Things Above Blog

Moving

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:36:00 +0000

I'm moving all my blogs into one website beginning January 1, 2011. Change your bookmarks and get ready. Join me at www.TravisAkins.com Easy enough right?

Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:25:00 +0000

We set out over a month ago to provide basic meal items for eight different families. In two days all items on our sign up for items to fill up our Thanksgiving baskets were done. Yesterday everyone brought their items including turkeys, stuffing mix, rolls, cookies and pies and a group of us organized the items and set off to deliver them

Eight was our target. 11 was what we did.

Through generosity and the excitement of our group, we stopped by all eight homes and three additional homes that we believed would be a blessing to that family. It was a joy to see smiling faces and grateful families. North Main loved our community yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible and who made the loving gift of God to families in Winters a reality.

Overdue Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:50:00 +0000

We've been taking a long look at being a church that loves in big, Godly ways. When we love, we give hope to others. We are a church family that is committed to our calling to Love God and Love Our Winters Community.

A few weeks ago we had a "Love Does Much" meeting. Anyone was invited to join in prayer, brainstorming and implementation of some big, Godly ways we as a church family can share real, genuine love to our community. In other words, find ways that we as a church can pass out hope through our loving actions.

It was an awesome turn out that was truly spirit led.

This group came up many ways that we can be engaged in loving works. We decided to take on two of them immediately as we approach the holidays. Providing basics for families to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal and helping provide Christmas gifts for children. Both of these efforts are directly aimed to loving people right here in Winters.

What an amazing response!

We had our Thanksgiving meals sign ups out for two days. Filled up. Families ready to provide and give to show God's big love. Families ready to love so that hope that changes can be known.

I wanted to simply say, "Thank you." I am so blessed to be a part of this church family and to see the loving example of our mission being lived out right now.

Love truly does much. His church is doing much.

Exercise #5

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 03:45:00 +0000

Silence and Solitude

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“In a noise-polluted world, it is even difficult to hear ourselves think let alone try to be still and know God. Yet it seems essential for our spiritual life to seek some silence, no matter how busy we may be. Silence is not to be shunned as empty space, but to be befriended as fertile ground for intimacy with God.” –Susan Muto

“We are so afraid of silence that we chase ourselves from one event to the next in order not to have to spend a moment alone with ourselves, in order to have to look at ourselves in the mirror.” –Dietrich Bonhoffer

“¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” -1 Kings 19:12

^“1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” –Revelation 8:1

What is silence and solitude? Silence and Solitude is a regenerative practice of attending and listening to God in quiet, without interruption and noise. Silence provides freedom from speaking as well as from listening to words or music. Solitude involves scheduling enough uninterrupted time in a distraction free environment that you experience isolation and are alone with God.

Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“It is difficult to find silence in an age of technology and information. Silence challenges our cultural addiction to amusement, words, music, advertising, noise, alarms and voices. Silence asks for patience and waiting. And both silence and waiting make us uncomfortable. They seem so unproductive. We can’t tell if we are doing anything in them. So when we come upon silence, we fill it. We cram it with something else we can learn or do or achieve. (page 108) Solitude is a formative place because it gives God’s Spirit time and space to do deep work. When no one is there to watch, judge and interpret what we say, the Spirit often brings us face to face with hidden motives and compulsions. The world of recognition, achievement and applause disappears, and we stand squarely before God without props. (page 112) The habit of glancing at words and people extends to our relationship with God. We want pithy, memorable sermons. We want more religious words to chew on. The trouble is there are so many other things we are trying to remember that the sermon evaporates by the time we reach the parking lot. Could it be that what we need is time alone with God and a lot fewer words? (page 108) The Song of Songs is a mysteriously wonderful book of the Bible. It gives a glimpse of lovers who want to be alone so they can express the full range of their love for one another. The church regards this book as descriptive of human love as well as divine love. God longs to commune with his children. He beckons, “Arise, come, my darling; / my beautiful one, come with me” (Song of Songs 2:13). In solitude the heart waits for God, and God alone. Here the soul opens wide to listen and receive. (page 112)

Goal for this week: to be free oneself from the addiction and distraction of noise while leaving people and things behind and enter into alone time with God

Other Resources to consider:
The Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen
Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton

MONDAY
Begin the week with reflection by answering these questions
_how and when do you resist or avoid being alone?
_what tends to pop into your mind when you are alone
_what do you resort to doing when alone?
_how do you like to fill silence?
_where do you have silence with God in your life?
Take 5 minutes and pray to God. Don’t worry if you don’t have words for the prayer, just sit before God for 5 minutes.

TUESDAY
Take your alarm clock or phone alarm and set it for 10 minutes. Set it aside, possibly in the next room where you can still hear it go off, but not in visible sight. The timer lets you forget the time and settle into the quiet. Don’t worry about the time. Don’t open a book. Simply sit in silence. Take notice of where your thoughts go and how comfortable/ uncomfortable you are.

WEDNESDAY
Choose a gentle activity that you can do alone. A walk, jog, drive, folding laundry, etc. Dedicate that time of the activity to you and God. You are alone from other people, but not from God. Dedicate the entire time of the activity to no interruption, and spending with God. Notice how you felt through the time alone and spending it with God. How did God speak to you or you speak to Him?

THURSDAY
Set your alarm (like Tuesday) for 10 minutes. Be alone and in silence from anyone and everything else. Read Psalm 37:4- “Delight yourself in the Lord / and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Reflect what this verse tells you today.

FRIDAY
What is it that you often go to when silence arrives? The TV? The radio? A newspaper? Whatever it may be, fast from that item today. In other words, stay away from it! Don’t go near it. When silence comes up, embrace it and don’t turn on the TV. When silence comes up, sit there for a moment and notice the stillness and remember you sit with God.

SATURDAY
What day’s exercise challenged you the most? Repeat that day’s exercise today.

World Series

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:02:00 +0000

I apologize for the long lay off from blogging.

In the last month I have experienced and witnessed the greatest sports month of my life. To say, "I am a Texas Rangers fan" would be an understatement. Laura, my wife would say that I am an "obsessed" fan. I don't like that word necessarily. In any case, this last month of playoff baseball leading up to World Series baseball has been a lot of fun.

It's amazing how 30 teams play 162 games over 6 months and are then dwindled down to two teams. Two out of 30. The definition of winning is being the last team to win. In other words, to the be the team that ends the season with a win. Other from the fact that the World Series is not really a world event, is is the biggest and greatest baseball stage. It's the stage that the other 28 teams have to watch while the lucky 2 get to play. All eyes and ears are watching and analyzing and over-analyzing every move and play. Simply being a fan watching my team in the Series for the first time was nerve racking at times. Hard to imagine how the players must of felt.

Think of yourself as a player for a moment. Essentially we are all players in life. More so, we are all players who contribute and strive for the greater, better things. As players, we have goals, ambitions and practices to help us reach our life World Series. The questions to ask here are: what are you playing for in life? What is your greatest ambition? What places you as the champion?

Can you imagine winning the biggest prize you've ever wanted to win? Wouldn't that be fun. My team, the Texas Rangers came so close. They won more than they ever had before. They went further than they ever went before. They achieved more than they ever had before. They got closer than they ever had before. Though they fell short of the ultimate prize, they achieved great new levels as a team.

As players in our lives, we fall short. We miss. We strike out. The reality of living is that sometimes we stumble. As believers we have that too. It's not an excuse or reason to go out and stumble. Players who want to win don't do that. Players who want to win are not making errors on purpose. However, they are learning from that and moving on quickly. If players aren't moving on, they can't win. The season is long, the plays are hard and there others always critiquing you. But, are those reasons to stop playing for the prize?

