Grace Roots

GIG 214 - Repentance Means to Change Your Thinking

2009-11-08T21:00:00.000-06:00

The word "repent" has traditionally been taught as a word that means "change your behavior." "Repentance" is taught as a necessary part of being saved. But if repentance means that we have to change our behavior in order to be saved or in order to keep ourselves saved, then doesn't that mean that it's our own works/effort that saves us?

What does it really mean to repent? We'll get into that this week on Growing in Grace.

gigcast.graceroots.org

Growing in Grace Together - John Lynch, Coauthor of Bo's Cafe

2009-11-04T14:00:00.001-06:00

This week I'm happy to present a new feature on Growing in Grace, in addition to my regular weekly podcast with Mike Kapler. "Growing in Grace Together" will feature informal conversations with various people, simply chatting with them about their own grace journeys.

For this inaugural edition, I speak with special guest John Lynch, coauthor of the new novel Bo's Café (boscafe.com), a book he wrote along with Bruce McNicol and Bill Thrall. In short, Bo's Café is a book that will help people who are struggling with a performance-based life, and with various issues in life that never seem to get resolved. Even after hearing all the "right" things preached and knowing all the "right" things to do, we find that our lives are still mucky and falling apart, and we live with guilt and shame - and yet we make ourselves appear nice and shiny to others as we wear masks and as we hide our guilt and shame well, presenting ourselves to others as the person we wish we would be, rather than being real and genuine with others about how things really are on the inside.

As John shares, we need to find a place where "the worst about me could be known and I'd discover that I'd be loved more and not less in the telling of it, and just that alone would start breaking my shame that would allow me to enjoy this health." Listen in as John talks about the various characters in Bo's Café, and how they come to find that Christ-in-them is enough, as He works in and through them - not with quick fixes to their problems, and not through well-laid-out and well-lived-out rules and principles, but rather as they learn to be vulnerable with one another and as they learn to trust in God's grace to work powerfully and dynamically in them through the safe - and often messy - place of genuine relationships.

gigcast.graceroots.org

Repent and BELIEVE the good news

2009-11-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

I was first going to title this, "If I had an 'altar call.'" But it turned out to be much more about what "repentance" is. I'll leave it as I wrote it, but I just thought I'd explain my first few words about the "altar call."

First off, let's get it straight that the only "altar" I would be talking about is your heart, not a group of people flocking down to the front of a church sanctuary. We are the temple of God. We don't "go" to one. The Holy Place of God is YOU! And who says it would have to be me, or who says that it would have to be a pastor or someone with a "title" in the church. If I had an "altar call" in the heart, let it be about a body of people all helping one another out.

And just what would this "altar call" be? Are we talking about getting your act together and changing your behavior? Are we talking about doing something to get yourself right with God? Are we talking about dedicating or "re"dedicating yourself to God or to living better?

None of that is what I'm talking about. If we could get together and speak heart to heart with one another about "repentance," here's what it would mean to me. Repentance (metanoia) means a change of mind - a rethinking of things in the heart. Jesus said, "Repent, and believe the good news." So we would get together, and instead of asking one another how good we're doing at living the Christian life, or what behaviors we need to change in our lives, I'd rather have the discussion revolved around these questions:

Have you been believing the lie that you're not accepted by God because of your poor behavior or performance?

Have you been walking in guilt and shame for the things you've done?

Have you been holding others to a standard that you yourself cannot keep? And even if you feel you've kept that standard, do you really think that that's what the Christian life is about?

Have you had various expectations of yourself, or do you feel God has had expectations of you, that you've failed to live up to, and those failures are keeping you from intimacy with Him?

Have you seen God as judgmental, condemning and angry towards you?

Have you felt weak and burdened, and you feel it's up to yourself to make yourself strong and to bear these heavy burdens?

Have you been believing the good news (and that it really is good news) or have you been believing the lies of performance-based acceptance and sanctification?

As these questions are asked and discussed, I would hope for the conversation of our hearts to turn to:

Let's renew our minds daily to the good news.

Let's repent of the whole idea that it's up to us to maintain our salvation or to sanctify ourselves, and realize that God Himself has saved us to the uttermost and that He has already sanctified us and has already made us complete in Him!

Let's repent of the whole idea that we need to work on all our issues in order to present ourselves to God, and remember that He Himself is at work in us, living His very life in and through us to will and do to according to His good pleasure.

Let's repent of dragging around our heavy loads, and of being rushed to "grow" into something mighty for God, and instead let's slow down and rest in Him, walking in His "unforced rhythms of grace."

Let's repent of wearing masks and acting all cool as if we've got it all together. We don't have it all together - none of us - and as we act like we do, it's sort of like a virus that spreads, and before you know it we've got everyone wearing fake, plastic smiles and talking fake, happy talk, when inside we're dying! Let's be safe for one another to share our junk with one another without condemning one another and pointing our fingers. Let's be real with one another and help one another work through our issues rather than walking with a false notion of "repentance" (changing our behavior), thinking that if we only change our behavior, things will be all better. Let's REPENT of the idea that that's what repentance is, and realize that it never works anyway!

Let's repent of struggling and striving to get our acts straight before God, and allow His love and grace to work in and through us over a period of time, again as we work through these things together gracefully, and to let His love and grace work out those changes that we really do need in our lives. Yes, it's often very beneficial and profitable when our behavior changes - but it's not up to "us." God began a good work in us and God IS faithful to complete it! We think that if we change good enough for Him, He'll accept us. But He knows we can't do squat for Him, so He faithfully does it all and is so gracious to let us come along for the ride... and to ENJOY the ride! The Christian life is not meant to be a struggle. We rest in Him and He produces His very best stuff through us.

Let's repent of wallowing around in guilt, shame and condemnation. Jesus took ALL our guilt and shame, and He came into the world not to condemn but to SAVE. So let's repent of all of this, and let's begin walking in the fullness of His salvation! Again, let's repent of making it about our performance, and let's walk in His ongoing work in and through us.

Let's repent of making life in Christ out to be some moral crusade. We can't change ourselves, never mind the rest of the world!!! If we realize that it's only by God's faithful love and grace working in and through us that our lives change and we bear His fruit, then what in the world are we doing placing all these moral expectations on everyone else in the world??? Instead of protesting the sins of the world, let's bring to them the very message that saved us, the message of reconciliation, by which we ourselves have been saved and kept by grace alone.

So let's repent of making this about us, and let's understand it's all about Him. And let's understand that since it's all about Him, and HE is all about US, then we have a win-win situation at work here! It really is good news! Let's repent and believe the good news!

GIG 213 - Faith, Works and Dead Works

2009-11-01T13:00:00.001-06:00

"Faith without works is dead," says James. We talked about that a little bit last week, and we'll talk about it a little more this week. We'll dig into the idea of how faith and works work together, so to speak, and we'll show how we believe this phrase from James does not mean that we do works in order to "prove" our faith or in order to make our faith genuine. We'll also talk a bit about how "works without faith are dead works!" (See how we cleverly moved the words around a bit). ;) Anyone, even people without faith, can do good works. People can be good imitators, and their imitations can appear very close to the real thing, and yet just as an imitation is not the real thing, in the same way people can do works that appear really, really good, but are nevertheless dead works.

gigcast.graceroots.org

GIG 212 - Justified By Faith AND Works?

2009-10-25T12:00:00.001-05:00

James, James, James... Why'd you have to do it? Why'd you have to say it? Why'd you have to go and say it the way you said it? Why'd you have to say things like, "You see then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24) and "Wasn't our father Abraham justified by works...?" (James 2:21). Didn't Paul say, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God" (Rom 4:2) and didn't Paul repeatedly say that we are justified by faith apart from works? (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16, Gal 3:24). And James, what's up with that "faith without works is dead" statement?

