Brothers and Sisters

Wow, Monday came and went I have not had time to blog. Sorry for all of you who looked earlier. This past week we talked about Christian community, a community of brothers and sisters. What does that really/practically look like at a church of our size? For instance if you need a plumber should you look for one in the church? Does that kind of attitude remove us from impacting the world. We are part of the planet. How do we have all things in common? Is it possible? How have you seen it happen for you?

Repentance in Community

What kind of community would we have if we lived is if "all of life was repentance?"
(Please read to the end and answer the question at the end.)

I found it quite amazing that Martin Luther's first point in the document that began the protestant reformation was that all of life was repentance. Luther did not mean that we need to continually be saying that we are sorry or that we need to be continually sinning so that we could be continually asking for forgiveness? (Sounds like Romans 6:1-2... 1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means!)

Luther has a 'gospel' view of repentance. That is that repentance is freeing and empowering. It is admitting that "I need a savior." And I live my life open to that reality. In that reality that I live in relationship with my savior (Jesus Christ). Relying on Him, trusting in Him, and desiring to serve and love Him.

What if we had a community of people who lived a life of repentance?

I reminded of the story of the Odyssey when Odysseus was sailing past the island of the Sirens. he was told that when he hears the song of the sirens, he would crash the ship into the rocks and all aboard the ship would drown. So Odysseus wisely took his sailors and had them all put wax in their ears. Then as they approached the island, he had them tie him to the mast. He told them that no matter what he said or did, they were not to release him until they pasted the island.

How is that like a community of people who are living a life of repentance? (Well don't take the the illustration too far.) The fact is that Odysseus needed the help of his friends. Sometimes we need people who will 'tie us to the mast.' Or hold our feet to the fire. Someone who will say to us you're out of bounds. Or you are skating on thin ice. Why? Because they know we all need a savior, they know the damage of sin, and they care about you.

The second thing that happens is that we will live in a community without pretense. We don't have to act like we got it all together, because we don't. It is a community where we are free to live a life of openness and honesty. We don't want to hide.

The question is, if I am a member of a healthy church does another member have the right and/or responsibility to say something to me if my life is getting out of order?

BTW: the fill in the blanks are ...
Look OUT for one another
Live with no PRETENSE

Pure motivation

Motivation: it is all about the why. Why do we do the things we do? Why did the younger son in the prodigal son story leave? Why did the older stay? Didn't they both just want the father's stuff and not the father. They just chose different roughs to obtain it. I think it is wrong to want God just so that we can go to heaven? experience his peace? or whatever? But it does play a part in my motivation to serve Him. Do we ever want God just for God. No ulterior motives? Do we ever do anything with perfectly pure motives?

The Prodigal God

This week we begin a new teaching series called the Prodigal God. We will be focusing on the story of the prodigal son. I will be using Tim Kellers book by that same title as source information for the study. Keller takes a new a look at the prodigal son, by rightly stating that it is really the Father (God) who is the prodigal one.

My hope is to use this blog as an open discussion forum for the series. I want to challenge everyone to read the prodigal son story in the context of Luke 15. Consider which son you are more like and which one you would say leads to more spiritual emptiness; the religious one or the irreligious one?

Tight rope or Noose?

This week I had the opportunity to attend a great event in our city. There were over 5000 people gathered to 'worship.' I am sure those who put the event together did so with the purest of motivations, but I was incredibly disappointed. I don't write this to rail on the event; rather to talk about the check I found in my spirit.

Here's what happened...While the bands where playing worship music and encouraging us to party for Jesus, celebrate Jesus; in the background on a huge double billboard like lighted board the name of the band continually flashed. I don't know maybe I am getting old [lol please]. It seemed to me like the bands were promoted more than Jesus. Again I am sure this was not the intent.

Then came the check in my spirit, do I promote me more than Jesus. In our media saturated age, how do we safe guard against self promotion. God has given us the gift of excitement and energy and music, but His glory. I like the spotlight at times, too many times. How does one stay humble in age where everyone has access to you through this medium. We want the world to hear the message of Christ, we want to be excited, we want to make a difference. Is it wrong to want to be known too? Seems like a tight rope at times that can slip into a noose.

Forgotten God

I am reading the book by Frans Chan entitled "The Forgotten God." I love the title! The book is about the Holy Spirit and how we have forgotten Him. This year in NewSong, I want us to begin to explore the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Too often I too feel like I have neglected the power of God and tired to accomplish life on my own. This year I simply want to lean more into Him and allow the Holy Spirit to be active in my life.

It sounds good, but I am not sure what it all means. But I am looking forward to the journey.

No Time for New Years

Does anyone else out there not like the fact that New Year's Day is a mere 7 days after Christmas? We completely miss out on the New Year. Not the celebration and I do like the fact that we get a longer break. But New Year's Day is a day to reflect and plan the new year. What happens is by the time we get through the Christmas 'hangover' New Year's Day is upon us. We don't think we just make silly resolutions. When was the last time you really thought about your resolutions? When was the last time you really thought about you and your life and where you are going?

So maybe for Christmas this year we ought to give ourselves the gift of reflection. The gift of New Years, and then turn to the gift of Christmas, Christ, to bring newness in the new year.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas