We opened up at discussion this past weekend at Merge as we dream about taking the leap as a body of believers from going from being a group of people to a family of believers. What is interesting is that a group can do some really neat things because it is usually assembled with like-minded people who enjoy doing things together. They can get together and influence other people lives and have moments where when they talk about them later in life, it brings warm feelings and a smile to their faces.
But a family can offer all that and then more. A family can add intimacy and security that a group is not able to. A family can provide a safe place to dream and a soft place to land. A family can make the difference in you having dreams and achieving them.
When it comes to the church I am left wondering if we have settled for being a group but try to wear the label of family. I wonder how many of us are truly living in Biblical Community and how many are attending a service where a collection of people assemble, ingest information and never take the risk to get to know one another.
When a church is a GROUP it can be a nice addition to the community. It can meet some needs and provide a face lift in an otherwise dark area. But when a church becomes a family changed by Jesus, I believe it becomes a revolutionary force that can change the world.
What we must decide is who we want to be and if being a group is suffice then we need to confess to God that we are not willing to be the people He has called us to be and the people Jesus died for. At least this way we are not deceiving ourselves.
But if we decide to be a family then we must take the risk on one another, to love one another, to get knee deep in one another's lives and allow God to change the world by bringing us together as an unstoppable force.
At least that what I am thinking about right now.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Back From Blogcation...
I know most of you have been chomping at the bit to read another post from the rambling mind of the one they call BAG. It has been a pretty good blogcation. I am planning on writing a bit more regularly in the coming weeks when thoughts come to mind but will not pressure or rush anything. So from time to time I will add more quotes from things I hear and are reading.
Much has happened over the past few weeks, leading the charge is Barak starting kindergarten where it has been an adventure. He is blowing me away with how much he has grown over the past year. This morning I was able to catch a sweet moment as I was dropping him off. He was sitting in his class line before their morning rally when a girl in his class says something to him to which he smiles and begins having a conversation with her.
It is cool seeing him make new friends and growing into a pretty cool boy. I am proud and humbled that God would grant Misty and me this great opportunity to be his parents.
That's all.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Much has happened over the past few weeks, leading the charge is Barak starting kindergarten where it has been an adventure. He is blowing me away with how much he has grown over the past year. This morning I was able to catch a sweet moment as I was dropping him off. He was sitting in his class line before their morning rally when a girl in his class says something to him to which he smiles and begins having a conversation with her.
It is cool seeing him make new friends and growing into a pretty cool boy. I am proud and humbled that God would grant Misty and me this great opportunity to be his parents.
That's all.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
On A Bit Of A Blogcation...
I have tried to write a few posts in the the past couple of weeks with no avail. I can't think of any topics at the moment so I have decided to take the rest of the month off. Maybe by then I will have a new list of insanity to bring to you.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Good Quesiton To Ask Yourself Today...
Whose life have you tried to make better today?
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
How Yesterday I Acted Like A Five Year Old (And Not In A Good Way)...
Barak and I had a moment yesterday when I am pretty sure he was being an average 5 year old and I was willing to act like one even though I know better (or at least I should). I will spare you and me the embarrassment of a long drawn out story other than to say I was trying to use a moment to teach something important and instead allowed a small chilish tantrum to take control as if that was going to speak to Barak in a profound way.
It was one of those moments I am sure you have experienced. While doing it you know this is not the best way to handle the situation. But for some reason the voice telling you to stop or slow down is drowned out. Then sometimes God will use the voice of a 5 year old to really bring attention to your dysfunction "DDDAAAAAADDDD, is that how we are suppose to treat the things we have?????"
BUSTED!!!!!
Because of pride I found myself in the office working on justifying my actions and minimizing them as if they were no big deal. Truth is, I knew I had dropped the ball. I knew I had allowed my emotions to get the better of me. I knew that the example I just set for my son would get him a spanking if he followed in my footsteps. So I did something that I thought would be painful but actually turned out to bring a smile on my face and I think God's.
I called Barak into the office and asked for his hands (this my way of knowing that I have his attention. He thought he was in trouble because we use this move then as well.) I looked him in the eyes and said,
"Barak, I am not proud of how I handled that situation back there. I am not proud that was upset with you. I wish I could do it over again and do it differently but I won't have that opportunity. I wanted to say I am sorry and I hope the next time we will both do things differently."
You want to know what he did? He looked at me in the eyes and said, "O.K., sounds fair." Gave me a hug and went back to the living room.
The truth is, we will all blow it relationally in some form or fashion and there will be a moment when you feel that the right thing to do is apologize for your actions (even if you feel you were right, you may be willing to admit that there was a better way to prove it).
Then you will more than likely feel that tension between wanting to make it right and wanting to be comfortable. What you must decide is if you want to be the best version of you or the version of you that is still willing to throw temper tantrums like a 5 year old.
I think when we stretch out to be the best version of ourselves we can be and are willing to embrace the discomfort for the sake of growth, our Heavenly Father looks at us with a smile and speaks words into our soul that makes a great difference, "Look at you, you are growing. I am so proud of you."
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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It was one of those moments I am sure you have experienced. While doing it you know this is not the best way to handle the situation. But for some reason the voice telling you to stop or slow down is drowned out. Then sometimes God will use the voice of a 5 year old to really bring attention to your dysfunction "DDDAAAAAADDDD, is that how we are suppose to treat the things we have?????"
BUSTED!!!!!
Because of pride I found myself in the office working on justifying my actions and minimizing them as if they were no big deal. Truth is, I knew I had dropped the ball. I knew I had allowed my emotions to get the better of me. I knew that the example I just set for my son would get him a spanking if he followed in my footsteps. So I did something that I thought would be painful but actually turned out to bring a smile on my face and I think God's.
I called Barak into the office and asked for his hands (this my way of knowing that I have his attention. He thought he was in trouble because we use this move then as well.) I looked him in the eyes and said,
"Barak, I am not proud of how I handled that situation back there. I am not proud that was upset with you. I wish I could do it over again and do it differently but I won't have that opportunity. I wanted to say I am sorry and I hope the next time we will both do things differently."
You want to know what he did? He looked at me in the eyes and said, "O.K., sounds fair." Gave me a hug and went back to the living room.
The truth is, we will all blow it relationally in some form or fashion and there will be a moment when you feel that the right thing to do is apologize for your actions (even if you feel you were right, you may be willing to admit that there was a better way to prove it).
Then you will more than likely feel that tension between wanting to make it right and wanting to be comfortable. What you must decide is if you want to be the best version of you or the version of you that is still willing to throw temper tantrums like a 5 year old.
I think when we stretch out to be the best version of ourselves we can be and are willing to embrace the discomfort for the sake of growth, our Heavenly Father looks at us with a smile and speaks words into our soul that makes a great difference, "Look at you, you are growing. I am so proud of you."
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
What To Do When God Says To Marry A Whore...
It's not everyday that the Bible makes me laugh out loud (though you would be surprised just how often it happens). I have been journeying through the Bible with my best friend and this morning started reading the Old Testament book of Hosea. Check out what God tells this great prophet to do right out of the gate:
How would like it for one of the first things God says to you be something that seems so random and so controversial? How would you like to be Hosea introducing her to his parents or at the family reunion? "Mom, Dad this is Gomer, she works on the corner of whore and dom but you should get used to calling her daughter."
But right out of the gate, God says to Hosea, "We are going to shake things up around here and to do this you are going to do something that won't make sense anywhere but in your heart."
Truth is, God was using Hosea's marriage as an illustration for how His children (the Israelites) were treating Him and if you keep reading you get to see God's heart for those that are His and what He desires for us. But that is not what has been striking me today.
What is grabbing hold of my heart since this morning is where in my life is God wanting to shake things up by doing something as crazy as this in order to show the world His great love? Most of us want the benefits of life with God as long as it doesn't cause friction or discomfort in our lives. I dare say that if God told 98% of us to do something as ludicrous as what He told Hosea, we would walk away laughing.
Truth is, He has asked us for the ludicrous. He has told us to lay our lives at the foot of the Cross so that we can experience freedom and love and true living. He has said that as we do life with each other His work in us should be what is noticed as light invades the darkness. We must decrease so Christ can increase all the more.
What we have to come to grips with is whether or not we will "marry the whore" (men I would not recommend trying to crack a joke about your wife here. That probably won't end well:)) or "walk away laughing". Doing one will lead to freedom and an abundant life; the other will lead to oppression and boredom.
So what if all believers lived on this plane, where when God calls us to do things that the rest of the world wouldn't understand we do them because we are living for the applause of the One who made us, saved us and knows how we can live up to our full potential?
What if the children of God lived in such a way that it was obvious we are His?
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Hosea 1:2-3 (ESV)
2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” 3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. How would like it for one of the first things God says to you be something that seems so random and so controversial? How would you like to be Hosea introducing her to his parents or at the family reunion? "Mom, Dad this is Gomer, she works on the corner of whore and dom but you should get used to calling her daughter."
But right out of the gate, God says to Hosea, "We are going to shake things up around here and to do this you are going to do something that won't make sense anywhere but in your heart."
Truth is, God was using Hosea's marriage as an illustration for how His children (the Israelites) were treating Him and if you keep reading you get to see God's heart for those that are His and what He desires for us. But that is not what has been striking me today.
What is grabbing hold of my heart since this morning is where in my life is God wanting to shake things up by doing something as crazy as this in order to show the world His great love? Most of us want the benefits of life with God as long as it doesn't cause friction or discomfort in our lives. I dare say that if God told 98% of us to do something as ludicrous as what He told Hosea, we would walk away laughing.
Truth is, He has asked us for the ludicrous. He has told us to lay our lives at the foot of the Cross so that we can experience freedom and love and true living. He has said that as we do life with each other His work in us should be what is noticed as light invades the darkness. We must decrease so Christ can increase all the more.
What we have to come to grips with is whether or not we will "marry the whore" (men I would not recommend trying to crack a joke about your wife here. That probably won't end well:)) or "walk away laughing". Doing one will lead to freedom and an abundant life; the other will lead to oppression and boredom.
