James- an Epistle

Sunday we are launching a new series at Merge entitled James-an epistle. I am so excited to be going through this book because I believe it speaks very practically into our lives as Christians.

We are confronted with our tendencies to live as immature people rather than growing up in our faith. We run head on into our greed, our prejudices and how we tend to treat God (you know, all the things we really like talking about).

I have never taught a series like this before and am a little nervous as to how an 11 week series will work itself out with my attention span. But above that I am confident that God wants us to take this summer and dig deeper into His Word which brings us hope for the future.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Too Much Of A Good Thing Can Be A Bad Thing...

Last night I was at Staples picking up some things for the office. While checking out the sales associate and I started a conversation. Somehow we got on the topic of birthday's and she said hers was just around the corner. She said she would be 19 in a few days and wasn't sure what she would do becuase it's a pretty lame age. We joked about how she could celebrate it by buying cigarettes and lottery tickets even though she was legal to do that for a full year now. She laughed, then in a very serious tone told me a story about how her mom had lost everything they had to gambling.

Over the next few minutes she told me about phone calls her mom would make from different casino's declaring another defeat. I told her that there are so many things in life like that. Things that offer a big pay day but rarely pay out. I said that indulgence with limits can be fun but indulgence with no limits can be a trap. I don't have anything against gambling as long as it is out of the extra's of our lives.

She smile and said something I thought was really wise..."I guess too much of a good thing can be a bad thing sometimes." I think she may just be right.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Singing To Sing? Or Singing To Praise?...

There is a song we have been singing at Merge the past few weeks that seems to be taking root in the lives of some of the Merger's. It is by Hillsong and the title is "Healer". The words are both a powerful declaration and a challenging question. So many times in a worship gathering I feel I am guilty of singing words on a screen rather than joining my heart, my mind and my soul into declaring intimate truths about my God. This is always a dangerous game to play because God doesn't need our praise that is self seeking and manipulative. He doesn't need kiss up's whose motives are exposed the first moment they think they are alone and their actions don't line up.

Here are the lyrics of the song I was talking about. The bridge is the most challenging part for me. If I truly believe that nothing is impossible for Him then why do I find myself attempting to create my own momentum or trying to have more control? How can I learn better to trust that He will not let me fall and is the only One who can rescue me from so many troubles?

"Healer"
Verse:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

Pre-Chorus:
I trust in You
I trust in You

Chorus:
I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Bridge:
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Random Thoughts On Friday...

I find myself toward the end of a not so normal week. Jake is teaching at Merge on Sunday which changes the normal routine of lesson preparation that usually takes place for me over the week. I have spent this week working on James series we are about to dive into on the 31st. Here are some random thoughts I have been having because of my new found amount of time...

---Merge is a really special place to be a part of. God is moving in the lives of His kids here and I am excited to continue seeing Him breaking through us as we show Lake Worth His love.

---I am excited about a new initiative we are launching in providing a single mother a Wal-Mart gift card that has at least a $200.00 value. I think this is going to go a long way in meeting real needs for real people.

---I am thankful for people in my life who allow me to be their friend. I am strengthened because of their confidence in me and am challenged to be a better husband, father, pastor, friend and Christ-follower because of them.

---Life isn't always as clear cut as we wish. Sometimes the decisions we wrestle with will never become more clear. When that is the case the best thing we can do is seek guidance from God's Word, wise counsel and make the best decision based on the information we have available to us (all in that order).

---I have been playing my XBOX 360 this week and am waiting for someone to buy me that 50 in HD TV set so I can appreciate modern technology the way God wants me to.

---It's the Friday before a three day weekend. As I type these words millions of people are already mentally checking out of their jobs while their bodies are taking up space.

---We are the light of the world and should act like it.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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The Only Thing About Knowing Absolutely What To Do Is That There Are Very Few Cases Where It Is Absolute...

Yesterday I found myself in conversations with two different men that revolved around the same topic. Both men are at a place in their lives where they are making decisions that seem to carry great weight and are taking steps in confidence...not in absolution.

We talked about how rare it is in life to actually make decision knowing absolutely if that decision is the right one. I'm not saying there are no absolutes...
I believe God absolutely loved us enough to send us Jesus.
I believe Jesus is absolutely the way for me to be made right with God.
I believe that we are absolutely called to live in love.
I believe absolutely that the Word of God is not just an ancient text but an authority in our lives.