One thing I am confident of: when we push ourselves, and play for the prize, and move towards the goal, we will never fall short. You see, baseball is something that is great fun for me, but not something that will carry me to the ultimate World Series. The things I accomplish may be great things, but if they are not aiding me in achieving my ultimate goal of Heaven, then I am falling short. In Jesus Christ I will make it to the biggest stage and not fall short. In Jesus Christ it will be more than a good time, but a life changing, eternally saved time. In Jesus Christ the World Series comes down to me and Him. We are face to face and together at last. Then and only then, because of His great love for me, I will win....truly win.

Exercise #4

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Unplugging

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“Spaciousness is always a beginning, a possibility, a potential, a capacity for birth.” –Gerald May

“What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? ²³ All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.” –Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

“¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” –Ephesians 5:1-2

“¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.”-Deuteronomy 8:10-11

What is unplugging? Unplugging calls us to leave the virtual world of technology and information in order to become present to God and others.

Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“It is not uncommon for my first two days after vacation to be technological marathon. Phone calls and hundreds of emails demand attention, swamping all face-to-face communication. I hunker down and proceed to “interact” without ever looking into anyone else’s eyes or sorting out the cues of body language. Once the electronic swamp is cleared away I settle into life as normal. Normal life includes hours of staring at a computer screen, where I answer email and write sermons and talks. The internet is constantly at my disposable to help my “interaction” with colleagues. Normalcy includes having a cell phone, which makes me available and interruptible at meals, in the middle of conversations, in meetings. Normalcy also includes meetings where people type notes into computers-all the while looking down rather than at the face of the presenter. The more I think about this, the more I wonder if Richard Mouw isn’t right when he suggests that there is no “inter” on the Net. The galaxy of information the World Wide Web has offered me has fragmented my world and my relationships and left me alone. Unplugging recognizes that personal beings are created for personal interaction by a personal God. We need to be in the presence of each other. Digital connections are not enough to keep us healthy. We need to be touched. We need nonverbal signals. We need uninterrupted spaces in our lives for the presence of God and the presence of others.

Goal for this week: to be fully present to and uninterrupted in interaction with God and others

Other Resources to consider:
The Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster
The Shattered Lantern by Ronal Rolheiser
The Unknown God by Alister McGath

MONDAY
Answer these questions to help prepare the week ahead
_how has technology influenced your relationships?
_are you online for both work and pleasure?
_what sort of temptations does cyberspace hold for you?
_where are you using technology to avoid face to face encounters?
_how much time do you spend on the computer, the phone, watching tv, etch each week?
*pray for the week ahead as you unplug a little each day

TUESDAY
Plan today as a “no email” day. If you do not have email, decide on another item to avoid today. Do not check, look or respond to any emails at all today. Leave it closed and turned off as you spend 24hrs away. Each time you want to open your email, stop and spend 2 minutes in prayer to God. Instead of ‘catching up’ pray with God.
WEDNESDAY
Plan today as a “no news” day. Don’t watch the newscast, don’t read the paper. Avoid news media in all shapes and forms today. The times you would spend reading the paper or watching the news, pray to God for at least 5 minutes. When you are tempted to check the headlines on the computer, pray to God for 2 minutes. Instead of being connected to the news of the world, connect to God and share news with Him.

THURSDAY
Plan today to write a letter to someone. Perhaps it’s your spouse, child or friend. Instead of an email or a phone call, sit down and write them a hand written note. Instead of writing someone quickly and ‘efficiently’ with an email or phone call, write someone personally and more intimately with a letter.

FRIDAY
Plan today as a “no phone” day. Turn off the cell phone, don’t answer the home phone. Avoid the phone today. Don’t worry. It’s for only 24hrs and I guarantee you if you are needed, someone will find you. Against all beliefs, we do not need phones to survive. I promise. Each time you want to answer the phone or call someone, spend at least 5 minutes in prayer to God. Take that time to pause for a moment and talk to God rather others over the phone.

SATURDAY
The big challenge today is to have a “no electronics” day. Turn everything off. Avoid everything. Don’t it all off and leave it off for one day. But, maybe you’re not ready. That’s ok. Choose one thing you will turn off today. Perhaps it’s something you exercise earlier in the week or something else you’ve thought of. Turn it off and keep it off for one day. When you are tempted or want to use it, stop and pray to God for at least 2 minutes each time. Remember, the whole idea is to connect to God more than things.

Exercise #3

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Journaling
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“The meaning of earthly existence is not, as we have grown used to thinking, in prosperity, but in the development of the soul.” -Alexander Solzhenitsyn

“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” -Psalm 16:7

“Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths.” -Psalm 25:4

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” -Psalm 119:18

What is journaling? Journaling is a tool for reflecting on God’s presence, guidance and nurture in daily coming and goings. Journals can be kept regularly or during time of transition.

Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“In a consumer society it’s easy to accumulate experiences, believing the more we have the better! Yet experiences don’t necessarily bring wisdom, nor do they automatically transform us. We need to listen and reflect on our experiences in the presence of the Holy Spirit to learn from them. Journaling is a way of paying attention to our lives- a way of knitting the vast ball of our experiences into something with shape that attests to the state of our soul. Fredrick Buechner reminds us in Listening to Your Life that “there is no chance thing through which God cannot speak.” On the pages of a journal, in the privacy of a moment, we can take tentative steps into truth and scour our feelings, hurts, ideas and struggles before God. Over time repetitious themes, sins, compulsions, hopes and concerns emerge. We begin to recognize our besetting sins, limitations and desires. During times of transition, travel, loss, joy, illness and decision making, journaling can provide a way of processing the hopes, fears, longing, angers and prayers of our heart. It can be the place we sound off before God so we don’t sound in an inappropriate way to others. The ongoing nature of a journal catalogs the journey of a soul into God.

Goal for this week: to be alert to life through writing and reflecting on God’s presence and activity in, around and through you.

Other Resources to consider:
An Ordinary Day with Jesus by John Ortberg and Ruth Barton
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life byDonald S. Whitney

*There are no daily questions or specific exercise in journaling this week. Use your journal (a pad of paper, sheets of a paper, etc) as a place for your unedited thoughts, feelings and reactions. Out of this overflow ask the Holy Spirit to form a godly response in you. Write the response you hear from God and speak to him through journaling. Last week was “inhaling,” this week is a concentrated exercise in “exhaling.” It’s an exercise to speak to God and to bring your feelings and thoughts to paper in order to know more fully your relationship with God.

Exercise #2

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:39:00 +0000

Contemplative Prayer
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“Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the presence.’” – Richard Rohr

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.” –Romans 8:26-27 (The Message)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” –2 Corinthians 3:17-18

“This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple.” –Colossians 1:26-27 (The Message)

What is contemplative prayer? It is a receptive posture of openness toward God. It is a way of waiting with a heart awake to God’s presence and his Word. This kind of prayer intentionally trusts and rests in the presence of the Holy Spirit deep in our own spirit.

Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“We often associate prayer with the words we say. Contemplative prayer is a way of being with God that does not depend on giving the holy One information about what we would like done in the world. Just as friends can enjoy one another without conversing, contemplative prayer is a way of being with God without wordiness. In contemplative prayer we rest and wait. Keeping our hearts alert and awake to the presence of God and his Word, we listen. Psalm 131 contains a wonderful image of a weaned child stilled and quieted in its mother’s arms. A weaned child isn’t looking to nurse. A weaned child comes to the mother for love and communion. The psalmist writes, “I have stilled and quieted my soul; / like a weaned child with its mother, ‘like a weaned child is my soul within me. In contemplative prayer we rest in God, depending on him to initiate communion and communication.”

