Snow is Cold

Daily Bible Reading

John 7:16-18

So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

This is from todays daily Bible reading.

Many of us have a message about Jesus that we sometimes (I hope!) make an attempt to share with others. We also have a message or an understanding of God's Word and what it means. After I read this I asked myself, is my message my own or does it come from God who sent me out to speak His message.

I know a lot of people... me and Airen planning out Christmas presents showed me this clearly. I also know a lot of people that are not Christ-followers in any way. When I look at the messages that Jesus brought to the people AND the way He treated people I begin to understand what God's message is to those that are far from Him.

Think about what comes further in these... some people talk about Jesus to others, and they do so because they want glory for themselves. It's an easy trap to fall into. There is a lot of prestige attached in Christian circles for being a "soul-winner" or whatever lame word we have for that same idea at the moment. The Bible never excuses having bad motivations for good actions.

This also challenges my understanding of how I exegete (interpret) God's word. (See my first post)

First off, many people interpret God's Word for their own glory. IE: They take what a verse really means and then take their opinion (Blend on HIGH for 2 minutes) to make the scripture justify their stupid choice/decision/action.

The funny thing is that these people never fool people that are actually doing God's will. This is not a surprise considering Jesus said that.

We should be careful with how we manipulate what God's says. I get a feeling that if I don't like being misquoted, God prob ally likes it even less.

If we want to honor God. We need to be speaking His truth.

But don't forget to speak it in love.

Oh Chair! How I miss thee!

My faithful office chair died today.

Sadly enough it died with me in it. So now my butt hurts.

The chair is dead. Long live the chair!

Parking: A Common Mistake.

Lovin it.

Insulate

From the Blog of Pastor Steven Furtick:

God will never insulate me
from my need for Him.

I think too many of the prayers I pray revolve around God giving me more security.
Not the good kind of security: security in Christ, security in His Word, etc.
The kind of security that would make God unnecessary in my life.
In other words, false security.

I want God to tie up all the loose ends in my life, until I’ve got it all under control. Tell me the 50 year plan so I can get cracking, and never look back. And that’s just never going to happen.
The nature of relationship with God will not permit Him to position me circumstantially so deeply in my self-sufficiency that He becomes a footnote in my life.

God will never insulate me
from my need for Him.

Prove me Wrong.

This is the final result on a research essay I wrote for this quarter. Enjoy!

SALVATION AND THE MORMON CHURCH

Introduction

A critical look at evangelical Christian theology shows that a person following the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the potential to be a born again Christian. Looking at this argument two questions are apparent. The first is, what exactly is involved in an individual appropriating the benefits of salvation? The second is, are there Biblical exceptions to the atonement being applied to a person, given that the correct Biblical steps have been followed to receive salvation?

Doctrines of Salvation

To begin, a foundation is needed on the subject of what evangelicals believe is required to acquire salvation. Paul Enns states that “Many passages of Scripture affirm that man’s only responsibility in salvation is believing the Gospel.”[1] The Gospel is defined as believing that Jesus was everything He claimed to be. For example that He was God, and that He died an atoning sacrifice for man’s sinfulness, and was bodily resurrected.[2] This basic idea is the evangelical salvation message and it provides a baseline for understanding what makes a person righteous in the sight of God. The same idea is stated a little differently by William Menzies and Stanley Horton who states that salvation is received through repentance to God, faith toward Jesus, and the regenerating and renewing work of the Holy Spirit.[3] This reflects the same idea from a different perspective explaining that the actual salvation is imparted by the Spirit, making it clear that it is not our own work.

All of these aspects describe one whole work of salvation and, much like the evangelical view of God, should not be broken apart. Often the idea of coming to Christ is twisted into an idea that one must make themselves right and then God will accept them. This idea is known as salvation by works and is unbiblical. It puts repentance before faith. Enns writes that, “It [repentance] should not be understood as a separate step in salvation.”[4] Understanding that sin has separated man from God is a part of the Gospel, but the essence of this is that God had to come as Jesus in order to make it right. Man had no way to return to God on his own.

Evangelicals believe that once one is saved that it will result in a changed life. James writes that, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17) Wayne Grundem states that, “This does not of course mean that the person will have a perfect life, but only that the pattern of life will not be one of continuing indulgence in sin.”[5] Although it is a clear teaching in evangelicalism that your works do not in any way merit salvation, after one experiences salvation it will result in a changed life.

Looking at the Latter Day Saint sources a distinction in terminology is needed. The term salvation is used quite differently in the Mormon church. Stephen Robinson, a professor of New Testament Studies at Brigham Young University, states that the term salvation when used by the Mormon church is not referring to the initial act of grace that atones for sin, but instead is a term used in reference to preparing oneself for future glory.[6] He also states that the Latter Day Saints endorse salvation by grace through faith, but that faith must not be removed from being faithful and fulfilling covenant obligations.[7] In an article by Jana Riess she writes, “If mere belief in Jesus Christ as savior is enough, then Mormons definitely make the cut.”[8]

Understanding Latter Day Saint Doctrine

In looking at the fundamental differences in salvation theology of the Latter Day Saint church Blomberg and Robinson come up with three major points. First is the ability to respond to the Gospel after death, second, is on how crucial baptism is, and the third is on the details of the afterlife.[9]

It is interesting that one of these three, how crucial baptism is, is also debated among evangelicalism. Robinson discusses this and notes that Latter Day Saints’ believe that the obedience necessary to be born again is to have faith in Christ, repent, and be baptized. He further states that, “Most evangelicals would agree with the first two, and some would agree with all three.”[10] Much of the confusion on this issue comes from Acts 2:38 where Peter responds to a question of how to be saved, “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.’”