Were you having a bad day when you wrote that letter? Did you simply disagree with Paul? Was Martin Luther on track with his comments about your letter being a "right strawy epistle?" Is there another way to look at your epistle? Do Kap and Joel have anything to say about this?

Hmm... Let's see if they do!

gigcast.graceroots.org

International Grace Party \O/ \O/ \O/ - Friday, October 23

2009-10-22T10:00:00.001-05:00

Attention All GraceWalkers!!!! Attention All GraceWalkers!!! This is a Grace Walk Internet Radio Special Report!!! ;) :D ..... There are up to 250 freed up grace believers meeting at your house this coming, Friday!!! ... We're from all over the world!!! woo hoo!!!!! We are free, crazy, love life, love each other, and most of all love, Jesus!

Make the time, prepare the coffee and cyber goodies!!! It's even ok, if you're not home ... we'll still be there, if you want!!! :D

Come join us Friday morning at 9am Central USA Time.

You can call in via your phone or even listen in LIVE via internet.
Visit the new International Grace Party website for more info.

Hope to see you at the party! \O/

Dave Lesniak
Joel Brueseke

You ran well - who hindered you?

2009-10-19T14:00:00.001-05:00

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (Gal 5:7)

It's a long story to tell about the years leading up to the beginning of what some would call my "walk with Jesus," but suffice it to say that I can't remember a time in life when I was not a believer. Yet I do recall a specific day - January 7, 1992 - when things really changed in my life and I began "running," so to speak.

I was 22 years old, almost 23, and life really did change dramatically. I "quit" doing a lot of the stuff that I used to do and I began intentionally going to an evangelical (pentecostal) church and hanging out with evangelical people. AT FIRST, I ran well. I truthfully felt like there was a literal "halo" around my head! I mean, I knew there wasn't, but the freshness of this new thing the Lord was doing in my life made it feel like heavy weights had been lifted, and my head felt light and happy. I loved the Lord and I naturally (with no one pressuring me to do it) went around sharing this new thing with other people. It was as supernaturally natural as it gets!

But eventually the supernaturally natural life began to fade and I became hindered from obeying the truth. How did this happen? Did I "slip into sin?" Did I go back to my old carousing ways? No, it was nothing like that. What happened is that I began listening to the things that were being taught to me (!) (in church, on Christian radio, etc) and it began penetrating my soul. The result - I began "trying" to live the Christian life that I had begun living without a whole lot of thought about what was right and what was wrong.

See, I knew that the changes in my life were not "of myself." (See this post that I wrote a couple of years ago, about my full understanding that all of this - even my being drawn to God - was by grace alone). As one who had already believed for years, I had previously been through a few "phases" in which I ignorantly thought I could live the Christian life, but there had never been any lasting effects. So by this point, I knew "I" couldn't do it. But this time, it really was different. It was very obvious to me that the Lord was doing something in me that I could not do by myself.

But again, it didn't take long before I began listening to all the teachings about what I'm "supposed" to do as a Christian. I began soaking up all of the "shoulds" and "musts," and all the rules and principles for good, holy Christian living. Eventually the joy and the love faded. I had been "running well," and my Christian life had been a living testimony to the power and life of God in a person. But now, I was hindered from running well, and the problem (although I didn't know it at the time) was that I'd fallen from a supernatural life of grace into a life of rules and law.

What's interesting (and sad) is that the verse above, which is part of a passage in which Paul is trying to help the Galatians go back to grace and freedom and leave behind forever their futile attempts to live by law, was (and still is) actually used in the church to get people like me to see how they were hindered in their walks with Jesus by not following all the supposed rules and laws and principles of good, holy Christian living!

Of course as we look at the entire passage in Galatians, we see that the Galatians had been "running well" because they had died to the law and had trusted solely in the life of Christ in them. But they were hindered from obeying the truth because they went back to trying to be perfected by the law. Paul told them that they had fallen from grace - not because they were sinning but because they were trying to maintain their righteousness by keeping the law! He told them a little leaven (the law) leavens the whole lump.

