.

Mirror, Mirror...

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:51:00 +0000

There's this funny thing about identity. You will always have one, but you may never know what it is, how you got it, or how you could get rid of it if you didn't like it. On Wednesday night, Chase talked about using God's Word as a mirror into you life. Specifically, he told you to "...pick up your Bible, pick up a mirror." Well, they're the same thing. In the Revealed series so far, we've imparted on you the importance of viewing the Bible as more than just a group of bedtime stories, but a living and breathing entity that has been at work throughout history and has the power to change your future. We want you to feel a closeness with Scripture; we want you to trust it and trust the God who spoke it. And we want for you to need it so desperately that you hide it deep within your heart so that you may be pure (Psalm 119:9).

Your life is a continuation of God's story, the Bible, and you are therefore given identity through every word written in it. If your life is so intricately intertwined with God's story, then how can you live, how can you act, how can you even breathe without it? Your Bible isn't just a book, it's your story, it's your identity. Chase talked about getting over yourself; stop preparing to act and get going! The Word empowers you to go forth in God's Spirit to change people and situations around you. Now that you know, you have no excuse.

Next week we're taking a break to fellowship at the Summerfest concert. The following weeks we'll be approaching the messages that God has for you as young men and women living in this world. We love you, and we don't want you to miss those lessons!

Like Water From Stone

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:34:00 +0000

When Bill told the story on Sunday of Moses striking a rock in order to provide water for the Israelites (Numbers 20), my mind started reeling. What could this mean for us?

God promised the Israelites sustenance, and while Moses knew God would provide, he wasn't confident in the passive way God wanted to give them what they needed. Instead, Moses decided to take matters into his own hands. Ultimately God's plan was carried out, but He had to break through Moses' stubbornness when Moses tried to break through that stone. God could have easily backed down on His promise because Moses disobeyed, but instead God chose to bless the Israelites in spite of that.

God promises to take care of us, and while we often trust that God will give us what we need, we doubt how or when. When we try and take back control, we disobey the Man with the plan. We are naturally stubborn and broken people, just like Moses, but God can work through those imperfections to bless us anyway. When we allow God to break us and pour out from us, then we can give God's love to the world. God pulls Living Water from our hearts of stone.

What could God strike us with? Family problems, financial problems, issues with school, relationship troubles, the list goes on. There are multiple factions God could use in your life to let loose the Spirit through you. God not only breaks us with trials, but our hearts could be transformed and God reflected through positive events like a college decision or dedicating your life to ministry. We admit that we are hard people; our hearts are rock solid and prone to resisting God. Unfortunately, we also learn from Numbers 20 that God can and will punish those who disobey Him (see verse 12). So we're left with a choice, a constant struggle between our bent human nature and our desire to let God work.

If we know that God's plan for us is better than what we can do ourselves, why do we doubt Him? What are the dangers of resisting God? Can you think of a time when God broke through your stubborn heart to carry out His ultimate plan?

Are You Making God a Bad Habit?

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:22:00 +0000

Last night Jon read a quote from David Crowder’s Praise Habit. Allow me to remind you of part of it:

“Countless times I have tried to develop a habit of a ‘quiet time.’ Sometimes it would stick. Sometimes it would not. Guilt would be thick when it would not. But for a long time it became what I did first thing everyday. It was beauty. The internal joy it brought was overwhelming. Then at some point it went hollow. It’s not that it was a bad idea to form a habit of quiet time, but the habit had slyly begun to suck the life out of my relationship with God. I had fallen in love with my spirituality rather than with the one whom I sought, and in the end it left me void and wanting.”

For so long you’ve heard your Sunday school teachers, Jon and Shawn, your small group leaders, your parents, and so many others encourage you to study Scripture, to memorize verses, to dig into the Word. So now we tell you that habits can suck the, well, life out of your spiritual life? How does that make any sense?

