Goin' All the Way

If you're involved in a relationship or maybe just hoping to be someday the Goin' All The Way series is just your type.

This Thursday is the first week of our new series on relationships, marriage, and sex.

We will be taking an honest look at what God has to say about these things and at how we can learn to have healthy relationships.

This is a GREAT week to invite a friend or even just invite a friend to join the facebook group!

This is a HUGE topic for our generation. So lets take it on together. Don't forget you can ask me questions on the facebook discussion group or via email if it's embarrassing for ya to post it!

For the nerds.

This is totally something that could change how I use my computer.


Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

Urban Legends.

This is the first week of Urban Legends where we will be debunking spiritual myths.

Come this week expecting God to show up and show us who He is in a new way this week!

We will be looking at our first myth: That all roads lead to God. Bring some friends and lets pack out the house this Thursday so that we can lead people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the light and no one comes to the Father-Creator God except through Him.

Peace!

Pastor Erik

it - Part One

In chapter one Pastor Craig asks the question: Where does it come from?

I've been a part of a few ministries that had it. it never seemed to last forever though.

It always seemed like it was also an infusion of passion for Jesus brought on by being where God wanted us to be. When we were fully devoted to Jesus. When it was there people where willing to miss out on other things to be a part of what Jesus was doing.

The good news is: if you don't have it you can get it.
The bad news is: if you have it you can lose it.

(Coming Soon- Chapter 2!)

it.

I am reading a book called "it" by Craig Groeschel for the second time. It just released and has been a big deal for me in looking at how I lead and adjusting my character so that God can use me however he wants too.

From the back cover:

"What is It, and how can you and your ministry get and keep It? Combining in-your-face honesty with off-the-wall humor, this book tells how any believer can obtain It, get It back, and guard It."

You got it, or you don't. Join me for the next few weeks as I look at the discussion questions from it.

Also you can buy it here. I recommend it.

Tonight.

Tonight has the potential the change your life.

It has the potential to change the life of your friends.

God is calling us HOME. Pack out the house and let's lead people to be fully devoted followers of Christ - Together.

Home - Week Two

This week will be week two of our new series Home!
This week is a great one to invite a friend to as we learn about how God blesses us when we are home with Him!

Hope everyone is lovin the stage set up - props to my friend Jason French for a bunch of free props!
Also props to my wife for making it look awesome!

Thanks everyone for being a part of leading people to be fully devoted followers of Christ. Let's reach our generation!

Repost fun!

This is from Pastor Steven Furtick's blog, and it's so good I gotta share:

King Saul tried to help God out: he got tired of waiting for Samuel to offer the sacrifice, and decided to take care of business himself.

(Study 1 Samuel 13:7-14)
In his panic, he set off a chain reaction of events that led to his downfall.
His intentions were understandable. After all, God had promised him victory over his enemies. He was simply trying to expedite the process and make sure that God didn’t miss His deadline.

I’ve seen lots of people get in heaps of trouble in their attempts to give God a helping hand.

I’ve seen terrific girls marry complete losers because they got tired of waiting for God to send the right man into their lives. So they take their chances with the best available option, figuring they’ll fix him up. And boy, do they pay a high price for their impatience.

I’ve seen couples try to enjoy a standard of living that’s way over their heads in the first year of marriage, accumulating debt that delayed their financial freedom for decades to come.
God’s plan was to bless them incrementally as they earned, gave, and saved wisely…they just couldn’t wait. God’s way was too tedious…they wanted to be blessed right now!

God doesn’t need our help. He desires our obedient cooperation.

If you’re going to expect God’s best, you’ll have to do it God’s way.

It's time to come home.

Don't you dare miss out on this week at illuminate!

We are starting a new three week series - Home.
This series is a look at the parable of the lost son and we will look at we can regain our identity as sons and daughters of the creator God.

This is a great series to invite a friend (or friends!) too as we look at the love and redemption of the Father.

Let's work together to pack out the room this week - not just so it looks cool - but so that we can lead people to be fully devoted followers of Christ!

Maintance.

