The Fixed Point

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

-Romans 4:25

I remember Friday nights as a kid very well. I remember waiting eagerly on Friday nights for TGI Friday's to start. For those of you who remember, this was a series of shows including Full House, Perfect Strangers, Family Matters, and Step by Step. I think these were shows that parents did not have a problem letting their kids watch. Why? Because there was some type of moral dilemma. For example: Laura Winslow (Family Matters) might have been hanging out with a low-life thug that could be compared to a Boyz in the Hood character and might be influenced to do drugs with her future welfare recepient of a boy toy. Then, her good friend Steve Urkel would come along and with a good-hearted, un-sexual intention, tell her she is better than that. Laura would struggle a bit and finally realize Steve was right and give him a big hug and enjoy giving him a hard time the rest of the show.

Now, you are probably lost on what this has to do with Romans 4:25...Hang in there!

Now, the end of 2008, what are our kids watching? Reality shows like The Hills, Tila Tequilla, and Real Sex on HBO. These shows have no moral dilemma and are filled with young adults on a mission to get drunk, layed, and most likely end up with a sexually transmitted disease. What has shifted in our culture? I believe with the teaching of evolution, the subtraction of God in school, and shows like The Hills we have clearly deleted our countries moral conviction. There is no "fixed point" in our secular culture. There is no authority, no guiding line, or even a final goal. So no wonder people are in enormous debt, in adulterous relationships, and in deep despair and depression.

Is there a "fixed point" we can focus on? Romans 4:25 makes it completely clear that there is. That term justification is a theological term that can be defined simply as being seen righteous or pure in the sight of God. Now, if two men, a husband and father of two, and a child abusing pedophile were about to be hit by a bus, and you could only save one of them, who would you save? Duh, the hubby with two kiddos. Look back at Romans 4:25 and notice the claim that Christ was "delivered over" for our sins. That means that Jesus was a substitution for us, the pedophiles, the sexually immoral, the judgmental jerks. 

By this beautiful substitution we are justified. We are given hope. We are given a "fixed point" to where we have an overall authority, a guiding line, a final goal. We have a God so loving and so just, that He gave his only son for us so we can spend eternity in a loving relationship with Him.   

Solitude

I was recently challenged to spend 4-6 hours alone in solitude, just God and I. I am pretty good about my time alone with Jesus, but I never go to this long of an extent. So, I set out on the challenge with me, my journal, and a camera. What a day! I remembered Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, just before His arrest. Not only did He ask His closest friends to pray, but He went out alone to pray in solitude. In short, He was terrified of what was to come (pain, suffering, crucifixion), and literally sweated blood. We often see Jesus go to places alone to talk and hear from His Father. So shouldn't we as well?

Actors in the Church

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefor I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

             2 Corinthians 12:9

Today's church has become a place full of Hollywood potential.  I come across so many great actors and actresses, it's almost unbelievable sometimes.  The body is full of people who act like everything is great and wonderful.  Week in and week out the church is full of people lying to themselves.

My main question: Who told Christians that it is wrong to share weakness? I completely grasp that Christ died for me and for that I should be joyful, but we live in a fallen world and still have our sin nature, so why hide it?

My wife was turned away from Christians growing up because of this exact behavior. She went to a Christian school and was completely blown away by the "fakeness" of people. The realness that she desires is someone who can be completely honest about their life, struggles, joy, etc.  She and I do not want to constrict our possible growth with our walk with Jesus by pretending, we want to grow closer to Him, even if it is painful.

1. Through our weakness, Christ is glorified  because it reveals our dependence on Him.

2. When sharing our weakness, true friendships and growth take place.

 

Why deny these? Share your weakness, glorify Jesus Christ!! 

Amputee

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.   -Romans 12:5-6

Shame on you!!! I say shame on you to those who fit into this category! Lately I have seen some of the people I consider closest to me abandon the whole idea of what the Apostle Paul called "The Body of Christ." We are all made in specific ways that can further the Kingdom of God, but I have been hearing a lot of people judge certain churches, say certain churches lack the presence of the Holy Spirit, or some churches have sinners running teams of volunteers. Shame on you!