The ability to respond to the Gospel after death, and baptism by proxy for those already dead, is a distinctive of the Latter Day Saints church as is the concept of three different heavens following the Judgement. It must be noted, however, that neither of these doctrines actually affect any part of their basic gospel message to those who are alive. Faith in Christ is taught as the Latter Day Saint foundation for being right with God. Also the nature of God is understood to be different with God being three separate god’s who are one in purpose, but not in essence.

The Salvation of Latter Day Saints

Daniel Pecota writes that, “Repentance and faith constitute the two essential elements of conversion.”[11] He also notes that saving faith requires divine enabling by the Holy Spirit.[12] This is interesting because what we have seen of Latter Day Saint doctrine on the subject appears to be the same in essence. Robinson claims that anyone who believes it possible to earn salvation is not a Christian or a Latter Day Saint and that, “Such a doctrine is foreign to the religion I practice and teach.”[13] It is important then to understand then that the Latter Day Saint doctrine of works is different in essence than the Evangelical one.

Menzies and Horton write that the evidences of Salvation are an inward witness of the Sprit and an outward life of righteousness.[14] There are many examples of this same idea in evangelical theology. One example being that salvation will produce a life of righteousness or else it was not genuine salvation. Is Evangelicalism hypocritical then for condemning an identical doctrine of the Latter Day Saint church? Robinson talks about this doctrine from the Latter Day Saint perspective. “Continued faithfulness is required in order not to fall from grace after we have been saved, [and] this is Armenianism, not synergism.”[15] Although some of the Reformed school of theology would disagree with the idea of falling from grace they still expect believers to be moving toward righteousness if they are truly saved. This is in agreement with what Robinson teaching about Latter Day Saint doctrine when he states, “All true Christians must share in principle the desire to serve God.”[16]

In an anti-cult book written by James Jornstad it is interesting that he also notes that often terms used in Evangelical Christianity are used in different ways by Mormons. He writes on the same idea from earlier, that in Latter Day Saint writings written for their internal use the term salvation is used in a general sense to refer to the resurrection and in the individual sense in reference to being exalted to the Celestial Kingdom.[17] Differences in terminology are clearly not enough to eliminate the power of the atonement from being applicable in the life of an individual Latter Day Saint. However we also have to consider the Latter Day Saint theology on the nature of God and the Trinity. It is so different from orthodox Christianity that the Catholic Church issued a statement that Mormon baptisms were invalid.[18]

Grudem writes that a true saving faith includes knowledge, approval, and personal trust.[19] So the question remains if from the perspective that Latter Day Saint church takes on salvation and the nature of God if they have this knowledge, approval, and personal trust. Do they know who Christ is and what He has done, believe in Him, and trust Him alone for their personal salvation? If a correct analysis of current Latter Day Saint orthodox belief is presented here then the possibility exists, from the Evangelical viewpoint, for born-again Mormons. This is not to say that all Mormons are born-again, any more than everyone in an Evangelical church is born-again. The conclusion of Blomberg in his essay about salvation and the Latter Day Saint church is relevant, “Inadequate understanding of God or the Trinity does not affect the triune God’s ability to provide salvation for those who sincerely trust in Him, through Christ, however imperfect their understanding may be.”[20]

Conclusions

Blomberg concluded after this last statement that salvation by faith is not fair.[21] Looking at current Latter Day Saint theology it is clear that they have the basic beliefs, according to Evangelical theology, to have salvation by faith in Christ. The sin of misinterpreting the nature of God and Jesus is no worse or different than any other and can be forgiven through Christ’s complete work. There is no clear Biblical exception to the atonement of Jesus and therefore no sin, outside the rejection of that atonement, that leads to rejection by God. A member of the Latter Day Saint church is judged or justified based on whether or not they have put their faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

---

[1] Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989), 332.

[2] Ibid., 332.

[3] William W. Menzies and Stanley M. Horton, Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective (Springfield: Logion Press, 1993), 96.

[4] Enns, 330.

[5] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 704.

[6] Craig L. Blomberg and Stephen E. Robinson, How Wide the Divide: A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 155.

[7] Ibid., 155.

[8] Jana Riess, “We’re Christians Too,” The Christian Century, October 2, 2007, 9-10.

[9] Blomberg, Robinson, 187.

[10] Ibid., 157.

[11] Stanley M. Horton, ed., Systematic Theology (Springfield: Logion Press, 1995), 361.

[12] Ibid., 363-364.

[13] Blomberg, Robinson, 143.

