Speak On It....
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Veggie...
So I know I'm delinquent in posting. Thanks for the heads up Mandi! I want to ease back in to this thing. I wanted the world to know that for breakfast this morning I had a veggie omelette! From my perspective I was quite pleased. It truly did fill me up. Maybe I should eat more veggies....
Friday, February 13, 2009
Pretty Sweet....
So tonight, Jackson asked me if God was giving out Valentines. He said “Could God just drop them out from the sky?” I started thinking about that and as he looked at me, I couldn’t help but feel the power of the Holy Spirit. I told him that “you are God’s Valentine Jackson, and how you live your life is love.” So then Jackson says, “When we give our Valentine away, then we really give God away, right dad?”
So I was blown away. We talked a little more about it and the more we talked the deeper we went. When we give somebody a Valentines Day card they feel good and feel the love. So when we give ourselves away, we are giving God away and people begin to feel God’s love. That’s pretty cool.
So have a sweet Valentine’s Day and Give some love away.
Speak On It!
So I was blown away. We talked a little more about it and the more we talked the deeper we went. When we give somebody a Valentines Day card they feel good and feel the love. So when we give ourselves away, we are giving God away and people begin to feel God’s love. That’s pretty cool.
So have a sweet Valentine’s Day and Give some love away.
Speak On It!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Most Recent Headline....
Okay, I'm trying to get consistent...
I didn’t want to do it this week, and I tried really hard to stay away from it, but I can’t help but comment on the most famous Olympian of our era, and superstar Michael Phelps. If you haven’t heard I just bring you up to speed…
Phelps was at a party, somebody took a picture of him smoking marijuana and now the media, International Olympic Committee, and tons of households around the world are debating the most recent picture of a fallen hero.
So here’s the thing, I’m not going to bash Phelps, I think he’s got enough of that happening. I’m not going to suggest that it’s okay to smoke weed because of “youthfulness” or because of pressure. Who doesn’t have pressure? So we find ourselves in a peculiar spot.
As I think about this story, I find two responses that have been running over and over in my mind this week. First, “Who hasn’t made a mistake?” I mean, how many stupid things have we done that if people saw them captured on a cell phone and ending up on Facebook somewhere wouldn’t question our integrity or character? We need to be careful when or if we start condemning people. That’s what Jesus was getting at when he called out the Pharisees and others when they caught a woman in adultery. (John 8:1-11) Are you ready to cast the first stone?
The second piece of this that fills my mind rests on the amount of stock we put into other people. I’m not suggesting we can’t love, respect and admire others, but in many ways we make them like a “god” with power that goes beyond the realm of human possibility. Where does Jesus fit into this? Are we pouring ourselves into Jesus as much as we pour into Phelps, Obama or the most recent headline?
In order for us to continue to grow and change, and transform the world, we have to be willing to look to Jesus. He will never fail us. He will never be found online in any questionable photo. He will never leave us. He will never sell us out for another bong hit. He will never ask us for more than he’s already given us.
This Jesus is mighty to save and is ready for us to believe in the one who will never fail us.
Speak On It!
I didn’t want to do it this week, and I tried really hard to stay away from it, but I can’t help but comment on the most famous Olympian of our era, and superstar Michael Phelps. If you haven’t heard I just bring you up to speed…
Phelps was at a party, somebody took a picture of him smoking marijuana and now the media, International Olympic Committee, and tons of households around the world are debating the most recent picture of a fallen hero.
So here’s the thing, I’m not going to bash Phelps, I think he’s got enough of that happening. I’m not going to suggest that it’s okay to smoke weed because of “youthfulness” or because of pressure. Who doesn’t have pressure? So we find ourselves in a peculiar spot.
As I think about this story, I find two responses that have been running over and over in my mind this week. First, “Who hasn’t made a mistake?” I mean, how many stupid things have we done that if people saw them captured on a cell phone and ending up on Facebook somewhere wouldn’t question our integrity or character? We need to be careful when or if we start condemning people. That’s what Jesus was getting at when he called out the Pharisees and others when they caught a woman in adultery. (John 8:1-11) Are you ready to cast the first stone?
The second piece of this that fills my mind rests on the amount of stock we put into other people. I’m not suggesting we can’t love, respect and admire others, but in many ways we make them like a “god” with power that goes beyond the realm of human possibility. Where does Jesus fit into this? Are we pouring ourselves into Jesus as much as we pour into Phelps, Obama or the most recent headline?
In order for us to continue to grow and change, and transform the world, we have to be willing to look to Jesus. He will never fail us. He will never be found online in any questionable photo. He will never leave us. He will never sell us out for another bong hit. He will never ask us for more than he’s already given us.
This Jesus is mighty to save and is ready for us to believe in the one who will never fail us.
Speak On It!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Trying To Get Back in the Saddle....Starting with John
Over the past couple of days I’ve been reading the Gospel of John. It’s one on the four Gospels and has always been one of my favorites. Within the first chapter things really get moving. In particular one of the sections that caught my attention is in 1:35-42. Basically Jesus is walking and a couple of guys were following him wanting to know where he was staying. Jesus was a rabbi, meaning a teacher, and they wanted to come and stay with him for a while.
What he says next has been sitting with me and it won’t leave my mind. “Come and you will see.” Come and you will see. As they come and see things really begin to move when they actually take him up on it and decide to hang out with Jesus. Once they are with him they realize that he is truly the Messiah, the anointed one of God, who is the very “Word” of God spoken into existence, called to change the world.
It gets better when the change happens. One of the guys who had followed him was Simon, who after meeting Jesus was now going to be called Peter. Peter was now a new person because he came and saw.