Goal for this week: to practice an open and restful receptivity to God that enables you to always be with God just as you are.

Other Resources to consider:
The Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen The Awakened Heart by Gerald May

Monday:
: Is your prayer mostly one sided monologue with God? Do your prayers end to dictate to God what you would like to see happen? Are your prayers a response to God’s initiative in your life? What does this tell you about your understanding of prayer? (answer these questions on a separate sheet of paper)

: Determine a place where you can pray un-interrupted. Sit in a chair and close your eyes. Notice your breathing and nothing else. Take deep, deliberate breaths where you focus on nothing but this. Set an alarm for 5 minutes and allow that to interrupt you rather than looking at a clock every minute. Do nothing but concentrate on your breath for 5 minutes today.

Tuesday:
: Read John 15:4. What does it mean to remain in Christ?

: Determine a time ahead where you can spend 10 un-interrupted minutes for prayer. Sit in a chair straight up, hands out resting on your legs with your palms up. Notice your breathing, taking deep intentional breaths. Use this phrase and nothing else to keep your focus on God: “Lord, Jesus my Savior, have mercy on me a sinner.” Set an alarm for 10 minutes and let that tell you when time is up rather than looking at a clock every minute. Remember, contemplative prayer is a time to be receptive rather than talking. Let God talk to you while concentrate on him.

Wednesday: : Do you feel like being in the presence of God is not the same thing as prayer? Does it seem like wasting time?
: Again, determine a place where you can have 10 un-interrupted minutes alone. Before you begin, select a passage of scripture (your favorite something at random). Read about 2-3 verses of that passage and notice what word or phrase stuck out to you. Take that phrase into your prayer time. Sit in a chair, close your eyes with your hands on your lap with your palms up. Notice your breathing while you take deep intentional breaths. The only thing you say for ten minutes is the word or phrase that stuck out to you. You could try to repeat the phrase as you breathe in or out each time. Allow that alarm clock to interrupt you.

Thursday:
:Determine a place where you can have 10 un-interrupted minutes of prayer today. Take your Bible, unopened and set it in front of you. Sit in a chair with your hands resting on your lap with your palms up. Keep your eyes fixed on your Bible and nothing else (for this you’ll want to be in a place where you won’t be distracted even with your eyes open). Concentrate on your Bible repeating this phrase and nothing else, “Lord, my God speak to me.” Repeat this phrase with your breathing. Be consistent and pay attention to your breath.

Friday:
: Take a moment and reflect on your four days of contemplative prayer so far. How has it worked or not worked for you this week? What has been beneficial or difficult this week?
:Determine a place where you can have un-interrupted prayer time. You decide how long today. Set your alarm, close your eyes with your hands in your lap, palms up. Take slow, deliberate breaths. Say this as you inhale, “Lord my God have mercy on me.” And say this as you exhale, “A sinner.”

Saturday: looking at Jesus
:Determine a place where you can have un-interrupted prayer time. You decide how long today and see if you can go the longest yet this week. Also, choose the “style” from this week that you resonated with best. Take that specific practice and make it your contemplative prayer time today.

Exercise Guide-Rule of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Each week through our "Spiritual Laziness" study, I will post our Exercise Guides here. These weekly guides will help us and challenge us to practice the week's spiritual practice. This week is a bit different from the upcoming weeks. This week will help us reflect and begin to think of ways we can engage God daily.

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“It is my conviction that our heavenly Father says the same to us every day: ‘My dear child, you must always remember who you are.’” – John Stott

“For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” –Deuteronomy 30:16

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” –John 10:10

What is a Rule of Life? A rule of life offers unique and regular rhythms that free and open each person to the will and presence of Christ. The spiritual practices of a rule provide a way to partner with the Holy Spirit for personal transformation

Excerpt from “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us” by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun:
“We all have rules like “Do your best.” “Never give up.” “Never say never.” “Just do it.” These mottos tether us to certain behaviors and attitudes so we can, in the words of another rule, “be all we can be.” They help us live toward what we most want. Developing a “rule of life” is a way of being intentional about the personal rhythms and guidelines that shape our days. One of the early Christian rules for life is found in Acts 2:42. Here we find that believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This rule shaped their lives and hearts in the circumstances they were in. It acknowledged the impossibility of becoming like Christ through effort alone. The rule offered disciplines that made space to attend to the supernatural presence of the Trinity at work in and among them. The rule of the early church described distinct practices that were different than the cultural norms. Over the years Christians have developed rules and rhythms for living that center their lives in living Christ rather than the world.”

Goal for this week: to slowly develop a “rule of life” that will begin to engage you into practices that connect you to God. Your rule is not life-locking, but rather a step in this process of not being spiritual lazy, but rather engaging God through various forms so that we can connect more deeply to Him. The exercises of this week can be and probably should be re-visited over our entire study.

Other Resources for a Rule of Life:
Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living by John McQuiston III The Way of the Heart by Henry Nouwen Living with Contradiction by Esther de Wall Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson

Monday: Questions to begin with (grab a sheet of paper to answer these with)
:When and Where do you feel closest to God?
:Pay attention to the experiences, practices and relationships that draw you toward God. Are there particular practices that open you to God?
:What is most important to you?
:What gives you a sense of security and self-worth?
:What would people who know you best say it’s like to live and work with you?
:Where do your relationships need attention?

Tuesday: More Questions that help in developing a rule
:What receives the most attention in your life? Spouse? Job? Family? Friends? Hobbies?
:If you had six months to live, how would you spend your time?
:If you could write your own eulogy, what would you say?
:What do you currently do to realize your goals and desires? Work? Study? Pray? Socialize? Which of these things help or hinder your spiritual journey?
:What spiritual practices suit your daily, monthly and yearly rhythms? What do you do now regularly?
:Where do you want to change? Where do you feel powerless to change?

Wednesday: Read Psalm 16 and answer these reflective questions :What unspoken rules govern your life right now?
:How do you determine what you will and won’t do?
:Does the idea of a rule for your life appeal to you? Why or why not?
:How has being disciplined affected your life?
:How does a rule for life differ from a mission statement?

Thursday: writing a rule
:after three days of thinking more deeply and reflecting on your answers, begin to write a rule of life. Remember this is a rule to help you connect to God. This is not life-locking, but rather a start to our study through these practices together. This is not your final draft, but only a start. If you need help, you can Google “St. Benedict Rule for Life” and quickly get a glimpse of a rule that many are based on today.

Friday: reflecting and changing the rule
:You’ve had an entire day with what you wrote. What do you like most about what your wrote? What do you like least?
:in what ways will your rule of life as it is today encourage you and draw you closer to God?
:how is your rule as it is today get you off the couch and get spiritually actice?
:now, feel free to make changes and alterations to your rule

Saturday: looking at Jesus
:Open up the Gospels and consider the disciplines that consistently thread their way through Jesus’ life. How do they shape what he did or didn’t do?

You Can Change

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:14:00 +0000

You can change. But not in a way that may first come to mind. In our world we think of change as "moving up the ladder" or "becoming happier." We are programmed by our culture to change for the "better" and to make your life more "meaningful" through the things you don't have....yet. I believe there is a greater, more Godly event to take place when we truly open ourselves to change.

Let's notice a couple of things of what I just said first. Our world is built on a pursuit of happiness based on possessions and status. I do not believe this is change or change for the better. Real life transforming change occurs when we allow God in.