What I am talking about is those moments in life when you are making a decision feeling that it is the right step and then praying a prayer to God like this: "Father, you know I am walking in faith here. I ask that you either lift this decision up or tear it down."

Very few decisions in life are slam dunks. Most all of them are tangled with fear and uncertainty. That is why I believe it is a good idea when making decisions to:

1. Dig deep into scripture.
2. Make the best decision based on the information you have available to you at the time.
3. Use what Andy Stanley calls "The Best Question Ever"... (Based on my past experiences, current circumstances and future hopes and dreams...what is the wise thing for me to do?"

This is not a fail safe routine. There will be times you make a decision that doesn't pan out the ways you hoped it would. But by going through this process you will at least know that your approach wasn't made on whim or out of something else other than just you.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Show Me What It Means To Follow You...

I am not typically a fan of woman worship leaders (mainly because my voice is so manly that I can't sing with them). The other day though I came across a song by Meredith Andrews that led me to her album which I ended up buying. This morning between running my normal 30 miles, building a house from scratch and reading every newspaper known to mankind, I heard a line in one of the songs...

"Show me what it means to follow You."

Wow!!!! I wonder how many times I think I am following in Jesus' footsteps when what I am really following is an idea or my own perversion of Him? In Matthew we see Him telling us that we will not find our lives until we loose it. (Sounds very mysterious for those Mystery Men fans out there).

We are a picky people. We like following Jesus into the chapters where there is safety and comfort but when it comes to being the hands and feet of our Savior we all of a sudden have a phone call we have to return or need to rethink if we are really hearing the voice of God.

My friends, this should not be. My prayer for us today is that we would spend some time every day asking God to show us what it means to follow Him.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Something I Am Really Looking Forward To...

In two weeks we are going to be diving deep into an 11 week study in the book af James at Merge. There is 108 verses and 59 commands in this timeless epistle. I have never taught a series where we went verse by verse through an entire book. I love connecting peoples minds to God's Word because there are very few anchors we have in this world. His Word never steers us wrong and we find strength in it's guiding.

The book of James is one of my favorite books, an ancient text with modern relevance. It doesn't matter if you are just wading the waters of Christianity, have just started your journey with Christ or have been walking this road for a long time. James is a book that brings the Truth into everyone's life.

I am spending this week working on the entire series and already think that I am drowning in too many resources:)

Please pray for me that I would be able to teach this series well and that God would bring us closer to Him as a staring intently into His Word.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Evidence Hollywood Is Ripping Off The Bible (Numbers 22)...

I always loved this chapter of Balaam's life because I always felt it allowed me to say a cuss word while claiming I was merely repeating what was in the bible.

I am a bit confused this morining as to what is exaclty happening between verses 19-22. Is Balaam motivated by riches so he sees what only he wants to see? Did God give Him more specific instructions that I am not understanding? Is this more a heart issue than a physical one?

I am not sure. But I think a talking, life saving donkey is something to take note of. This kind of thing doesn't happen everyday. Unless of course you lived with Mr. Ed.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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I Got Snakes In My Pants (Numbers 21)...

The Israelites seem to be building steam as they make their way to the Promised Land but it also seems they have a hard time learning from their previous lessons. Have you noticed that it seems like every time they start grumbling against God and Moses that something bad happens to them? This morning they were bit by snakes.

How long until they learn this lesson? I was telling Misty about their ignorance this morning and she responded with the expression, "it's easy to criticize what we so easily understand."

We are very much like the Israelites. We grumble and complain when things aren't going as easy as we wish them too. We look for short cuts because the road that will develop us is harder. We cast blame on our leaders even though we are a big part of the problem.

We have to learn from those who have gone before us and not fall into their traps.

Heart & Soul,
BAG
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Authorized Personnel Only (Numbers 20)...

Coincidently, I am reading a book right now by Larry Osborne entitled "10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe". This morning I find myself remember the things I read as they throw themselves into this mornings reading.

Moses and Aaron were directed by God to supply water for the Israelites. Though that was accomplished, their method was not what He said. This disobedience created a harsh punishment (neither man would enter the Promised Land).