The problem with making worship (because that’s ultimately what studying the Bible is) routine is that routines get too comfortable. Some people love routine; it’s predictable and easy and requires no consideration. So if we make God’s Word routine, we’re making God routine. We’re making God predictable and easy and requiring no consideration. Oops. I hate to break it to ya, but God is not predictable, not easy, and He certainly requires all the consideration we can muster.

It’s such a difficult thing to not let your relationship with God become a casualty of routine. But here’s the thing: God is much too big to fix into the box of habit. Intention is absolutely necessary for cultivating a deeper relationship with God, but if intention is all we have, we don’t follow through on making it actually happen.

We are called to cut the cord. Let loose. Pursue God ceaselessly. Don’t make studying the Bible routine; dive in! If we choose to love God as much as we are able, then we can live according to God’s Word. Like Jon said last night, you must seek God with all your heart, you must let God’s Word live inside you, and then you will not be able to keep from praising Him. And with that kind of passion pouring out of you, you will never be satisfied with a routine.

Do you border of making God a habit? What are some ways you keep that from happening? What would happen if we were successful in dedicating our lives in devotion to God’s Word?

To hear silence

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:54:00 +0000

Sometimes it’s interesting how God pulls together a whole bunch of tiny details that culminate into something like this. Chase mentioned below that we really want to use the blog to expand on Wednesday night lessons, but if it’s okay with you all, I’d like to throw in my two cents about the high school lesson Sunday because it tied in with the girls’ Bible study topic from last week. If you’re a middle school boy, and you have no idea what I mean… you’ll get over it. :)

On Sunday, Chase talked about how silence is a part of authentic worship. And he showed Rob Bell’s Nooma video “Noise.” I’ve seen that video countless times, and I always find something new to consider. For instance, I wonder how do deaf people experience God? If we can know God so intimately through silence, why aren’t all deaf people on fire for Jesus? I had a friend in college who had degenerative hearing loss, meaning she will eventually lose her sense of hearing. For a time, I was impressed with her close relationship with God; it seemed that she really did hear Him more clearly. But as time passed, she veered away, just like anyone else might. So maybe you can hear the call of the world even if you can’t hear your telephone ring.

I guess sometimes it isn’t about what sounds reach our ears, but rather what we choose to listen to. And beyond that, how we choose to react to what we hear.

In Genesis 19, God sends messengers to Lot and his family to tell them He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife was absolutely silent in this story; we don’t see a single word that she spoke. She understood the value of being silent sometimes. In her silence, she could clearly hear the warnings of the angels, but she didn’t really listen. She decided to disobey their instructions and she looked back at her old home while fleeing, and God turned her into a big ol’ salt lick. Nice. She heard, but she didn’t listen.

“Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and keep moving?” asks Rob Bell.

Psalm 46:10a says “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Lamentations 3:26 says “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Jesus calmed the raging storm. He kept quiet when accusations were thrown at him before he was crucified.

In silence we find God. And in God we find freedom. Why is it so easy to throw ourselves into the noise of the world? Because we are bound by fear… the fear of what freedom in Christ really could mean. All God wants is for us to love Him back, and in doing so, we have the capacity to rock this noisy world around us with the sounds of God—the sounds of joy, of compassion, of devotion. While noise doesn’t always drive us to distraction (you can hear God in music or someone speaking or even in unexpected places [also, see the YouTube video below]), God whispers most intently when we choose to quietly contemplate Him. If we take our ears out of the world and choose to listen to God as He speaks to our hearts, what would we hear?

Do you think it’s possible to have a heart of reverent silence in a world of chaos?

Turn your ear to heaven and hear...

Wednesday Nights!!!!