I found that to be true when my "run" slowed to a very bumpy and unsteady stagger. I had begun with much freedom, and with a trust that it was God's work that He was doing in me but I was now burdened and weary with musts and shoulds.

There is one verse in particular that really helped me along the way, during those years before I came back to grace again. "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Phil 1:6). I was definitely walking a legalistic line, but yet in the midst of all the leaven, grace was working its way back through, and I knew deep inside me that it wasn't up to me - it was up to God. And I knew He'd be faithful to do His work in me. And HE TRULY HAS BEEN!

If you're hindered in your "run" with God - who has hindered you? How did you lose sight of His freedom, love and grace? I encourage you to go back to the deep end of the impossible Christian life that is made light and easy because it's Christ-in-you who is living it, and it's solely God's work in you, not your work for Him!

GIG 211 - God Is At Work In You

2009-10-18T18:00:00.000-05:00

So often we seem to make the Christian life about our work that we do for God. But as we discuss this week, it's not about the work that we do for God, but rather about His work that He does in and through us! HE has begun a good work in us and HE is faithful to complete it!

gigcast.graceroots.org

GIG 210 - Work Out Your Own Salvation?

2009-10-11T13:00:00.003-05:00

We're going to spend a little bit of time talking about confusing or misunderstood "works" passages in the Bible. This week we talk about the Apostle Paul's words that he writes to the Philippians - "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Those words, when taken alone at face value, might cause a type of fear and trembling that was never intended, as it might seem to be saying that our salvation is somehow dependent upon our works! So what did Paul mean with those words? As usual, a look at Paul's surrounding words - as well as other things Paul said in his other letters - helps us to get a better grip on what this is really all about.

gigcast.graceroots.org

Being "not ashamed of the gospel" is not the same as standing for morality

2009-10-05T11:00:00.005-05:00

Over the years I've heard the phrase "I'm not ashamed of the gospel" (the first part of Romans 1:16) many times. Generally speaking, when people have used that phrase what they've meant is, "I'm not ashamed to make a stand for my moral convictions." They quote this phrase and use it in their proclamation that we Christians need to "stand up for what is right!" You've perhaps heard this phrase used as a mantra in political and social rallies in support of various moral causes and agendas.

My question is, is that what the gospel is about? Is that what "not being ashamed" of the gospel is all about? Is that anywhere close to what Paul was trying to communicate?

The gospel was never meant to be used as a means of protesting the sins that are committed in the world. That's not what the gospel is about. The gospel is a declaration of God's love and grace toward people and it's the power that defeated sin - not protested it! As Paul says in the second half of the sentence, the gospel is the power of God for salvation! The law's job was to protest sin, so to speak, but it never had any power whatsoever to help with the problem of sin. In comes the gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news - and what the law could never do, God did by sending His own Son! (Rom 8:3-4).

What gets even more interesting for me is what Paul says in the sentence that follows "I am not ashamed of the gospel." In Rom 1:17 he writes, "For in it (the gospel), the righteousness of God is revealed..." Contrary to being about man's morality and righteous deeds, the gospel is a revelation of God's righteousness, which can only be received by man as a gift. It's not something man does. It's something he receives and walks in freely. To be ashamed of the gospel is to be ashamed of the gift that God gives and instead to try to attain it by your own deeds.

But Paul's only getting started in Rom 1:17 with his talk about the gospel being a revelation of God's righteousness. Now, Paul does do some important backtracking, and takes some time to make sure his readers really get a grip on the unrighteousness of ALL of mankind, to set a foundation before digging into the meat of what "the gospel" and "God's righteousness" is all about. You have to skip all the way ahead to Rom 3:21 before Paul gets back to his original point, but he does get back to it, and he then builds on it for several chapters. Rom 3:21 - "But now, the righteousness of God is revealed... through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe... being justified freely by His grace..."