Are we calling others to “Come & See.” Come and see the love of God offered throughout our homes and community. Come and see open hands ready to serve. Come and see open hearts ready to love and Come and see open doors for anybody who really wants to come and see.
Have you come? Are you inviting others?
Speak On It!
What he says next has been sitting with me and it won’t leave my mind. “Come and you will see.” Come and you will see. As they come and see things really begin to move when they actually take him up on it and decide to hang out with Jesus. Once they are with him they realize that he is truly the Messiah, the anointed one of God, who is the very “Word” of God spoken into existence, called to change the world.
It gets better when the change happens. One of the guys who had followed him was Simon, who after meeting Jesus was now going to be called Peter. Peter was now a new person because he came and saw.
Are we calling others to “Come & See.” Come and see the love of God offered throughout our homes and community. Come and see open hands ready to serve. Come and see open hearts ready to love and Come and see open doors for anybody who really wants to come and see.
Have you come? Are you inviting others?
Speak On It!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Choices...
Choices. It’s really all about choices isn’t it? On November 4th you are going to have a choice. You will have the opportunity, privilege and responsibility to vote while exercising the freedom of democracy. What an awesome thing!
Over the past two weeks we’ve talked about Jesus For President and how we choose to cast that ballot everyday of our lives. We make the choice to follow Jesus by how we live, love and serve. We make the choice to follow Jesus by doing the right thing when no one else is watching. We make the choice to follow Jesus by allowing love to have the final answer, even when we don’t like the way that answer sounds.
The Bible says, “Choose life, so that you might live,” and when we vote for Jesus we are truly choosing a life that makes a difference. (Deuteronomy 30:19) We have to make choices right?
Check this out…even God makes choices. And here’s the thing that takes it to the next level in the Gospel of John when Jesus says, “I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:19) God chooses YOU! Right in the middle of where you are, God says, “I choose you!” God says, “I love you,” and God wants us to know that nothing we can do will ever change that choice.
What choices are you going to make?
Speak on it...
Over the past two weeks we’ve talked about Jesus For President and how we choose to cast that ballot everyday of our lives. We make the choice to follow Jesus by how we live, love and serve. We make the choice to follow Jesus by doing the right thing when no one else is watching. We make the choice to follow Jesus by allowing love to have the final answer, even when we don’t like the way that answer sounds.
The Bible says, “Choose life, so that you might live,” and when we vote for Jesus we are truly choosing a life that makes a difference. (Deuteronomy 30:19) We have to make choices right?
Check this out…even God makes choices. And here’s the thing that takes it to the next level in the Gospel of John when Jesus says, “I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:19) God chooses YOU! Right in the middle of where you are, God says, “I choose you!” God says, “I love you,” and God wants us to know that nothing we can do will ever change that choice.
What choices are you going to make?
Speak on it...
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Questions...
So here's the thing...I'm trying to stay focused, I'm trying to stay in the zone, and Yet I’m continuing to struggle with the ups and downs. Just like everybody else I’m trying to keep it real in the midst of the chaos, but it leaves me with questions about the how/why/when and where God is going to move next…
Our church is taking huge steps, it was built on a strong foundation, and God is calling us to do more than we could have ever imagined…and yet I still have questions.
I wonder about my boy Ezekiel when the Lord said, “eat this scroll and go speak to the house of Israel” (3:1). The scripture says, he opened his mouth and he ate it, tasting sweet as honey. It’s the same question before us now.
Are we willing to open our mouth to eat this scroll? Are we ready to do the things that God is asking us to do that are not even on our radar screen? Are we ready to really take the next step of faithfulness in order to help other people know and experience the Kingdom of God? Are we ready to sacrifice? Are we really ready to eat this scroll?
If we do our work in the Lord, we don’t do it in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58). It’s time to eat the scroll friends…
Speak On IT!
Our church is taking huge steps, it was built on a strong foundation, and God is calling us to do more than we could have ever imagined…and yet I still have questions.
I wonder about my boy Ezekiel when the Lord said, “eat this scroll and go speak to the house of Israel” (3:1). The scripture says, he opened his mouth and he ate it, tasting sweet as honey. It’s the same question before us now.
Are we willing to open our mouth to eat this scroll? Are we ready to do the things that God is asking us to do that are not even on our radar screen? Are we ready to really take the next step of faithfulness in order to help other people know and experience the Kingdom of God? Are we ready to sacrifice? Are we really ready to eat this scroll?
If we do our work in the Lord, we don’t do it in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58). It’s time to eat the scroll friends…
Speak On IT!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Hey...Hey...Hey
Didn't Fat Albert say that? Yo...What's good? I'm living the dream on this end. I know it's been forever since I've posted so thanks for those still reading or wanting to read. This is a good place for me to just let it out a little and do some thinking now and again.
I've just been reading from Ezekiel and I'm having some pretty intense feelings about the 2 & 3 chapters. Eat the scroll? It taste sweet as honey... I'm down with that.
What about being taken up by the spirit? That's freaking awesome! I love that language and the reality of how that is played out today. What thinks you? As it goes on and on it really brings some important questions to light as to how we have to be concerned for our brothers and sisters as we journey through life together (sounds like a good book title, haha).
Anyway...I'm out for a couple of days, then I'm back to Speak ON IT! Peace
I've just been reading from Ezekiel and I'm having some pretty intense feelings about the 2 & 3 chapters. Eat the scroll? It taste sweet as honey... I'm down with that.
What about being taken up by the spirit? That's freaking awesome! I love that language and the reality of how that is played out today. What thinks you? As it goes on and on it really brings some important questions to light as to how we have to be concerned for our brothers and sisters as we journey through life together (sounds like a good book title, haha).
Anyway...I'm out for a couple of days, then I'm back to Speak ON IT! Peace
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