.    Pride is my greatest enemy. – Humility is my greatest ally. (I Peter 5:5)

2.    Pride is demonic and satanic. – Humility is Christ-like & Spirit enabled. (Ezekiel 28:14-17, Ephesians 2:8-9)

3.    Pride is comparing myself to others. – Humility is comparing myself to Christ. (Philippians 2:1-11)

4.    Pride covets the success of other peoples. – Humility celebrates the success of others.

5.    Pride is about me. – Humility is about Jesus and other people (selfless.) (Matthew 5:5)

6.    Pride is about my glory. – Humility is about Christ’s glory. (Isaiah 26:8)

7.    Pride leads to arrogance. – Humility leads to confidence.

8.    Pride is centered around the need for independence. – Humility is centered around dependence on God and others.

9.    Pride is the mother of all sin (-Augustine). – Humility is the mother of all joy.

10.  Pride is very attainable in this lifetime – NOW! – Humility is a part of an ongoing pursuit of sanctification. (I Peter 2:21-23)

Luke 12:13-34

(verse 13) THE QUARRELING BROTHER BASICALLY SAYS TO JESUS: “GET ME WHAT I WANT”

·         James 4:1-5

·         Sometimes we too can be guilty of using Jesus as a means to an end. But a proper, worshipful, revered view of him is to realize that Jesus is the means and Jesus is the end!

(verse 15) BE ON GUARD AGAINST ALL COVETOUSNESS.

·         I Timothy 6:6-10

·         How can we be on guard – (The Bible warns us that this will be a fight)

o    Reduce media intake

o    Don’t make it your goal to be rich.

o    Recognize that your life does not consist in the abundance of your possessions. (SECURITY, CREATURE COMFORTS, TRUST IN YOUR WEALTH)

o    Identify with the poor.

o    Give until it hurts.

·         What are all kinds of greed?

o    Desire to be rich. (Admit our wealth. Compated to a worldview, American=Rich!)

o    We are in a country where starvation is not our concern – obesity is.

o    Never being satisfied.

o    Envy, coveting, keeping up.

o    Power, possessions, position.

verse (16-20) THE PARABLE

·         Until we get ownership down – we’ll never understand stewardship!

·         We would call the character in the story wise – he was planning ahead, and saving for a rainy day, but Jesus calls him a fool.

·         When God entrusts you with wealth and resources – it should increase your standard of giving, not your standard of living!

(verse 21) SO IS THE ONE WHO LAYS UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF AND HIS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD

·         You cannot take it with you, but with Kingdom Economics, Jesus tells us that you can send it on ahead.

·         All that you have and all that you are pursuing will end up in the landfill.

·         Even our bodies are wasting away – II Corinthians 4:16-18 (outer nature wasting away, while our inner nature is being renewed)

·         (The spirit of mammon) Money is made for taking, bargaining, manipulating, but not for giving – this is exactly why giving has such an ability to defeat the powers of money. – Richard Foster.

·         This sermon & text is not talking about just the tithe – we’re talking treasure! Where are you investing? Here? Things seen are transient, being destroyed, going to waste.

(verse 22-31) DON’T SEEK THINGS, SEEK THE KINGDOM

·         Jesus calls us to replace thing-seeking with kingdom-seeking, and to do it without anxiety for not having things. He calls us to be different from the rest of the world. Disciples replace thing-seeking with kingdom-seeking.

·         It’s a trusting lifestyle, free from worry, because God provides.

·         God’s provision is directly linked to his ownership of all things.

(verse 32-34) TREASURING JESUS CHRIST ABOVE ALL THINGS

·         How you handle possessions shows where your heart is. Where your heart is determines whether you are converted or not. Whether you are converted  or not determines if you will inherit the kingdom—the treasure in heaven that does not grow old.

·         Selling possessions/giving rather than accumulating more for yourself is the path to the kingdom, not a payment for the kingdom. It is proof that you love the kingdom more than possessions. That you trust the King more than money.

·         The way that leads to life is narrow and it is the way of selling possessions and giving away money. It is the way of putting a cap on the ever-expanding capacity to buy and buy and buy—building barn after barn. The way that leads to life—to the kingdom—comes through a wartime lifestyle that aims not at the security and ease and prestige of accumulation, but at saving the lost and sending missionaries and feeding the hungry and healing the sick and teaching the simple and dignifying the poor. And when that lifestyle happens, it is a miraculous gift of God!

·         If you are spending money you do not have, buying stuff you don’t need, impressing people you don’t like…then your treasure is here.

·         There is something linked about Jesus and money that has to do with mastery. Either Jesus will be my master, or money will be my master. (Luke 16:13) When Jesus masters me – all things (business, family, schedule, checkbook, job) are a means to his fame and making him known! OR…money/stuff masters me – and like the brother in verse 13 – Jesus becomes a means to get more.