If we look and see what "the gospel" really is, we'll see that it's all about the free gift of salvation, by grace through faith, and the receiving of God's very own righteousness as we chuck aside any and all of our own sense of morality and righteousness. I love how Paul, in Philippians 3, showed how this all had played out in his own life. He first gives seven reasons why he originally trusted in his own sense of morality and righteousness - including having considered himself blameless in his law-keeping! He essentially says, "Man, I was the stuff! No one could hold a candle to me!"

But just as soon as anyone might begin to be impressed with his superior moral credentials, he takes a complete 180º turn and says, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ... and count them as dung that I may gain Christ." (Phil 3:7-8). My own paraphrase: "Forget my own morality and righteousness! I might as well shovel the floor of a cow barn and offer up my findings to God if it's going to be about that!"

Unfortunately, dung is often what is being presented as "the gospel" today. Paul's words, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ," and all his words that followed, were very bold words that flew in the face of the religious, morality-conscious people, as he defended his stance that the gospel was not about man's morality. Let's keep on being bold like that as we count our own righteousness as dung and lay hold of the free gift of Life!

GIG 209 - Jesus' Harsh Words to Self-Righteous Hypocrites

2009-10-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Did Jesus approach everyone in the same way? During the past few weeks we've hopefully been successful at throwing that idea into the shredder! Jesus spoke differently to different people, and didn't always approach and respond to them in the same way - and it always depended upon all kinds of varying factors. It never was black and white.

So what about Jesus' interaction with self-righteous people and hypocrites (essentially one in the same)? It seems as if these people bugged Jesus the most, and He often had more than a mouthful to say to them. This week we look at one such example of His interaction with them in Matthew 23, as He speaks openly and harshly to and about the self-righteous, hypocritical scribes and Pharisees.

gigcast.graceroots.org

Keep the conversation going

2009-10-03T10:00:00.001-05:00

We are eternally joined together spiritually in a relationship with a God who is a communicator, a relator (someone who relates), a listener. He's someone who is conscious about us all the time - inclined toward us all the time - and ever aware of what we're thinking, feeling, saying, doing, being, wanting, contemplating, desiring...

There's nothing going on that God's not aware of. He's in us, He is our life. I was recently listening to someone teach a "method" for praying, and all I could think of is that I've come to know this personal, relatable, relation-based God in such a way that it makes "methods" for praying such a foreign concept to me anymore. I won't knock you if you've got your own "methods" that "work" for you, but I just can't do that anymore.

For me, I find that it's so much more about open, ongoing communication with a lover, a friend, a Father. If I'm dealing with something - fear, worry, finances, a certain sin, a job situation, confusion, anger... whatever... I find that I can bring it all out into the open with the God who already knows alllll about it! In the same way, of course, I can share all my joys, loves, good times - everything - with this God who relates to all of it!

Many times, my communication with God about these things is simply for my own peace. It's not as if the circumstances always change. But very often my perspective, my outlook, will change as I lay it all at His feet. I think it's absolutely all right to pray - to speak openly and confidently - about anything and everything with God. If things change, then great! If they stay the same - or even get worse - that doesn't mean God hasn't heard or isn't listening. And it doesn't mean you have to stop talking with Him about it!

My point in all of this is that we are free to openly communicate with the One with whom we are joined. We are free to be weak and open and vulnerable with Him, no matter what. He's not surprised by anything we bring to Him! He's not phased by it. As we grow in being open with Him, sometimes our way of relating to Him will change over time. I know my communication with God has changed dramatically over the years! There's no "set" way to relate to God. It's all by grace, and it's all about His loving care for us. Just be yourself - your real self - with Him, and relax in His ever-presence and in His sufficiency.

1 Thess 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Another clip of Jay Bakker on Mark Lowry's show

2009-10-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Mark Lowry shows a clip of Jay Bakker on Jim Bakker's program. Jay talks mostly about love, relationships, differences, etc. Mark talks about Banana Puddin'. :) This is an earlier program than the two that I previously posted, and much shorter. Please check out the other two if you haven't already.