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Hey guys it's Chase, one of your favorite interns...... At least I hope. I wanted to let you guys know that we really really really!!!!!!!! Want you guys here on Wednesday nights. We are diving deep into the importance of reading the Bible. Yes, they are stories, yes you have heard these stories before, but most who read don't know how to interpret the significance of these stories. We love you guys and truly believe that a solid correct biblical foundation will help you grow spiritually as well as your relationship with Christ.
Those of you who came last week learned from Katie that we are diving in head first this summer. We are skipping the bells and whistles and jumping into the Bible with the pure intention of learning how to interpret it.
All of us, Jon, Shawn, Katie, and myself, are really excited about this series and know that if you guys invest time into it you will gain so much.
There will be a new blog post each Thursday by either Katie or myself basically talking about the message the night previous and exploring different questions that you as students might have. We encourage you to contact us via email, facebook, phonecalls, and office visits to dive a little deeper. We are here for you guys/gals so take advantage of it.
Looking forward to seeing you all tonight.

In Christ,
Chase

We really do need each other.

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:41:00 +0000

In 1992, a young man named Christopher McCandless started out on an escapade to "find himself." He grew up in a privileged home and had every opportunity at his feet. Shortly after graduating from Emory University, he took his $26,000 check, donated it to charity, cut up his social security card and license, and headed west. After two years of hitchhiking, hanging out with strangers and moving from state to state, Chris decided to go on an Alaskan adventure "into the wild." He felt determined not only figure out how to survive in the wilderness, but to do it by himself. People would only hinder his experience.

Upon arriving in Alaska, he found a stranded bus to camp in and tried to feed his appetite from the animals and plants around him. In the movie, Hollywood depicts Chris as arriving with complete awe and almost a sense of purpose; he is finally alone. After several weeks of attempting to survive solo, Chris reached a point where he realized that the happiness he was experiencing was only worthwhile if it was shared with other people. The drama unfolded as he packed his bags, headed back towards civilization, and was suddenly trapped by a river that was once only a stream. The weather had warmed since he last passed it, and there was no way to go across it. His only options were drowning or surviving alone in the abandoned bus, waiting for someone's arrival.

The tragedy of it all was not Chris's death that followed only weeks later; it was that he died alone. He had abandoned everyone he knew, everyone that loved him and wanted to help him. He ran scared from community and wanted to prove to himself that he didn't need people. The movie depicts him writing some last words in one of his favorite books, "Happiness is only worthwhile shared." He discovered for his need for people, but it was too late. Right before he died, he wrote on a piece of paper, "I have lived a long and happy life. God bless you all."

The past few weeks, we have been talking about the dangers of isolation, risks of being real, and the hazard of admitting everyone. Chris refused to be real with anyone, admitted no one, and isolated himself—it ultimately lead to his death. During the Holocaust, Hitler conducted terrible experiments on infants—giving them just enough food and milk to survive, but no nurture or coddling. If the baby cried, they would manage. Every infant died. Not because of physical needs, but because they had been abandoned.

The crazy reality is that no matter how much we try to deny it, we need people. We were created to live in community with each other. Without people, we can never survive, at least not the way God intended. Authenticity is challenging, gut wrenching, and even painful at times. For some reason unbeknownst to me, it does not come naturally. There have been many times in my life where I would much rather choose to be fake, ignore those that want what is best, and run towards those that will just let me be alone. Yet this is not what God intended, either.

Chris ran from home and towards those that would not offer wisdom he did not want. In our study of Saul, Jonathan, and David, we saw Saul run away from everyone and Jonathan run towards David. David was worthy of being trusted, Saul was not. Without help of those around him, Saul became a madman and ultimately strayed from his very purpose. Jonathan clung tight to his friend David, who ultimately became King and was one that truly pursued the heart of God.

Who do you run from? Are you a Christopher McCandless? Are you dying to get out and away from everyone that knows you, loves you, and wants what is best? We desperately need the love of those around us. My prayer is that you will know Him—and in that, you will let others love you. Being a Christian does not work in any other way. We must stop running and give those that truly care all access into our lives.

One color.

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:54:00 +0000

It's no lie--we live in a world where everyone is defined by something. Whether that be color, financial status, age, clothing, music taste, etc., we place labels and often harsh judgments on first impressions. I know this because not only did I grow up judging others, but I myself, as the rest of you, have been victim to judgment. The unfortunate truth is that all of us have been both the victims and victimizers in this case. Whether we admit to it or not, we have all been judged and judge frequently--even if it is only in our minds.

