blunt

new blog

2011-03-28T13:21:00.000-05:00

Thanks for coming... but I'm blogging over here now: http://jesusbiz.com

God is crazy

2010-04-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

I just wrote the following as an email to someone and decided I might as well post it here since I never update my blog anymore...

God is just crazy.

I mean, he loves me and you, so thats something.

Plus, its just crazy the way he works things out so perfectly.

Like the fact that I (a person who loves Business as Missions and reads about church leadership, movements, etc in my free time) am now working on connecting DaySpring (a Missional Business) and churches (churches!) in ways that are mutually beneficial with the goal of expanding God's Kingdom. I mean seriously, is he kidding.

Its just more clear to me every day that God makes us a certain way to fulfill a certain purpose for him. And also that he puts certain things in our lives (people, events, hardships) that help us fulfill that purpose.

All we have to do is stop trying to fulfill our own plans and surrender to his! (much easier said than done. :) )

My prayer "...not as I will, but as you will..." (Matthew 26:39 - Gethsemane)

the baton

2010-03-15T07:43:00.002-05:00

So, I've heard "Wait" for a long time.
This weekend I had a pretty cool encounter with God where he passed the baton to me and said "Run".

I'm glad I waited, because I'm not the best "runner" and would have fallen on my face and lost.
I'm already tripping up, but through God's grace I'm still standing, and running.

And the difference is I'm not running to win, I'm running so he'll win.
And he will win.

When I cross the finish line, he'll be my only prize and we'll celebrate together.

Closed Country

2010-02-09T12:11:00.011-06:00

This is a guest post... enjoy!

-----------------------------

The Closed Country

There are places in our world where the name of Jesus Christ is not to be preached. These places are commonly referred to as "closed countries". To speak the name of Christ is forbidden by the government and rejected by the people. Many United States Christians fear to step into these places for a number of reasons. They may experience isolation from the love and fellowship they know and desire. It requires that they must leave the comfort of their home. They may not be fluent in the language and religion of the local people. Christians may see people dressed exotically or even inappropriately. Some may worry about the unknowns and unusual circumstances they may encounter. Their children may not grow up with even one Christian friend. Their children may be forced to forfeit a Christian education from a bible-trained scholar who teaches the foundations of the Christian religion. Sounds difficult?

“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
- Matthew 18:20

I look around and I feel as if I am only one Christ-follower in my closed country. Many United Stated Christians are fearful to enter my country. The government forbids me to speak the name of Jesus. The people here do not want my ways forced upon them. I have to wait for the few opportunities for God to open someone’s eyes to see and ears to hear. I do not speak the native language of half the people and I feel alone each day and long for a fellow believer to share my struggles.
I have seen the oppression of the demonic forces in this world and I have watched as they attack the innocent because they are weakest. The children of God are the minority here. They are not allowed to learn about the Bible from me and it is unlikely to find someone who will tell them.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
- Matthew 28:19-20

“I have made you a light for the nations, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Acts 13:47

Go. That command doesn’t require that you purchase a plane ticket to a far away land (although please do if you feel led!)
I am personally inviting you into my closed country. Please come and bring your children so that we can be two or more gathered in His name.
Don’t hide your light from the nations. Especially ours.

Sincerely,
Public School Teacher
Northwest Arkansas
United States of America
---------------------------------

I'm thankful God is so good and personal and that he leads each of us in the best way for our unique circumstances.
-Jesse

Identity

2010-02-05T07:17:00.026-06:00

Below I've listed truths about what it means to be a Christian. Unfortunately, many Christians don't live this way or take these truths to heart and it is evident in our churches and our world.

I personally want to read and re-read these truths until I move past comprehension to application. I want to know it in my heart and show it in my life. So, I am going to try to read a few of these each day. Please join me in this if you'd like. Maybe print them out or bookmark this post and read a handful of them every day or every week.

As you start to internalize these truths from God's word, they will absolutely change your life.

Each time you read them, you will be brought to worship, as you are reminded how great our God is.

This list is taken from Neil T. Anderson's "Victory over the Darkness".

(roll your mouse over the scripture references to see the text)

	John 1:12	I am God's child.
	John 15:15	As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
	Romans 5:1	I have been justified.
	1 Corinthians 6:17	I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
	1 Corinthians 6:19-20	I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
	1 Corinthians 12:27	I am a member of Christ's body.
	Ephesians 1:3-8	I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
	Colossians 1:13-14	I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
	Colossians 2:9-10	I am complete in Christ.
	Hebrews 4:14-16	I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.


	Romans 8:1-2	I am free from condemnation.
	Romans 8:28	I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
	Romans 8:31-39	I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
	2 Corinthians 1:21-22	I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
	Colossians 3:1-4	I am hidden with Christ in God.
	Philippians 1:6	I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
	Philippians 3:20	I am a citizen of heaven.
	2 Timothy 1:7	I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
	1 John 5:18	I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.


	John 15:5	I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
	John 15:16	I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
	1 Corinthians 3:16	I am God's temple.
	2 Corinthians 5:17-21	I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
	Ephesians 2:6	I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
	Ephesians 2:10	I am God's workmanship.
	Ephesians 3:12	I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
	Philippians 4:13	I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Wow. Praise God. Seriously, how can you read these and not....

"The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!"

(From Victory Over the Darkness , by Dr. Neil Anderson)

Shout out to Freedom in Christ Ministries for having these on their website when I Googled for them...

CH 3 - The Canon of Scripture, Part 2

2010-02-04T07:24:00.005-06:00

(This is one post of a large series where I will copy down the key points of each chapter as I read through Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. I will be copying many lines word-for-word and also shortening and summarizing some points in my own words. I hope that this can be useful for others as a quick reference but it is not meant to in any way substitute the personal study and investigation of the Bible and these important topics.)

B. The New Testament Canon

The writing of Scripture primarily occurs in connecting God's great acts in redemptive history.

Apostles are given the ability from the Holy Spirit to recall accurately the words and deeds of Jesus and to interpret them rightly for subsequent generations.

John 14:26

John 16:13-14

Those who have the office of apostle in the early church are seen to claim an authority equal to that of the Old Testament prophets, an authority to speak and write words that are God's very words.