[14] Menzies, Horton, 96.

[15] Blomberg, Robinson, 159.

[16] Ibid., 147

[17] James Bjornstad, Counterfeits at Your Door (Ventura: Regal Books, 1979), 132-133.

[18] Gill Donovan, “Vatican says Mormon baptisms are invalid – Brief Article,” National Catholic Reporter, August 10, 2001, 10.

[19] Grundem 709-712

[20] Blomberg, Robinson, 185.

[21] Ibid., 185.

Out of Commision

Sorry about the long time between posts.

And sorry if I don't get your email or phone calls. I have 60ish pages of writing to do by Monday.

Peace!

The Symbols of the Kingdom.

This is from a reading review I wrote for a class. First I summarize the reading and them I reflect on it. I felt that my reflection was at least interesting if not significant, however, this is probally not the most exciting thing to read.

But you might learn something. So if you would like to feel free.

Erik Germesin
Jesus and the Gospels [GBIB561.30]
Reading Review of Jesus and the Victory of God, pp. 369-473


Review
This reading begins by looking at how Jesus viewed the institutions and symbols of Israel and in doing so redefined them. Wright argues that Jesus did not intend to depart form Judaism as a whole but instead was calling Israel back to the intentions behind their traditions. Jesus was presenting that the return from exile, which is the real return of God to Zion, was happening in and through His work.

The return from exile was understood as being marked by a restoration of the whole of creation, which focused on the healing of the sick. Wright argues thats Jesus intended that His works of healing would be understood as representing this. Instead of restoring land Jesus instead restored people to wholeness. Jesus chose to act in a fashion that was symbolic in this way.

Family was another symbol in the Judaism that Jesus intentionally redefined. Jesus made it clear that He considered anyone who followed Him to be family and that as such they should act to each other as family. Family would normally be the first priority and Jesus challenged this by putting priority on the Kingdom. Wright notes that this was represented by Jesus in His sharing of table-fellowship with anyone who shared His agenda. Allegiance with Jesus was a new family tie that was more important that any other.

Wright shows how Jesus redefined Torah simply by stating that, “Forgiveness lay at the heart of the symbolic praxis which was to characterize his redefined Israel.” Jesus still intended this praxis of Torah to set His followers apart from the people around them. They were to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness to others as it was given to them.

Much like the Torah, Wright presents the Temple as not a bad symbol of Israel but one that Jesus intended to transcend. Jesus was controversial because He was claiming that in His work the Temple was being rebuilt. This also alludes into the idea that Jesus was able in Himself to provide forgiveness as this was an idea that went with Temple worship and the sacrifices. With this Wright discusses how all the symbols that Jesus redefined were all part of a return from exile for Israel.

Wright then addresses the questions of the Kingdom. The first of these, ‘who are we?’ Wright answers by stating that, “we are Israel, the chosen people of the creator god... in the process of being redeemed at last by this god, over against the spurious claimants who are either in power or mounting alternative programmes.” The question of, ‘where are we?’ Jesus answered by giving the news that the slaves were being freed and that the meek would inherit the land. Jesus looked at the question of, ‘what’s wrong?’ by identifying the true enemy, which was not Rome, but the Satan. ‘What’s the solution?’ could be simply stated as that Jesus was the solution as being the movement by which Israel would be restored. Finally the last question of, ‘what time is it?’ is that Jesus believed that Israel’s God was acting now, at the time of Jesus’ ministry so that the time of the Kingdom of God had arrived.

Reflection
Looking at the symbols of Israel is it clear that the ministry of Jesus was intended to address and redefine them. Considering the power that symbols have in the story of a culture it is safe to assume that Jesus wanted the symbols He presented to be significant in the Kingdom that He established. Just as Jesus restored people to wholeness, allowed all who followed Him to be treated as family, demonstrated grace and forgiveness, and showed Himself to be the source of forgiveness the church today is to use this as their example in their praxis.

It is clear in these that Jesus found people to be significant and not just ‘people’ as a whole group. The symbols that Jesus redefined all point to the idea that He valued individual people and their significance. This considers the idea that Jesus still restores people to wholeness, calls us to treat any who respond to His message as family, calls us to demonstrates grace and forgiveness to people, and shows himself to be the source of forgiveness.

The questions of the Kingdom that Wright presents also apply to the Church today as a source of analyzing our practice. Jesus’ Kingdom responses to these questions lead to an understanding that the Kingdom of God is now and those who are a part of this Kingdom need to know what is going on in it.

Four Ministry Evaluation Areas for Leaders

Jim Wideman recently wrote a blog series highlighting four areas that ministry leaders should regularly evaluate. Here’s a summary:

1. Your Attitude
   Do I have the heart of a servant?
   Am I an asset or a liability to my pastor?
   What is my attitude about others around me?
   Am I grumbling and complaining?
2. Your Priorities
   It’s one thing to know your priorities, it’s another thing all together to live according to those priorities.
3. Your Time Management
   How am I spending my time?
   Am I spending time daily with the Lord?
   Is my family suffering while my ministry is flourishing?
   Am I making time for personal growth and development?
4. Your Performance
   Am I being a team builder or a one person show?
   What am I doing that someone else can do?
   Have I communicated clearly to all my workers what they are to do?
   Can I be relied on to complete assignments and keep commitments?