Jesus came to bring only one color. He alone is what defines us, and yet STILL we live so much like the Pharisees and see only the outside. Christians are certainly not innocent in this matter. The irony, of course, is that according to the New Testament, the Church is supposed to be the greatest proof for love, and more importantly--Jesus. Yet, as needy people, we have fallen into a state of bondage; we are always seeking a way to place ourselves above or below... constantly walking around with a measuring tape trying to figure out where we fall.

When we love someone, we AGREEING with God that they are worth His death. Yet when we give a judgmental glare or gossip within our minds, all we are doing is saying, "God--I don't agree with You. I know You created everyone--but certainly You could not have created this person." Even the person you cannot stand, God said, "Here's their price," and died on Calvary. There are no ifs, no ands, and no buts--all people have unsurpassable worth because God created them. Period.

Blah blah blah, right?

Let me tell you about a moment in my life where I was suddenly smacked with reality. Low and behold, of all things... I was in the mall. As a high school student, I actually dreaded going to the mall. If you have ever been insecure in your life (which I'm sure you haven't), you know what I'm talking about. My biggest temptation every time I walked into a mall was to pull out my imaginary measuring tape. I asked myself constantly, "Where do I fall in this crowd?"

Suddenly, there was a microphone connected to my head. I felt like an eavesdropper and was disgusted by my mind's disease. I noticed that I had an opinion about almost everything and everyone that walked by. I had a constant commentary running through my brain. I was gossiping about people in my own brain! Then, I asked myself the question, "Why am I doing this?" And as I analyzed this, I noticed that there was a part of me that was truly enjoying this--there was this small, nasty part of my soul that was actually liking this. The gossip festival lets us think that we are a little bit above everyone else.

The root, of course, is that we want people to be like us. We might not admit it--but inside we think, "If only people did things my way," or, "If only people would look the way I did." For thousands of years, people have said this in their minds, causing destruction and even death all because we want the power to be the most important. I think God says to us, "Uh, I don't think I gave you that job description. I don't recall giving you that right... what did I tell you to do? Oh, that's right, I told you to live in love."

Unexpectedly, as I was driving home from the mall, I became conscious of my heart's biggest disease. I refused to look at people in the way God does. That day--I decided that no matter what my flesh sees, I would look past it and instead CHOOSE to see what God sees. If we surrender our lives to Christ, then we are agreeing with Him that everyone was created equally.

I don't know what your struggle is, but I know you've got one. No one is innocent of judgment--we all deal with it because we are insecure humans that constantly attempt to measure up. I have no clue who you judge, why you judge them, or what you see when you look at others. Perhaps, for you, you hate anything that has to do with popularity. You look at the kids with the "nicer" clothes, "nicer" cars, or "big" houses and judge them for being spoiled. Maybe, like we talked about on Wednesday, you deal with racist thoughts--and although you dare not admit it--down within your soul you know there are prejudices you hold onto for no reason. You may express them lightly with "playful" jokes, but you're only kidding... right? Right?

When we choose to BELIEVE what God has told us, we are agreeing with him that all people were created equal. To the people of Galatia, Paul wrote,"Now, before faith came, we were held captive under the law imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian--for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS." (Galatians 3:23-28) Paul is urging the Galatians to no longer look at the outside--and yet see that Christ had (and has) made every person ONE in Christ Jesus.

Who are you not giving worth to? Who is it that you look at, talk to, or interact with that you place below yourself? Where are your thoughts coming from? Are they coming from God, or yourself? Because, if your thoughts come from the Holy Spirit--then I can tell you FOR SURE they are not thoughts of external judgment. We know it to be true through God's Word, "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)

Judgment, no matter the kind, separates the body of Christ. We are not designed to live as a separated chaos, but rather as a unified body that sees only Jesus. We are one color in Christ.

