What Do You Look For?

Do we look for good or bad?

Lots of people complain about everything. Why do we always look for the downside of everything? Waiting patiently for the other shoe to drop.

Is it human nature or a choice?

I submit that it is our choices that define us.
Do I choose to be a jerk or a nice guy? Will I yell at someone today because the world has not aligned to secure my ultimate desires and happiness? I think it is about character.
I do admit that life does suck on a regular basis. Dealing us severe blows and chipping away at what we are. But, it how we respond to this that defines who we are. Will I overcome or become a casualty of life? Will I live in self-pity?

When you go to restaurant and your food comes out incorrectly do you:
a. Yell at the server
b. Act totally irritated and leave no tip
c. Ask for some to complain to
d. Just be nice and deal

This a small thing. If we cannot deal with the little things in life what hapens when the big things come up? We justify our actions. Customer service, I am paying I want what I want. Well, that is the issue. We are selfish and want what we want, NOW.
No one can judge your motives but you. However, I say lets all lighten up and I think the world will be a better place to be.

What matters? That is the question we all need to ask ourselves.

It is a matter of character. The long term impact of our lives to change the world is at stake. We impact people through relationships. We cannot make a difference if we don't think about other people first. If we are so wrapped up in the condition of what we want we will miss the needss of those around us. What is going on in the life of the waitress? She may be deep in life's pain and we act like our steak matters.
Think about a time someone said something ugly in passing. We may never see someone again but we all remember a time when this happened and it stung! Our words and actions matter!!!!

We are to be The Light of The World.

Are you a light radiating love or a black hole sucking life from all those around you?

Isolated or Insulated?

To what end are we different than the world and how are we isolated from it.
How should we be?
(We is followers of The Way)

I will start with differences:

1. We have a dress code for our gatherings. (Not just dressed up, But down as well)
2. A secret language and vocabulary many of US don't understand
3. A bizarre mix of ritual and traditions
4. A somewhat rocky reputation for judgementalism
   

OK here are the good differences:

1. Peace
   
2. Joy
   
3. Faith in something bigger than ourselves
4. HOPE

"Be in the world not of the world"

If we are not IN the world we cannot show the world the love of God. If we are shut up in the church building how can we be the light of the world?

Can we reach people were we are or do we actively seek out those who have not heard the good news?

Now there is a place for what happens in the church building. The church building is a practice facility. God gave us an organization dedicated to equipping His followers to accomplish His tasks. That is the church. The church building is also a gathering place for celebrating what God has done and is going to do in our lives and corporate history (worship). And finally it is a harbor of safety dedicated to helping His followers repair and recharge our spiritual batteries and also to seek corporate wisdom and prayer for issues or concerns.

So, what am I saying, is well GO!!!!

Matthew 28
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus could have founded Nazareth Community Church "The place where the Messiah Hangs"
But, he choose to go and show the disciples how ministry is to be done. And alot of that ministry was done on the way. He went out then commanded us to do the same. He knew that living the message was better than just saying it!

Now the next question is How should we be?

Truth in Love, and Serve in Love.

Truth in Love. We have to tell people the truth.

The facts are if you have not declared Jesus to be LORD of your life then when you die you will be eternally separated from God in a place called Hell.

When we love people we need to realize that relationships are not a just a means of reaching people. We are suppose to serve and love those around us. If we do these things opportunities will appear to explain why we love people. We love people because our God loves people. We serve people because we are commanded to by the example of Christ. We are not called to be the moral police to the non-follower (We are to be the accountable to each other as followers). We are called to tell them the truth in love. That God so loved the world He sent His own son to die that we could have HOPE of a eternal relationship with Him. Hope is what we should be to the God-less world.

My Perfect Church

• Loves God
  
• Worships God
  
• Loves People
• Serves People

God's church should serve Him by serving people in His name as His hands for His Glory.

24-Hours of Worship

My church is embarking on a unique (to us) time of worship on April 26th, 2008 at 12 noon. To prepare our hearts and the spiritual soil for a revival, we are having a 24-hour worship service. The service is broken down into 48 30min segments of prayer, musical worship, scripture and teaching. I would like to ask 2 things: please pray the church has a reviving experience, that we see God in a new way, remember what He has done in us and that he reveals His will for the future. Second, join us if you can. It will be a lot of coming and going (very few are planning to stay for the whole 24 hours).

I know there are a lot of boundaries that we followers of Christ have put up between ourselves in regards to churches and worship and alot of things that don't matter all that much. So, lets look for Gods will together. Thanks for your prayers in advance.