2 Peter 3:2

Paul

1 Corinthians 2:9

1 Corinthians 2:13

1 Corinthians 14:37

Paul claims that his directives to the church at Corinth are no merely his own but a command of the Lord.

The apostles have the authority to write words that are God's own words, equal in truth status and authority to the words of the Old Testament Scriptures. They do this to record, interpret, and apply to the lives of believers the great truths about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.

We have most of the New Testament in the canon because of direct authorship by the apostles.

But 5 books, Mark, Luke, Acts, Hebrews, and Jude, were not written by apostles.

Mark, Luke and Acts were commonly acknowledged very early.

Probably because Paul was close with Luke, the author of Luke and Acts and Peter was close with Mark. Jude also had the virtue of his connection with James and the fact that he was the brother of Jesus.

The intrinsic qualities of Hebrews must have been a big part of convincing the early readers, as they continue to convince believers today, that whoever its human author may have been, its ultimate author can only have been God himself. The majestic glory of Christ shines forth from the pages of the epistle to the Hebrews so brightly that no believer who reads it seriously should ever want to question its place in the canon.

It shouldn't surprise us that the early church should have been able to recognize Hebrews and other writings, not written by apostles, as God's very words. Had not Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice" (John 10:27)?

It should NOT be though impossible that the early church would be able to use a combination of factors, including

-apostolic endorsement,

-consistency with the rest of Scripture,

-and the perception of a writing as "God-breathed" on the part of an overwhelming majority of believers,

to decide that a writing was in fact God's words and therefor worthy of inclusion in the canon.

In A.D. 367 the Thirty-ninth Paschal Letter of Athanasius contained an exact list of the twenty-seven New Testament books we have today. This was the list of books accepted by the churhes in the eastern part of the Mediterranean world. In A.D. 397, the Council of Carthage, representing the churches in the western part of the Mediterranean world, agreed with the eastern churches on the same list.

(The final part of CH 3 is coming soon....)

It's All About Jesus

2010-01-20T07:12:00.004-06:00

The more we get to know God, the more we recognize him.

This may sound like an obvious statement, but it continues to blow my mind, every. single. day.

As I invest more of myself into my relationship with Jesus, I am beginning to see God and his unbelievable story in everything and everywhere.

Now, I'm still much like a child learning to ride his bike for the first time. I've still got training wheels on and I'm just so excited to see that when I pedal, the bike moves; and I'm not falling down... yet. I've got many miles ahead of me and hopefully I'll even cruise into the sunset on a Harley, but who knows- I might still be on training wheels.

So if you're still with me after that analogy, my point is that this post will not be completed today, or ever, because my understanding of God's hand on our world is still so small. While it increases every day, not until I am with him, will I really get it.

You know in the movies when a person can't get someone off of their mind? They see this person's face in the reflection of their sink, in the mirror, and on every body they walk by on the street. It's like this person is everywhere and they aren't going to be able to avoid them, no matter what they do.

This is kinda how Jesus has been for me lately, except in a less freaky way.

I can't hear a story, watch a movie, walk outside, talk to a friend, or even work without seeing Jesus in it all. Its quite ridiculous and incredible at the same time.

You might say to me, "He's obviously trying to get your attention and show you something".

And I would reply, "I think it's that he finally does have my attention, and that he's showing me everything... and how it's all about him."

Yes, he is trying to tell me something, he's ALWAYS telling me something. It's like a floodgate has been opened up and I'm drowning in him.

He says things like "You see those birds, I know them well, and 'you are more valuable than many sparrows,' and you see the way they are going about their lives joyfully playing as they gather food? You should do the same; live purposefully and joyfully always and in the very same moment, because they can and should coexist". And joy fills me and I praise him.

He'll say "You see that billboard, I know how many hairs are on that man's head".

And I'll praise him.

"You don't like the way that reality tv show ended, you don't think that person deserved to win?Well did you deserve salvation?" And I praise him because I don't, but he gave it anyway.

He says to me while I'm working "the key to success in that project is authentic relationships, just like an authentic relationship with me is the key to your spiritual life, and an authentic relationship with people is the key to evangelism and discipleship. Oh and by the way, do those 2 things well, Love me and Love others, and you'll be obeying my commands".

And I'm like "Woah, that's heavy and that's huge. I'm just writing an email here!!"

And he whispers in my ear... "Well, it's all about me. Even your emails."

And I praise him.

CH 3 - The Canon of Scripture, Part 1

2010-01-19T07:05:00.009-06:00

Explanation and Scriptural Basis

The canon of Scripture is the list of all the books that belong in the Bible.

To add to or subtract from God's words would be to prevent God's people from obeying him fully.

Deuteronomy 4:2

If we trust and obey God absolutely we must have a collection of words that we are certain are God's own words to us.

A. The Old Testament Canon

The Ten Commandments form the beginning of the biblical canon.

Exodus 31:18

Exodus 32:16

The tablets were deposited in the ark of the covenant (Deut. 10:5) and constituted the terms of the covenant between God and his people.

This collection of absolutely authoritative words from God grew in size throughout the time of Israel's history.

Moses wrote books of the Bible, first four and Deuteronomy.

Joshua also aded to the collection of written words of God.

Joshua 24:26

God must have authorized Joshua to add to the written words like this.

Later, others in Israel, usually those who fulfilled the office of prophet, wrote additional words from God.

1 Samuel 10:25

1 Chronicles 29:29

2 Chronicles 20:34

2 Chronicles 26:22

2 Chronicles 32:32

Jeremiah 30:2

After approximately 435 B.C. there were no further additions to the Old Testament canon.

When we turn to Jewish literature outside the Old Testament, we see that the belief that divinely authoritative words from God had ceased is clearly attested in several different strands of extrabiblical Jewish literature.

1 Macabees for example.

Josephus (born c. A.D. 37/38) explained, "From Artaxerxes to our own times a complete history has been written, but has not been deemed worthy of equal credit with the earlier records, because of the failure of the exact succession of the prophets". Josephus was the greatest Jewish historian of the first century and he knew of the writings now considered part of the "Apocrypha", but he and many of his contemporaries considered these other writings "not... worthy of equal credit" with what we now know as the Old Testament Scriptures.

Writings subsequent to about 435 B.C. were not accepted by the Jewish people generally as having equal authority with the rest of Scripture.