Mark Lowry interviews Jay Bakker

2009-10-01T16:00:00.001-05:00

I posted these videos a couple of years ago, a few weeks after Tammy Faye Bakker died. I thought Jay had some great things to say about grace and relationships - but not only "talk" - it seems as if he is really living it out.

GIG 208 - Jesus' Response To "What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life?"

2009-09-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Just as with the "certain lawyer" who approached Jesus (Luke 10:25-37, as we discussed recently), the "rich young ruler" also approached Jesus with the question, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (see Mark 10:17-27, Luke 18:18-27)

Jesus' response to the man was similar, bringing up five or six of the Ten Commandments. And so, is that true? Do the commandments have anything to do with inheriting eternal life? After all, that was how Jesus responded to this man's question about inheriting eternal life! Mike and Joel talk this through in this week's Growing in Grace podcast.

As we continue looking at how the words of Jesus don't always apply to believers, we realize many questions may arise, including the question, "What about the Bible passage that says, 'ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work?'" We take some time out at the beginning of the podcast to address that.

gigcast.graceroots.org

There are no cookie cutter Christians!

2009-09-25T11:00:00.004-05:00

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Cor 12:12-13 NIV

This passage, along with the surrounding words, and Romans 12 as well, has played a huge part in helping me understand my identity in Christ. These passages are actually about the functions of the members of the body of Christ (what each member "does"), but the functions are based upon our identity in Christ. "We were all given the one Spirit to drink," for example. Our common identity revolves around life in the Spirit.

Whatever we do within the body of Christ, it flows from who we are. And not just who we are individually, but who we are together - as many diverse members making up one body unit (one identity). My eye is very different from my hand is very different from my liver is very different from my knee... but all the individual parts make up one body. And each part, though different, is equally important to the body as a whole.

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Rom 12:4-5 NKJV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Rom 12:6 NIV

There are no "cookie cutter Christians." There are many parts. Many different parts. Many unique parts. Not all function in the same way - not all do the same things - and that's a very good thing! YOU are a very unique member of the body of Christ, and you are meant to be that way! God made you the way you are, very purposefully.

Within the body of Christ, we are all meant to be different, unique, and yet making up the same body. Some people give more, some people work more, some people have more money and earthly possessions, some are quiet, some are loud, some are gifted with words, some are gifted in cooking, some are gifted in hospitality, some are gifted with humor, some are gifted in ways that are very outward and noticeable, some are gifted in ways that will never been noticed by most people.

Some are teachers, some are businessmen, some are journeymen, some are entrepreneurs, some are beneficiaries of large estate. Some pray more, some get their hands dirty more, some like to sing, some don't care to sing, some enjoy large crowds and parties, some prefer more time alone. Some are great encouragers, some are natural leaders, some are great at explaining doctrine, some don't enjoy "doctrine talk" at all.

This little list is very insufficient in covering the wide range of diverse parts in the body of Christ, but hopefully it makes the point that we're all different, and it's good... oh so good! We have different joys, different desires, different paths to take. And very often our paths meet and we find people with common joys and desires and we join together in great fellowship. Other times we find ourselves in groups of people with different joys and desires, and we find ourselves working together, using all of our unique gifts and talents for the common good.

And throughout our lives, so much of this can and does change. And that's a good thing too! I don't think we're meant to be fixed statically in every last thing about our personalities. It's good when we change!

Whatever your part in the body of Christ, be content there. Not sure who you are (identity) or what "part" you are? Seek the Lord. Ask Him to show you who you are (your identity) and who you are within the context of the body of Christ. And along with that take a simple, ongoing survey of your life. I don't necessarily mean a deep, introspective look. Just look at your life and take note of the things you like doing. What turns you on? What makes you tick? What things about your personality and 'ways' are beneficial to others? How do the things you do benefit the body as a whole (whether other people understand it or not). Don't worry and fret that you're not something that someone else is. Don't project who you are onto someone else, as if they should be like you! And don't let anyone do that to you!