This is vital. Change occurs not through the actions of accumulating and taking, but through letting go and openness to God himself.

Now, I am not trying to be presumptuous in this blog by saying, "You must change right now or else." I am not even trying to pretend I know your needs or situation or thinking. What I am assuming, if anything, is that there are areas of all our lives that we may not be satisfied with or actions we take or reactions we often take that do not bring out the best in us. Parts of us we wish we could change, but perhaps we have resigned ourself to the fact we can't change or to the cultural message that we need Axe deodorant spray to truly be happy or to save 15% on our car insurance to make a big step in our financial freedom.

Maybe more than anything else, I am writing these thoughts because I am someone who often thinks like this and needs to be reminded of God's transforming power and not my changing ability. The areas, the relationships, the actions I take that I am not satisfied with and want to desperately change occur when I open myself to God.

Let's begin with the fact that every day we say "yes" and "no" to God. You will not change by your ability and power, but by saying "Yes, God please change me." You are step 1 of the change process. More than that, the life transforming power. We have to stop saying "no" to God and start saying "yes." Then and only then, when we have allowed God to work we will change.

This is difficult because this requires release. Openness to God I believe comes when we release our self, desire and wants. The things and things we try to acquire are obstacles in our ability to deepen our relationship with God. They alter our priorities and vision. Distract us from God. When we choose money over God, we are saying "no" to God. Essentially we are placing something else above the true God.

Perhaps we need to bring ourselves to a point where we are conscious of these choices and what they spiritually mean. Once we realize how our choices are saying "yes" or "no" to God then we can be aware of the obstacles that stand in the way of us being transformed by God.

N.T. Wright in his book After You Believe makes the statement, "Behavior is of course massively habit-forming." This isn't necessarily ground breaking, but a great reminder that our actions, the things we do create habits. In this sense, the things we do create habits of God or something else. Saying "yes" or saying "no."

Now, you are the first step to the change. Perhaps the most shallow prayers to God are the one's that ask God to change them and then sit around waiting for it to take place with no effort or consciousness to those areas separating us from God. It's like the prayer for patience and yet when opportunities to practice patience happens, we grow angry because God isn't answering our prayer. In reality, our prayer for patience creates opportunities for us to say "yes" to God and allow Him to be present in these im-patient situations while we consciously work on our patience. Too often we ask God and wait around and expect God to be a magic genie with no effort or work.

N.T. Wright in the same book makes this point as well by saying, "When people consistently make choices about their patterns of behavior, physical changes take place within the brain itself." His point here is that people's conscious actions "train" themselves, much like an athlete, to take on the virtues of Christ. That again, much like an athlete, conscious practice and time must be spent on realizing the areas that need work. In short (and in my words) change can happen when we consciously practice the areas we are wanting/needing to change.

The prayer for God to change us is a great one. The fault of us is thinking we are done. God's transforming power allows these opportunities of practice, where real change can occur.

I enjoy the home make-over shows. Name one, I like it. The problem I have with these shows is the fact that these homes are renovated so quickly. From experience, home renovations take time. It's a piece here and project there. Take your yard as an example. I've worked on a yard once before and am currently working on getting our yard pretty. In these home make over shows, the yard is at mature, beautiful age within two days. Everything is in place. Everything is green and gorgeous. The problem is, a yard doesn't work that way. Maybe more so today, but trees, shrubs and grass take time and care to cultivate to a mature and beautiful yard.

You get my point here? Change doesn't happen the next morning. Change occurs over time with much attention and work. If I allow the weeds in my work-in-progress yard to grow, they will take over. I think this analogy could be used for many areas of life, but very true for this conversation. You can change, but you have to do your part.

Doing our part doesn't take God out of the picture. I think it honors God. Going back to our prayer for patience; we pray for patience but in order for us to become more patient, we must practice and cultivate patience. Does't this conscious decision and action honor God? It's not taking God away, but recognizing God provides the opportunities and strength for us to change. In our yard, we can plant, manicure and water, but God is the only who can make it grow. The things we don't want to grow will come up without our help, but our attention to the yard will allow God's good, beautiful things to grow.

If you're still reading, thanks. Let me close with a quick example from my own life.

I remember a couple of conscious decisions to change in my life. One of the more recent decisions was when my gentle wife made me aware of the fact that I become "grumpy" and "mean" and "short" when I was hungry or tired. I didn't even notice my behavior during these times. But she did and she noticed it wasn't a kind characteristic and one that was ultimately hurting my family.

I can remember driving to dinner and being "angry" and having this conversation and realizing it was true. I prayed to God and made a decision right then and there that I would change.

I've messed up since that decision. I've reverted back to "mean" Travis at these times, but when I do I catch myself (or my family does). I pray for God to help. I apologize and become even more aware of the behavior and more aware to not act that way.

Now, I can't tell you what my family would say, but I feel like I've made some great strides in this negative behavior that was hurtful to others. I'm not perfect, but I am conscious. I am aware and trying to cultivate a more Godly behavior rather than a mean spirited one.

It's not a change that I can acquire. But it is one that God can accomplish when I cultivate the pattern for it. When I say "yes" to God through my choices and actions, I provide the groundwork to be in a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. Not through my possessions.

You can change. I know it's true because I've seen God change me, but only when I open myself to Him.

What Does it Take?

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:27:00 +0000

What does it take to wash dirty feet? Dirty hands.

We looked at John 13 two weeks ago and the amazing example of our Savior placing himself in the literal form of a servant. This wasn't new to Jesus. He had been serving in many ways up to this point, but now he placed himself in a position that no one considered themselves to be in.

Briefly, I believe Jesus is simply showing. He is showing the "full extent of his love" through his "example" of what it takes to be a disciple. There is also recognition that dirty feet exist and the disciples of Jesus must be in positions to wash them. At the very core, a disciple is a servant to others.

In Jesus' act of washing feet, he had to put himself in a position to accomplish the task. In other words, he got his hands dirty. Jesus' model for ministry is seen throughout the Gospels. He sees a need and acts on it. The same is true in this encounter. He sees the need, the dirty feet, and acts on it. There many levels to Jesus' action here, but his evident setting of the table for his disciples to serve is the one I want to focus on.

What will it take for his disciples today to wash feet, to bring the ministry of Christ to life in a real way? Dirty hands. This means action. This means disciples placing themselves in positions to accomplish the works that surround them.

I love the physical description that John gives. In order for Jesus to place himself in this position of a foot washer, he physically prepared himself for the work. He took his clothes off and symbolically transformed himself into the role of a true servant. Maybe we need to do the same. Perhaps we need to throw off the things that prevent us from being servants, the things that get in the way of us getting our hands dirty with the real work of disciples and put on the minimal outwear that is needed of servants.

Quickly, I am reminded of the "rich young man" who walks away from Jesus because he is unwilling to shed himself of the wealth he has. I think what we take off or shed will be different for us all. We must evaluate what stands in the way of us getting our hands dirty. We have to be honest with ourselves and before God to seek the clothing we wear that prevents us from being the true servants. The harder part for most will be taking those things off. I fear, myself included, that we may end up walking away from Jesus in some instances.

We (generally speaking) are very good at walking away. We have almost perfected it to an art and our society almost expects people to eventually walk away, especially when life changes and happiness (whatever that truly may be) is gone. Is it too tough? Walk away. Not what you thought it would be? Walk away. However, if you look at our Godly, saving example in Christ and especially in this passage in John 13, walking away is not an option. Followers of Christ, his disciples, have been called and brought to another standard. Walking away is not that standard nor is it an option.