And by reading the New Testament it is apparent that Jesus and his disciples, on the on hand, and the Jewish leaders or Jewish people, on the other hand, were in full agreement that additions to the Old Testament conan had ceased after the time of Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Jesus and the New Testament authors quote various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative around 295 times, but not once do they cite any statement from the books of the Apocrypha or any other writings as having divine authority.

So, the New Testament authors agreed that the established Old Testament canon, no more and no less, was to be taken as God's very words.

The Apocrypha is the collection of books included in the canon by the Roman Catholic Church but excluded from the canon by Protestantism. What should we say about these books?

These books were never accepted by the Jews as Scripture.

The fact that these books were included by Jerome in his Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible (completed in A.D. 404) gave support to their inclusion, even though Jerome himself said that they were not "books of the canon" but merely "books of the church" that were helpful and useful for believers.

The wide use of this translation in subsequent centuries guaranteed their continued accessibility, but the fact that they had no Hebrew original behind hem, and their exclusion from the Jewish canon, as well as the lack of their citation in the New Testament, led many to view them with suspicion or to reject their authority.

It was not until 1546, at the Council of Trent, that the Roman Catholic Church officially declared the Apocrypha to be part of the canon.

It is significant that the Council of Trent was the response of the Roman Catholic Church to the teaching of Martin Luther and the rapidly spreading Protestant Reformation, and the books of the Apocrypha contain support for the Catholic teaching of prayers for the dead and justification by faith plus works, not by faith alone.

The writings of the Apocrypha should not be regarded as part of Scripture:

(1) They do not claim for themselves the same kind of authority as the Old Testament writings

(2) They were not regarded as God's words by the Jewish people from whom they originated

(3) They were not considered to be Scriptures by Jesus or the New Testament authors

(4)They contain teachings inconsistent with the rest of the Bible

They do have value for historical and linguistic research, but they have never been part of the Old Testament canon, and they should not be thought of as part of the Bible.

With regard to the canon of the Old Testament, Christians today should have no worry that anything needed has been left out or that anything that is not God's words has been included.

Ch 2 - The Word of God

2010-01-07T06:59:00.007-06:00

What are the different forms of the Word of God?

A. The Word of God as a Person: Jesus Christ

The Son of God is sometimes referred to as "the Word of God"

Revelation 19:13

John 1:1

John 1:14

While this usage is not common, it does indicate that among the members of the Trinity it is especially God the Son who in his person as well as in his words has the role of communicating the character of God to us and of expressing the will of God for us.

B."The Word of God" as Speech by God

1. God's Decrees.

A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to happen.

Creation is best example. Genesis 1:3, Genesis 1:24

Psalm 33:6

Not only the original creation but also the continuing existence of all things, for Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Christ is continually "upholding the universe by his word of power."

2. God's Words of Personal Address.

Sometimes God communicates with people on earth by speaking directly to them.

Examples: To Adam - Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:16-19; In Giving Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-3; At Jesus' Baptism- Matthew 3:17

In these and others, it was clear to the hearers that these were the actual words of God; they were hearing God's very voice, and they were therefore hearing words that had absolute divine authority and that were absolutely trustworthy.

Actual words of God and also "human" words in that they are spoken in ordinary human language that is immediately understandable. But that does not limit their divine character or authority in any way.

3. God's Words as Speech Through Human Lips.

Frequently in Scripture God raises up prophets through who he speaks.

Although these are human words, spoken in ordinary human language by ordinary human beings, the authority and truthfulness of these words is in no way diminished: they are still completely God's words as well.

Examples: Deuteronomy 18:18-20 to Moses; to Jeremiah - "Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, 'Behold, I have put my words in your mouth' " (Jer. 1:9); Also, God tells Jeremiah, "Whatever I command you you shall speak" (Jer. 1:7)

See Also: Ex. 4:12, Num. 22:38, 1 Sam. 15:3, 18, 23; 1 Kings 20:36; 2 Chron. 20:20; 2 Chron. 25:15-16, Isa. 30:12-14; Jer. 6:10-12; Jer. 36:29-31

Anyone who claimed to be speaking for the Lord but who had not received a message from him was severely punished - Ezekiel 13:1-7; Deut. 18:20-22

4. God's Words in Written Form (the Bible).

We find in Scripture several instances where God's words were put in written form.

First - Two tablets of stone on which were written the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 31:18

Exodus 32:16

Exodus 34:1

Further writing was done by Moses (Deut. 31:9-13) and Joshua (Joshua 24:26). God commanded Isaiah, "And now, go write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness for ever" (Isa. 30:8). Also God told Jeremiah, "Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you" (Jer. 30:2).

Jesus promises his disciples that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the words which he, Jesus, had spoken (John 14:26; John 16:12-13).

Paul can say that the very words he writes to the Corinthians are "a command of the Lord" (1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Peter 3:2)

The reliability, permanence, and accessibility of the form in which God's words are preserved are all greatly enhanced when they are written down. Yet there is no indication that their authority or truthfulness is diminished.

C. The Focus of Our Study

The focus of this study is on the written form of God's Word, the Bible. This is the form that is available for study, for public inspection, for repeated examination, and as a basis for mutual discussion. It tells us about and points us to the Word of God as a person, Jesus Christ.

The Bible is the most profitable for us to study and it is what God commands us to study. (Psalm 1:1-2; Joshua 1:8)

It is the Word of God in the form of written Scriptures that is "God-breathed" and "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).

Do you think you would pay more attention if God spoke to you from heaven or through a prophet rather than through the written Scriptures? Would you believe or obey more readily and often? Do you think your present level of response to the written words of Scripture is an appropriate one? What can you do to improve your attitude toward Scripture?

Considering the many different ways and frequency that God speaks to us, it is an awesome privilege and gift he's given us, and it also demonstrates his delight in relationship with us.

Intro to Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

2009-12-18T07:22:00.014-06:00

(This is the first of a large series where I will copy down the key points of each chapter as I read through Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. I will be copying many lines word-for-word and also shortening and summarizing some points in my own words. I hope that this can be useful for others as a quick reference but it is not meant to in any way substitute the personal study and investigation of the Bible and these important topics.)

Chapter 1. Intro to Systematic Theology

Definition of Systematic Theology.

Systematic theology is any study that answers the question "What does the whole Bible teach us today?" about any given topic.