Just a quick thought... I have a backyard patio pool like most of you know.

It's starting to get a little hazy. Been to busy to clean it and add the stuff it needs the last few weeks.

Following Jesus is pretty much the same deal, if we don't maintain it through Bible reading, journaling, and prayer... it's going to start to get hazy.

So keep up the good work neh?

Unstoppable.

Sorry about the blog hiatus! This week is part two of unstoppable.

Most of us feel like we are the polar opposite of unstoppable. Whenever I play sports, for example, I am not unstoppable. I am in fact normally the most STOPPABLE person playing.

This is why I have learned a little trick... If I want to win at sports, I need to play on a good team.

With that in mind tonight we are going to talk about an unstoppable vision. You see we didn’t just start illuminate back in March because I needed more to do every week.

We didn’t start it because my boss, the incredible leader that he is, Pastor Bernie told me he wanted a new college service. (Although he did!)

We started illuminate after we felt that GOD had a vision and a purpose for it.

You see when you TEAM with GOD it doesn’t matter how stoppable you are. HE is unstoppable.

When you TEAM with GOD you are on an unstoppable team.

So lets team with God together to bring people to be fully devoted followers of Christ.

Then [Jesus] called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

Eternal life now.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(1st Timothy 6:11-12)

Here Paul was talking about people who were seeking after money. He concludes talking about the fact that these people end up with all kinds of problems and then instructs Timothy to run away from anything like what he had just described. Instead he urges Timothy to live a life that represents God. Eternal life is something that Timothy can represent in his day to day life.

I also can grab hold of the eternal life that I am called to today. Salvation is not just something that I am called to get after I die. I can follow Christ today and represent the new life I have in everything that I do. A big part of this is not grabbing on to things of this world like money. If I allow my pursuit of anything in this world to take the place of my pursuit of God that thing is an idol.

Paul I think today would tell me still to flee from those things. Good advice.

Jesus, help me to live out my eternal life today. Help me not to put things of this world before you because You are all that I need today and tommorrow and forever. Amen.

No time for love Dr. Jones!

It's been a bad week for the blog. I know.

But, if your bored check out my new webpage www.erikgermesin.com and leave me a comment on what you think.

Peace.

Habakkuk - When God Seems Unfair.

This week is the first week of our series on Habakkuk.

You see it every day. Bad people taking advantage of the weak. Good people down on their luck. Innocent people suffering. War. Injustice. Ever get the feeling God isn’t fair? Discover how an Old Testament prophet can inspire a modern day faith in God’s Promises.

Check out this intro:

Don't be stupid.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 12:1

This proverb tells me that if I want to have knowledge that I need to embrace discipline and being corrected. A person that can not take being corrected in love is going to end up, well… stupid lacking in knowledge.

For me this starts with the Holy Spirit. If I don’t allow God’s Spirit to correct me when I am making poor choices then I will not be everything that I need to be. This can be with both sin issues in my heart and with just doing what God wants me to do instead of what I want to do.

This also applies to the people that God has put into my life to guide me. I need to respect their takes on what I am doing even if they tell me I am doing something wrong. Pride would tell me just to do what I think is right.

Pride makes me stupid.

God, by Your Spirit guide me down the right paths for my life. I need wisdom so guide me both yourself and through the people you have put into my life. Amen.

Small Blessings.

There is a little bonus that I get to enjoy for the summer. A county program that is using the room that we use for illuminate is out for the summer.

So I get to work on setup a little early. It's not a big deal, and although this allows a youth guy who is awesome to help me with the emptying of the room, but in total I have less stress right before service, and about a hour less work.

Woot!

Things God Hates.

Proverbs 6

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Each of these things that the LORD hates have the potential to harm other people. Some more than others, but it is clear that the things that God hates are the things that cause people to inflict pain and suffering on others, and usually the innocent.

I know that I should avoid all of these things, though I know that I have done some of them before and will likely do some of them again. More than that I should avoid the attitude that I am more important than the people around me. This attitude is the source of all these actions that God hates. Instead I should have the attitude of Jesus:

Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6-7)

Jesus teach me to have your attitude and think nothing of myself. Help me to choose to serve other people today. Amen.