So what if all believers lived on this plane, where when God calls us to do things that the rest of the world wouldn't understand we do them because we are living for the applause of the One who made us, saved us and knows how we can live up to our full potential?
What if the children of God lived in such a way that it was obvious we are His?
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Barak Is 5 Today!!!!!!
Last night before Barak went to sleep I asked him if he realized that he would go to sleep a 4 year old and wake up as a 5 year old. His smile was priceless. He is so proud to be turning 5. He thinks of it as a rite of passage, as if he were for some reason needing to become Jeremiah Johnson over night. This morning he woke up strutting around, when I picked him up so Misty and I can take him to lunch, he walked out telling everyone that he is going for Birthday lunch.
This afternoon I am stunned with the reality that my boy is getting older. 5 is a big one. There are a lot of days that come and go which I forget about almost as quickly as they came. But that day 5 years ago has been cemented in my heart since then. I remember holding him as he was about an hour old as he looked around at his brave new world as he embarked on his brave new adventure. Then I felt a great sense of excitement and anxiety all at the same time. The thought that God has allowed Misty and me the responsibility to raise Barak blows me away.
I am so proud of the boy that he is and can't figure out which stage in the past 5 years has been my favorites. What I do know is that my love for this boy grows by the day and I am looking forward to days to come. He makes me a better Father, a better friend. I get to see how I relate to my Heavenly Father in how he relates to me.
(And he loves the XBOX 360 and our "on the way" IPAD).
Happy Birthday Bear!!!
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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This afternoon I am stunned with the reality that my boy is getting older. 5 is a big one. There are a lot of days that come and go which I forget about almost as quickly as they came. But that day 5 years ago has been cemented in my heart since then. I remember holding him as he was about an hour old as he looked around at his brave new world as he embarked on his brave new adventure. Then I felt a great sense of excitement and anxiety all at the same time. The thought that God has allowed Misty and me the responsibility to raise Barak blows me away.
I am so proud of the boy that he is and can't figure out which stage in the past 5 years has been my favorites. What I do know is that my love for this boy grows by the day and I am looking forward to days to come. He makes me a better Father, a better friend. I get to see how I relate to my Heavenly Father in how he relates to me.
(And he loves the XBOX 360 and our "on the way" IPAD).
Happy Birthday Bear!!!
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Power of YOU...
We have been spending some time at Merge learning about how we interact with the Holy Spirit. When some hear this they immediately think that Merge is spending time telling ghost stories about weird things that have happened in an attempt to get goose bumps and freak each other out. That is not the case.
I believe that knowledge is power and the more you know, the more motivated to getting active in life. Ignorance in this case isn't bliss, it's isolation. So we are asking some important questions in hopes that through God's Word we can better understand how to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Most of this is birthed out of my own frustration surrounding my ability to ignore or explain away incredible opportunities the Holy Spirit is calling me on. Without the Holy Spirit, we are limited to human sized efforts which can only produce human sized results. BUT!!!!! If we are serious about believing that God has given us His Spirit, we take a very exciting leap in seeing Him do supernatural things producing God-sized results.
This is the plane we the church must live at. The power of you isn't much to get excited about. Sure you may do something helpful where people pat you on the back. They may even speak well of you behind your back but that kind of influence is very limited. The power of God however, changes everything; you get to see things happen around you and through you that is only concocted in your imagination. You go from dreaming in living color to living in it.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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I believe that knowledge is power and the more you know, the more motivated to getting active in life. Ignorance in this case isn't bliss, it's isolation. So we are asking some important questions in hopes that through God's Word we can better understand how to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Most of this is birthed out of my own frustration surrounding my ability to ignore or explain away incredible opportunities the Holy Spirit is calling me on. Without the Holy Spirit, we are limited to human sized efforts which can only produce human sized results. BUT!!!!! If we are serious about believing that God has given us His Spirit, we take a very exciting leap in seeing Him do supernatural things producing God-sized results.
This is the plane we the church must live at. The power of you isn't much to get excited about. Sure you may do something helpful where people pat you on the back. They may even speak well of you behind your back but that kind of influence is very limited. The power of God however, changes everything; you get to see things happen around you and through you that is only concocted in your imagination. You go from dreaming in living color to living in it.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Some Additional Thoughts From Sunday's Lesson At Merge...
We opened up a discussion on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives this past Sunday at Merge. I am really excited about the season that I feel God is bringing us into and am anxious (in a good way) to experience more of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are approaching this series by unpacking some important questions I feel people have about the Holy Spirit. Last week was "WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?", this week we will unpack, "WHY DO I NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT?".
On Sunday, I left there feeling there was something I missed or didn't spend enough time unpacking but I couldn't put my finger on it...until last night. Misty encouraged me to read the passage I taught from out of her bible (she reads from the New Living Translation because she likes to be a bible snob:)). As I was reading the words what I couldn't put my finger on became very apparent.