Love to all,
Anne

Dear Church...Cheer Up

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:17:00 +0000

After hearing Jon's message this past Sunday night during Evensong I got to thinking, is this something that I actually take note of a lot? In my daily routines at work, school, church, etc., I'm often caught up in the hustle and bustle of trying to get things done and learn what I need to and I forget about what Jesus tells us through his letters to us in Revelation. I was just sitting there listening to all the things that go on in people's lives and i was thinking, "gosh, life can really suck..." It was in this thinking mentality that it hit me, "Whoa, these situations.......MY situations.......MY LIFE.....this is me....this IS REAL." Now that I can look back and reflect on all of this, there is a Psalm that comes straight to mind, one that really is descriptive of my whole life situation.

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7 These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
8 They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
11 “What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.

15 If I had really spoken this way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
20 When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

21 Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.

27 Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

When I read this I split this down into three parts. The first part (verses 1-14) the Psalmist is basically journalling about what he is feeling. And it is so fitting that he feel the way he does because don't we feel this same way sometimes? I mean, just read those verses again. I can definitely speak from my own experiences that I have been distracted by the successes of wicked and those who aren't believers/followers of Christ. Then I read the verse where he talks about almost slipping away......(I can see a direct correlation to my life). But in the midst of all of this there is hope....In the next verses (15-20) I read about just how lucky I am. Those people may be successful now, but it won't last. My hope is in Christ and He never fails! The third part (21-28) flows right from this, being that once this hope is realized, we should be filled with the joy that Christ brings and share it with those who aren't as privileged as us to feel that joy. Psalm 73 is the Psalm of my life......is it yours as well?

So after all of that, I just want to encourage you.....cheer up.....things might seem unbearable now, but they don't last....I want to leave you with these last few verses that has always helped me through those tough times....

1 Peter 5:8-10 (New International Version)

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

This little light of mine...[thoughts on radiate]

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:32:00 +0000

Matthew 5:14-16 it says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

I don’t know about you .... But maybe you’ve been hiding your light under a basket? ...... There isn’t a Christian alive that hasn’t done this at one time or another ... Do you have any idea of the light that you could be to those around you? For example, you can decide that you are going to start a new trend in your family --- And it begins with you, there is going to be a commitment to Jesus Christ ... Wouldn’t it be cool if generations to come could look back to your faith in God and commitment to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus as the beginning of their faith heritage? -- Have you ever thought about that? --- The impact that your life could have on so many? Many people are counting on your “renovation”/”reconstruction” of the heart!

Your renovation/reconstruction goes beyond the salvation of your friends and family ... Your walk with Jesus affects all of life.

Jesus changes things, he brings the dead to life....He not only brings dead things to life, but he renovates hearts .... and when this happens – people notice!! They see visible evidence of an invisible God who is the light of the world – WHO IS JESUS!! ...

The more we are releasing the character of God into this world -------- The more friendships are changed, the more families are changed, the more lives that are changed, and the more society is changed and reorganized. --- God wants to drop students into schools, athletic teams, colleges, companies, communities, who are living containers of his presence, releasing what they are holding. And over time, the presence of God begins to spread ... and that is glory -- And that glory brings us satisfied joy!

Finish homework...take out trash...be sanctified? [thoughts on reconstruct]

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:27:00 +0000

I often start off each day by making a to-do list; maybe you’re the same way but as I was thinking about this message an having been involved in full time ministry for about 12 years I’ve observed that many people approach their relationship with Christ as they would a ‘to-do’ list. “Salvation?” “Check!” ... “Read the Bible?” “Check!” ... In fact, often it’s just Salvation? “Check and we’re good; I’m in the club, part of the team!” But we’ve missed it ... Salvation is just the beginning, because we didn’t join a club, but entered a relationship and when you don’t foster that relationship, the relationship dies. When we accept Christ it’s just the beginning of a life-long process of reconstruction that only happens in relationship.

Sanctification (Growing in Christ) is not a one-time event – It’s like, I accepted Christ and BAM – everything is good and our relationship with Christ is complete. -- Whatever radical conversion some of us may have had, it did not end our battle with sin but only began it (“Boy did the battle ever become more visible!”). --- Life is a continual battle of daily dying to self and being raised in newness of life … A continual repentance in the face of failures and struggle against sin.

