The Heart of Faith

In John 7, Jesus gets into an interesting situation with his “marketing minded” brothers.

It seems that the brothers have determined the best way for Jesus to get recognized as Messiah is to attend the big festivals and do some big miracles. Get his name out.

Jesus reacts very differently. He denies their request and even takes a completely opposite approach – choosing to remain more hidden.

The author reports that the brothers did not yet believe in Jesus.

They believed he could get a crowd.

They believed he could get the title “Messiah”.

But their belief was not the kind of belief for which Jesus was looking.

Sometimes, my belief is more like the disciples. Sometimes I would prefer the large crowds, the in your face articulation of “right and wrong”, the public recognition and praise of others.

Sometimes my heart does not hold to the quiet, strong, empowering confidence of faith in the Father.

It is imperative that we keep our hearts in front of Jesus all day long. A heart out of the presence of Jesus can lead us away from the faith that satisfies the Father.

Bumperstickers and Church Buildings

So I pulled up behind a car recently driven by a young person. This teenager was extremely zealous in informing me of their opinion on issues from abortion to world peace to their favorite local punk band. All messages plastered via bumperstickers to the back half of their car.

It reminded me of a time in the 80′s when everyone was wearing these little buttons that contained inflammatory or rude comments or just plain obnoxious statements.

I suppose every generation has some form of expression by which they try to exert their independence, their indiviuality, their manifesto. Tattooing has become the newest popular way to tell your story.

Churches do the same thing. Not with bumber stickers (although some churches do print their own bumper stickers) but more in the buildings we build and the way we decorate the places in which we meet.

What does the place where you worship say about your churches beliefs?

Does anyone else get the message other than the people who come on a regular basis?

Sometimes I think we live our lives thinking that “bumper sticker” statements are the way to introduce ourselves to others and a holy God.

My views of bumper stickers (and buildings) has been radically reshaped!

I have come to value getting to know people before advertising my beliefs in a way that may send that person headed for the hills.

It is tough to love others if your bumper stickers – no matter how right they are – actually cause people to avoid personal interaction with you at any cost!

Just a thought along the way.

What Drives You

Dave Gibbons posted the following quote online recently….

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up. -Anne Lamott

I would add that the hope which “begins” in the dark has to have another starting place. There has to have been a time, a moment, a point in which the person in the dark can go back to a memory – or a collection of memories – on which hope can stand.

It’s that ethereal experience where the unseen and seen meet.

It’s the paradoxical moment when God’s voice is loudly heard by only your ears.

It’s the same kind of moment that Elijah had while tucked away in the cleft of the rock and the chaos of the external world gave way to the overpowering strength of the voice of God.

I have found my middle of the night concerns that can easily fill my heart and mind with paralyzing fears seem to melt with the display of God’s power we call “sunrise”.

What troubles you today? What has you close to giving up or giving in?

Push on God. Search out that starting place. Bug Him to meet you in a way that binds your heart to the power of His name. Become persistent like the friend in Luke 11 who finally gets his way.

 ⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Rob Bell is going to Hollywood!

Eugene Cho just made me aware of this announcement. Hey, it can’t get worse than the programming already on television – I say GO FOR IT!

Read Cho’s post here.

Any thoughts?

Measuring Faith & Life…

In John 3:30, John the Baptist makes this statement,

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Sometimes we take this to mean that our personalities are of no use to God. I would encourage you to think differently about this passage.

John was a bit of an unusual guy – hanging out in the desert, wearing camel hair and eating off the land. My guess is that none of that changed as Jesus “increased” in his life.

So what did change? How can we measure our lives by his bold declaration?

John had a specific job he was to do for Jesus – announce his arrival! All of John’s life was to point people to Jesus as the awaited Messiah. He was not perfect. He was not the Messiah. He was the one to publicly announce Jesus’ arrival and ministry.

Jesus left me with a job as well – “make disciples”.

My personality, my hobbies, my likes and dislikes all need to fall under the rule of the Messiah! In doing so, I will decrease in how I see and promote myself while discovering something better than personal “likes and dislikes” on which to build my life.

How can Jesus increase in my life today? Am I willing to allow Him to use me to direct others to Him? Or am I too wrapped up in my own “likes and dislikes” to even consider what Jesus thinks about my life?

Everyone has a way they “measure” their life. How will you measure yours?

 

 

Christians, Jews, Muslims – All in ONE Place!

Last night at the Global Faith Forum at Northwood Church in Keller, Ed Stetzer proposed 4 “foundational agreements” for how people of different faiths could begin to dialogue and work together. It was one of the most refreshing moments I have ever experienced in a room with people from all different backgrounds. Here are Ed’s four points for your consideration:

1. We should commit to let each religion talk for itself. The old adage “never assume anything” comes into mind here – it tends to make an….(you get the idea). Go to the original source for your information – avoid the media like the plague!

2. We should talk “with” individuals and not “about” faiths. Stay away from generalizing – “all _______ believe.” We teach couples to stay away from extreme statements in their marriages – “you always___” but we continue to allow these extreme statements to become inflammatory comments in public discourse.

3. Understanding someone’s values and beliefs does not mean you accept them! We have got to stop comparing someone’s worst with our best – this is often not even close to true.

4. Grant each person the freedom to make their faith decision on their own.

Can you agree with these?

5th Sunday – Journey Serves

Jesus had a way of turning things upside down. He would remind his followers that to be first was to be last – to lead was to serve – simply doing right was not enough if your heart was not right!

This past weekend, the people at Journey wrestled openly with turning our attention off of ourselves and pursuing the act of thinking about others first. This kind of thinking forces us to measure life differently.

Journey, here are your scores from this past weekend…

• 59 man hours were spent in your community this weekend

• 25 patients visited and treated to Halloween goodies

• 13 boxes decorated to deliver meals to families in our area

• 487 pounds of food collected and over $500 with matching gift cards from Market Street!

Way to go Journey! May God continue to open our eyes to the opportunities to love and live the Gospel in bold and very public ways!