Evotional - Blessed Week Two.

This week is the illuminate Junior/Senior night! We will be having TONS of free food and snacks and a killer teaching time so don't miss out.

Also... don't forget to be blessed by inviting people to come and see using the invite cards you got this week!



BLESSED—2
BLESSED TO SHARE HIS STORY

Although it is important to look at personal growth, and it is important to learn things that help us personally, Jesus Himself always looked out for the needs of other people. We are to do the same.

YOU ARE BLESSED TO SHARE CHRIST.

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews… To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19-20a, 22-23

Jesus can transform anyone. There are no exceptions. Liars, rapists, gossips, idol worshippers, lovers of money, lovers of self... In one moment of understanding and faith Jesus wipes the slate clean.

So you are blessed to share our Christ, our Messiah, with people who really need Him.

This is not a blessing most of us want. It’s a lot easier to just come to something like this and just chill. Your in good company. Most of the people God has used to share His word and will with others were not the most likely people. However, looking at these people you will see ways that you can share Jesus with other people.

THE UNLIKELY EVANGELISTS

SAMARITAN WOMAN: INVITE SOMEONE TO COME AND SEE.

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. John 4:28-30

It might not of been easy for a woman who most people would have shunned to do this, but she did it anyway. She didn’t have to have all the scriptures memorized, she didn’t need to go to Bible college. She just had to know where Jesus was, and then to point to Him and say “come and see.”

For some of you the best way you can be blessed to share Jesus with others will be to invite someone to come and see.

BLIND GUY: SHARE YOUR STORY.
…"Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" John 9:25

How has following Jesus changed your life?

DORCAS: GIVE YOUR LIFE AWAY.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

What a great way to be remembered. You see you are blessed to tell Jesus’ story and you can do it by giving your life away.

Ask yourself, what is something simple you can do this week to help someone?

Now get up and do it.

PETER: GET IN SOMEONE’S FACE.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Acts 2:38, 40

Just remember, if it’s not done in love. Don’t do it.

And there is a time and a place to do it. When Peter is telling these people these things, they asked him first.

We are to bring people that are far from Jesus to Him and the Life that He offers us.

We are blessed to tell His story. God uses unlikely people and unlikely ways to spread His message.

Evotional - Blessed Part One.

Was awesome to have everyone for the first part of blessed! Don't miss part two this week at illuminate - a young adult service.

http://illuminate.mylfc.com

BLESSED—1
BLESSED WITH A NEED

GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH A NEED: YOU NEED EACH OTHER.

…You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family…We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Ephesians 2:19, 21 NLT

God has joined those who believe in His Son together.
He did it carefully. Intentionally. He did it for a reason.
You are members of God’s Family.

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39

YOU NEED A SPIRITUAL FAMILY

1) WITH REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…Acts 2:44-46

If anyone has a need, not a want mind you, but a need we are obligated as believers to help. It is interesting that it was the individual believers that did this not the church.

Sharing a table with each other is a real form of Christianity.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them. Acts 4:32, 34

WITH ACCEPTANCE.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

How do you think this brings praise to God then?
Because God made everyone just like they are.

And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king's [David] table, and he was crippled in both feet. 2 Samuel 9:13

WITH COMMITMENT.

Commitment + Challenges + Christ = Your Spiritual Family

We have been tricked out of real relationships - with both other people and with God.

Commitment because no real relationship grows without it.

Challenges because all relationships face them.

Christ because all relationships need Him to be healthy.

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. Genesis 2:18

Blessed.

Many people pray, “God, please bless me.” And God wants to bless you. But the blessings of God are often more than a new car, a bigger salary, and a better lifestyle. In the series, “Blessed,” we'll experience firsthand some of God's unusual blessings.