The emphasis is different than that of historical theology, philosophical theology, or apologetics.

It also differs from Old Testament theology, New Testament theology, and biblical theology as these three disciplines organize their topics historically and in the order the topics are presented in the Bible. Although, the latter of these would likely have a lot of overlap with ST as they both look at the whole Bible.

Systematic Theology attempts to summarize the teaching of Scripture in a brief, understandable, and very carefully formulated statement.

Application to Life.

Based on this definition of ST, it is implied that application to life is a necessary part of the proper pursuit of systematic theology. Thus a doctrine under consideration is seen in terms of its practical value for living the Christian life.

Personal spiritual growth should be experienced.

This book is systematic or "carefully organized by topics".

It will treat topics in with much attention to every detail and hopefully accuracy.

What are Doctrines?

For our purposes, A doctrine is what the Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.

A doctrine is simply the result of doing systematic theology with regard to one particular topic.

Can be very broad or vary narrow.

This book is divided into seven major sections:

1. The Doctrine of the Word of God

2. The Doctrine of God

3. The Doctrine of Man

4. The Doctrine of Christ and the Holy Spirit

5. The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption

6. The Doctrine of the Church

7. The Doctrine of the Future

These doctrines meet at least 1 of these criteria:

Heavily emphasized in Scripture

Significant throughout the history of the church and all Christians

Have become important for Christians in the present situation

What is the difference between Sys. Theology and Christian Ethics?

The emphasis of ST is on what God wants us to believe and to know; while the emphasis in Christian ethics is on what God wants us to do and what attitudes he wants us to have.

Initial Assumptions of This Book

1) that the Bible is true and that it is, in fact, our only absolute standard of truth.

2) that the God who is spoken of in the Bible exists, and that he is who the Bible says he is; the Creator of heaven and earth and all things in them.

Why should Christians study Study Theology?

To teach others.

Jesus commands us to teach believers to observe all that he commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20)

The task of fulfilling the Great Commission includes not only evangelism but also teaching.

To benefit our lives.

Overcome wrong ides. Be confronted with the total weight of the teaching of Scripture on any particular subject.

Make better and more informed decisions on new topics of importance as they arise.

Will help us grow as Christians.

The more we know about God, about his Word, about his relationship to the world and mankind, the better we will trust him, the more fully we will praise him, and the more readily we will obey him.

The church is often times theologically immature which can cause disorderly and random theology and have bad effects on the church. See Ephesians 4:14.

How Should Christians Study Systematic Theology?

1)With Prayer

2)With Humility

3)With Reason

4)With Help from Others

5)by Collecting and Understanding All the Relevant Passages of Scripture on Any Topic

6)With Rejoicing and Praise

The Most Inappropriate & Important Christmas Card Ever

2009-12-16T12:47:00.010-06:00

I am seriously considering putting this on our 2009 Studio DaySpring Christmas card to all of my friends and family.

I would love it if you told me your thoughts. Is this a good idea or the worst ever?

Would it just be an ineffective and offensive message?

To all my friends and family,

Yep, this is long. Not only is it long, but this will most likely be the most offensive, inappropriate, rude, but honest Christmas Card you ever get. And, just to be clear, this is going to everyone on our list- every good friend and family member, with no one intentionally left out.

I would seriously rather just send a nice DaySpring Christmas card with a simple scripture reference, a nativity scene, and a short note from Steph and I (next year, I promise).

I am not normally rude or offensive and I would much rather be proper and non-confrontational. But on the other hand, I am confident that I was not created for those reasons but instead for the purpose of bringing God glory and presenting His truths to others. And while that isn't always the most fun thing to do, and definitely doesn't make me the coolest kid on the block, it has effects that last eternally and it's a purpose worth living for.

This letter is absolutely NOT about any bad habits you have (I have them too!), the church you may or may not go to (we don't currently have a home church), or how much money you do or don't give to others. It's not about religion. Not tradition. Not sin. Not church.

It's just about Jesus.

And while you've heard it thousands of times, please read these next words carefully for me.

The same God that made the whole universe, from the complicated workings of our world to the simple smiles on kids faces, loves you. A lot. So much that he would not act like a God (at least not the way we expect God to act) but instead He gave us Jesus, who humbled Himself enough to become a baby and live on earth. (Merry Christmas!) But that's just the beginning, because His death and resurrection (Happy early Easter!) is what really matters. His suffering and death was punishment that we deserve for our sins. But, for some crazy reason, God loves us enough to endure our death from sin so that we don't have to. And that is the best news you'll ever hear.

So, if my prayers are answered and God has given you ears to hear that message differently than you have in the past, you'll want to know what to do about it.

Well, there's good news and bad news about that. The good news is that you don't have to stop those things you love but know are sinful. You don't have to start going to church. You don't even have to live differently. All you have to do is believe it is true, in your heart and mind, and talk to God a little. Just tell Him you get it now, It's not just a church story, but it's the only story that matters in this world and you believe that its true. Sincerely tell Him you love Him and ask Him to come and change your heart. Then thank Him for Jesus.

It's all in God's hands after that. And if He wants to deal with your lifestyle, He will do it in His own way. But it's not his greatest concern. His greatest concern is for your salvation and His greatest desire is just that you'll know Him and have a relationship with His son Jesus.

And that's where the bad news comes in. A person who has a relationship with Christ does not have it any easier. Don't listen to those pastors and preachers who say that once your a Christian, life will be easy and bountiful. Jesus Himself lived a life full of poverty, difficult relationships, pain, and sacrifice. As did His disciples. Why would it be any different today?

But it's not all bad. A life serving Christ is the most rewarding and significant life you can live. You'll have peace and joy because you have an eternal perspective on life and a personal relationship with Jesus.

My intention is not to make you feel guilty. I myself am sinful and did absolutely nothing to deserve my salvation and relationship with Christ. I deserve nothing I've gotten, which only increases my gratitude for it all.

My intention for writing is this: to present the truth of Jesus that I have experienced so that God can pull you to Himself.

No need to call me up or send me an email, that would be pretty awkward for both of us. But, there are thousands of great resources and people that I am sure you can find if you look. My favorites are www.desiringgod.org & www.marshillchurch.org. And of course I would be happy to talk to you if you felt comfortable with that and had questions or comments for me.