Rough Draft

A rough draft of a video for the LFC Family Factor. A sixty minute class in five minutes. Let me know what you think.

Disneyland.

Just got back from a two day vacation at Disneyland for Airen's Birthday! Was a lot of fun and I am going to make a quick YouTube video (I hope!) to share the event with everyone.

But... for your enjoyment, here is a quick picture. I'm planning on sharing a daily bible reading with everyone later today so keep your eyes open :)

Airen's Birthday

This weekend is the official celebration of my wife's birthday! Airen is a happy 25 years old and to celebrate we will be going to Disneyland on Tuesday! (Her actual birthday is tomorrow).

I love birthdays, and any holiday that makes us take the focus off of ourselves. It reminds us that we are NOT a big deal and that the Bible tells us to "think of others as better than ourselves."

As a husband, I should think of Airen as better than me all the time! (and she is!)

As a follower of the Way I should not look at what others (and the Church) can do for me as much as I look for what I can do for them.

Happy Saturday!

Don't Argue

"Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He's there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again."

Ananias protested, "Master, you can't be serious. Everybody's talking about this man and the terrible things he's been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he's shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us."

But the Master said, "Don't argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I'm about to show him what he's in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job." From Acts chapter 9 (The Message)

Daily Bible Reading time!

It is interesting to me that we argue with God. Most of us know in our brains that God has the best in mind and that His plans are always best.

This, however, never seems to make it into our hearts, so we try to talk God out of his plans just like Ananias.

If Ananias had not listened to God, Saul probably still would have been healed and become Paul. God's will is always done in the end. But, Ananias would have missed out on being a part of God's plan.

Every church Paul planted and every soul that was saved was a result of Ananias' obedience. He was just as important as Paul was in God's plan.

So each one of us (myself included) has to look at the choices we make. Am I making choices that will make me miss out on what God really wants for me? If you argue with God, you will lose. The question is how much do you want to lose before you give up and listen to Him?

Schooling.

I love being at school again for the most part! Being better equipped for ministry is graduate education is a huge blessing from God!

I think that the best part of school is hearing the stories of others who have gone before me.

I get to learn from their mistakes so I don't have too.

The worst thing we can allow the next generation to do is repeat our mistakes. It sets back the kingdom.

And seeing His kingdom come is part of the job.

Oh, and I love the comic book filter on my cam!

Looking in all the wrong places.

They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" Then they remembered Jesus' words.

This is from my daily Bible reading for today, and I wanted to share a few thoughts.

I, more often that I would like, encounter times in my life that are un-fun. In fact sometimes I have to deal with periods of time that flat out suck. And normally when that happens I do what any good believer in Jesus would do.

I whine. I complain. I indulge in self-pity.

Oh woe is me! Jesus has forgotten me in my suffering, oh God where are you!

It almost makes me feel holy, like I'm writing a Psalm.

The problem is that I'm looking for Jesus in the graveyard, I'm looking for him at the tomb, when I should be looking for Him alive and active in my life. God is always doing something good around me and in my life and it's my job to find it.

He's alive and He's good. God save us from our own bad perspective on the world.

LA Traffic

To school and back is the longest 7 miles of my life.

To add insult to injury there was traffic the whole way on the freeway... and then when I exited there was traffic on the city streets!

Ugh!

I'm taking "The Servant as Leader" right now (it's a three day intensive). My fave quote so far from the class is:

"What God is doing in you is more important than what God is doing through you."

Another good one:

"Finishing Well is wanting to do it all over again when you are done."

It will happen to you.

Daily Bible Reading time!

"One day he [Jesus the Messiah] was teaching the people in the Temple, proclaiming the Message. The high priests, religion scholars, and leaders confronted him and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?" (Luke 20:1-2 MSG)

You take a stand that is unpopular, you buck the traditions of others, and you will get the aristocrats of the people up in your face.

You should read the response of Jesus and remember, you don't always have to answer your critics.

Just keep right on doing what God tells you to do.

Lovin Sunday, 7:00am.

When I find cool stuff to link I don't have to write.

And this is some cool stuff. I hear a lot of resistance to ministering the Word to a church through video... and this explains my point of view better than I can. (And probably much nicer then I would)

Click here to watch!

Awesome.

This represents my opinion exactly.

Bloopers

Just because it's fun.

The "F" Word

On a recent post on Church Marketing Sucks about the use of words in a church service, there was a comment that made me laugh out loud.

"Sometimes I refer to "fellowship" as the "f-word."" -David

Ever think about the idea that the way you speak might affect if others feel included or excluded?

This article is worth reading.

Keep It Simple.

Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on." Luke 9:1-5

This is from today's Daily Bible Reading and it made me think.

I have had people use this verse at me like a weapon. The Bible talks about itself in being a two-edged sword, but people are out of control. Really.