Practice What I Preach

Matthew 23

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The problem that pharisees had was simple. They would tell the people what God wanted them to do, and then they did not do it themselves. Jesus was always willing to do what He told others they should do. To add to this, they were not just hypocrites, they were prideful and

If I want to been seen as great by God then I need to not care about what others think about me. If I want to be great then I need to serve others even if no one will ever know about. And if I’m willing to tell others how God wants them to live their lives, then I need to be able to live it out myself.

God, help me to be great in Your eyes. Help me to serve others so that Your glory would be known to them. Let my life honor You. Amen.

Evotional - Is the Bible Reliable?

TXT—2
IS THE BIBLE INSPIRED?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

theopneustos (theh-op'-nyoo-stos); divinely breathed, given by inspiration of God.

IS THE BIBLE RELIABLE?

THE INTERNAL TEST

DO THE WRITERS OF THE BIBLE CLAIM THEIR WRITINGS ARE TRUE?

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16

The books of the New Testament were all based on primary sources, that is people who were there with Jesus or people who were getting their information from those were there with Jesus.

The time frame the New Testament was written in is also interesting. Every book was written within 100 years of Jesus’ birth (or about 60 years of His death). The Gospels themselves as thought to have been written only 40-50 years of Jesus’ death with the possibility that one of them was written only 30 years after. Seems like quite a few years - but lets look at some other books that historians consider reliable -

Alexander the Greats Biographies - 400 years
Buddha - 600 years
Zoroaster - 1800 years

THE EXTERNAL TEST

WHAT DOES OUTSIDE EVIDENCE SAY ABOUT THE BIBLE?

"It may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." Nelson Glueck - Former President of the Jewish Theological Seminary and noted archaeologist.

Many of the events in the Old Testament are validated archaeologically. More than enough to validate it as none have ever refuted anything that the Bible said happened. The New Testament events are also validated in this way and by other written histories at the time. Non-Christians wrote about Jesus, the early church, and even John the Baptist.

Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi (History Bigwig) wrote this:

“[Regarding if we did not have the written Gospels] We would still have a considerable amount of important historical evidence; in fact, it would provide a kind of outline for the life of Jesus…”

THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC TEST

HOW WELL WERE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS TRANSLATED TO TODAY?

The bottom line is this: scholars have concluded the Greek manuscripts from which we translate our English Bibles are 98% genuine. That is, only about 2 percent varies from the original manuscripts. These variations are minor as they are mostly things like different spellings of names of people and places. None of the variations make a difference in the meaning of the passage or the theological doctrines that make up Christianity.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God brought His word to us. Not only that, but I hope that it is clear to you tonight that you can trust the Bible’s that you have in front of you.

You can trust that it is God’s word to you.

Starbore

Chris Brown, recently released a fantastic solo project called Starbore. You can get it on itunes, here. I already bought this and the five tracks are all sweet.

Wow.

I'm putting the finishing touches on TXT part 2 for tomorrow (if your even thinking about missing it your crazy, some of this stuff of the Bible will blow your mind) and thumbing through the "Pocket Guide to the Bible" [Relevant Book] by Jason Boyett.

His summary of the book of Romans is both short and profound. I don't cry. But something about this statement still adds a little moisture to my eyes.

"[Regarding the book of Romans] This is Paul's longest letter, and the crux of his argument is that following the Law is powerless when it comes to salvation. No human is righteous, which sucks. And which also means we can't save ourselves. The only source of salvation? The only rescue from the dregs of sin? The only hope for fallen humanity? It's faith in Jesus Christ." [Emphasis Mine]

Evotional - The History of the Bible

There has never been another book that can compare to the Bible.

Many have tried.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16

shakach (shaw-kakh'); to lay aside, to forget, to take for granted or neglect.

One of the problems with us and the Bible is that concept. We forget about it and for the most part we take it for granted. One of the things that can help us not to neglect the Bible is to understand where it comes from. We have it available and for free. But it has not always been that way.