I love you and hope you can forgive me for my inappropriate and offensive Christmas card.

Merry Christmas!

-Jesse

His name is Love

2009-11-06T07:17:00.006-06:00

When an athlete wants to be the best, he devotes himself to his sport with focus, labor, and perseverence. All for a hope of the glory that comes with victory.

My uncle Cameron tells a great story about when he was asked to pitch in a fast-pitch softball game. He had little experience pitching and embarrassed himself on the mound that night. But that game was a turning point for him, as it was the motivation behind hours and hours of practice. He likes to say that he just went out to a ball field with a glove and a bunch of balls and just threw them up against a fence over and over and over again, until he could pitch.

Well, apparently it worked. He improved to become one of the best softball pitchers in the country and he was a "hired gun" for several professional teams around the nation.

What do you want bad enough that you will just drop everything to make it happen?

For Cameron, he wanted to be good next time he was asked to pitch and it meant he had to just go pitch until he was good. He's repeated the same technique in business as he is now a very successful business leader.

For you it could be professional, educational, physical, or relational goals. Hopefully your life cycles through different seasons as you set yourself toward something, go achieve that thing, and then move your focus to the next goal.

For me, it is currently on my new marriage relationship with my beautiful wife Stephanie.

When an athlete wants to be the best, he devotes himself to his sport with focus, labor, and perseverence.

I think this same approach is taken in marriages across America. This is a good thing. But I'm learning, that it is not enough.

When I wanted to get A's in school, I worked hard until I got them- and I always got them.

When I wanted to be able to strike a soccer ball harder than anyone I knew, like my uncle, I just kicked a ball more than anyone else until I was the best at it.

When I wanted to love Stephanie better, things got complicated...

The world teaches us how to be good at the things of this world.

But love is not of this world.

Love requires all of the things this world just doesn't understand.

Love seems to make sense while actually defying all logic.

Love is from heaven and the ways of heaven are almost always the OPPOSITE of the ways of the world.

Like worldly things, marriage needs focus and dedication. But it needs more. It needs true Love.

And no, I'm not talking about the kind you see in the chick flicks. I mean Love, Jesus Christ, because His name is Love.

Without Love a marriage will fail.

You need marriage or relationship advice?- Love himself is available for counseling. His Holy Spirit can actually live IN YOU. And its amazing how good Love is at making marriages AMAZING, like no one in this world could ever do.

Whether you are an experienced spouse or still trying to figure it out, regardless of if your marriage is struggling or is smooth and easy.... going to the Lord for wisdom and just asking Him to help you be a better spouse is a very smart thing to do.

Humble yourself, consider the importance of this relationship, admit you could do better, and then ask the inventor of love, the source of love, and the one who's name is Love, to teach you to love better.

So does marriage require hard work? Yes.

But it also requires Love - the kind that would suffer and die on a cross for us.

The Bride (part 2)

2009-06-15T09:17:00.009-05:00

A beautiful bride would be so attractive to everyone that Christ's name would be famous and praised around this world.

Jesus attracted people with messed up lives to Him.

The Church doesn't... I don't.

Why?

I believe the actions of the "Church" have given Christ's name the reputation of being judgemental, legalistic, prideful, and cliquish- basically religious. Everything Christ wasn't.

I can't blame the world for this sad perception of a Jesus that they have never met. I can blame the "Christians" who continue to misrepresent Him and the "Christian" leaders who allow it.

It is time for the Bride of Jesus to start to represent what He stood for and to begin to peel away the layers of dirt that we have covered Him in.

It is pointless for me to complain about history and not try to change the future.

The world (and many churches) raise us to believe some people are better than others and some people are like us and some aren't.

People who claim they are Christian must shake these prejudices. How? Spend more time in the presence of Christ than in the presence of earthly influences.

And then we must actively seek ways to love people who are filthy and show them that Christ does not reject them because of their past sin... and neither do we.

The global Church should flock to opportunities to love the unloved. Race to clothe the poor. Overwhelm the hungry with food.

It is going to take a lot of time and generations to clean off the stigma. But we can. Imagine a Church that is known for love- the way the Bible says it should be. The non-Christians would take notice. Other religions would take notice. The media would tell the story. And the governments would thank us.

This is the role that the Church is meant to have. Let's get started.

The Bride (part 1)

2009-05-14T16:05:00.016-05:00

The bride of Christ, the church, and all that is right and wrong about her, is constantly on my heart. (my bride pictured here --> )

I've been thinking about posting my thoughts on this topic for a long time, but it is overwhelming to even consider writing about it, because the conversation is just so huge.

So... I've decided to break it up and just write smaller posts as things hit me hard. It may be unorganized, random, and such, but it's better than nothing... right?

Today's thought is one that is more disturbing to me than most. It really breaks my heart.

And that is that the church today, at least a lot of it, is causing more damage than glory to the name of Christ.

Our attempts to live and minister without the power of the Holy Spirit, through our own wisdom, by our own strength, and blatantly fleshy - represents Christ falsely and blemishes His name.

We represent the cross to the world and yet we fail to walk in the freedom it gave us and we fail to receive the power and grace that comes from the Holy Spirit. We misrepresent Christ and our God because we think we can handle it on our own and we neglect to surrender to Him.

Humans sin and mess up, and the church is made up of humans. So, Christians are going to mess up, and that is ok. That is life. However, it is one thing to be a body of believers who, in humility, repent passionately and honestly fall on our faces.

Instead, so often when we act up, we make excuses, argue our case, or hide from our mistakes.

These things hurt so bad because they completely disregard the cross. The gift Christ gave for our sins is rejected when we act like we don't need it.

Instead the bride must be wholly dependant on her Lord.

What if the Christian church was known for it's humility and reliance on God rather than its self-righteousness?

What if people could meet an average "Christian" and truly get a picture of Christ?

That would be a beautiful bride.

focus: Him & her

2009-04-20T16:13:00.010-05:00

Lately, it seems the Lord is teaching me about focus.

Primarily through my best tutor, the Holy Spirit, but also from several other sources.

When I say "focus", I don't mean priority.

I'm learning a new definition for focus as I've found myself simplifying my life lately. I am beginning to understand that a simple and single-minded approach to life is the only way I can live the life God has called me to. This involves a hyper-focused squint on the few things that are worth giving your life to.