On Sunday, I left there feeling there was something I missed or didn't spend enough time unpacking but I couldn't put my finger on it...until last night. Misty encouraged me to read the passage I taught from out of her bible (she reads from the New Living Translation because she likes to be a bible snob:)). As I was reading the words what I couldn't put my finger on became very apparent.
1 Cor. 2:9-12
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
There it is folks....the spot where I think as believer's we should stop and just thank God for His Spirit that lives inside of us. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the deep secrets of God that are hidden from us apart from Him. We get to better understand what God wants from us, how we can please Him, how we can live an abundant life, how we can continually repent and break free from sin and it's temptations.
WE CAN LIVE THE LIFE GOD DESIRES FOR US TO LIVE BECAUSE OF THE ROLE THE HOLY SPIRIT PLAYS IN OUR LIFE!!!!!
Think about all the things that are great mysteries to you about God the Father. It is the Holy Spirit in His wisdom which reveals those things to you. With the Spirit we can do supernatural things in supernatural ways. Apart from Him we are limited to human size power resulting in human size results.
I am thankful today for this vital role the Holy Spirit plays in my life. I think it would be good for all of us today to stop and than Him for such a brilliant counselor.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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BAG
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Tuesday, April 6, 2010
That Hill Is Too Steep...
With the weather getting nicer and the sun staying out longer, Barak has been riding his bike more around the apartment complex. We are experiencing such an interesting transformation with him right now. He is becoming a boy. Yesterday there was a moment that made Misty apprehensive at first but proud afterward. He parks his bike and climbed a wall to get to some flowers. When I say "climbed a wall" I mean he climbed up twice his height. (Think Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2). He got to the top, grabbed the flower, handed it to me and then climbed down...all by himself.
Then there is this hill that he insists on going down which is much too steep for him to bike down safely. But he doesn't know that. He sees a hill that he wants to tackle and doesn't see any problem in trying. So we make it as safe as possible and let him have at it.
I suppose this is just a few of many more "all by myself" moments on the horizon.
Then there is this hill that he insists on going down which is much too steep for him to bike down safely. But he doesn't know that. He sees a hill that he wants to tackle and doesn't see any problem in trying. So we make it as safe as possible and let him have at it.
I suppose this is just a few of many more "all by myself" moments on the horizon.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Join Us This Sunday To Celebrate Easter At Merge...
If you don't already have plans for this Sunday's Easter Celebration, why don't you go ahead and make plans on swinging by Merge. We will have live spitting camels, fire jugglers, clowns and a dodo bird (those things actually subject to change).
What we can promise is that you will experience a great place to hear about God in a welcoming environment with a really good looking guy doing some talking:)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Words To Chew On...
"Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the Cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain."
---John Piper "Don't Waste Your Life"
---John Piper "Don't Waste Your Life"
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What I Wanted To Do Was Ninja Kick Him To The Chest...
I have been playing basketball at my local 24 hour fitness a few times a week for these past few months. I LOVE IT!!!! I always enjoyed basketball more than any other sport I was playing. I forgot how much I loved the competition of playing against another person when you stop them from scoring or when you shoot a three from the corner to end the game. To say the least, it is one of the highlights of my week.
But I do have a hidden agenda when playing. I want to help guys meet Jesus. With this in mind there are a lot of things I can't get away with. Case in point, yesterday we were playing 5 on 5 full court basketball and I was playing against a guy who plays regularly up there when I do. He has been a bit hard to get to know, he is a bit rough. One thing he really likes to do is throw his weight around by pushing and shoving on defense. Yesterday, I came down with a rebound and he chest bumped me into the wall.
As I laid there I had a few thoughts running through my mind "One ninja kick to the chest would put him down and everyone would probably think it is the greatest move of all time." "If I cry in front of everyone I will have to find a new gym and turn in my man card." "I wonder what would happen if I pantsed him and ran out of the gym?" Then the one that stopped me in my tracks: "What is the most loving thing I can do?"
As he stood over me, chest out, staring down like he did something impressive I said..."I sure am sorry you had to run into me, I hope I didn't hurt you." He stared for a second and then gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen him give as he extended his hand to help me up. After the game he came over and apologized. It made me smile.
You see, there is a very carnal and sinful side of me that wants to exact revenge when I feel I have been wounded but all of those wounds have been dealt with by Jesus. So now pick up basketball games now carry an eternal influence with them. How I react will effect how people will view Jesus in my life. I don't take that kind of perspective lightly.
My prayer is that we as God's kids would realize that there is much more on the line than we typically want to accept. Everything we do will speak of what God is doing in our lives. Every action and reaction will have consequences that speak of a story much grander than the one just about you.
Though I have many more stories of getting this wrong, yesterday I am convinced I brought a smile on my Heavenly Father's face. That my friend, is a good day.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
But I do have a hidden agenda when playing. I want to help guys meet Jesus. With this in mind there are a lot of things I can't get away with. Case in point, yesterday we were playing 5 on 5 full court basketball and I was playing against a guy who plays regularly up there when I do. He has been a bit hard to get to know, he is a bit rough. One thing he really likes to do is throw his weight around by pushing and shoving on defense. Yesterday, I came down with a rebound and he chest bumped me into the wall.