Here is the history of the Bible.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

History Timeline

• 1400 - 1500 BC: God wrote the 10 Commandments in ancient Hebrew on stone.
• 500 BC: 39 books that make up the Old Testament were completed and preserved in Hebrew on scrolls.
• First Century AD: New Testament had been completed and was preserved in Greek on papyrus.
• 393 AD: Synod of Hippo officially approved the New Testament for the entire Church.
• 500 AD: Bible had been translated into over 500 languages.
• 600 AD: Bible was restricted to only Latin. All other versions were considered illegal.
• 400-1400 AD: Known as the “Dark Ages.”
• 500’s - 1300’s: Secret Bible society made up of the “Culdees” continued to study God’s word.
• 1380: John Wycliffe (often called the Morningstar of the Reformation) translated the Bible into English.
• 1415: John Hus burned at the stake for his stance for the Bible. Wycliffe’s bibles used to start the fire.
• 1517: Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Thesis on the church door at the church in Wittenberg.
• 1526: William Tyndale printed the first English Bible.
• 1536: Tyndale was incarcerated before he was strangled and burned at the stake. Before dying, Tyndale prayed, “Oh Lord, open the King of England’s eyes".
• 1539: King Henry VIII finally allowed (and even funded) the printing of an English Bible.

Do Not Neglect God’s Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-2, 14

The idea of God giving us a record of His character in written form is not a new one. The question is what will we do with it? Not a single one of us will be on the run for a having the Bible in a language we can read. Others who came before us paid the price so that we could be able to have it.

The question is will we shaw-kakh it? Will be neglect God’s Word and the power it can have to change our life?

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Psalms 119:16

You Version - Mobile

Now, you can now access the Bible via your mobile phone at http://m.youversion.com! If you have a web enabled mobile phone, you will be able to read and search The Bible in 14+ translations and much more.

Some of the key features include:

Quick Search including Book, Verse, Keywords/Text.
14+ translations currently including: ASV, AMP, ESV, HCSB, NASB, NCV, NIV, NKJV, TNIV, MSG, WEB, LBLA (Spanish), NBLH (Spanish), RVA (Spanish).
Daily Reading (One Year Bible).
YouVersion.com User contributions attributed to scripture verses including text, links and YouTube mobile video.
List of the 20 most recent user contributions.
Oh, I almost forgot…of course it works on the iPhone

Be sure to check it out using your mobile phone at http://m.youversion.com.

What do I really need?

Matthew 10:7-10

As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

The call to me is still the same. As I go I am to be proclaiming the Kingdom of God through the work of Jesus. Jesus is clear that we are not to get caught up with having stuff, or in trusting in what we have to provide for ourselves. Those who follow Jesus are to trust God to be the one to meet their needs, however it applies in their own life context.

I often try to help out God. I’m not the first though. Back in Genesis Abraham thought that God needed some help in providing him a child. This caused Abraham nothing but trouble. In the same way when I try to give God a hand with my needs more often than not I screw things up. God allows me to partner with Him, but I have to trust Him and let Him do things His way

God help me to trust you! I don’t want to make my own plans because your are better. Guide my path. Amen.

TXT.

I am freakin excited about the start of our new series at illuminate tomorrow - TXT.

Many of us don't really understand why the Bible is unique. Even more don't really understand its capacity to change our lives.

The Bible is the most powerful book ever written. It will rock you. Don't miss out on TXT.

This Thursday night at illuminate.

illuminate.mylfc.com or text "illuminate" to 41411 for our service times and address.

One of the Sick.

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:11-12)

Jesus came for the the sick, the broken, and the sinner. When He was telling this to the Pharisees He also told them to think on the phrase “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” The heart of God is not in those who give things up for God, but for those who have mercy on other people. Jesus came to have mercy on a broken humanity.

It is easy for me to look at a verse like this one and think: “Yes I need to have mercy on those poor sinful people.” The truth is, when I really look at myself, that I am one of the sick. Jesus came to be my doctor because I could not heal myself.

Today I’m just glad for that.

God thank you that You loved me enough to send your Son because I was sick and broken. Although I don’t deserve Your mercy, You gave anyway. Help me to have the same attitude.

Making a Statement.

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-5

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ “^[a]

4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Observation:

I love John the Baptist. The guy knew what he was doing, he was no fool. John came from a family that was the priests of Israel, they were the ones who performed the sacrifices in the temple that provided the people with forgiveness from their sins.

When John, who was from a priestly family, when into the wilderness and began to baptize people for forgiveness he was intentionally providing an alternative to the temple. He was making a statement to the corrupt people running the temple that God was providing a new means of forgiveness. He came to lay the groundwork for the coming of Jesus.

Application:

We have to be ready when God wants to do a new thing in our lives. In Johns day many could not accept the idea that God would get rid of His temple and the system of animal sacrifice for forgiving sin. Today often we set up our own holy traditions that have little to do with the Word of God. It could be a style of clothing we expect to see at church, a certain type of music, or the color of the paint on the walls but it all is Biblically irrelevant. It could be a habit that we don’t want to give up, even one that is not forbidden in the Bible, that distracts us from following God. If we put anything before God, it is an idol, and eventually God will want us to deal with it and get rid of it. When God wants us to change, we need to be ready to change.

Prayer:

God help me to be a part of what you are doing in my life today. Help me to see what you are doing and to accept it and move with your Spirit. Amen.

How to be Rich.

Not to toot my own horn, but the next series at illuminate is one not to miss. How to be Rich - Finances from God's point of view.

Check out the teaser:

Walking in the Spirit.

Scripture:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:16 TNIV)

Obsveration:

This scripture is pretty clear. We are called to walk (an action!) by the Spirit of God that was put in us when we said Yes to Jesus. If we walk in that Spirit then we will not give in to our old nature that wants to sin.

Application:

I can choose with every decision if I will walk in my old man or walk in the Spirit. My ability to make that choice seems to be influenced by other choices I have made that day. Did I read my Bible? Pray? Journal? When I am making the first choice to develop my relationship with God through spiritual disciplines (and it’s no coincidence that discipline looks like disciple) then I am more likely to choose to walk in the spirit when an opportunity to sin occurs.

Prayer:

Lord, today help me to walk in your Spirit. Help me to make right choices so that I will honor Your name in all I do. Amen.

Bind Them on Your Foreheads.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^[a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6)

Today is the day to love God with everything that I have. Every day after this is that day as well.

I love that right in with God telling us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is that His commandments are to be “on our hearts.” Although God loves us and we are forgiven by Christ without any work on our own, if we really love Him it will show up in how we act. Just as God commanded the Israelites to put God’s commends on their hands and foreheads I am also to have the way other people see me reflect God’s character.

This passage of scripture begins with us loving God inside ourselves and ends with loving God in ways that show up to the outside world.

How can we live heart first today?

Lacking Nothing

From my Daily Bible Reading.

Scripture -

Psalm 23:1 - The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Observation -

If I keep God as my guide, my direction, and my shepherd then I can know that I will not miss out on having what I need.

Application -

If Jesus is my shepherd then worry is not an option. It is easy for me to look at my situation and worry if the things that I need will be there when I need them. However with God in charge of my life I can know that He has my best in mind and is going to be there and provide for me so I lack nothing.

I will never miss out on a good thing that I need if I follow Jesus’ footsteps.

Prayer -

Lord, help me to follow You today. Be my guide, my shepherd, and I know that You will be the one who will give me today my daily bread. Amen.

Expelled: Everyone should watch this movie.

Expelled. With Ben Stein. (Click Here)

This is gonna be sweet.

Throttle the crap out of it.

Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day." (Luke 9:62 The Message)

This stuck me as the most profound thing that I have read all week. You can't put off God's kingdom till tomorrow. It makes me think of another Bible verse in Joshua... "Choose this day who you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." (Personal Paraphrase)

When we choose our agenda instead of God's kingdom we really choose not to serve the Lord.

I want to put God's Kingdom in my today. I want to seize the day and throttle the crap out of it so that when I go to sleep I know that God is happy with me. I want to go to sleep know that what I did will result in people loving Jesus more or that people will come to say YES to Him for the first time. Even if the result is not instant I want to see it happen out of what I do.

How can we do this consistently? Thats for another day. Peace!