This is the whole point of the Christian life. The spirit of God is empowering you and me from the inside to obediently live like Christ in every moment.

When it comes to spiritual growth … often times we may not be able to feel it … It’s just like growing – you didn’t feel yourself growing as a child. You didn’t lie in bed and say, “I’m growing. I’m getting so big that I have outgrown my bed.” You don’t feel yourself growing; you just end up at a certain height. ... Well, that’s how it works spiritually … you don’t always feel it … it just happens. ---- You don’t change yourself by changing your behavior and becoming moral …. You change yourself by placing yourself in relationship, not in religion.

So -- How do you know if you are beginning to look like Christ? You begin to have a desire to do what God wants you to do in the areas of your life where you once resisted his will. Some of the things in your life that never bothered you before now do. ---- Your conscience is pricked and your heart softens and comes under a healthy conviction because the spirit of God is working in you … Real change happens because it is coming from the inside out as opposed to the outside in -- Self-help can’t change the heart! ..... Your values begin to shift and change your thinking and your new thinking begins to change some of your behavior. The desire to do what God wants you to do begins to grow in you … This is obedience – And you don’t get it apart from the work of God in your life.

For so many people the Christian life is a technique, a nice little method for generating an outcome, a recipe to make life tasty ....

The hang up with a lot of believer’s including myself is this ... As long as we are trying to get something from God ... we’re gonna have a hard time surrendering our lives to Him. ... God wants what’s best for us because he is a good father and wants only the best for his children ... but He wants us to want him more than anything else.

Here is the major emphasis of what this message is about and why we are here: --- Just get close to Jesus …. The closer you get, the easier it is to focus and not be distracted ….. Your life becomes clearer.

So, what is it in your life that has your attention? ….. What is it for you that’s has you saying, “I have got to have this in my life? ….. And you know, each one of you has a different thing and your going, “this is it, this is the thing for me.”

And my question for you is this ……… Is it Jesus? ………. Is Jesus what makes you say, “my life is about this one thing, loving him and serving him, my life is about making him the center?”

Life in the Face of Death [further thoughts on resurrect]

info@pinedalestudents.org (PSM) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:26:00 +0000

Standing on the edge of death draws all of life into perspective doesn’t it? -- What really matters and what doesn’t are easily distinguished … When it comes to facing the reality of death no one is concerned about salaries or positions or all the great things you accomplished in high school .... No one asks about the car you drive, school you go to, do you start or sit the bench, what part of town you live in. --- As people age and death nears all the games and disguises of life seem pretty silly. --- As you grow older your birthday’s become less exciting because sub-consciously you now your one year, one day, one breath closer to your last.

Death is a frightening thing …. It’s kind of like when you were a little kid and were afraid of the dark. Dark wasn’t scary. “It’s what might be concealed in the dark that was/is frightening” … What might be there waiting for you.

Most of us do everything we can to extend our lives .... I love the title of David Crowder’s book – “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” It’s one thing to halt the process of decay and death; it is quite another to bring someone back to life. --- Jesus declares of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die ... DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?? (25-26). .......... You really need to understand what Jesus is asking in the context of John chapter 11 …. Jesus is not simply asking Martha to confess Lazarus will live --- but that those who trust in Jesus Christ – even though they die – will be raised to never die again! --- It’s no longer just about Lazarus ... but the “all who believe in Jesus.”

Martha responds and says, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the World”. (27) ... This right here was really the big event in Bethany on this day! ..... Martha didn’t know why God had allowed this or that temptation, trial, disaster, or pain, ------- but the CONFESSION was the main thing! – “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

We need to understand that we have something wrong inside us? That we have dead spirits without Christ!! ....

There is no way to appreciate the life of God until you have seen what life looks like without it. -- Many of us have not only seen it, we have lived it. And unless something is done and done quickly, we will live out the rest of our lives having the finality of death as our only hope. -- Which is no hope at all.