And then I want to verbally rip them a new one. (If you know what I mean... and if you don't please don't ask me to elaborate.) AND I can't because I understand that Jesus told me to turn the other cheek when people attack me.

It's not fair, but I digress.

So... context. I have been told that using audio and video in the way that many newer churches do is bad. And this is normally their proof-text. Which is funny because the Bible is in harmony with itself right? And this is the SAME Bible of Paul who said: I will become all things to all people so that I can win some.

So the example of Paul in the Bible is to become all things to all people to win some... but using tech and appealing to the post-modern generation is bad? 2+2 appears to = 5.

This verse is NOT talking about WHAT we use to reach people. Jesus is telling the ministers of the gospel how He wants them to live. Not how to reach people.

As a minister of the Gospel (which if you follow The Way you are as well) I am called to not think to much of myself and expect to live a cushy life. Though I am blessed and pretty much do, if God calls me out of it he expects me to be cool about it and not whine. Jesus was giving them the best advice at the time for what they were doing.

Much Love.

Video Training Class

The video training class we had this Saturday was a huge success!

Big thanks to everyone who helped me to both set up and tear down. We had a time of teaching and equal time to apply what we had learned with a live video mixing set up as well as two different film projects that we completed.

The end result was 14 more people comfortable with video camera and related equipment and additions to the video team! In addition to that Kat filmed a trailer for an upcoming series at LFC (See it here).

My crew filmed something less serious. Enjoy!

Throw the First Punch

This is from the blog of Pastor Steven Furtick and I love it:

"When I started middle school my dad taught me a simple, slightly controversial, and very effective strategy in case I ever got in a fight.

(He was already about 3 years too late, but better late than never.)

“Now boy, don’t you ever go looking for trouble, but if someone starts something with you, here’s what I want you to do. The moment you realize a fight is unavoidable, you make sure you throw the first punch.”
(Actually I think he said “get the first lick in”, but I’m not sure how that would translate for my non-Southern readers.)

Relax, I’m not advocating fist fighting (necessarily ). Just thought it made for a cool analogy.
Every single morning I wake up, I’m a marked man. Every day of my life, there’s going to be a fight, God’s Word says so.

So why should I wait around to get sucker punched? Why not drop kick the devil in the teeth before he knows what hits him? Why not get the first lick in every single morning?
Lately I’ve been waking up, going straight to the shower, and quoting the Word of God out loud. I’m not going to spend the first part of my day playing defense, I’m going on the attack.

I think too many Christians wait until just before the T.K.O. to start fighting. We unnecessarily get our brains beat out by failure, sickness, and overwhelming pressure…

Try this.
The next time you feel temptation coming on, don’t wait until the standing 8 count starts to get serious about the fight.
The next time you hear depression or discouragement taunting you, don’t wait until you’re seeing stars before you begin to block and bob and weave and counterpunch.

You’re in for a fight every day of your life.
Come out swinging.
And go for broke.
After all, the fight is fixed. "

No Advance Notice.

But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king's food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God's grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, "I'm afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he'll have my head!" (Daniel 1:8-10)

Living for God requires determination. If you don't choose to make the right choices in advance you will probably make the wrong ones.

When you read this part in Daniel it's easy to see the results of making right choices. He ate food that was clean and because of that him and his friends were the healthiest. We can see that we should choose to live God's way and we will have good results right?

Remember this: Daniel did not know that he would end up the healthiest.

He was willing to follow God's way and take whatever the consequences were. In the same way we don't always know that following what God tells us to do will end with results that are easy or simple.

Choose to do what Jesus would do anyway. Now, before the crunch time.

Do You Pray?

This is a man on the street interview that we produced from Sunday at church (LFC).

Props to my video team for going out and getting the footage.



Do YOU pray?

Servant Evangelism

Ahhh... it's so crazy it just might work.

Peace!

LIFE Journaling

This is an article I wrote for my churches webpage. Enjoy!

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11

Why does LFC encourage you to journal?

We believe that biblical truth taught in creative ways will change lives.

We also believe that the greatest tool you will ever possess is the ability to self-feed. Self-feeding is the time you spend with God, His word and with an open heart to dig out the treasures of the scriptures.

We want to take you beyond just being taught the Word by others and into creatively allowing the Word of God to impact your life.

Have you ever sat down to read the bible, read a chapter or two and then realized that you didn't really take any notice of what you were reading? You are not alone. Many people have a lot of trouble retaining and applying what they read in the bible.

Life Journaling, using the SOAP acronym, is a way that many people find useful. The method is simply a matter of following the letters of the word soap. You will need a bible, a pen and something to write in. Use a journal to keep your reflections together. LFC sells Life Journals at our resource table (following services for $5.00) and in our church office. But you can always get a more inexpensive spiral notebook. The reason the Life Journal is so practical is that it provides the right formatting, the bible reading for the day (in the back) and is set up for ease of use.

Let us look at how journaling can cause growth in your LIFE.

Journaling helps you to:

Listen

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Every day of our life God has lessons to teach us that we will miss if we are not listening. In order for us to know what God sounds like – we need to spend time with His ‘word to us’ – the bible. What types of things does God say? How does He speak to and through others? As you listen to His written word you begin to get a sense of how He shares His heart with others and what He sounds like. Too often we are so busy either with our lives or with telling God what we “need” that we never listen to what He has to say to us.