Maybe sometimes we get distracted by life and forget to put God first. However, sometimes we completely amputate ourselves from church trying to make a church fit our needs when we are designed to serve the church.

Tangent: Last night a very close friend of mine said in regards to his wedding, "Wes, I noticed that you find out who your real friends are during the wedding process. Those who truly care about you will put their selfishness aside for you, but those who seem to be distant or unhelpful are too focused on themselves."

All in all, I have been heartbroken lately at the lack of Christ-like behavior in those who I would expect to step up to the plate in this hectic time. I have seen things of this world completely take over people's lives and God is only a distant idea instead of the prophet, priest, and king over their lives. 

I am not boasting, I promise, but it seems that I am always sacrificing for those around me. I have been sacrificing my wedding planning to help people because I LIKE HELPING OTHERS!

So I ask, please examine your motives and trust me when I say that if you are not in the Word, God is not going to speak to you, trust me. I believe Jesus and the Apostle Paul both believed in love in the form of discipline and so I hope some of you who are convicted by this repent and check yourself. 

P.S. We are all sinners saved by grace. Remember that judgmental thoughts are equally as sinful as someone who has pre-marital sex, a murderer on death row, or a child trafficker. Serve the church!!!

An infinite God can give all of himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.        -A.W. Tozer

Over the last week I read through an amazing book called The Shack. I am not going to ruin what happens because I truly believe everyone should read this book. My favorite thing about the book, even though it is fiction, is that it paints what I believe to be the most accurate and true picture of God. I found myself crying and laughing unstoppable waterfalls of tears. Here are 2 of my favorite parts of the book (don't worry, I am not ruining it)!

1) On the topic of true submission, a fictional Jesus explains to the main character: "Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy. I am as much submitted to the Father as He is to me, and the Holy Spirit is to us as we are to the Holy Spirit." The last line here is what really got me, check it out: "In fact we (God) are submitted to every person the same way."

2) On the topic of religion and if all roads lead to Jesus, fictional Jesus says, " Christian, Mormon, Buddhist, Atheist, Democrat, Republican, whatever it is, only one road leads to the Father, but I will travel any road to find you."

Both of these thoughts just overwhelm me. Sometimes we get so lost in our own lives trying to please God that we forget we can't earn any more love. He loves us completely!! 100%

Please read this book! Whoever you are, wherever you are at in your life, I promise it will change your outlook on life forever!!!  

What Makes You?

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)

As I read this today, I could not help but think about how many people set their minds on earthly things, then, when and if there is extra time, they focus on Christ. Let's be honest here, what makes you? If you were to die this instant, what would you be known for? Not what would you hope to be known for or what sugarcoated comments would your friends and family say at your funeral, but what makes you? 

I'll go first. I believe I would be known for being too upfront and honest. I believe that people would say, "Wes put his passion in pursuing a life of ministry before Jesus himself." This is me being honest!! This would be my legacy!

What makes you? Are you sacrificing your dreams and goals to pay a monthly payment on your dream vehicle? If so, that is your legacy, you are the guy/girl with a cool vehicle.  Are you spending all your time focusing on your spouse or loved one and putting Jesus second? If so, that is your legacy!! Are you praying and reading scripture when you have nothing to do, but putting it on the back-burner when you have friends or girls/guys to hang out with? If so, this is your legacy!

Whether it's friends, drugs, money, music, or whatever, Jesus wants us to put him first then we will be blessed with our "other" passions!! Comment back, I would love to know your legacy!

 

Grace: To Me

I always understood the meaning of grace but never really "understood" the meaning of grace in it's true form. A couple of weeks ago, my friend Erik told me I needed to read this book called The Ragamuffin Gospel. It wasn't like a "you need to read this book" because it is good or well written, but more of a "you need to read this book" because you need to read it. As I started reading it, something flowed over me very heavily. I have been missing out!! Grace is something beautiful. If you know me, you know I love Jesus. Not the Jesus in movies, not a Jesus that is an imaginary friend, but I love the Jesus that I know and that completely loves me.