Theme Verse

From Pastor Mark Batterson's blog:

I decided to begin the new year by reading the book of Joshua. And one verse has become a theme verse for this year.

Let me make a confession: I don't feel like I spent enough time in the Word of God this past year. Based on my conversations with other pastors, I think most of us feel like we don't pray enough or read the Bible enough. And as a pastor, Bible study can become a professional endeavor. It is so easy to study the Bible for the wrong reasons. I can study it looking for what God wants to say through me instead of what God wants to do in me.

Joshua 1:7-8 says:

Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.

If I'm reading this right, the key to success is studying the Bible. I know that sounds simplistic. But that is where we draw the strength and courage to do the things that will make us successful. Scripture isn't just inspired. It inspires! It is the source of strength and courage. And success is the byproduct.

Now here is a thought. I don't think the Bible was meant to be read. I think it was meant to be meditated. Meditation is a thoughtful or prayer reading. I came up with this little mantra few years ago: reading without meditating is like eating without digesting. If you don't meditate you lose all of the nutrients.

I'd encourage you to meditate on this verse and the Holy Spirit will inspire you. The end result will be a more intentional and consistent consumption of Scripture. And if you study His word, God promises success.

Here's to a successful 2008.

He came out swinging.

I loved this from Pastor Steven Furtick:

I’m ready to come out swinging.
(That means I’m fired up, and this entry could get ugly.)

The other day, a lady said something to my wife that made me sick to my stomach upon hearing about it. Literally.

She was talking about how she visited Elevation with her family over the summer.
So far, so good…

In fact, she continued, they have visited “just about every church in Charlotte, looking for the church that’s perfect for us.”

Uh oh…
My wife doesn’t have much tolerance for church hopping Southerners.
Neither do I.

Then the woman made one of the most absurd comments I’ve ever heard from a churchgoer, even here in the Bible belt. That’s saying a lot.

“I wanted to let you know that there’s one praise song, I can’t remember the name of it, that ya’ll do better than all of the dozens of churches we’ve been to in our church shopping quest.”

Ma’am, if you’re reading:

Who do you think you are? Simon freakin’ Cowell?
Have you reduced the worship of a holy God to a singing competition?
To see which band can cover Chris Tomlin to your exact standards?

What do you think this is? Shopping mall Christianity?
Like one church is Abercrombie, one is Hollister, and the other is GAP?
Don’t even use the phrase church shopping in my presence.
Jesus bought you with His blood. You don’t get to cheapen that by shopping for the church that perfectly scratches your every itch.

Jesus didn’t die on a brutal cross so we could sample different church varieties like a party platter.
“I go to Church A some weeks, cause I like the music there, but I like the preaching better at Church B, and my kids like Church C, but my friends go to Church D. So I hit ‘em all.”

This is madness. It makes God sick. And it makes you a spiritual bastard.

The Church is the bride of Christ.
Quit sleeping around and pimping her out to satisfy your own personal preferences.

The church is a battleship, not a cruise ship.
Pastors and leaders are generals to equip you for battle in the trenches, not cruise directors to make your stay more enjoyable on the Lido deck.

To all of you who are currently searching for a church to belong to, that’s cool.
Sometimes it takes time. And you should take your time making such an important decision.

But how about adjusting your criteria for church selection to reflect the will of God more than your likes and dislikes?

How about praying: “God where can you best use me?” instead of asking “What’s in it for me and my kids?”

How about considering where you can best accomplish the mission of the Son of God:
Seeking and saving what is lost.
Building the Kingdom.

Not protecting your pet doctrine, singing your favorite song, or sitting in your reserved seat.

If this entry ticked you off, it’s probably because you’re guilty and God is convicting you.

If you’ve been attending Elevation for a while, and are a Christian who is already going to heaven, and are treating our church like American Idol, waiting to decide whether you will vote us in for another week based on whether you like the show this Sunday, please find somewhere else to take up space.

We need your seat.

Otherwise, roll up your sleeves, invite your unchurched friends, plug in as a volunteer, give financially, pray for God’s continued favor, and let’s rock this city.