Inquire

If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. (Jer. 29:13)

God wants us to ask, seek, and knock on His door. If we are diligent in seeking after Him we will find Him. An interesting thing about journaling is that when you look back on the questions you asked God a week, a month, or a year ago you will often see how He answered it later and you didn’t even notice! Writing down your questions and your prayers allows you to review them later on. As we easily forget things – writing them down assists us to remember.

Faith

Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. (1st Tim 4:7)

Our faith will grow as we get to know Jesus better!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

As journaling helps you to read and then understand the Word your faith will increase! The things we read, listen to and ponder have a great impact on our faith. Taking in a daily dose of God’s word will cause growth and increase our faith.

Experience

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(John 13:17)

Of course we would be wasting our time if we didn’t allow the lessons from the Word, and the increased faith it brings us, to change us and our hearts. As well as changing us it will also challenge us to go out and do the things we are called to do: to love God with all of our lives and to love others, serve others and reach others.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

So what is SOAP journaling?

Scripture: Select and write a scripture from today’s reading. Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

Observation: Write a personal observation from today’s reading. What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

Application: Write a description of a way to apply this to your life today. Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

Prayer: Write a little prayer. This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

Because I Don't Have an Original Thought This Week:

Mark Batterson Writes:

"I talked about a few distribution channels last night:

Podcasting is circuit riding at the speed of light.
Blogging is digital discipleship.
Video technology turns screens into postmodern stained glass.
Websites are virtual front doors.
Email is word of mouse."

I love it.

Check out this blog and others: http://www.evotional.com/

Getting Fed

Part of life is knowing when someone else has said something better than you can.

Enjoy!

http://www.stevenfurtick.com/uncategorized/getting-fed/

From My Cell

Me and my partners in crime before the wedding.

In addition to this being a cool picture I now know how to post from my cellie phone!

Kudos!

Playing Catchup

Nothing quite like a wedding to get your life behind schedule.

Should be getting back into my blogging groove in the next few days, been lucky just to be getting my daily Bible reading done.

If your want to see what I'm reading feel free to use the DBR link on your right!

Mahalo!

Are You Ready For This?

My job is funny. In a good way!

I show up for a team meeting and find out that they are doing music and no one let me know to get Easy Worship ready or schedule anyone to run it.

So I'm up in the booth and am going to do it myself. This is not a complaint... it's an example.

I will be meeting with the Tech Team and talking to them about what they do and its purpose. What better way to encourage them in serving even when it is unexpected or inconvenient than by doing it myself?

The Bible also talks about being ready in season and out of season... but I don't think they were talking about running worship slides!

Leaders lead from the front.

Citizen of the Bubble

Dan Kimball lays out the four stages of Christian life in America like this:

1: We become Christians.
2: We become part of the church life.
3: We become part of the Christian Bubble.
4: We become Jonah.

His conclusion is that we get into a "retreat mentality" where we "think of the church as a protection from the world club". In the end most Christians know few non-christians and the few they know they don't take the time to get to know on a level that would allow a real and relational sharing of our faith.

Jesus did not seem to want the church just to be a subculture... in fact he prayed for His disciples that: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one" (John 17:15).

For sure, He isn't praying here for what normally happens: We isolate ourselves from those outside the church.

And I would add here to Kimball's statement that the church also in subtle ways isolates itself from the un-churched. I've been to a few church cafes and meeting buildings and I notice something funny. There is no where for someone to comfortably step aside and smoke.

Don't get me wrong, I think the habit is gross. Extra gross really.

However, we tend to quietly support the idea that it's not OK to be a Christian and smoke (Find that for me in the Bible in any way other than a deduction please if you want to argue about it!), and if you do you dang well better hide it. So how much more does this make us look like a weird and inclusive bubble culture to the unchurched when we don't get what major restaurant's and coffee company's (you know which one I'm talking about) do. If you want them to come back, you have to make room for them... bad habits and all.

Never Gonna be as Big as Jesus

I love my daily Bible reading. It's hard for me to blog about anything else... if your not in a habit of reading to communicate with God you should start.

Not because I said so or out of guilt. But because once you get going I promise you will tell me it's worth it.

Now we are in Hebrews Chapter 3...

"So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house." (Hebrews 3:1-6, The Message, Emphasis Mine)

I have been rethinking my theology in the last few years. This blog is a channel for my thinking in that way.

Most protestant theology and practice is Pauline in nature.

The Bible is intended, by the Holy Spirit, to be taken as a whole. So when I think of this passage, which is not written to be a commentary on Bible study, I do see that Jesus is the center of our faith.

This makes me rethink how I form doctrine. My core foundation should be: What did Jesus teach about that, and then how does Pauline theology support that.

I have the feeling that the end result of that would be on the side of love and grace for the non-believer and more repent or perish for the "religious".

We will explore this more as time goes on. Peace!