In fact, it is entirely opposite of the world's standards and expectations. Jesus didn't turn away from the task of ministry and service. He embraced it and made sure his life reflected a servant more than a comfortable, well off man. He made sure his hands were dirty.

So we need to start with shedding those things that are in our way. This is tough but I believe in this process we position ourselves for ministry to others, which is what Christ was all about. This means we get honest with ourselves and more than likely we do some real life shedding of belongings, money and perhaps people. These are the things that are preventing us from taking the position of a servant.

Secondly, we need to do it. I think too often we sit observe and brainstorm and meet over possibilities and formulate plans and try to get approval through whatever leadership structure is in place. Too often we observe a need and do very little to immediately meet that need. We can't do that and we shouldn't. We have been equipped, every single one us in unique ways, to get our hands dirty. Jesus didn't see a blind man begging for help and talk it over with a committee, chart plan to be effective in that work and make sure everyone was on board with the work before doing something abou it. He saw the need and acted. Not that I have any power, but I want to empower you to do the same. Act on the need you see before you and get your hands dirty.

Lastly, I want us to realize that dirty hands is living the mission of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that he didn't come to Earth to be with the righteous (those who thought they were righteous) but to come and save the sick and the poor. In other words, Jesus came to get his hands dirty. What an amazing God.

What will it take for us to be people who aren't satisfied with the hurt, pain, suffering, lost situations in our world, in our community? We have to get off the bench. We have to stop being spectators. We must no longer be people who justify our non-action. We can't keep clothing ourselves with wants and desires. We have to get our hands dirty.

Family Devotional Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:38:00 +0000

This is a guide for you and your family to spend time together in God's Word and with each other over this holiday weekend.

Opening Act:
Have everyone share their own answer (there are no wrong answers), begin with the youngest: what does it mean to say, “We have dirty feet?”

This devotional will piggy back last week’s lesson titled “Dirty Feet.” The idea behind dirty feet is that there are hurting people, people who are spiritually dirty. Jesus gave us the example to go and wash these feet.

Into the Word:

Open up a Bible and ask someone to read John 13:1-17 (you can even split it up)

Ask for whoever would like to answer: what sticks out to you about this act of service? Ask for whoever would like to answer: how is washing feet “an act of service” (verse 1)? Ask for whoever would like to answer: why would washing feet be a big deal for Jesus to do? What’s significant about Jesus doing this? Ask for whoever would like to answer: are you gifted to wash feet? Why or why not?

Turn your Bible over to 1 Corinthians 12 and ask someone to read verses 4-6 Ask for whoever would like to answer: what does it mean to be different yet have the same Lord? Ask for whoever would like to answer: what areas do you think you could help other people, wash feet? Ask for whoever would like to answer: what gifts do you see in someone else in your family?

Closing Act:

OPTION: have a bowl of water and towel ready and wash each other’s hands to symbolize and bring John 13 to life for you and your family. Simply live out this service to one another.

Ask everyone to share (there are no wrong answers), begin with the oldest person: what ways can we as a family “wash feet” and remember Jesus by doing it? *I would encourage your family to write a “plan of action” on how to accomplish what you’ve discussed

Pray together.

New Look

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:20:00 +0000

Ever since I began this blog, I've wanted to be intentional and encouraging. One thing I feel like I've lacked since day one was conveying a message and corresponding look. Well, now I have it thanks to my talented wife, Laura.

This blog's primary audience is our North Main Church family. Many of my posts are built around what we are studying weekly together as a church family. However, I know these writings are read, and prayerfully uplifting, to others around the world. So, trying to fuse these together, the overall riding goal of this blog is to have a place to further some of my thoughts, engage further study, share what's on my heart and simply encourage.

So here it is. These may be my words, but I pray they come from a perspective above. I love Colossians 3:1-4. The focus. The sights. The look that life takes when you truly take Christ on. It begins when you look towards Christ and it happens when you live that life above.

Set your hearts on things above. Set your minds above where Christ is seated.

This blog comes from an above perspective. Let's look up and then live life.

What if I Lost God?

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:37:00 +0000

My phone is lost. This morning my beautiful three year old picked up the phone and began to play games, as is her custom. Since that moment this morning, I have been without a phone. I've asked over and over again where she put the phone and nothing. She is only three. I've searched all over the house, in couches, under chairs and in beds. It's on silent and have not come up with it.

Here's the thing: it's bothering me that I can't find it. In fact, I got rude and my temper started to come out when I couldn't find my phone before heading to work. I got angry with a poor three year old who has no idea and everyone else in the house, who had nothing to do with it. Stormed out of the house this morning because I didn't have my phone.

Angry. Upset. Rude.

Over a phone.

I've gotten kind of 'passionate' over a lost phone today. I've had to put myself in check (which isn't easy) and remind myself of what really is important. My cell phone is not on that list. However, I've acted like it was today. What I say is important to me and how I act about it are two completely different things.

Here is a silly question: what if I lost God? It's silly because he's not going anywhere, but play along for a moment. What if I mis-placed God? What if I had Him and then lost Him?

Now here is the much bigger question for me: would I freak out over losing God like my phone today?

I hope the answer is yes.

I've gotten all worked up over a phone, which is one of many I've had over the years. I've gotten angry at my daughter because I put blame on her. I've gotten rude with an innocent wife who had no responsibilities over my phone. I've acted like a jerk. For a phone. And I'm ashamed of that.

Now why I am afraid of my answer to my question? Why am I afraid I would not have that kind of passion for my lost God? It's scary to think about. God is so much more than any phone. Period. Yet, I live like I am attached and in need of a phone rather than MY God.

This post is more confession than great insight. This post is more about a struggling person looking for his lost passion for God rather than a phone. This post is about misplaced priorities too often in my life and trying to correct that problem daily.

I know this though. When I am lost, my God is waiting like a loving father with his arms wide open ready to celebrate my return. I know my God is love and that love has truly changed my life. I also know this, I'm still working on being a light of that great, life changing love in my own life. Freaking out over a lost phone does not work. Being upset over it can't help. Remembering who I am and who MY God is will undoubtedly be helpful.

If I lost God, I'm ripping the house a part. My cell phone? Who cares.

Appealing

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:53:00 +0000

The last four weeks we've been in 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:1, looking at our IDENTITY. I find this passage of scripture to be personally engaging. There is, at least for me, a great sense of identity in how we live our lives and most importantly, how we live the message of Christ in our lives.

Yesterday we looked at "What We Live For." "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (verse 20)

Love it.

God is making an APPEAL through US!? Are you serious? You. Me. All of us are his ambassadors and God needs us, wants us, desires for us to be His ministers so that he can make His case and share His love through us!? Wow.

Think about that for a minute. You are the carrier of this message. You are the official representative of Jesus Christ. Your life tells the message of reconciliation. You.

Now, here is the idea I really want to expand on: Ambassadors can not "appeal" the message if we live for anything other than Christ.

Our identity is often found in many other things. I am a minister. I am a farmer. I am a lawyer. I am a husband. I am a father. I am a big Texas Rangers fan. Yet, what we tend (I am as guilty as anyone) to do is overlook God's given identity of us. You and me were created and have been given the title "Ambassador."

Imagine if our USA Ambassador to Germany began to speak in a British accent, stop showing up to the US embassy and spent more time in England than anywhere else in the world. What would you think? We do the exact same thing to Christ all the time! We say we live for Christ, yet we talk differently, we act in ways that don't show Christ and we spend more time on the internet or watching tv than in God's Word. So, are you living like Christ's Ambassador? Are you living for the message of wonderful, life-changing love? In other words, are you appealing?

I believe we are all appealing. We are all appealing to some kind of message. But, I believe if you are appealing in any other message other than Jesus Christ, you are living for the wrong thing. Simply put, something that is "appealing" is "attractive." I think we often are attractive. Not physically speaking, but life living.

I can remember as a teenager looking a certain "groups" of people and being attracted to them. Wanting to be like them or a part of them. I catch myself sometimes today looking at a certain life-style and being attracted to it. Watching HGTV and wanting very badly (lusting?) to re-model my entire house. I've read stories of real life heroes who do amazing things for the benefit of others and I want to be more like them. And if I'm honest, I watch Batman and wish I could take on crime all by myself too.

God's message is for all and He wants all to hear it, experience it and live it. His Ambassadors are the path He has chosen. He is making His own Godly appeal through you and me and if you and I are not appealing Christ, God's message can not be seen.

I think this is important. God's message is not only an audible message we need to speak, but a message we must live. Ambassadors for the United States go and live in another place. They are essentially the United States while there. They speak for the President. Their actions reflect an entire nation. Their mistakes often place our government in a tough situation. Christ's Ambassadors are Christ for a broken world. We must speak like we represent Christ. We must act like we represent Christ. We must even re-act like we represent Christ. One way or another we are representing something.

My challenge, for me more than anyone else, is to be appealing for the message of Christ.

Unclean

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:02:00 +0000

I don't think we have big problems worrying about what we put in our bodies and thinking, "Oh no. This will make me unclean before God." Although I believe my wife would argue differently, I still think for most people it's not an issue. We haven't grown up and had Jewish customs and OT law a part of us. So, when we read Mark 7:1-23 we probably have a hard time truly grasping what the big deal was.

Jesus was eating. Yummy. Pharisees saw Jesus and his disciples "eating food with hands that were unclean."

First of all, gross. Wash up man. But, this was more than just not washing up before supper. This was law and Jesus was breaking it and "tainting" the food he was eating and therefore hurting his cleanliness with God. Mark makes it a point to share some Jewish traditions to his readers to help fill them in and what Mark really seems to stress here is "tradition."

Here is where I'm going with this: what are we holding on to?

Jesus gets direct in this encounter. "You hypocrites....You have let go of the commands of God..." That's not good. And as we look into this reading we think, "Man, those poor, poor Pharisees, they just couldn't get it right." Ha. We tend to be this way too!

We worry with the "how" and mechanics and truly do end up avoiding the most important part. God. In all of our attempts to bring us closer to God and the devices we make up to get us there, we accidentally forget the purpose. We end up "holding on to the traditions of man."

You may not like this, but I don't believe God is too concerned with traditions. I just don't. I read this passage in particular and I become more convinced of that. God wants us to find great ways that are God honoring and uplifting, but I don't think he wants us to fight and hold on to them. He wants us to hold on to Him. Period.

Further, what's more important to God is "what comes out of us." Not the traditions and activities we put in, but what we do with the word of God and how we live it.

Yes, not cleaning your hands before supper is not the healthiest choice you can make. But, Jesus knew exactly what he was doing and he did it to prove a point. Wash your hands. Clean up. But if you are all fancy on the outside, dolled up with your good looks and don't move, act, live in a Godly way, you're unclean.

I want to ask a question an I hope you'll answer by leaving a comment on this post. I want to hear from you! This thought isn't over, but I want to have some blog convos about it.

What is something we hold onto that tends to push God out of the way?

Lessons for the Church from Public Libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:44:00 +0000

I read this article about how public libraries are doing some unusual things to attract people. My initial thought to reading this was, "The church needs to take lessons from public libraries." I'll explain that thought, but first read the article. Click Here and you'll head over to the DFW CBS11tv.com website article.

I think we would all agree that libraries struggle these days. Although they provide some wonderful services and safe places to be, people haven't been going to libraries too often. I'm one of them. In fact, Laura and I would prefer Barnes and Noble where you have to buy the books!

Why? Well, I think B&N provides a completely different atmosphere. It's an atmosphere that is relaxed, open and inviting. They have comfortable chairs. Library doesn't. They have coffee. Library doesn't allow water in the door. They allow talking. Library does not. They have a dedicated children's reading and play area. A library is not known for this. They have a music and movie section as another option. A library does not. They are located where people tend to go. A library is often in some hidden area.

You see my point? We are drawn (right or wrong) to atmosphere and product. Let's face it, the church offers a product. It may be the greatest thing to offer, but we have trouble "selling" it. I don't want to make it seem like the love and truth of Jesus is simply a product, but in terms of how we offer it, I think we need to see it that way. How are we doing at getting our product out there? How are we doing allowing people to access it? How are we doing inviting others to experience it?

Barnes and Noble does a great job at all this. The library? Not so much. At least they use to be that way. As you read in that article, libraries are changing gears to get people involved in their "product." Libraries all across the country are doing lots of different, innovative things to make their services more known and attractive. Some are moving into malls. Some are changing their layouts. Some are offering simple attractive services on top of their core product. The result? People are going to the public library again!

Here is what I take away from this.

First, we as the church must be innovative. Creative. We have to set aside the preconceptions and walls we may be use to and think differently to allow our "product" to be exposed. What was useful in 1999 is no longer useful in 2010. It's just not. It's not the same world. The people have changed, their expectations and taste have changed. The works of 10 years, 20 years, 30 years can not and they will not work today. So, this requires creativity, thinking outside our boxes.

The question I would start off by asking is, "How can I appeal to those who don't know about us?" The libraries asked a similar question apparently. They realized they were dying. People were not paying attention, people were not participating, people were not using their product. So, they asked themselves the question to ultimately get their services out there. For many, their answer wasn't necessarily brand new, but it was innovative for the public library industry (I'm not sure if the public library is an industry, but you get my point).

"Hey. People are spending a whole lot of time at Barnes and Noble, but not here at the library."
"I know. We had to let 5 more employees go this month."
"We're dying."
"I know. But what can we do? We're the library."
"We have to change. We need to be attractive like Barnes and Noble."
"But we are the library."
"And if we are going to survive and thrive again, we have to adapt."

Secondly, we have to move. The church needs to get up off the pew, out from the Sunday morning mind-set and get moving. We could spend a lot of time right here, but simply put Jesus didn't sit and ask his disciples to sit. He moved and demanded they move to share God. What else are libraries doing? They are offering services that ultimately tell people, "Hey! This is great stuff here!" We can't sit around and think, "People will come. They have before and they'll do it again." The library was dying quickly from this line of thinking. A lot could be said of the church from this as well.

"We'll, we look different. Now what?"
"Nothing. That's all we need."
"Really? If we look different and are more attractive, shouldn't do something different or people will think we are the same boring place?"
"Like what?"
"Well, maybe we could do our children's reading times again. It's been a while since we had one."
"I like that idea. It would show people that we have some wonderful books and opportunities for kids to learn how to read. We could also do some tutoring for children."
"Great idea!"

Thirdly, we need to make it convenient. One of the most telling things from the library article is how the library knew they had a better offer than the paid bookstores. They are free, yet people would rather go pay for it than go to the library. Why? Convenience. We can not expect people to all the sudden jump to the core church member's commitment level after one visit. Commitment takes time along with some very real expectations. So, how is our best way to start that relationship with people so they can get to know the "product?" Convenience. We are all about convenience in our world. Online shopping. Drive-thrus. Delivery's to our doors. Are we making church convenient for extremely busy people and convenient for those who don't have the commitment you may have?