As I laid there I had a few thoughts running through my mind "One ninja kick to the chest would put him down and everyone would probably think it is the greatest move of all time." "If I cry in front of everyone I will have to find a new gym and turn in my man card." "I wonder what would happen if I pantsed him and ran out of the gym?" Then the one that stopped me in my tracks: "What is the most loving thing I can do?"
As he stood over me, chest out, staring down like he did something impressive I said..."I sure am sorry you had to run into me, I hope I didn't hurt you." He stared for a second and then gave me the biggest smile I had ever seen him give as he extended his hand to help me up. After the game he came over and apologized. It made me smile.
You see, there is a very carnal and sinful side of me that wants to exact revenge when I feel I have been wounded but all of those wounds have been dealt with by Jesus. So now pick up basketball games now carry an eternal influence with them. How I react will effect how people will view Jesus in my life. I don't take that kind of perspective lightly.
My prayer is that we as God's kids would realize that there is much more on the line than we typically want to accept. Everything we do will speak of what God is doing in our lives. Every action and reaction will have consequences that speak of a story much grander than the one just about you.
Though I have many more stories of getting this wrong, yesterday I am convinced I brought a smile on my Heavenly Father's face. That my friend, is a good day.
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010
When Love Breaks Through...
The other day at Merge we were walking through a prayer Paul prays in the book of Philippians where he asks God that our love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day Jesus comes back , and that we would be filled with His righteousness to the glory and praise of God.
It should not come as a shock to anyone that the pursuit of every Christian's life boils down to our desire to reflect Jesus to this world in order to bring as much praise to God as we can. What I find interesting is in this prayer the catalyst that Paul prays to unlock this beautiful reality...
LOVE!!!!
When love breaks through all other barriers begin to break down. When love breaks through we see things like patience and kindness and consideration take place over evil, selfishness and pride. When love breaks through we celebrate when good wins over evil and rest assured that in love we find protection and a hope for a better tomorrow.
When love breaks through addictions are broken, hearts are mended and lives are restored. When love breaks through we go from the wilderness to the promised land. We go from pieces to a masterpiece.
Our desire to live in love will change the courses of our lives. There are a million reasons we can give for choosing not to live in love. A few I hear from time to time usually deal with wounds received, wounds given, wounds of previous generations, wounds. What we forget is that all wounds can be healed in Jesus because in Him we find everything we need.
Love as it turns out is the most important thing about our lives. Not our yearly income, not our business I.Q., not how popular we are or how big the T.V. is.... Jesus tells us that our lives come down to our desire to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE. All other commands fall under this great one.
I wonder what it would look like if love actually broke through in your life and you made it your mission to always act/react in the most loving ways possible. Maybe you should start wondering this with me:)
Heart and Soul,
BAG
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It should not come as a shock to anyone that the pursuit of every Christian's life boils down to our desire to reflect Jesus to this world in order to bring as much praise to God as we can. What I find interesting is in this prayer the catalyst that Paul prays to unlock this beautiful reality...
LOVE!!!!
When love breaks through all other barriers begin to break down. When love breaks through we see things like patience and kindness and consideration take place over evil, selfishness and pride. When love breaks through we celebrate when good wins over evil and rest assured that in love we find protection and a hope for a better tomorrow.
When love breaks through addictions are broken, hearts are mended and lives are restored. When love breaks through we go from the wilderness to the promised land. We go from pieces to a masterpiece.
Our desire to live in love will change the courses of our lives. There are a million reasons we can give for choosing not to live in love. A few I hear from time to time usually deal with wounds received, wounds given, wounds of previous generations, wounds. What we forget is that all wounds can be healed in Jesus because in Him we find everything we need.
Love as it turns out is the most important thing about our lives. Not our yearly income, not our business I.Q., not how popular we are or how big the T.V. is.... Jesus tells us that our lives come down to our desire to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE. All other commands fall under this great one.
I wonder what it would look like if love actually broke through in your life and you made it your mission to always act/react in the most loving ways possible. Maybe you should start wondering this with me:)
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Is Your God Big Enough???
I said something while teaching on Sunday that I can't seem to stop thinking about. No it wasn't the remark about break-dancing monkeys or the dramatic re-enactment of Swine's routine in the SCS musical of Joseph (though the jazz hands were awesome). It came toward the end of the lesson as I was sharing some wrapping up thoughts.
We spent the morning working through Paul's prayer in the book of Colossians where he is praying that the church would be filled with the knowledge of God's will. This is an sticky subject for so many Christians because the process to them can be incredibly frustrating. Either God doesn't answer fast enough, loud enough or comfortable enough which leaves too many complaining about a Sovereign, Loving God who has incredible things in store for them.
And that wasn't even the tough part of the prayer for me. I especially appreciated the request that we would live lives worthy of the price that Jesus paid. (Want to talk about a proper kick in the pants the next time you decide to yell at the lady running the checkout register at Wal-Mart.)