So, below is the schedule and address

First Baptist Church, 308 East Broadway, Gainesville, Texas, 76240

Are you real? (copy off of my Myspace)

Can you let others see the real you? As I finish up the book Shattered Dreams by Larry Crabb I have been really rocked by this question. Am I real to anyone? Do I let the world see me. I mean God made me the way I am (goofy, wierd, funny, introspective, deep, random, A.D.D., witty;).
I had lunch with a good friend/mentor the other day and we were talking about being real. I told him I was thinking of doing a personal study about how honest and real some of the new testament figures were. Guys like Paul and Peter. Well, we talked about how Jesus asked Peter "Do you love (agapao) me" and Peter said "yes Lord I love (phileo) you" Well, Jesus asked do you love me with the highest love and Peter said I love you like a brother. Again Jesus asked and then got the same answer again. Then Jesus switches to Peter’s word for love. Peter is hurt but understands that Jesus is restoring him but he needed to become humble to truly serve in the Kingdom. Peter had finaly learned to quit saying what he thought Jesus wanted to hear or what made him look good, but to say the truth. It was then that Jesus said "Then feed my sheep". He could use the humble and real Peter. Not only that but he called him out to be shepard.
Can we really love people and really care about them if we so busy covering up our weakness. I don’t know what the answers are, I just don’t want to go back to being what people expect instead of who I am. I want to be useful, not looking like I have it together.

I Will Surrender

I have always been convinced that God wishes for obedience more than success. He wishes for us to seek Him and not His workings. Let me explain. Many times we seek God for what he can do and don't trust that in the unseen dark of night He watches us but, many times for our own good He allows us to wallow in our messes or the messes of others because at that point we are forced to deal with our baggage. Those things we hid and somehow think that God Himself doesn't see. Well, like a good parent He makes that tough decision to force us to confront ourself. How scary is that? Well, the good news is God promises us He " will never leave you nor forsake you" and that He "...prepares a place for us that where He is we maybe also" There is a time and place coming where we will no longer have sadness or pain or sickness. Take heart for the believer is set free here as well. Not that life will be perfect but, we "do not live as those with no hope". We have hope in Him. How? Seek Him. That's all He asks. Not seek Him and a nice family, a happy marriage, a job you like. Seek Him. There will be hard times and pain. Seek Him. He provides for His children. Seek Him and everything else will seem to be secondary.

On this note here are some new lyrics God walloped me with:

Over time my faith has strayed, to look to see your face.
What I felt was pain and loss and empty space.
I will surrender to find the higher way
to see your purpose clear.

I choose You, to trust in Your way.
I choose You, not knowing where it ends
I choose You, because my soul longs to,
I choose You

Beyond the valley, I see the pathway clear.
In the midst of the unseen, your words are all I hear.
I will surrender, to find the higher way
to see your purpose clear.

I choose You, to trust in Your way.
I choose You, not knowing where it ends
I choose You, because my soul longs to,
I choose You

I will surrender everything so dear, to find the higher way
to see your purpose clear, to end the this cycle here.
copyright 2008 SMR

Where is the Pepto?

Well, it has happened. My little girl is turning 4 and on Saturday she is going to be in a fashion show. I know the nerves and nausea will pass but, I mean can she really be ready for all of this ? She is just a little girl (a cute, smart, funny, talented, talkative, dramatic little girl). I suspect this is the first of many moments were I wake up in a dead sweat because of this type of thing. I also guess I am in for a long life (seeming long, not age) with 2 others quickly growing in stature. I suppose maybe I just need to enter a time of prayer for my nerves and avoid Mexican food for the nausea. However, I would prefer that my little girls stay cute and tiny, loving me more than anyone else (don't tell their mother). This really has nothing to do with anything, but if I can't write my randomness down here then where?

Deadlines

I always find it totally funny how we live our lives by deadlines and timelines. I have traveled the world, most recently to Paris , Fr. Well, they take it pretty easy, I mean except for the bus system (which we got stranded by twice) and these wicked fast train doors that nearly ripped off one our our group members buttocks). They enjoy socializing and community building with friends. They walk everywhere. They take two hours to eat dinner. I would weigh 675.23pds if I ate for two hours each night. Although the Chocolate mousse was spectacular! I am not even going to talk about Latin America were the services that are supposed to start at 7:00 kick off at 8:15. I start a worship every Sunday at 8:31 am then 2.5 min of music, then 2 min of welcome, then 15 min of worship, 4 min for an offering, then 4.3 min for a solo, the preacher preaches for 31 min, then we have an alter call were the Holy Spirit can move for no longer than 3.5 min or we will get off of schedule. I understand being good stewards of time, but AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Well, all this leads me to a point. We live by arbitrary deadlines set to allow people (Ourselves) control over our lives and maybe even to box God in a little. I have been thinking how many times did the Bible say Jesus did something great ON THE WAY.
If we are so busy getting there how can we enjoy our journey? If we are so busy doing how can we enjoy the blessings of God? Why, as ironic as it sounds, do I have to go and finish a worship service order before my assistant bugs me to death?