At this point in my life that comes down to

1. Jesus

2. my wife Stephanie

It's really hard for me not to put 3, 4, or 5 items on this list.

At the same time, I realize that even 2 is stretching it.

I want to put "Church planting" on the list as I am feeling God's leading in that direction. I want to put "Business as Missions" on that list as I know God has called me to do something in the realm of business for His glory. I want to put my family and my job on the list, but I have come to realize that I am unable to truly focus on all of that right now. This does not mean I neglect these things, but nothing gets my ALL but Jesus and Stephanie.

I think God will mature me to a place where I can focus on a third item and maybe even more down the road. When I get really good at the first 2, I think He will trust me with more. When I become so dedicated to Him and her(Steph), that nothing else matters and my time, resources, and thoughts are almost solely surrendered to these 2, then maybe He will show me the 3rd.

I find when I am focused solely on driving, I never swerve or hit the "rumble pack" on the edge of the lane that is meant to wake up sleepers. But, as soon as I start to focus on something else, even if it is just mentally, my driving suffers and I am buzZzZzed by the rumbler.

I need single minded focus.

Even good things are distractions if they cause us to start drifting away from Jesus, our relationship with Him, or His purpose for us.

I have always considered myself a "visionary" (whatever that means).

And I know that visions are pretty pointless if they remain unfulfilled. This has always been my challenge- taking my ideas, dreams, and visions, and doing something with them.

I think focus is one of the most important steps to fulfilling vision. This may seem obvious, but in the world we live, it is very easy to get distracted. So a sole focus on a vision, I believe, is the missing key for me to see completion in the things God has for me.

Focus results in the necessary ingrediants for vision:

1. zero toleration for distraction

2. an unshakeable conviction of purpose

3. an unwavering dedication to completion

There are very few things in each individuals life that should garner true single-minded focus.

Right now my vision is to be the best husband in the world and to grow in my relationship with Christ to an intimate Father/son mentorship with my ever-present Lord.

Single minded focus.

I'm excited about my #3 and I can't wait until I am there. I can see God shaping me for it every day and preparing me for the task. But right now, I am a runner on the starting block waiting for the gun to shoot. I need to keep my focus on my foundation, God, and poise myself for the race that is to begin very shortly. I can definitly feel the anticipation of the gunfire, but I know that if I don't focus on my current posture I'll just fall on my face.

I must have single minded focus.

my mom is getting married Saturday...

2009-03-30T11:50:00.014-05:00

My Mom is getting married next Saturday...

I took the photo above and below a few weeks ago of her and her fiance Ed.

While the relationship is still in the clouds and very new to both... I am very excited about what God is planning for these two.

Yesterday, I had the chance to have a good conversation with Edward (Steph and I like to call him Edward *Twilight*).

I really enjoyed our discussion as we moved from the nation of Israel & Judaism, on to Catholicism, and then to the current political and economic situation America is in and how it is an awesome opportunity for the church to shine and stand firm (more on that some day soon). I can see Ed and I having many more deep talks for years to come.

Ed is going to be an amazing husband for my mom because he will act as a spiritual leader for her as every husband should. He loves Jesus, the word of God, and the Church. I believe Ed truly walks in the power of the Holy Spirit and in relationship with God. A fun, active, passionate, and generous guy.

So.... I guess he's good enough for my mom...

I'm so priveledged to be giving her away or "handing her off" as I like to call it.

She is a very beautiful woman and I can't wait to see her on Saturday in her blue dress. She is the best mom in the world and has been an amazing example for me my entire life. She has gone through enough pain and suffering in her life with the loss of 2 daughters, my dad, and many many other trials that I think she understands the bible when it talks about trials more than I hope I ever will. She only deserves the best. I pray that this relationship lasts the rest of their lives and that they get to see the world together, grow together in their love and relationship with God, and serve Him together in many different ways throughout the years.

Mom and Edward have asked me to read Ps. 103: 1-5 and Ps.16:11 during the wedding ceremony. I read these scriptures this morning and they are very telling of both my mom and Ed's attitude toward this occasion. They are both so thankful to God for this blessing and are praising him with everything that is within them... and so am I.

Challenging Sermons Online

2009-03-16T16:28:00.005-05:00

I wanted to recommend my favorite preacher and teacher, Mark Driscoll.

Enjoy his sermons online at his church website : www.marshillchurch.org

He is a little controversial because he loves Jesus and people enough to be blunt and real. I like that.

I never have a problem paying attention and I listen to a sermon every chance I get because they are so engaging and challenging.

Characteristics of a Pioneer

2009-03-06T08:41:00.009-06:00

Last night at Perspectives, the National Director, David Flynn, taught about William Carey with a theatrical performance and followed up with stories and insights into other pioneers in missions history.

My favorite part of the night was when Mr. Flynn listed characteristics of pioneers. Here they are.

Pioneers...

are truly passionate for God
are available
study the whole picture
see needs/ resources through God's eyes
are often considered unlikely to be significant
pursue a vision beyond their abilities
depend on prayer
couple their prayer with action
publish the challenge of their vision
motivate others towards obedience-mobilization
challenge common assumptions
motivation is purely God's glory

reach website - now live!

2009-03-04T09:17:00.003-06:00

Pretty bare at this point. But it's a start.

Check it out -> http://www.wix.com/jlane03/reach

Thanks

reach- Short Post

2009-03-03T12:16:00.005-06:00

I have the hardest time writing a short post on blunt.

That is my only goal today.

"reach" is a new ministry in Northwest Arkansas that my wife Stephanie and I have started.

God has placed a vision in our hearts for a simple ministry that loves people in practical ways and gives Christians opportunities to serve others.

reach is an attempt to…

… obey God’s call,

… demonstrate Christ’s love,

… and open hearts to the gospel.

Our first project is on March 14 and we will be hanging out with people at a park in Fayetteville.

Hopefully we can play some soccer, eat some hot dogs, do some crafts, and just simply love people.

We hope God does something with this and think He will!

Top 5 Common Christian Misconceptions I See

2009-02-19T09:33:00.011-06:00

5) Christians should always avoid being offensive.

Jesus was offensive at times. I'm sure the rich man was offended when Jesus told him to sell off all of his possessions. I bet the pharisees were often offended by Christ's life and the truths that He spoke that challenged their way of life.