Don't be a helper

2009-09-22T11:00:00.001-05:00

Last week I was referred by my doctor to a physical therapist because of pain, soreness and numbness in my left leg and foot. Today on my second visit, I received some encouragement - a great reminder - from the Lord through my interaction with the therapist.

Through maneuvering my body and trying to stretch it in various ways, the therapist has revealed to me that certain sets of muscles, especially in my lower back and left leg, are tight and/or weak. My strength and range of motion isn't what it should be. And so the goal is to loosen certain muscles and strengthen other muscles so that I'm in better shape, which will effectively get rid of the pain, soreness and numbness. It has already helped.

Today, while I was lying flat on my back, the therapist told me to rest my leg on her shoulder. Using her own strength, she was going to push my leg up to stretch certain muscles. Well, at first I lifted up my leg onto her shoulder - but I didn't really rest it there. As she pushed, I lifted my leg using my own strength.

She looked at me and said, "Just rest your leg on my shoulder. Let your whole weight drop down on me." The she added with a sarcastic smile, "You're a helper, aren't you?"

Truth is, she didn't need my help. In fact, my "help" was counterproductive to what she was trying to accomplish. My "work" was to rest, and as I rested, she bore the weight and she did the work.

You know where I'm going with all this. So I'll just leave it at that. :)

GIG 207 - It's All About the Unconditional Love of the Father

2009-09-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Continuing from last week with our look at parables in which we often seem to misidentify the characters, or at least in which we seem to put the spotlight on the wrong characters, this week we take a look at the story that is commonly called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son." Certainly the prodigal son isn't a character who we simply glance over, and most of us can easily identify with him in one way or another, but is he really meant to be the main focus of the parable? We'll share a couple of real-life stories as we discuss how we think the focus was always meant to be on the great love of the father.

gigcast.graceroots.org

It's nice to know that we're not under the law, but...

2009-09-19T23:00:00.001-05:00

...it's even better to know that it has been wiped out, having been nailed to the cross and taken out of the way!

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Col 2:13-15

Does the church really "get" this?!

My extra-holy interview with the Most Extra Very Reverend J. Slick Breeze!

2009-09-18T20:00:00.001-05:00

As promised earlier today.

Put your grease filter on.

Upcoming Rev. J. Slick Breeze interview!

2009-09-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since we've heard from my holier-than-thou twin-brother-from-another-mother in-a-parallel-universe, The Most Extra Very Reverend J. Slick Breeze, and I was finally able to make contact with him! Through the phenomenal wonders of inter-parallel-universe videoconferencing, we were able to record my interview of him. We had quite a strange conversation - nothing new when it comes to ol' Slick - and I debated whether or not I should post it, but I decided to go for it, and it should be available for broadcast later today or tomorrow. If nothing else, it will highlight the sad truth of what legalism can do to a person! I'm sure he feels otherwise.

Some things revealed in the interview:
- That the Rev. J. Slick Breeze wants you to give to his ministry
- That the Rev. J. Slick Breeze will be blessed when you give to his ministry
- That the Rev. J. Slick Breeze likes gold, money, and you sowing your seed into his ministry
- What the "J" stands for

In case you weren't around at the time, here's a previous word from the man.

Be quiet, rest...

2009-09-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

(Text first posted 9/18/06)

And what was said to the rose
-
To make it unfold
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Was said to me here in my chest
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So be quiet now
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And rest

David Crowder Band - "Here is Our King"

I love the way the poetry in this song expresses the way the Living Word of God works in and through us. It isn't through hard labor and striving that a bud opens up to reveal what was inside all along.

We often underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit and God's grace working in us and others. We try to coerce ourselves and others into "working for God" to make the church grow and be healthy and thriving.