But real life -- Our resurrected life is born out of the character of Christ coming to live inside of us by his spirit. The conversion of our heart is the turning point. … If I were to paraphrase one of my favorite verses Romans 5:8 It would say “while we were still searching aimlessly - desperately in the dark Christ brings light into our dark souls.” … Like one candle igniting another, His life lights ours.

But some will say I don’t know if I believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ … Because “I have lots of academic questions – I’ve read the latest book that claim Christianity is false – I have lots of questions, I took a philosophy class, I am very smart – and have many academic objections” …..

You know what, it’s not really academic objection to resist the resurrection of Jesus Christ ---- It is the hardness of heart that at then end of the day is truly the issue …. Most people who question the resurrection, are not denying it … Just questioning it --- Why? Because when it comes down to the brass tax of it all -- What are these people doing? -- Sinning …. And there left with a decision … If I believe in the resurrection of Christ then I need to repent of my sin and obey Jesus ---- But if I can convince myself that Jesus didn’t rise from the grave then I don’t need to worry, because nothing will happen when I die I’ll just be plant food …

This is logical outcome for those who don’t believe in eternal life … And what we need to come to realize is that eternity is a long time … and we will either be friends of God or his enemies …

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 says that it’s not that you are so smart … it’s not that the evidence isn’t there because Jesus life and death are historical fact both in religious and secular history … they are objective truths …

But some people look at those truths and say -- “Sorry, I just don’t believe them” …. But in reality what they are saying is “I don’t like them” … … Many will question Jesus resurrection and the reality of heaven and hell not because they don’t believe …. But because they don’t want to be held accountable to God!

It’s a rebellious heart that says, – “I don’t want to stop doing whatever I want, because I essentially want to be my own god.” … “And I don’t want any other god to judge me to sentence me, give me a set of rules to live by if they are not my own – I want to live according to my right and wrong, I will create my own truth …. I want to do what I please and I don’t want to have to pay any price for what I choose!” … That’s the issue ….

Paul says, “wake up, come to your senses” --- You would exchange Jesus FOR yourself? --- You would exchange heaven FOR hell? --- You would exchange freedom in Christ FOR slavery to sin? You would exchange holiness FOR disobedience? You would exchange life FOR death? Paul says, “are you that foolish?” …

Are you foolish enough to believe that just because you question the truth or object to the truth -- That truth no longer exists? ….. That if you play with fire you won’t get burned! .... Paul says if this is what you think … Then come to your senses … come to repentance, come to Jesus!

The issue is not that your smart and need to be convinced … the issue is that we’re evil and want to be God … It is not the unconvinced mind … but the hardened heart that resists the resurrection of Jesus and the eternal life that he gives through himself alone …

But here is the good news ….. Jesus Christ is alive … You can ask Jesus to forgive you today and he will … why? Because he’s alive …. Those of us who know him as Lord we can pray to him and he hears because he’s alive … We can go through hardship and difficult times knowing he is there to help us because he is alive … When thing are great and life is good we have some one to thank and praise because Christ is alive …

You know how else I know that Christ is alive? ….... Because Jesus has changed me!! …. He has transformed me from the inside out … making me new each day by the renewing of my mind on his word --- and as I’ve applied his word -- he’s cleaned up my life …..

… The only reason I’m not totally running after all this world has to offer -- doing my best to escape life and its pressures is because Jesus is alive and given me the best life possible ….. He has changed me! … Jesus has given me a great wife – an incredible little boy – he’s made me a far better husband than I ever could have been on my own … and he’s teaching me how to be a good father, daily – Because God is the greatest Father! ….. He’s giving me a forgiving spirit so that I don’t hang on to the hurt and become a bitter person … Not only that I’ve seen Jesus change many of you … Jesus kindness continually leads me to repentance …

I’ve seen Jesus provide for my needs and the needs of others … I’ve seen Jesus grow this church into the family of God that is today … HOW DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN? -- BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!!!