My Crazy Family

From Hebrews 2:11 - "Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn't hesitate to treat them as family" (The Message, Emphasis Mine)

More from my daily Bible reading... Isn't it a trip to think that God packed himself into a human package?

More crazy than that is to think that Jesus treats us as family. I don't know about you, but in my family everyone is crazy. I wonder if Jesus feels the same way.

I mean He would be the "head of household" for this big family of faith we have. So we have to wonder what he thinks about his children sometimes. You know that he loves us no matter what, but at the same time I know that, like any parent, He would just like us to listen to what He's telling us to do.

Much Love!

It's Messy!

In reading an article by Mark Driscoll he discusses how he planted a church and how he planned in being the next hip thing. He then goes on to realize that every generation of the church has its movements and someday will be the old thing that some young guy will want to replace!

But I love his conclusion:

"In the end, the future of the Church is much like the past and present of the Church - Messy. Churches that embrace their traditions over their children will die slow and painful deaths. Churches that embrace cultural relevance over biblical faithfulness will in time become heretics like Hymenaeus. The majority of small and struggling churches will cling on for dear life and keep reading books about the rapture in hopes that they can simply get out before they give up. And, God will put His hand on young punks who are unfit for the kingdom of heaven and fill them with a one-hundred proof shot of the Holy Spirit that transforms them from the typical Christian consumer or complainer into a co-laborer with Jesus who will remain busy building His Church just like He promised. These new pastors will plant new churches that attract new people with new questions that can only be answered by the old story that were all sick and need Jesus."

What's the Difference?

Although this is not what I am going to be writing about, here is the verse that stuck out to me in my Bible reading today. (There is a new link for daily Bible reading on the right that will take you though the whole Bible in a year... or just do the NT portion to go thorough the NT in a year)

"While here in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he's useful to both of us. I'm sending him back to you, but it feels like I'm cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I'm in jail for the Message. But I didn't want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn't willingly agreed to." Philemon 1:10-14

Lets avoid doing anything "under the table". Success in the ministry of life often requires a simple rule: "Except in protecting others, keep no secrets."

Now on to what I actually wanted to write about:

I thought I would bring up a theological question from a book that I have been reading by Dan Kimball called They Like Jesus but not the Church. This is a real life situation that we have to consider... and to quote Jason French's blog... "If your theology isn't practical, it doesn't work."

"Imagine an unmarried couple who are living together and are sexually active. They enter your church and tell you they aren't Christians yet, but are interest in God and are checking out your church. They begin attending your worship gatherings, and you are happy to see them there, hoping they will come to trust in Jesus. You know they are living together, and you see them respectfully showing their affection by holding hands in church and putting their arms around one another.
But what if a gay couple did the same thing?
How would you answer the following questions?

• How are these two couples different in Jesus' eyes?
• Theologically, what is the difference between the straight couple and the homosexual couple?
• How would your reaction differ?
• How would your church react?"

(Kimball, Dan, They Like Jesus but not the Church, P. 148)

He goes on to state at the end of the chapter: "We can hold to a doctrinal position about homosexuality while moving from being known as a community that fears and even looks down on homosexuals to being know as a community that welcomes and loves them, yet doesn't affirm anything that the Scriptures don't." (Kimball, Dan, They Like Jesus but not the Church, P. 161)

An interesting thought! Your reactions?

Then after you react feel free to respond with this qualification:

I only want biblical answers to the questions posed by Kimball. Biblical answers in context to the passage you are bringing them from.

Or just reflect on this and how we treat sin and the unchurched differently that we probably should given the nature of who we were before we were saved. After all: "All have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory."

Day of Rest

"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Titus 3:4-5 (NLT, Emphasis Mine)

I am enjoying my one and a half hours off, on the normal day of rest. Sunday is not a sabbath for those in ministry! That's why I have Monday's off!

It's great then that I can look at this verse and know, just like it says in the book of Hebrews, that I at least have a rest from having to try to be right with God.

Thanks to Jesus, I just am. No work to be done.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Don't be Weird.

Today you get another bit from my daily devotions and we are still in the book of Titus. So we will be keeping the same context as yesterday.

"But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around." Titus 2:7-8 (The Message, Emphasis Mine)

Paul just got done explaining to Titus how various people in the church should be living their lives. Titus is to be the one who is speaking out for solid doctrine. Paul makes it clear in this passage that he is not just to tell them how to live, but to live it out himself. The end result of this is that even some who are against them will end up being for them.

I've known a lot of weird Christians.

To often people take little points from the Bible and then do them in excess. This is something that Paul warns us about elsewhere. When you deal with people, especially those who are outside the faith, your teaching needs to be solid and sane.

You will notice that Paul says nothing about the need to verbally abuse anyone. Verbal abuse is what some Christians consider outreach. You know what I'm talking about so I won't go into detail. Outside of the context of this passage I would ask you to try to love people first! Makes them more receptive I promise! (Hint: It's what Jesus did.)

Keep your teaching solid. This requires knowing what you are talking about. Read the word. Find a translation you can read easily. (I recommend NLT or TNIV). Find a commentary or get a Bible with notes thats well known and respected, and learn what God has to say about stuff. I need to read more commentary's.