We got to the end of our time and arrive at a very familiar place many lessons end up. That my friends is the subject of application. What will we do with these words we are wrestling with? I posed a question that has been constant in my mind since Sunday; "Do I believe that God is big enough to make these things come true?" Because if the answer is "NO" them we aren't serving a god worth following. But is the answer is "YES" then there should be nothing keeping us from praying God-sized prayers everyday of our lives.
Now, I have the crazy thought that God is big enough to answer any prayer that we may ask of Him according to His will; and that He loves to give His kids good things. Which only motivates me to praying bigger and bigger. I think the more clearly we see God and the bigger He gets in our lives then our prayers should reflect that growth.
Our prayers desperately need to shift from "What can You give me, God?" toward "What can I give You, God?" What if our prayers revolved more around what God is doing in and around us for His kingdom and less about what He is doing for our kingdom?
So if your God is big enough then search long and hard then ask Him to answer prayers than only He could answer. If He is not then I would encourage you to spend some time in the Bible and at a church...(I know a really good one in Lake Worth where the lead pastor is wicked awesome and looks a lot like Brad Pitt or a leprechaun).
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
We spent the morning working through Paul's prayer in the book of Colossians where he is praying that the church would be filled with the knowledge of God's will. This is an sticky subject for so many Christians because the process to them can be incredibly frustrating. Either God doesn't answer fast enough, loud enough or comfortable enough which leaves too many complaining about a Sovereign, Loving God who has incredible things in store for them.
And that wasn't even the tough part of the prayer for me. I especially appreciated the request that we would live lives worthy of the price that Jesus paid. (Want to talk about a proper kick in the pants the next time you decide to yell at the lady running the checkout register at Wal-Mart.)
We got to the end of our time and arrive at a very familiar place many lessons end up. That my friends is the subject of application. What will we do with these words we are wrestling with? I posed a question that has been constant in my mind since Sunday; "Do I believe that God is big enough to make these things come true?" Because if the answer is "NO" them we aren't serving a god worth following. But is the answer is "YES" then there should be nothing keeping us from praying God-sized prayers everyday of our lives.
Now, I have the crazy thought that God is big enough to answer any prayer that we may ask of Him according to His will; and that He loves to give His kids good things. Which only motivates me to praying bigger and bigger. I think the more clearly we see God and the bigger He gets in our lives then our prayers should reflect that growth.
Our prayers desperately need to shift from "What can You give me, God?" toward "What can I give You, God?" What if our prayers revolved more around what God is doing in and around us for His kingdom and less about what He is doing for our kingdom?
So if your God is big enough then search long and hard then ask Him to answer prayers than only He could answer. If He is not then I would encourage you to spend some time in the Bible and at a church...(I know a really good one in Lake Worth where the lead pastor is wicked awesome and looks a lot like Brad Pitt or a leprechaun).
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Great Promise From God
Since Sunday I have had the rare occasion of teaching what I shared at Merge with two additional crowds. On Monday I spoke to the Junior Highers at Southwest Christian School's and this morning I spoke the same message to their High Schooler's. I love having the opportunity to speaking with teenagers because I believe there is so much potential in them and that one day the difference they will make is directly influenced by the voices that spoke into their lives. I consider it a privilege anytime God allows me to teach His word and these past two day have been very special.
If you were at Merge we opened up a discussion on some thoughts on prayer, specifically about a desire to spend more time focusing on prayers regarding God and His Kingdom and less about our own personal comfort and materialistic things that only seem to make like a little easier.
To kick off our thoughts we dove into one of my favorite verses found in the book of Jeremiah.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." ---Jeremiah 33:3
1. God calls us to pray to Him. Why would we need a reminder to pray? Because like most of us it is only when life starts to get tight we attempt to bring God into the conversation (as if He wasn't aware in the first place). So He says to call unto Him because He knows better than we do what we need.
2. God promises to answer us. I believe this section section of verse 3 is important to note. God tells us that when we call to Him that He will respond to us. I am a very imperfect father but I always respond to any request He may have. That is not to say that the answer is yes every time and it is not to say that I say no even if he is convinced that yes is the best answer. God is a lot the same way (except He isn't as dorky and doesn't tell lame jokes). He promises to answer.
3. When we pray and God responds our faith in Him grows. God does not tell us "great and unsearchable things" so that we can be smarter or seem to be more spiritual than the next guy. He reveals these things so we can be active in the adventure of the story He is writing.
It is an incredible and humbling thought that God would even be interested in hearing our words, let alone respond to them. Nevertheless, He does responds to us in incredible ways. What a beautiful truth!!!
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
If you were at Merge we opened up a discussion on some thoughts on prayer, specifically about a desire to spend more time focusing on prayers regarding God and His Kingdom and less about our own personal comfort and materialistic things that only seem to make like a little easier.
To kick off our thoughts we dove into one of my favorite verses found in the book of Jeremiah.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." ---Jeremiah 33:3
1. God calls us to pray to Him. Why would we need a reminder to pray? Because like most of us it is only when life starts to get tight we attempt to bring God into the conversation (as if He wasn't aware in the first place). So He says to call unto Him because He knows better than we do what we need.