Over the past years I have been steered in a direction where I was trying to earn grace. I would wake up and think that I "needed" to pray or "needed" to read my Bible. The truth is I should want to do these and understand that Jesus needs none of this from me, He loves me completely, no matter what!! When my little brain wrapped around this, one gigantic tear making thought raced through my head, sprinted through my veins, and left my bones shaking.

This thought, or discovery, is something most people know but I somehow let it fly right over my head. The thought was that when we start trying to earn grace, Jesus' bloody sacrifice, his long drawn out flogging, his public embarrassment of being mocked and tortured, his sacrifice for us on the cross, is all in vain. I then pictured Jesus sitting with his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand, wondering if his sacrifice was for nothing. I pictured him watery eyed disappointed in me whispering, " Why Wes, why?" 

I then realized, or remembered, Jesus came to free us from the law, to break the thousands of year old chains of sin from our wrists. He came to bring us life. Why? He truly loves us. Listen to me! Yes you! HE LOVES YOU! No matter what you have done in the past, what you constantly struggle with now, when you fail in the future, HE LOVES YOU!! This is love, this is life, this is grace.  

Get Steppin!!

Have you ever had to walk home from a party, a broken down car, or just walked a really long distance and you were not happy about it? What if you had to walk, lets say 50 miles tomorrow, would you spend time packing a bag and preparing mentally for the strenuous journey? Would this negativity change if you had a mission that you were positive would change peoples lives for the better?

As I went through Acts chapter 8 this morning, I noticed a re-occurring theme. Walking!! In verse 14, Peter and John hear of Samaritans believing in the Word and travel there to help them receive the Spirit, preach a bit, and bounce back to Jerusalem (v.25). Here's the thing: We seem to get flustered when we get that spot that is at the end of the parking lot at the mall, Target, wherever it is we go. The shortest possible route to any Samaritan village is about 25 miles. Peter and John had a mission. They were excited to walk to hear about what Jesus had done in these Samaritans lives. 

Only 1 verse later (v.26), the Lord calls Philip to go south from Jerusalem to Gaza. Verse 27 says, He started out.... He did not wait, he did not pack, he did not prepare!! Through the next couple verses, Philip finds a Ethiopian man and preaches the gospel to him and baptizes him as well. All of this preaching and baptizing after a short 50 mile walk to Gaza. How amazing!!

When I was in the Army I walked 12 miles straight on numerous occasions, 32 miles on one occasion, and even 75 miles over 2 days. This was not fun because I wasn't walking for God's glory. God is more than sufficient. Whatever kind of rut you are stuck in right now whether it is depression, sexual immorality, loss of a loved one, or even walking a long distance when you'd rather be driving: Walk with God! He is everywhere you look! He wants to be your partner in your walk and make whatever it is you are going through something he can join you in. Isn't it better to go through struggles, happy times, or anything with a friend?

Lie and Die!

Have you ever given your word to someone or something and just could not come through? As I read through Acts chapter 5 yesterday, I found myself white knuckled (literally) from gripping on to my pants, shirt, or whatever was near. This was an all day thing. Here's a quick summary of Acts 5:1-10. The Holy Spirit is new and filling the hearts and minds of Christians. Everyone is selling their land and possessions to serve the poor, help widows, and further the ministry Jesus has left for the apostles to begin. A married couple, Ananias and Sapphira, sold their property and gave half the money to the ministry. Here's the issue: They lied and said they were giving all of it.  Peter says, "You have not lied to men, but to God." Earlier in verse 3, Peter says they lied to the Holy Spirit.