·         BUT YOU CAN’T CHASE BOTH!

SUMMARY:

·         May we live with the joyful liberty of Christ-centered openhandedness! Because our comfort, safety, reward, security – IT’S NOT HERE IN THIS WORLD!

·         May we love Jesus. May we love people. May we use money. May we never use Jesus and people in an effort to gain and love money.

Colossians 3:12-17

Our love for Christ must be fueled. One of those fuels is authentic community.

Hebrews 10:25 – This journey of intimacy with Jesus – to know him more – is inescapably corporate.

Constantine

325 AD, Rome’s Empire began to unravel.

Rome tried to destroy the church, but to no avail.

He converts (allegedly) because of political reasons.

Rome’s religion becomes Christianity.

What began as a family of people became an institution.

Jesus never called us to an institution; he called us to a body.

1. Our lives are designed to be lived as a community of many, and our worship is meant to be for an audience of one.

In our Western way…we live our lives in a community of one, and sadly, our worship has become geared for an audience of many.

The church has become institutionalized, and we look at our big buildings and our powerful entertaining value and we cheer thinking that the church in America is on the rise…when in fact Christian institutions are on the rise, and the body of Christ (church, community, family) is failing miserably.

Churches in America seem to be so very consumed with filling up bigger buildings that we’ll do almost anything to get them in and keep them in, (sparing no expense) with little regard to making sure that those people grow. It’s all about holding their attention and keeping them coming back, without a passion for discipleship.

And I will contend, and I believe that Scripture fully supports this: this journey toward discipleship involves being devoted to each other in authentic, genuine community.

The problem with community is that it takes effort, it takes us out of our comfort level, and takes time to develop. We want it – or it least the idea of it, but unfortunately, we are idealistic in our minds, but lazy in our lives.

 I loved the movie “Hotel Rwanda” – in it, there is this dialogue:

Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle): I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack (Joaquin Phoenix): Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?
Paul: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think if people see this footage they’ll say, “oh my God that’s horrible,” and then go on eating their dinners.
[pause]

May we not take a look at the current state of the church, read the scriptures today and under conviction just say, “How horrible”. And walk out of here and do nothing.

2. A key distinctive that marks genuine community is that people stop cherishing the things that separate them and start cherishing Christ who unites them.

Jesus modeled for us a process of discipleship – through close-knit fellowship

His aim in creating a new people was that they would stop boasting in their distinctives (that separated them) and only boast in Christ (who unites them).

Real biblical fellowship happens when airs are put down, cards are shown, honesty of the heart, and transparency of the soul. Pot luck suppers, superbowl parties, picnics filled with superficial chatter and bumper-sticker theology and Christian clichés – not bad things, just not biblical fellowship!

Acts 2:42-47, the early church was called “The Way”.

3. Our only hope for true community: Christ is all in all.

Christ is all in all. Not living on an island of individualism any longer – with the major focus and emphasis of our lives being our own well-being!

The point of verse 11(referring back to verse 10) where the new self has been put on and is being renewed, Paul says that in the fellowship created by theses new people whoa re chosen, holy, and loved, “there is no disctinction, but Christ is all and in all.”

God is creating a new community out of people who have traded the old self and put on the new self. And the mark of this new (chosen & holy) community is [first] that the people in it stop cherishing the things that separate, and they do not boast in their distinctives – but that they realize that those things have passed away and the number one, primary mark of newness in the new people and the new community is that CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL.

Once we struggled to find our significance and our happiness and our security in what we were in relation to other people – Jew, Greek, American, smart, athletic, strong, pretty, witty, cool…But then, we put on this new self, and the core essence of the new self is that CHRIST IS ALL. *It is longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me! (Gal. 2:20)

For the new self and for this new community, our identity is now summed up in one thing – CHRIST! He is our success, significance, fulfillment, satisfaction, security, peace, identity…Because he is now our ALL!

It is really impossible to live out such precious realites in this new community when we are so disconnected from each other. Deep spiritual formations and walking together closely and honestly are inseparably linked!

Hebrews 3:12-14: These verses warn us to stay in close connection with one another as sin is not taking gigantic bites out of us, but rather it is nibbling away at us.

James 5:16: Confessions. The secret sins of your heart will never lose their power until they are dragged into the light! How many times are you going to repeat those fated words, “I’ll do better next time” “I’m going to handle this” “I can beat this thing”?

When we get to that place where we trust our family enough to confess our sins, what beautiful healing can take place!

You want to be healed of that emotional, spiritual stress and pain and anguish that is working you over – confess your sins and be healed! And in the process of iron sharpening iron in authentic community, watch how you will fuel the flame of love for your God as you journey toward becoming more like His son Jesus Christ!

We have to fight for this. It is counter cultural. It does not come naturally. It’s not clean. It’s not always pretty. It’s risky. BUT, the reward and depth of living is worth the fight and worth the risk.