2. God promises to answer us. I believe this section section of verse 3 is important to note. God tells us that when we call to Him that He will respond to us. I am a very imperfect father but I always respond to any request He may have. That is not to say that the answer is yes every time and it is not to say that I say no even if he is convinced that yes is the best answer. God is a lot the same way (except He isn't as dorky and doesn't tell lame jokes). He promises to answer.
3. When we pray and God responds our faith in Him grows. God does not tell us "great and unsearchable things" so that we can be smarter or seem to be more spiritual than the next guy. He reveals these things so we can be active in the adventure of the story He is writing.
It is an incredible and humbling thought that God would even be interested in hearing our words, let alone respond to them. Nevertheless, He does responds to us in incredible ways. What a beautiful truth!!!
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
One Question I Have Been Wrestling With A Lot Lately...
"If my prayers actually reach God's ears then why do I consistently pray so small?"
I have been thinking a lot about prayer in preparation to teach over the subject the next few weeks at Merge. It has been an interesting journey actually talking with God about talking with Him. One thought that is really steering this entire season and series is my willingness to spend so much time praying for things that really have little to no eternal consequence. That is not to belittle prayer or to say that we should only be praying deep, theological, King James sounding prayers; it merely recognizes that if our prayers are actually heard by the God of the universe then why don't we pray for greater things that have less temporal influence and more eternal possiblilties?
I am pretty sure I spend more time praying for financial blessing than opportunities to share the Gospel fearlessly. I ask for things that would make me just a little bit more comfortable in life over Paul's prayers for the Ephesians when He is pleading that the church would understand their great inheritance in Christ. With very little effort my prayers can become selfish, self-seeking and self-glorifying, treating God as if He were a bit player in the story of me (kind of like a side-kick, tights and all).
I wonder what it would look like if a church really got this? I wonder what it would look like if THE CHURCH really got this? I wonder what this would look like if YOU got this? My prayers lately have been that I would get this.
Prayer is more than just a magic list of wants. I think we all instinctively know this but few ever get any further than engaging pray in this way. This is the exciting part of the journey for me right now, I feel God is (as Paul prayed) opening the eyes of my heart that I may know the hope to which He has called me.
So I suppose the only proper way to end this blog thought is...
TO BE CONTINUED
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
I have been thinking a lot about prayer in preparation to teach over the subject the next few weeks at Merge. It has been an interesting journey actually talking with God about talking with Him. One thought that is really steering this entire season and series is my willingness to spend so much time praying for things that really have little to no eternal consequence. That is not to belittle prayer or to say that we should only be praying deep, theological, King James sounding prayers; it merely recognizes that if our prayers are actually heard by the God of the universe then why don't we pray for greater things that have less temporal influence and more eternal possiblilties?
I am pretty sure I spend more time praying for financial blessing than opportunities to share the Gospel fearlessly. I ask for things that would make me just a little bit more comfortable in life over Paul's prayers for the Ephesians when He is pleading that the church would understand their great inheritance in Christ. With very little effort my prayers can become selfish, self-seeking and self-glorifying, treating God as if He were a bit player in the story of me (kind of like a side-kick, tights and all).
I wonder what it would look like if a church really got this? I wonder what it would look like if THE CHURCH really got this? I wonder what this would look like if YOU got this? My prayers lately have been that I would get this.
Prayer is more than just a magic list of wants. I think we all instinctively know this but few ever get any further than engaging pray in this way. This is the exciting part of the journey for me right now, I feel God is (as Paul prayed) opening the eyes of my heart that I may know the hope to which He has called me.
So I suppose the only proper way to end this blog thought is...
TO BE CONTINUED
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Merge Turns Two Today...
Two years ago we opened our doors and had our very first gathering as a church plant in Lake Worth. (Technically we opened doors we were renting at Russell Hall but you get the point.) I don't think I will ever forget that first morning. I had new preacher clothes on, I was wearing my best dress shoes, and had one prayer..."God please let people show up!!!!" I experienced a different level of nervousness than I had ever had before that morning. Not only did people show up but God showed up.
That morning God gave me a very specific word to share. Our mission as a church will simply be that we love God by loving people!!!!! I love simplicity. I think we work to hard too complicate matters of life. As I explore and engage with scripture I see this thought all over the place. Even if I didn't, Jesus said the greatest of the commandments come down to our love for God and our love for people. That morning we decided that we wouldn't judge success on the size of the crowd or the building rather we will decide success based on whether or not we are growing in our capacity to love.
I am greatly encouraged when I think of the great things God has allowed us to do over these past two years. Especially because I firmly believe we are doing these things through love. More importantly our community is taking notice of our desire. God has been opening up doors that were closed, answering prayers that were thoughts and using Merge to make a big difference in people's lives.
Whether that be supplying school supplies, school uniforms, serving kids during ESL class or Fiesta Night, reaching out to single mothers, providing Christmas presents in the name of Jesus to over 120 kids or handing out meals to kids who otherwise would have no food...God is allowing us to do something that will have eternal influence.