Too many times, we try to avoid being offensive and end up allowing our loved ones and brothers and sisters in Christ to live in sin and hurt because we are too afraid of offending them. Is ok to be offensive if we are speaking in love and in truth.

This concept is why my blog is named "blunt".

Ephesians 4:14-15
"Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." (NIV)

Proverbs 27:6
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (NIV)

4) What I do is important.

Ok, what you do is important, but not the most important thing. God cares about the heart.

He knows about and forgives us for all of our sins. If we focus on having a heart like Christ's then we will become more like Him and our actions will resemble His.

So many Christians spend their life trying to perform at a certain level and missing the whole point. Jesus accepts and loves us the way we are and sees and cares about our heart alone.

The heart is the place to start and the do will surely follow. (thats catchy)

3) Ministy is only for some people.

Why were you made? Surely there is a reason. God created each of us for His purposes and to bring glory to His name in our world. He love you and has a purpose in mind and a plan to fulfill it if you will just yield and surrender control.

When I say ministry I don't just mean in a church. God can use you wherever you are and do great things. A good place to start identifying God's plan for you is "What are you passionate about?" and "What are you great at?". Remember, He made you that way for a reason.

The whole Bible is about God bringing glory to Himself through people. The Israelites were blessed so that they could be a blessing. (See Genesis 12:1-3)

Abraham's physical descendants, the Israelites, didn't do a great job at passing their blessing on to "every nation". They didn't like Gentiles much and pretty much kept all of God's blessing to themselves. But every since the new testament, Jesus, and the first church in Acts, it has been the job of the spiritual descendants of Abraham to pass the blessing to all nations. Thats us! Unfortunately, most of the church today is doing about as good a job as Israel did.

"The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed" -- Hudson Taylor

2) The Holy Spirit is spooky.

The Bible talks a lot about the Holy Spirit and He is just as important as the other 2 parts of the Trinity. And practically, He is even more important, because He is our connection with God. He is with us, in us, upon us, and fills us.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God(Matt 3:16), gentle like a dove(Acts 2:2-4), refreshing like water (John 7:38, 39), soothing like oil (1 Samuel 16:13, Acts 10:38), mighty like fire (Luke 3:16), our comforter (John 14:16,17), our Counselor (John 14:26), He imparts hope (Romans 15:13), He directs us in prayer (Romans 8:26), He teaches us (John 14:26), He empowers us for service (Acts 1:8), He frees us from the Power of Sin (Romans 8:2), He reveals what God has for us (1 Cor. 2:9), He gives us gifts (1 Cor. 12-14), He brings conviction (not condemnation) (John 16:7-8), He sancitfies us (Romans 15:15-16), and He makes us fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23).

Where would we be without the Holy Spirit?

Don't be afraid to pray for His guidance and live life with Him in everything you do.

We are so blessed to have God in us, and we can't ever take that for granted.

Oh, and He is not spooky. He is friendly and loving like nothing else in this world.

Do not let what you see in this crazy world turn you off from the Holy Spirit, just read what the truth of the Bible has to say about Him.

1)Life is easier as a Christian.

This is number one because it is very common and very wrong.

If you don't believe me, just spend a little time in the New Testament. Or click here to read my post about suffering. And check out www.persecution.com

1 Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

(NIV)

Through Christ we do have Peace and Joy! That is huge.

Christ does love us and does want us to be happy and blessed.

But, we were not created for the purpose of our happiness but for His glory.

^{1 Corinthians 10:31}

^"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

ministry question

2008-10-07T10:47:00.006-05:00

As I read 2 Corinthians 6 today I was really challenged.

2 Cor. 6:4-10 is another passage where Paul describes the trials and suffering involved with his ministry.

I felt my spirit making a statement and asking a question:

Statement: "Many ministries today involve very comfortable and easy paths to ministry."

Question: "Would ministries today bear more fruit if they followed Paul's model and were more willing to be uncomfortable?"

As I considered the several ministries that I have been a part of, I found that they rarely encountered much distress and definitely nothing compared to Paul's trials.

These ministries varied in their level of "troubles", "hardship", and "distress". All words that Paul uses to describe his work. (NIV)

I know of many missionaries who have given their life to work in extreme conditions, distant countries, and among foreign strangers. I know that hundreds of people are tortured and killed for their christian faith every day. (surprised?, read about it here: www.persecution.com)

However, it seems that it is much more common for pastors, missionaries, ministry staff, christian business men and women, teachers, and church planters to have a relatively comfortable life.

There are many many exceptions, but I feel like this applies to the majority and I know it does to me and my ministry.

It all depends on what you compare these ministries to. Compared to the average American maybe these ministries do have more troubles. But compared to Paul, we are all taking the easy street.

I am absolutely not saying that we all need to be suffering and going hungry in some other country.

My goal, instead, is to challenge myself and others to compare ourselves to the models of ministry that are in the Bible. Jesus' and Paul's are the two that come to my mind. Both suffered immense discomfort for their faith. I feel like part of the reason these are in the Bible is to be an example to us. Yet, we often ignore these examples or feel that they don't apply to us or our "ministry".

I am challenging myself to reconsider my level of discomfort for Christ.

It is a hard pill to swallow, but read through 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 and compare your ministry to Paul's.

Maybe we can step it up a notch?

Maybe we will see more abundant fruit from our labor?

Can you think of specific ways that you could allow more discomfort for the purposes or glory of Christ?

My initial list:

Never avoid a conversation about my faith because it would be awkward or uncomfortable.
Focus my efforts at work more precisely on ministry and less on being successful by worldly standards.
Spend more time in prayer for Christians and ministries around me and around the world.
Spend less time doing things I enjoy and more on things that edify the church or at least myself.
Focus on being a positive influence on others rather than focusing on the negatives in my life.

I wanted to note that Paul also mentions "in purity", "in the Holy Spirit", and "in the power of God" in the passage 2 Corinthians 6:4-10.

I know that these things are even more important to the success of ministry than the "troubles" that I have been writing about.

But, I can't judge the hearts of the ministries and ministers I know. I can't even know if they involve the "Holy Spirit" and rely on "the power of God". But I can see when they live very comfortably and often avoid the hard parts of ministry. It is much more visible.

suffering

2008-08-19T09:40:00.025-05:00

The Bible talks a lot about suffering. Like many things, the Bible's take on suffering is pretty much opposite of the way our culture thinks of it.