Keep your teaching sane. Keeping it sane is pretty simple for me. If Jesus didn't emphasize on it himself then I don't emphasize it to an unbeliever. I have to keep in mind that they don't think like I do. There is lots of stuff in the Bible that someone who is without God's Spirit will not understand. Culture Gap.

Oh... and here is a freebie. Don't expect those outside the faith to act like Christians K? It's pretty dumb when we do that.

God keep us solid and sane in how we represent you!

We Should Know Better

I am doing my daily bible reading and we have hit the book of Titus. On a side note I am currently reading "The Message" paraphrase.

Paraphrases are not bad.

You just have to understand what you are reading. In the last few years I have read every word in the Bible several times in NIV. My brain has gotten to the point where I associate the language of the NIV with academic work. So my switch to The Message has given me a fresh view on the scriptures and engaged my mind in them in a way that I haven't felt for months. I just have to keep in mind that I am basically reading a commentary.

Here is the verse: "For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst." Titus 1:10 (Emphasis Mine)

This is Paul writing here to Titus who is leading a church on the Island of Crete (Context!). Cretans where known as liars and cheats (which is shown later in the chapter). This stereotype apparently had some truth to it as Paul addressed the issue as truth. The worst of all of these types of people in Paul's eyes where those who where brought up religious, the same kind of hypocrites that Jesus condemned!

This makes me think of a saying that I hear a lot: "You can't trust anyone."

We are becoming a culture of distrust. We assume that people are leading us on or trying to sell us something and to tell you the truth often this is true. I don't like that it is true... I would rather assume that people have good intentions, but often they don't. Those who were brought up or are a part of the Church are the worst. Hypocrite is a title I know that I have worn as well. Did I help that person to love them as Christ did or because I want them to come back to my event to make me look good? God sees my attitude and often so do members of my generation. We can't afford to have an agenda, instead we must learn to love like Jesus did. He loved the poor, the sick, and the one who was stuck in wrong behavior without qualification.

God help us to follow your example and do the same.

We Study God... But People Study Us.

As we look at studying God we have to remember that the world for the most part does not.

The average person judges the nature of God and Christianity by you. They also judge it by what they see churches doing. This post from Worship Tech Online about church signs illustrates this point well.

Church Marquees - Worship Tech Online

Another Good Blog on this:

Church Signs Suck - Church Marketing Sucks

Just so you know...

I am aware that my introduction is... dry and wordy.

That will not always be the tone for my posts and there is a real possibility of the use of words like "booger". Giving you the "Erik" feel you've grown to love.

That is all.

An Introduction.

Theology - The Study of God.

I have a LOT of theology books on my shelf here at my office. What is more interesting than that is that some are Airen's (My finance) and some are mine (from three different Bible colleges) so they all have different things to say. Sure the core values of the Christian Faith are the same... but on the detail's there is a... umm... difference of opinion.

To summarize this difference of opinion and how it is stated in these books:

"My point of view is right. And anyone who has is a different opinion is stupid."

The problem is... they are discussing a point that has been debated even before Jesus came.

For Example:
Predestination vs. Free will long predates Calvinist and Armenian Theology... You can find sects of Judaism that confronted this issue a thousand years before Jesus came.

Does anyone find it odd that Jesus then proceeded to say nothing about it? Must not be important then...

This is just an example. This blog will be more than just DOCTRINE. Theology is the study of God and is not limited to doctrine. But let me be clear on how I view doctrine.

Absolutes:
Essentials of our faith. More than one passage in context discusses these. The existence of God, the integrity of scripture, the death and Resurrection of Jesus, heaven, hell, and the virgin birth are all absolutes. The Bible is clear in detail on these subjects.

Interpretations:
Debatable items. One passage of scripture to conclude a meaning (However in context the verse can be on a different subject). Even if you think you are right... you might not be. The Bible touches on these subjects but nowhere does it SAY an answer. People piece it together from passages. These concepts include creation science (old or new earth), predestination, free will, and how exactly the Holy Spirit does things after salvation. (I will probably talk about Interpretations often)

Deductions:
VERY debatable items. A deduction is taking one verse from one place in the Bible, connecting it with a verse from another place (which removes context) then coming to a conclusion that would not be evident from either verse on its own. Or it's when we take one aspect of culture, combine it with something else from either culture or the Scriptures and come to a firm conclusion. It's A+B=C. These are more distant subjects from the scripture like homeschooling, how to run a church service, and if a Christian has to be a Republican or a Democrat.

Personal/Cultural Preference:
Even more debated. It sounds dumb but its true. More people would leave a church because their personal preference has been violated than any other. I've met them... I know. These are things like worship and prayer styles, music, clothes, the paint on the walls, Bible version, and how much the preacher spits when he talks.

A few other quick buzz words I will use a lot and my definition of them:

Context: What the passage meant from the original writer to the original readers.
Passage: A selection of scripture that contains one complete thought from the original writer.
Verse: A section of a passage as divided by the Bible publisher. These are not found in the original manuscripts.

Looking forward to discussing these and other ideas with you! Much Love!