The book of Hebrews talks about a "rest" for God's people and we're told to be diligent to enter that rest. Jesus said that if we abide in Him, and His words in us, we will bear fruit. A branch doesn't labor or struggle or strive to produce fruit. The power of the Living God which flows from the Vine to the abiding (resting) branch, produces fruit. It's the only fruit that is truly spiritual, that is truly produced by God Himself.

So be quiet now, and rest...

My prayer for you

2009-09-16T23:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't had much to say lately, at least not here in the blogosphere. And that's a-ok! Just thought I'd let you know that no matter who or where you are, and no matter how well I do or don't know you, this was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians and it's my prayer for you as well.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Eph 1:15-23

GIG 206 - Identifying Ourselves Correctly in the Parables

2009-09-13T19:00:00.000-05:00

The words of Jesus - surprisingly to many people - are not always what they seem at face value, as we've discussed over the past few weeks here on Growing in Grace. Often we begin with a preconceived premise in our determination of what Jesus is trying to communicate, but if we start with the wrong premise then we're going to end up going down the wrong path, leading to the wrong conclusions. With this in mind, this week we take a look at how various characters in the parables that Jesus told are often misunderstood because we often start with the wrong premise of the meaning of each parable.

Often the parable of the Good Samaritan is read and taught in such a way as to make us (Christians) out to be people who should strive to be the Good Samaritan in the story. The parables of the Pearl of Great Price and of the Treasure Hidden in a Field are presented as stories that show Jesus as a precious pearl and treasure that we are to purchase after we sell all we have. Are these things really what these parables are communicating? We'll take into consideration the people Jesus was talking with in each situation and what questions He was responding to, and also take into account the surrounding context and other New Covenant truth to help us sort out who some of characters in the parables really represent.

Hint: We often try to make ourselves the heroes and/or the centerpieces of the parables. But perhaps these parables really show us how Jesus is the hero and centerpiece!

gigcast.graceroots.org

Licentiousness, Law, or Something Else... (Repost)

2009-09-09T23:00:00.000-05:00

(Originally posted 3/4/07)

A life of Licentiousness or a life of Law – which would you choose?

I choose neither! Real Life is found in neither one, but yet we tend to gravitate towards law because we’re not secure in our faith. We gravitate towards rules and regulations – law – because we’re not confident in Christ-in-us.

We know we don’t want to preach licentiousness. We know life in Christ isn’t about “anything goes.” So we try to control others and ourselves through law.

Tony Vincent, in his song “Shake the Money Tree” from his self-titled album (over a decade ago), put it this way:

“Too insecure to live by faith
We’re always looking for some other way.”

The song is actually about trusting in Jesus rather than money. It’s about being content regardless of our financial status. It’s about trusting that God provides.

But that little line speaks much more to me in other ways too. Our Christian walk is “by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). “Walk by the Spirit and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). Somehow we’ve made “walking by the Spirit” into a Law-walk rather than a faith walk - and I think that's because we're not fully convinced that the good news of the gospel and the power contained in it is really that good and that powerful! We find a sense of security in rules and standards. And we've come to realize that walking by the Spirit is like the wind... you never know where it's coming from and which way it will blow! (John 3:8) But yet the fruit of the Spirit is not the same as the fruit of the Law! Compare Galatians 5:22-23 with Romans 7:5 and Romans 7:9-11.

The fruit of walking by the Spirit (walking by faith, not by sight) is so much different than the fruit of walking by Law. Trusting in the Spirit (as opposed to our own fleshly attempts at righteous living) results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. But trying to live by the Law results in aroused sinful passions, revival of sin, the deceit of sin, and death!

People naturally resist forced behavior change. Even if we want to change, even if we want to do wonderful, loving, kind deeds... if someone tells us “you must do this,” we naturally resist doing even what we want to do! But when we step aside and let the life of the Spirit who is in us take over, and just let Him do what He supernaturally does in us (not forcibly, but gently... and usually not logically!), the fruit will be so much greater than anything we could conjure up on our own.