The reason I was wrestling with this all day was because I figured that for them to lie to the Holy Spirit, they had to have the Holy Spirit. So, they must have been saved right? Well, we lie, we sin, we are evil but we are not killed instantly because of little white lies. Why did they die? I first thought it was to make an example of how powerful and just the Holy Spirit is. Then I started to wonder, are Ananias and his wife in heaven? Maybe Peter said they were lying to the Spirit and they dropped dead because they did not actually have the Spirit. Who knows. Not me!

However, Philippians 2:12 says we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. My good friend Geoff Francian always says that verse reminds him of me. I seem to have this fear of God when I read scripture. But if I truly feared Him, would I knowingly sin? Yes we might be sinful by nature, but fear can bring a discipline that I believe can keep us from knowingly sinning. All I know is that wrestling with God is good. I challenge everyone to question God. Question the things you do not understand. He wants to know. He wants to show you these things. Fear Him, Love Him.

Terrified!!

Man!! It was about 2 years ago now that I was called to be a pastor. Not for one second do I doubt the calling but boy do I doubt myself. I know God uses us the way he wants and I believe that my pride has got in the way of that. I was watching a podcast tonight with 3 of my favorite pastors: Mark Driscoll, John Piper, and Matt Chandler. I really try to learn from these guys because I see something in all of them that I see in me, rough edges. 

I am feeling so convicted right now about my disgusting lack of obedience since my calling. Sure, I was obedient and quit my high paying job to go to school to be a pastor, but I think I thought that was enough! However, I have failed in almost all characteristics a Christ follower should have: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Nope, I am far from all of those. I have rode my calling like a wave and forgot to discipline and shape myself in not only Christ's image, but who he wants me to be.

Truth: I am completely terrified! I am terrified that I will preach a gospel that is not worthy of preaching. I am terrified that I will continue to measure myself to others and not rely on  a Almighty God who will do with me what He wants. I know hardly anything about the Bible and that terrifies me. I love the Bible more than any other book, music, movie, but I am scared I will not understand it well enough to preach it. I am terrified that I will not be a good husband, father, son, friend, pastor. I want to have a heart that loves but it seems to be miles away from the confines of my chest. I treat my fiance bad, I treat my friends bad, I am terrified. 

Maybe this is the Spirit stirring my bones and breaking me to the point where I have to change. I hope so! I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). I apologize to everyone I have treated wrong, please forgive me. I AM TERRIFIED!!

Sitting Shiva!

"Sitting what" you might ask? Sitting shiva is a old Jewish custom where family and sometimes friends sit with a person who just lost a loved one. They just sit! They just love that person. If they need listening, they listen. If they need advice, they get it. How amazing!

This concept is amazing to me because in a culture like ours, America, where the average 
man says 20,000 words a day and a woman says 30,000, we sometimes forget to listen. 
James 1:19 says we should be quick to listen, slow to speak...

My dear friend Jon Herrman’s grandpa has had a severe stroke. As he talked to me and another friend Roberto, he told us he could not be a part of our church because he wanted to spend time with his grandpa before he passed. That was completely understandable but what I heard next out of Jon’s mouth caused some deep emotions to stir inside of me. He said to me, " Wes, my opa cannot really talk, move, or respond too much but I just want to be there with him." Man! What an amazing thought, Jon just wants to share the suffering with his opa. He wants to sit shiva with him. Not sure of his opa’s salvation, Jon is not preaching hell and fire to him but instead praying and sharing the burden. So awesome!!

In the book of Job, the very Godly man Job has just lost everything. I mean his possessions, sons and daughters, he was inflicted with sores from head to toe, and a very unsupportive wife. Job was far past his breaking point and then his 3 friends cruise up and see him emotionally torn. Do they start telling him how to fix his life, or it will get better? Nope, they wept aloud with him and sat 7 days and nights without speaking a word. They were sitting shiva. 
..

I think we can all learn from this. It is not a Scripturally taken idea but a Jewish tradition. I know I need to learn from Jon and listen to people’s struggles, problems, addictions and just sit shiva.