Though there was earthly consequences, God gave them eternal forgiveness. (this is where Osbornes chapter is coming into play). The thought that God will forget our sins is ludicrous. If He did have spiritual amnesia this would create a major problem being that there would be things we remember but He doesn't.

The difference is when He forgives us, He doesn't respond to us any longer to that sin. That doesn't mean that we will not experience a discipline in this side of eternity (ie. David and Bathsheba).

What matter most is our willing desire to obey God completely. Then us realizing what true forgiveness is and lastly living in the freedom of the cross.

The book is good so far, you should pick it up.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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At the Car Wash (Numbers 19)...

This morning we run into one of the reasons people don't want to read the Bible. It is chapters like these that I have to remind myself that all scripture is God breathed and He included this for a reason.

I beleive the history of the Old Testament has a similar mission of the Prophets in the Old Testament. Everything points to the eventual coming of the Messiah.

This morning I am reminded how our purity is to God. Such a big deal that getting clean from being around the dead was a process that lasted seven days. God isn't playing games when He says He wants us to live pure lives.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Priestly Pay Check (Numbers 18)...

This morning we dive into the instruction of how the Levites will make a living. Being that there entire clans responsibility is priestly duties, God did not wish to leave them penniless among the other tribes. Instead he designated certains parts of offerings for them and compensated them because they would have no inheritance.

What I found interesting is though the Levites did not have much and God was providing for them in a special way, He still required them to tithe on it. I believe this is very important to remember because regardless if our income is 1 dollar or 1 million it all is given to us from God.

He is to be taken seriously and with grattitude as He is gracious enough to continue to take care of our needs. Acknowledging His provision will free our hearts to live at peace under the protection of His wing.

Heart & Soul,
BAG
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The Grass Is Always Greener (Numbers 17)...

God is still showing how He is in control by performing Riis miracle through Aaron's staff. We have been reading the past few days different ways the Israelites grumbled against their leaders.

It amazes me how difficult they can be. But on the other hand I see this happening all the time in our nation. We grumble against our Presidents regardless of party. We always think the grass is greener on the other of the political aisle. We grumble against the senators and congressmen forgetting that the constitution gave us the power to choose them.

God places men and women in leadership so they can be food stewards and govern their flock effectively. It is by no accident that these men and women made it to where they are. Now I can't explain some of their poor choices other than to say, our sin leads us to making poor choices.

How about we not act like the Israelites how sought to devour the leaders who led them out of slavery and how about we so what we can to support and get active in helping our leaders so they can do an even better job.

Heart & Soul,
BAG
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I Think I Wouldn't Mess With Mo (Numbers 16)...

A pretty fierce scene opens up here in this chapter. Two groups of people bring charges against Moses and Aaron. They claim the two have been taking advantage of the people under the guise of working for God. Apparently this forces Moses' hand but more importantly stirs the wrath of God. In one scene we see the ground splitting and swallowing entire households whole. For me, even if I still thought Moses was crooked I believe I would keep my mouth shut.

But in verse 41 we see the congregation of people grumbling against Moses and Aaron again. Which again stirred God's anger to the point He was going to consume them. However, Moses and Aaron loved these people and Aaron made an atonement for the people saving them for what seemed to be certain death.

I am amazed by these guys response. Leadership is an incredibly difficult task even when your people are behind you. It becomes near impossible when groups start publicly criticizing your abilities.

This morning I am reminded that there is one authority that leaders should find strength, hope and defense in. That is God and Him alone. If we lead in the ways He has instructed us, when the attacks come, we have a greater defense than our own abilities could have ever defended us.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Sticks and Stones May Kill You (Numbers 15)...

I was reading along this morning with my Frosted Flakes, going through the right kind of sacrifices when I stumble into a scene where a a man was picking up sticks on the sabbath and end up being killed for it. (Maybe this is where we get the saying sticks and stones may break my bones).

Scripture has never backed away from our need to take a Sabbath. In fact, we see it listed in the big ten. Reason being that God wants us to have time each week where we don't create, we don't do, we slow down and breath through our hearts and not our minds. Doing this does wonders for your soul. It will allow you to have a change of perspective because you are able to take a step back and get out of the flow of every day living.

God didn't rest in Genesis because He needed it, He rested because He was teaching us how to live.

Heart and Soul,
BAG
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