Confidence- a meditation

This is a dramatic (though slightly stuffy) reading of Psalm 27.

1. You can read along or just listen.
2. Afterwards, take a few minutes to ask God to help you focus your thoughts on the truth of this Psalm.
3. Let this Psalm come back to your remembrance throughout the day as you face your day. Blessings!

May God help you put your confidence in Him and his unfailing love…

Smash Lies (2)

I thought this song by Matisyahu was relevant to the last post. It has the song and lyrics.

We cannot afford to buy lies of our soul. Instead we must smash them through believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“There is no need to feed on the scraps of the Enemy.”

This is a live version I threw on here for fun.

Smash Lies

I am not one of those types that sees stuff in his life that he would like to change and complains about it. I want to change it when I discover it and I want to change it by yesterday. That’s just me.

What I find intriguing and wonderful about Christianity is that God wants to change us at a core level; a heart level. What that means is that when we find something in our being that we despise and want to change, we can be certain that God wants to change it also.

The implication of that is wonderful and frightening at the same time. We can be sure that God desires what we are desiring- change us. It’s wonderful because we can be certain that change will happen. It’s not like wishing for a new car or something.  Yet it’s frightening because we will be different. God will actually listen to those prayers. God will actually move in our life to change us. Wow!

For the Christian, soul change is both desirable and inevitable.

I think the first step in changing is so simple that I often bypass it; I need to ask God to reveal the things in my life that he wants to change. I pray that the Lord will reveal my false gods/idols that I secretly worship instead of Him.

I am presently reading a great book on spiritual transformation called, “You Can Change” by Tim Chester. It is a short book but his theory on how people change through believing the Gospel is really challenging me to think in different categories. More specifically, his theory has radically changed how I understand negative emotions and sinful behavior in my own life. Here is just a small portion of it:

“Sinful actions always have their origin in some form of unbelief. Behind every sin is a lie. The root of all our behavior and emotions is the heart- what it trusts and what it treasures…This is a radical view of sin. It means that many of our negative emotions are sinful because they are symptoms of unbelief- the greatest sin and root of sin.”

This is a radically different way to look at my struggles, temptations, and negative emotions. Behind every sin is a lie I am believing (whether I love it, or fear it). I trust a false promise instead of the promise held out for me in the Gospel through the Scriptures.

For example:

I lie (a.k.a. hide my real opinion about something) because I want that person to like me or think highly of me. The lie I am believing: that person’s approval of me will make me feel good. I will be “somebody” if they sign off on me/my opinion. Conversely, I will not be accepted by them and consequently be a “nobody” if they don’t like what I have to say.

This is god-like power I am infusing into that person and the “lie of approval”. In that moment, I am trusting the lie over the truth of Scripture. My heart is treasuring their approval over God’s approval through Jesus Christ. This is a sin. This also has very negative consequences on my life.

This applies to most everything we deal with if you think about it: Some depressions, adultery, drugs, work-aholism, pursuit of money or power, inability to commit, rage. So how do we change, assuming we have come to a place where we desire that? Here is what I have come up so far (I am only half-way through the book).

1. We ask God to show us the idols we worship/treasure in our heart.
2. We find out what is the lie they are telling us.
3. We address the lie with the truth of Scripture

Behind every sin is a lie we are loving or fearing.

I don’t want my heart to be a safe haven for sin. I do not want to make allowances for it in my life. I do not want to keep it in check. I want it to die! I don’t want to make peace with sin. I want to make war with it because it is making war with me and wants to celebrate my ruin.

May God give me the courage to face my idols. May God smash them all and make me more like Jesus. Lord, help this hypocritical sinner trust in you above all things. I want to despise what you despise. I want to not tolerate what you do not tolerate. I want to love what you love. I want to trust what you say. Help me do all that I want! Remind me of your grace and forgiveness through it all. Amen.

Three Inconvenient Conversations

Today is my day of the week to go to a coffee shop near downtown for a couple of hours and read, write, and listen. When I woke up the rain was pouring down and the sky was dark- perfect weather for hunkering down with a warm cup of coffee and writing. It was going to be the perfect morning; timed to precision, full of purpose and meaning.

I had plans.

I was going to read through on of my books, reflect on it, and write a blog post. Have a creative outlet. Maybe get to some scripture, do the email thing, and break for lunch.

God had other plans.