"What's wrong?"
"I think we have a problem."
"What?"
"We close to early. People like the convenience and ability to do things after work."
"You think we are not being accessible?"
"Exactly. We have to change our times to allow people who may not plan to be here the opportunity to stop by and see what's going on."

Innovation. Move. Convenience. These may not be things we have heard too often when it comes to church. We have to take a lesson from the libraries. We have to stop surviving and start thriving. We have to adapt ourselves to the world and people around us. We are followers of Christ, called to share with the "sick" and the "lost" and we can't very well do that if we stay stagnant and are just trying to keep our heads above water. We will never compromise our core values of Jesus Christ, but we need to get Him out there to those who wouldn't think twice about not being apart.

Let's provide it.

How did Human Beings Get Here?

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Spiritual FAQ #2 in our series.

How did we get here? What's the answer because the answer tells a great deal about us, our substance and purpose here. For instance, moving to Winters only tells you part of who I am. But revealing where I have come from, where I have been that lead me to this place reveals me. I believe the same can be applied here. But first, let's look briefly at some of the most common thoughts that try to answer this question.

Natural Selection. This is a belief that nature has "weeded" out life that can and can not live here. This theory says it's a process over generations that selects traits which make reproduction and life easier to become more common. This is evolution, at least a part of it, where over these generations life changes and adapts to take on the traits of the environment to live and reproduce. This belief might answer our question like this: we got here because nature evolved and moved in such a way that we were selected and became the dominant life here.

Big Bang. Now this theory may not directly attempt to explain how we got here, but it is a belief that is looked at as the beginning and eventual leading to you and me being here. This idea says that the universe at some point in the past was so dense (bunched together) that an 'explosion' happened that began moving the universe away. Essentially, without going into more scientific language, the universe as we know it was set into motion and worlds, stars and eventually us were created out of this bang.

Creationism. This is a belief that something or someone of a higher power and intellect created our universe, world and us. Science, from my view, doesn't look at the 'who' necessarily in this viewpoint, but rather looks at the 'how' this supernatural being did it.

In addition to Mt. Rushmore, one of Gutzin Borglum's great works as a sculptor is the head of Lincoln in the Capitol at Washington. He cut it from a large, square block of stone in his studio. One day, when the face of Lincoln was just becoming recognizable out of the stone, a young girl was visiting the studio with her parents. She looked at the half-done face of Lincoln, her eyes registering wonder and astonishment. She stared at the piece for a moment then ran to the sculptor. "Is that Abraham Lincoln?" she asked. "Yes." "Well," said the little girl, "how in the world did you know he was inside there?"

This is the answer. You and I got here because God put us here. You and I got here because God designed us from nothing. You and I got here because God sculpted us into the image and likeness of the sculptor.

We are created beings and knowing who created us, I believe, brings substance and purpose to us. If nature just lined up perfectly and we evolved into who we are today then our purpose is clear. We have none. If we are here because of a bang then our purpose is clear. We have none. However, if we were created and not just created by some super being, but created by the loving, caring, sustaining God then our purpose is clear. We live to reflect the image of our creator.

We are created in the image of God. God stood at the beginning of time (as he is the creator of time) and looked into the void and thought of you. His thought before darkness and light, before water and sky was you. It was me. God did not go into creation with a "let's see what happens along the way" mentality. He didn't form our world and then think to himself, "Now what should I put there?" No. He thought of us first. We are the crown jewel of his creation work. We are the reason creation took place. We are the thought that moved the creator to act.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 shares God's crown of creation. God didn't create to be busy, he created because he saw us. He created to build relationships and that we may be reflect the creator in his own creation. You and I reflect God. I believe physically, but much more than that we reflect God's spiritual image.

You may have read some of Lee Strobel's "Case for..." books. In his "Case for a Creator" Lee investigates the evidences that creation has all around us that there is a creator behind creation. These books have been turned into documentary's, following the investigations of Strobel to build a scientific case for God. At one point in the documentary "Case for a Creator" Strobel says, "That by doing science we find God." I think that is true. In science we find God, his fingerprints the and the overwhelming evidence of his creations.

Now, I don't think science answers the question "How did we get here?" I think science helps us see that God is the answer. Here is a brief part of Strobel's documentary from YouTube:

I think we can look beyond God's Word and still get the same answer: God is how we got here! We are people here because God created us and placed us here. We could investigate and study again and again and see the remarkable details of life. And I believe we would discover again and again (no matter how scientifically smart we are) and see the complexities and intricacy of life. That points to God creating us.

As created beings from God, placed here by God, we then see our purpose here. We are created people of God. Built, designed in the very image of the creator. Out of nothing he began to create us, form us, sculpt us into his own image. With that creation we have a choice to live with purpose. We have the choice to live in the image of our God, to live up to the words of Christ and "Be Holy" or live as if everything just mixed up perfectly right for us to be here. We have the choice to live as purposed created beings who strive to be with their creator or be people who strive to live for nothing beyond a big bang.

Someone once said that "God is in the small stuff." It's true especially when you look at creation, when you look at you and me. How did we get here? We got here because God created us and wanted us here. Now, let's live as created, purposed, wanted beings!

Spiritual FAQ#3 will be Sunday evening July 18 as we answer "Is there life after death?" A post will follow shortly after.

Series Re-Cap

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:46:00 +0000

We concluded "Moments with the Savior" this past Sunday. Now, we'll look at some other moments over the next few weeks here, but our study in Mark together in worship is over. One thing I have been doing since moving to Winters is collecting main "points" from our lessons each week. I've collected them all on a dry erase board I keep in my office. It reminds me of where we've been and the truths we find in these life changing moments with the Savior. I thought I would put these out there in no particular order.

"Jesus demands childlikeness for kingdom living"

"Jesus' touch is powerful"

"Dig through the roof!"

"People of the story live in the light"

"Disciples of Jesus must follow"

"Faith is Action"

"Faith is Power"

"Faith is Courage"

"In efforts for self, we wrestle with the will and desire of God"

"God wants our first, our best, our finest and every part of us"

"Jesus' compassion for the lost moves him to share"

"The possibility of God's working begins with belief"

"A moment with Jesus changes everything!"

Who is God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:03:00 +0000

We had some audio issues this past Sunday evening so the lesson was not recorded. I thought instead of me going to the auditorium and re-recording the lesson to an audience on nobody, I would video part of the lesson and expand in this blog post on other parts. Who knows, you may prefer my preaching this way from now on.

Our deepest convictions affect every decision we make. Write that down because it is true. We as individuals and as churches make our decisions based on our convictions. However, our convictions are often clouded by our preferences. David C. Gibbs Jr. of the Christian Law Association puts it this way, "A preference is a strong belief, but a belief that you will change under the right circumstances." He goes on to say, "A conviction is not something that you discover, it is something that you purpose in your heart (cf. Daniel 1,2-3). Convictions on the inside will always show up on the outside, in a person's lifestyle. To violate a conviction would be a sin."

When we look at this Frequently Asked Questions of our beliefs and faith, we are looking at the questions that reveal our deepest convictions. These FAQ's ask what we most fundamentally understand and believe, not what our preferences are. My challenge Sunday night and in this post is to be people who look at these questions to study what your deepest convictions are and to sort them out from your preferences. Preferences change. If you don't believe so, ask your 'past' self at the age of 16 what they want to do on a Friday night versus what you want to do today. We look at these questions to study the basic, fundamental convictions of our faith.

So we begin with who is God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

God the Creator
God is the creator and sovereign ruler of the universe and all that is in it.

Genesis 1:1- In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:26-27- Then God said, "Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish and of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them."