In Romans 5, Paul says

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

-In Colossians, Paul rejoices in his sufferings. (Colossians 1:24)

-In 2 Timothy, he challenges us to join in on the suffering for the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8)

-1 Peter seems to be almost entirely about suffering!

-1 Peter 4:13 tells us that sharing in Christ's suffering means we can rejoice when His glory is revealed.

-1 Peter 5:9 tells us that we aren't the only ones suffering.

We all know the greatest suffering was on the cross, and we know the significance of that.

I love the way it is portrayed in Hebrews 2:10:

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings."

Today, another verse, 1 Corinthians 12:26 is especially important to me.

This weekend I received a letter from a missions organization we supported, Voice of the Martyrs. From what I have learned, they are an awesome ministry. At the end of the typed letter there was a handwritten note that said

Walk with them.

1 Cor. 12:26

It really felt personal and almost prophetic. I guess because it was hand written and I happened to be reading in 1 Corinthians, and today I happened to be in Chapter 12. So, when I read the verse today, I enjoyed it, but it didn't really hit me until about 10 minutes afterwards.

1 Cor. 12:26 says:

"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

My immediate thought was about all the Christians suffering out there and I don't feel like the church suffers with them... I know I don't. But mainly because I don't know how.

So I wrote in my Bible, "I want to suffer more with the church, I want to rejoice more with the church".

I closed my Bible and headed to work.

About 10 minutes later I learned about an accident through the radio. An aquaintanance/friend of mine and another man were in a bad accident while serving as missionaries in India.

The other man, an OSU student named Justin, was killed.

John Miller, a guy Stephanie and I have both met a couple of times, is in critical condition in a hospital in Hyderabad India.

John and both their families are suffering, quite literally for the kingdom of God and I badly want to suffer more with them. While my heart hurts badly, there is nothing more that I know to do but pray for them.

You can read about the accident by clicking here.

What does it all mean? I don't know. But I know we are called to suffer with the church and rejoice with the church. And the church is millions of people around the world and I often forget about all the suffering that I'm missing out on.

I pray my opinion of suffering can become more like the Bible's and more like Christ's.

Please suffer in prayer with me about these guys, and about the thousands of Christians who are persecuted every day for their faith.

pick a neighbor to love

2008-08-13T07:19:00.010-05:00

In so many places and in so many ways, the Bible tells us to "love our neighbor".

In Mark 12:31 Jesus says that the most important commandments are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" and the second is to "love your neighbor as yourself".

You knew that right?....

Thats the problem.

This is one of the many themes in the Bible that is so easily over-looked because we have heard it so many times that we are numb to it.

We skip over it because we already know it. We know it in our head but not our heart.

Jesus says it is second only to the commandment to Love God.(pretty important)

Stop and think about it right now.

Do you truly care more about the good of anyone more than you do your own?

It is a challenging task that Christians are called to and one that we fail miserably with. According to John 13:34-35, the world would know and see the one true God in us if we authentically loved one another. The world's perspective would be completely shifted if the church could understand and live out the command to love others. People would see Christianity in a whole new light and would see a reflection of Christ from His church, His body.

Bluntly speaking, we represent Christ to people every day whether we want to or not. If you claim to be a Christian and claim to have God living inside you than you are constantly being "Christianity" to others. We have to start allowing Christ to show through us by surrendering ourselves completely. That way others will see Christ as Christianity, and not us.

1 John 4:8 says "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

If we want to be a better representation of the faith we claim, love is the way.

To help make this a real life thing and not a cliche that we just skip over, let's get practical.

Instead of viewing "neighbor" as a generic term for everyone around you... put some faces on that word.

Who can you be Christ to? Pray about it and ask God to reveal names and faces of those who He wants you to love in an excellent way today.

It's the strategy of focus. I may not be able to love everyone the way Christ does. But it would be an amazing accomplishment to just love my wife and a few other people in that way.

Over the last year I feel like God called me specifically to focus on loving 5 guys the way Christ loves me. These were friends and acquaintances of mine that the Holy Spirit put on my heart, and He showed it to me all in a short period of time. (a few days)

Over the year I found that the best way to love them was to pray for them.

The most difficult part was to put time with them as a priority. But, because I felt God had called me to these guys, I was determined to obey and to make it a top priority.

I have seen dramatic life changes in 3 of the 5 guys. These 3 have miraculously strengthened their relationship with God over the last year and have completely different lifestyles.

One other guy was already living a very spiritually healthy lifestyle and I feel like has been consistently improving. I think God used me to plant seeds into him that will produce a ton of fruit that will last a long time.

#5 has been less miraculous. I have seen a lot of up and down with him. At the same time, I will admit that my prayer life for him and dedication to our relationship has also been unsteady. I am now praying that God can re-energize me about that commitment and calling to this friend and that I can make it a priority to pray for him and spend time with him.

The amazing work I've seen in the other 4 tell me that God will undoubtably be faithful to the 5th.

So, pray and ask God if there are any specific people that He wants you to focus on...

If you have any stories of ways you have seen love transform others, let me know.

Thanks,

not because of who I was

2008-08-07T11:44:00.011-05:00

I think it's easy for Christians to become proud. We have this attitude sometimes that we are better either because we are Christian, or we are Christian because we are better...

I know that I fall into the second category at times. As if God chose me because I deserved it, or I chose to believe because I was wise.

It's sad, because this type of thought repels the world away from us.

The realization that we do not deserve salvation or the peace, joy, and love that God gives us could provide a huge breakthrough for many Christians. It is a humbling thought that simply brings us to worship. Thank God that we know and understand the truth of His son's sacrifice and the freedom that it gives.

But, instead of becoming proud with that knowledge we must be inspired and driven by it.

God did choose us for a reason, not because of who we were, but because of who we could be with Him.

See John 15:16

Whatever purpose it was that I was chosen for, I desire to fulfill. And that drives me in everything I do. As long as I remain dependent on Him, I am confident I will succeed at this purpose I've been called to.

This understanding brings fulfillment, joy, strength, love for others, and a new perspective on everything. I am so blessed to have all of that.... but so many people around me are searching for these very things.

Because I know this, it is my responsibility to share it and reflect Him.