I had three long and significantly transparent conversations today with three different people in different stages of life. I have so much to consider and reflect on. So much more than if I had read my book.

One conversation was with a young man enrolled in a college in town. He was just starting out. He was talking about a class that just light up his passions, and we chopped it up a little. One conversation was with a young man (but a little older) who graduated college a year ago. We talked about his time in Kazakhstan and his passion to reach Muslims with the Gospel. He was a psychology major but not sure what he was supposed to do with his life since graduation. And one conversation was with a married man in his thirties who was a church planter. We talked about the mission of the church and being in our communities where we could actually get to know the people we are trying to serve. It was great listening especially to the younger two as they talked about their view of the Church and their take on things. I wish we could have talked even longer actually.

I have been praying and waiting for a day like today for a long time. In fact this is why I come here once a week!- to be present for these moments. I want to be available to have these kinds of connections with people so that I might get to know the people in my city. I don’t want to be one of those pastors that is so consumed with the tasks of taking care of the “flock” that he doesn’t have time to be around others him that aren’t a part of his church.

I realized afresh today that I learn so much by listening.

My hunches are confirmed. My misinformation is corrected. My assumptions are challenged. My beliefs are sharpened. God speaks. All by submitting my schedule to God’s Spirit and taking time to simply listen.

My heart is to empower young adults to lead the Church. I want them to feel like they have a voice in a community that they often feel like they don’t. I want them to move from complaining about the Church to being part of the change they want to see. God wants to use them right now. Most importantly, I want to see Twenties absolutely enamored with how glorious God actually is- above all glorious things!

I don’t exactly know how to accomplish that, though I have some rough ideas. I know I want to have more conversations with young adults. I also know I want to meet more young adults that want to take up that challenge of being a part of something great called the Church.

I am glad God rescheduled my day and changed my plans so something meaningful could happen. I am praying that he will direct me to those young adults that are truly willing for God to do the same to them.

joy blog #1

JOY part 1

Read Galatians 5:19-26 as a companion to this video meditation. Ask God to reveal himself to you through this Scripture passage.

I was sick when I filmed this so I sound a little stuffy. Ironic circumstance considering I am speaking about the source of joy. Hope this helps you guys on your journey, and I hope this helps you “fan the flame of God” in your heart.

Peace and Joy

chad

I go to the Rock

2 Samuel 22:1-4

1 And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said,

“The LORD is my Rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

3 my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold and my refuge,

my savior; you save me from violence.

4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved from my enemies.

God is described in many ways with a diversity of titles in the Bible. Each title is descriptive of one aspect of this God. There is no one title or name that completely describes our God. It requires many names/titles to understand Him, which is part of the beauty of our God.

But through these titles/names of God, we are allowed to focus on a particular attribute or quality of our God. This has a transformative effect on the soul that will meditate on it. One name/title of God that spoke to me this morning on my way into church was “the Rock”. Hope my morning musing is encouraging to you…

God is my Rock.

He is strong and powerful. He can weather any beating rain or storm. He is not overcome by anyone or anything. He is a Rock. God does not run from his enemies. His enemies run from Him.

God is my Rock.

Like a cave or a stronghold. A cave was something warriors hid in for safety from enemies or rest from a long battle because it was secure. A readily available fortress that bring peace. I can find safety in God. I can find rest from my running in God. I can find peace from my battles in God. He is my Rock.

God is my Rock.

Unlike sand and mud and dirt, rock is gives someone firm footing and a sure foot hold. You will not slip if you are standing on the rock. You will not sink into the earth if you are standing on the rock.

God is my Rock.

Mountains are made out of rock that is jutting out of the earth. Majestic. High above the earth. Beautiful. Huge. What better descriptions of our God. He is like a mountain. I can put my trust in Him with my whole-heart!

Where do I go when I need shelter? To the Rock.

Where do I go when no one will listen? To the Rock.

Where do I go when I have blown it? To the Rock.

Where do I go when the wind of sorrows blow into my home? To the Rock.

Where do I go when I am slipping in sin? To the Rock!

“The Lord is my Rock and my salvation”, said David. Whatever your problem; Whatever the decision you are faced with today; Whatever you are assailed with this moment. Go to the Rock.

