Dancing with Jesus (Lifehouse's Everything Skit)

We struggle with the things and ways of this world. Reach out to Jesus again. The Dance can begin today.

Belief

"Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
John 20:30-31

Belief is a gift from God. Just like grace. Just like faith. Some get a lot of it and some receive just a small amount. Maybe it's as small as a mustard seed, but it's still there and it's enough.

Oils on this Canvas

God had us in mind from the beginning.
He created the oils, the canvas, and painted a beautiful picture.
We are that picture.

Spread the Good News.

The Barbarian Way

"The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels." Exodus 40:34-38

The civilized build shelters and invite God to stay with them; barbarians move with God wherever He chooses to go. The civilized Christian has a routine; the barbarian disciple has a mission. The civilized believer knows the letter of the law; the barbarian disciple lives the spirit of the law. The religiously civilized love tradition; the barbarians spirit loves challenges. The civilized are satisfied with ritual; barbarians live and thrive in the mystical. For the civilized disciple, religion provides stability and certainty; for the barbarian, a life in God is one of risk and mystery.
And maybe even a little insanity. There's no way to escape that barbarians can appear out of their minds. No reasonable person would ever fully follow God everywhere He calls. God is simply unreasonable. (from the book: The Barbarian Way by Erwin Raphael McManus * Published by Nelson Books)

May we all choose "The barbarian way!"

My son, do not forget

"My son, do not forget my teachings, but let you heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare will they give you. Let not loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, so you will find favor and understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:1-6

After fourteen years of giving every word of advice to my son, I still feel that I haven't done or said enough to help him face the world on his own. So many things run through my brain and I wonder if I was able to communicate it to him....just in case he came across a situation where he would have to make a decision that could possibly change his life. How do you let go?

I was reading today and ran across the scripture above. Did I teach my son the commandments? I know I lived it...but was he watching? Did he recognize the ways of the Lord...or was I just a little too human and wasn't the example that he needed to see?

I remember when I was young and left home. I'm sure my parents wondered about me! I'm sure they were afraid that I never listened or cared about their faith. But I did. It was bound around my neck and written on the tablets of my heart - though I may have not felt or seen them, I know I certainly tried to ignore them, but there it was. And one day tragedy happened and God came. His Word came and melted my heart and His Love came and covered me in such mercy and grace that I was overwhelmed by His compassion. Then I knew. This was Truth. This is what my life was created for. To love and serve God. I wait patiently for that day to see the same for our sons. That day will come. God promised.

Hot or cold?

"To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: The amen, the witness who is faithful and true the source of God's creation, says: I know what you have done, you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I'm going to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I'm rich. I'm wealthy. I don't need anything. 'Yet, you do not realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

I advise you: Buy gold purified in fire from me so that you may be rich. Buy white clothes from me. Wear them so that you may keep your shameful, naked body from showing. Buy ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. I correct and discipline everyone I love. Take this seriously, and change the way you think and act. Look, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together. I will allow everyone who wins the victory to sit with me on my throne, as I have won the victory and have sat down with my Father on his throne. Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 13: 14-22

I think as we read what the Spirit says to the church of Laodicea, we recognize that many of us have become a part of that church. We have given into the teachings of man, rather than listening to the heart of God. We compromise our call by being neither hot or cold in our walk with Jesus. We perform religion rather than living our lives being led by the Spirit.

The day is coming, and even here, as followers of Christ are being silenced by the religions of the world. Will we continue to be silent? Will we dare to die to self and live for Christ? Let us all join in the battle and love as Jesus loved...without compromising our faith and the Truth. Choose to be hot or cold...being lukewarm is not an option.

Giving all

"Looking up, Jesus saw people, especially the rich, dropping their gifts into the temple offering box. He noticed a poor widow drop in two small coins. He said, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of these people have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on." Luke 21:1-4

May we all learn to give. Learn to die to self. Learn to look to God for all our needs. I don't know how to do that yet, but boy, do I wish I could have that kind of faith and live that way. I know that's what we are all called to do, but, I still have a lot of the world living in me and it keeps telling me that dying to self and giving all is irresponsible. Is it? I don't yet. I haven't had (haven't chosen) to live that way. I assume that at some point in our lives, especially if the world continues down the path we are going, we will have to learn how to have faith. How to give. How to die to self. How to love. How to be like Jesus.

The Call - 07/07/07

"John the Baptizer appeared in the desert of Judea. His message was, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:1-2

Living in Nashville it was only a 20 minute drive to LP Field, home to the TN Titans. For others in my family it was a 31 hour flight from Thailand and a 12 hour drive from Texas...and for the other 80,000 plus who came to The Call, who knows how long it took and what sacrifices were made to be with believers for the purpose of repenting, fasting, praying, and worship with a house full of believers in Jesus.

This being an event led by those who are of the charismatic persuasion, it was sad how few churches in our area promoted the event and didn't encourage believers to attend. Love and unity...such a hard thing for the church. We pride ourselves on accepting non-believers into the fold, but we stand strong against those who believe in Jesus, the Saviour of all mankind, because of petty differences in doctrines. Even with that said, there were believers from all denominations , cultures, nations, that joined together and spent about 14 hours straight, asking the Lord to unite us all as a people.

As the Lord seems to be preparing His people for revival, the world seems to be getting closer and closer to another world war. This is a time that we must stand and unite, put away the silly differences, and seek the Lord in all we do. God will unite us...one way or another. I just pray that we will stand together as His church, one people, in days to come.

Pray

"As council members listened to Stephen, they became noticeably furious. But Stephen was of the Holy Spirit. He looked into heaven, saw God's glory, and Jesus in the position of authority that God gives. So Stephen said, "Look, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man in the position of authority God has given him!"

But the council members shouted and refused to listen. They they rushed at Stephen with one purpose in mind, and after they had thrown him out of the city, they began to stone him to death. The witnesses left their coats with a young man named Saul.

While council members were executing Stephen, he called out. "Lord, Jesus, welcome my spirit. Then he knelt down and shouted, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them." After he had said this, he died." Acts 7: 54-60

Stephen is considered the first martyr of the church. From that day to the present, millions of followers of Jesus have had to make the same stand as Stephen made. Most of us sit in the comfort and safety of our homes and rarely think about those who are being persecuted and killed for their belief in Jesus. We live in countries that allow this freedom of faith, and since we don't experience the persecution first hand , we tend not to think about it.

I encourage us all to pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. A good source to find news about what is going on with the our persecuted believers is the website Persecution.org. Bookmark that page and go to it often to pray for those who are truly living a persecuted life.

May the Lord Jesus come back quickly and may we remain faithful as we wait for His return.

Fast & Pray

There is a great revival going on in America and across the world. Starting Memorial Day and going for 40 days to 7/7/07, believers are called to fast and pray. For those of you who have never been a part of something like this, I would challenge you to take part in it.

The ending day will be a time of worship and praise and will be held in Nashville at LP Field, home of the TN Titans.

Fasting can be anything from 1 meal a day to the full 40 day fast. "Pray without ceasing" is the call from the apostle Paul. I hope some of you will consider to be a part of this. This has nothing to do with the call to any particular "denomination" but a call to those who love and believe in the Lord...the Church! Visit this site to learn more: http://www.thecall.com