What brings even greater joy is when I think about the years to come. I am confident that God will allow Merge to do even greater things as we Merger's continue to show LOVE, seek ADVENTURE and build COMMUNITY. In fact, as we have sung many times; "Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to come in this city!!!!"
We are just beginning to see what God will do through a body of believers who are committed to The Gospel and showing His love. I believe the adventure we are on is one of epic proportions.
To those who have and are taking the journey with me I have humbly grateful for your presence in your life. You are literally a Godsend in every sense of the word. Let us not shrink back now, patting our selves on the back as if we have arrived and should rest on our laurels. Let's commit to pursue God together and show love in unity even more ferociously in the next two years as we have the previous one.
"Happy Birthday Merge"
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
That morning God gave me a very specific word to share. Our mission as a church will simply be that we love God by loving people!!!!! I love simplicity. I think we work to hard too complicate matters of life. As I explore and engage with scripture I see this thought all over the place. Even if I didn't, Jesus said the greatest of the commandments come down to our love for God and our love for people. That morning we decided that we wouldn't judge success on the size of the crowd or the building rather we will decide success based on whether or not we are growing in our capacity to love.
I am greatly encouraged when I think of the great things God has allowed us to do over these past two years. Especially because I firmly believe we are doing these things through love. More importantly our community is taking notice of our desire. God has been opening up doors that were closed, answering prayers that were thoughts and using Merge to make a big difference in people's lives.
Whether that be supplying school supplies, school uniforms, serving kids during ESL class or Fiesta Night, reaching out to single mothers, providing Christmas presents in the name of Jesus to over 120 kids or handing out meals to kids who otherwise would have no food...God is allowing us to do something that will have eternal influence.
What brings even greater joy is when I think about the years to come. I am confident that God will allow Merge to do even greater things as we Merger's continue to show LOVE, seek ADVENTURE and build COMMUNITY. In fact, as we have sung many times; "Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to come in this city!!!!"
We are just beginning to see what God will do through a body of believers who are committed to The Gospel and showing His love. I believe the adventure we are on is one of epic proportions.
To those who have and are taking the journey with me I have humbly grateful for your presence in your life. You are literally a Godsend in every sense of the word. Let us not shrink back now, patting our selves on the back as if we have arrived and should rest on our laurels. Let's commit to pursue God together and show love in unity even more ferociously in the next two years as we have the previous one.
"Happy Birthday Merge"
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Words To Chew On...
"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate."
---Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship)
---Dietrich Bonhoeffer (The Cost of Discipleship)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Some Thoughts From Romans 6...
I have started a new Bible reading plan from one of YouVersion's 20+ reading plans.
At the moment I am traveling through Genesis and Romans. This morning I ran across some incredible words that I wanted to share some thoughts on:
Romans 6:11-14:
"You must consider yourself dead to sin"... I am convinced the reason so many of us deal with reoccuring sins in our lives is that we have yet to get to a point where we wish to choose God over that sin. We like the idea of unconditional love and the forgiveness available in Christ but those sins are for lack of better words better security than the promises of God (at least that is the lie we have come to believe).
Heart and Soul,
BAG
<><
At the moment I am traveling through Genesis and Romans. This morning I ran across some incredible words that I wanted to share some thoughts on:
Romans 6:11-14:
"You must consider yourself dead to sin"... I am convinced the reason so many of us deal with reoccuring sins in our lives is that we have yet to get to a point where we wish to choose God over that sin. We like the idea of unconditional love and the forgiveness available in Christ but those sins are for lack of better words better security than the promises of God (at least that is the lie we have come to believe).
"Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness,"... There are many ways we in the church continue to do this, even very subtle ways. None the less, the result is the same, we engage willingly in acts that are not God-glorifying or healthy for us. I have heard many say that sin is fun for a season and that sin is offering fleeting fulfillment. I have found that both are very true...but let's be honest there is still a great struggle here. This is precisely why God sent Jesus. If we could whip our sin issue we would have no need for a Savior. Our response to such great love is that we would be continually transformed by repenting and fleeing from the temptations that are so easy for us to engage in.
"For sin will have not dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."...My prayer is that we would start to not only understand this more clearly but would start living it as the one of the foundations of our spiritual lives. I walk around far too often acting as if I am an innocent victim to sin. Justifying or rationalizing a decision or reaction to the fact that I am not perfect. When truth be told Paul has just told us that because of Jesus sin has no power over us. So is it possible that though temptation may exist, every act of sin comes from our willingness to actively engage in it? I think so.
The whole thought of this chapter is wrapped around a faulty line of reasoning. That we would sin so that grace may abound. When we live as this Paul tells us that we have not understood the reason Jesus came. He came so that we may be set free from sin and death. Our response to this is critical. 1. We become "slaves of righteousness" as a response to His great love shown first and without any deserving merit of our own. 2. We live in such a way that the world sees the difference and that The Gospel becomes a reflection of our every day life.
"Father, thank You for Jesus and for empowering me through Your Spirit to stop playing games with sin."
BAG
<><
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