Let God fill you will His joy as your mind meditates on this truth today:

God is my Rock

Bling you’ve never seen

There is a struggle that I have. I think it is common to all Christians actually, we just don’t talk about it. I want the things of this world at times: security, happiness, good health, maybe bigger pecs. Yet deeper inside of me I long for the things of God.

I am finding that the things of God are uncommon. What I mean is that they are not readily available. They are holy and perfect and pure. They cannot be purchased at Kum and Go on your way home from work. The things of God are not around every corner. God is. His presence and authority is over all the earth. You can find him everywhere because he has made himself easy to be found.

The “things of God” are not readily available. They are to be sought after and found because they are rare by definition

I am talking about the things that come from God as he is the source. Things that come from a life following God, listening to God, worshiping God, knowing God, and obeying God. That produces something in a person. The bible calls it spiritual “fruit”.

This is not readily available.

I think we would rather it was. We would rather give up 6 bucks, consume a little of God to get us to the next day and continue on our way. After all 6 bucks isn’t much of a sacrifice for a little bit o’ God in my life, right?

I am finding something else is true in life. The world in which we live does not value the things of God. It values freedom from commitment, autonomy, happiness, money, sex, impressive resumes, big gains, good music, and did I mention freedom from commitment yet?

The things of God come slowly and incrementally. The things of God have no value on the market, but they are of great value to the individual that possesses them. The things of God undermine the things of this world and are considered foolishness and laughable.

But here is what I am finding.

The things of this world really are passing away. They really are transitory and not to be trusted. Jesus said that a long time ago and I am finding that he is actually telling the truth. The only things that last for the long run are the things of God; those uncommon and “ridiculous” things that only God can give a soul: love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

But I am more and more valuing the these things. And as I do I feel the pressure to change my mind, even from “Christians”; to value other things that are more tangible or readily available or able to boast about (after all, you can only brag about what you measure right).

I want the deeper things of God no matter the cost. I hope that I will not change my mind. I hope that I will not give up.

Don’t Waste Your Cancer

I saw this on a theological blog today and it inspired me as I am slowly continuing my study on suffering and joy for the Christian.

I wanted to share it with you all. Hope it bothers you and inspires you.

-chad

joy

Necessity of Joy

It is funny how you can go through you life day after day and not be aware of the obvious. It may be obvious to others but is shielded in some way to your eyes.

I was listening to an interview of a well known pastor and he began to speak about joy. What it was and how important it is to our growth in Christ. Instantly I was struck by how much I neglect joy in the Christian life. The word hasn’t been in my vocabulary for months! Why is that?

It seems to me that joy is a necessary by-product of faithfully following Jesus, not an optional blessing. Prior to (in God’s sovereignty) and since my dear friends death, I had been studying suffering. I firmly believe that people (especially young people) are woefully ill-prepared to suffer well. I have been on a quest to get a “theology of suffering” not only so I can be better equipped, but so I can equip others.

It wasn’t until recently that I was hit with the connection between suffering well and being filled with joy. As the Bible says, “the joy of the Lord is our strength”.

What is the difference between joy and happiness? How does someone attain joy or become “filled with joy?” Does the Bible tell us a definition of joy? Why is joy a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

These are questions I have as I attempt to study joy and suffering. My hunch is that joy is what empowers us to suffer well. If that is true (whatever joy means) then joy must be a NECESSARY mark of someone following Christ.

I am finding Joy a fascinating lens to look at life through and by which to measure life. I have never thought about life in this way before…I hope I will have the time as summer approaches to do a good study on this topic.

Thoughts anyone?

Thinking Philosophically

Those that claim to hold to the atheist world-view must accept that atheism offers no ultimate hope to humanity. I found this passage from renowned atheist Bertrand Russell quite telling. It is from his book “A Free Man’s Worship”:

“That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his love and beliefs, are but the outcomes of accidental collocations of atoms, that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve individual life beyond the grave;

that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins- all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand.

Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be safely built.” (emphasis mine)

There is no ultimate/final “good news” to atheism if its claims are true, and any claims to the contrary are disingenuous.

Humor

I walked outside and thought to myself: “Man, the sky looks bluer, the grass looks greener, the clouds look whiter. What a great day!”

Then I realized I was wearing polarized sunglasses…

A Prayer of James

James 1:2-4

“2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

A prayer for when we are in a trial of faith:

“Dear Lord, please let it have it’s full effect in me so my faith can be strengthened, and so I can endure”.