First of all, notice "our" in verse 26. The trinity is present in the beginning as well. All forms of God, the complete, whole God is our creator. We are people made, created, knitted in the very image of this complete God. Now, we could spend many more pages talking about our creation in God's image which is outright remarkable. You and me reflect God inside and out. But what I want us to focus on here is God is our creator. He is the one responsible for us being here and even more than that we are people created with a purpose. A purpose to rule over God's creation here on earth. But more than that we are people created to glorify and reflect the beauty of God!

Jesus the Savior
Jesus Christ is the son of God who came to earth to save us from our sins. He lived a sinless life, even though he was tempted in every way and willingly offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men and women by dying on the cross. He demonstrated his power over sin and death by rising from the dead after three days. Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised to return. Salvation can only come through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:22-23- All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -which means, God with us.

Let's start here. All throughout scripture we see a prophesy of God's plan. Everything that took place took place for God's son to come. Everything God had said was true and it came through a virgin birth. Jesus came to us, not as a last resort but as God's divine will and plan for our salvation. And on top of that it wasn't a plan that involved tablets or another prophet speaking on behalf of God, it was a plan that involved God in human form! Jesus is physically God in human form. Jesus is God living like us, among us. Feelings, thoughts they are all a part of Jesus. God in human form.

John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is God in human form sent with a purpose. The complete, whole God who created us loved us so much that he wanted to be in relationship with us. He wanted us to be with him. So, God the father sent his Son to be with us. Jesus is the "way, truth and life (John 14:6)." Our savior is this form of God. The human God.

Philippians 2:6-7- Who, (Jesus) being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Hebrews 4:16- For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.

Jesus the Savior is the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He is God with us and one who was tempted and lived just like us yet was without blemish. God only accepted perfect sacrifices so that his people could be in a personal relationship with him. Jesus is that for us. Our savior came to save us, rescue us and take away our sin when we accept Jesus the Savior.

Holy Spirit the Guide
The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. In conjunction with the Bible which He inspired, the Holy Spirit provides the Christian with understanding of spiritual faith and guidance in doing what is right.

Acts 2:38- Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:16- Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?

The Holy Spirit is a gift. It is God's spirit living among us and in us. We are called God's temple because of God's spirit living in us. Much like God's people built a temple, God's spirit would dwell there. He now dwells in us. A man told a boy that he would give him a dollar if he could tell him where God was. The boy replied, "I'll give you $100 if you can tell me where God is NOT." When we take God in baptism we are, again, taking on God in all forms, completely and wholly. The spirit of God is in us and with us.

Galatians 5:22-26- But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

When we live with the Holy Spirit it can be seen. Our life actions reflect the Holy Spirit with us therefore our life actions reflect God. It doesn't mean we are never tempted and never sin, but we have God's spirit with us and among us so we must strive to be in step with Him. God is still among us!

The Impact
You can think of people who have had an impact in your life. Positive and negative influences. The people in our lives will always have some kind of influence and impact in our lives. The same can be said for the relationship we share with God. His relationship will have some kind of impact in our lives. So, knowing who he is; knowing He is a complete God who influences all areas of our life, creation, salvation and guidance is important. Knowing our creator influences how we view ourselves. Knowing our Savior influences how we live with others. Knowing our Guide influences how we conduct each day.

I pray you will keep looking to know deeper and deeper our God. Please feel free to comment or email me if you want to have further discussion. I know a blog post or one sermon could never cover this huge and important question.

Gospel of Mark (fast) part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:41:00 +0000

The last half of Mark to finish our read through

Monday (14)- 9

Tuesday (15)- 10

Wednesday (16)- 11 & 12

Thursday (17)- 13

Friday (18)- 14

Saturday (19)- 15 & 16

Nostalgic

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:50:00 +0000

I've been nostalgic this week. When I was in junior high and high school, I participated every first week of summer in the Arlington/Mansfield area with Arlington Work Camp. This is three days of painting and scraping homes for people who are physically unable or financially unable. In my six years of youth ministry in Arlington I was able to participate further. Last summer was the 15th year of AWC. I only missed one year of those until this year.

Now, it doesn't make a whole lot sense. It never has. Teens pay money to go and work. They work in tremendous heat for other people. But every year the area youth groups have a total of 220 teenagers plus adults. Wow. Logic doesn't have anything to do with it.

What would you assume or even come to expect someone to do with their first full week of summer? Sleep. Play. Whatever. But these teens pay money so they can go out and serve. Simply serve. Simply share Jesus with homeowners, families, communities and and everyone who drives by. Serve. It's something that goes against expectations and logic. So why do it? Because it's work for Jesus.

When do we grow up and decide that work is about us? When do we decide that what we strive for and where we put our efforts must benefit us? One (of hundreds) thing I learned in my 14 of 16 years of Work Camp is that my efforts are about Christ or they are about me. When these teens go out in 16 different groups and show up at houses and start transforming that home, they are not doing it because they were told, they are not doing it because there is a pay check, they are not doing it because it looks good on a college application; they are doing it because they are sharing, worshiping and living for Jesus Christ.

Being a part of Arlington Work Camp has been nothing but a blessing in my life. I was reminded every summer that my actions and works are for my King. What I do and how I act and react are all for my Lord. Though I wasn't there psychically this week I was still reminded of these great truths. I pray that every first week of summer I get a little nostalgic and more so I pray that I live against the logic of this world and serve.

Gospel of Mark (fast)

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:36:00 +0000

Now that we've read through Mark at least once on this slow, but steady read through guide, we are going to read through it fast. Half this week. Half next. Let's go!

Monday (7)- 1
Tuesday (8)- 2 & 3
Wednesday (9)- 4
Thursday (10)- 5-6
Friday (11)- 7
Saturday (12)- 8

Mark Reading Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:15:00 +0000

Monday (31)- late. sorry.
Tuesday (1)- 15:16-32
Wednesday (2)- 15:33-41
Thursday (3)- 15:42-47
Friday (4)- 16
Saturday (5)- 16, again

Now, we've read through the Gospel of Mark together! We will be wrapping up our "Moments" study on June 20. So, I think for the next two weeks, I will post an accelerated reading guide to re-read Mark by June 20. Sound ok? Good!

Family Devotional Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:25:00 +0000

Here is a simple Family Devotional Guide. Let me encourage you to spend a few minutes as a family today or tomorrow and share God's Word together.
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Opening Act:
Have everyone share their own answer (there are no wrong answers), begin with the youngest: what does “Memorial Day” mean to you? What do you think it is?

Memorial Day is the last Monday of May every year. It’s a national holiday that places a special emphasis and focus on our men and women who serve in the armed forces, specifically it is a day to remember and honor those who have died fighting and defending the United States of America.

As a family, name off anyone you may know who has served or is serving in our military. Stop and pray.
Ask for whoever would like to answer: what kind of example are our serving men and women to us today?

Memorial Day is often thought of as “a long weekend” or a day to have a cookout. It’s way more than that. It’s a day we literally remember people who model service and sacrifice to the freedoms and ideals of our country. It’s a day where politics shouldn’t matter but solely the men and women who serve us.

Into the Word:

Open up a Bible and ask someone to read John 13:1-17 (you can even split it up)

Ask for whoever would like to answer: what sticks out to you about this act of service? Ask for whoever would like to answer: how is service “showing love” (verse 1)? Ask for whoever would like to answer: we don’t have to join the military necessarily to serve and show love, in what ways can we as a family or you as an individual take the model of Jesus and our serving men and women and serve others in special ways?

Closing Act:

Pray together.