I am working with a group called Global Media Outreach which trains on-line missionaries to mentor new believers and to respond to seekers via the Internet around the world. You can learn more about them at GMO.http://www.globalmediaoutreach.com
This is the story of one of those "missionaries" who is an inspiration to us all.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
WANTING SOMETHING MORE
More thoughts from Soul Pastor.
Churchill longed for a day of justice and freedom, when people play fair and love one another, he described the relational world Jesus said we should long for...and pray for. Churchill called for "courageous and indefatigable effort." Until then, he eloquently proclaimed, we must never give up.
Winston Churchill said, "The day may dawn when fair play, love for one's fellow men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth serene and triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair."
Churchill longed for a day of justice and freedom, when people play fair and love one another, he described the relational world Jesus said we should long for...and pray for. Churchill called for "courageous and indefatigable effort." Until then, he eloquently proclaimed, we must never give up.
Until God's "kingdom comes" and His "will is done," we long for it; the question is, "Do I want it enough? Do I want it so much that I won't flinch, weary, despair or quit? Those are just some of the questions now churning inside of me.
Galatians 6:2-10 says "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
WHOOPS!
This comes from a blogger SoulPastor. What are your thoughts?
Are there mistakes that you cannot recover from? Below is a post from another blog and I am interested in your thoughts…The author first defines that there is a difference between mistakes of competency and mistakes of character. Mistakes of competency is something that we all can recover from. It is like learning to ride a bike…you will fall, but eventually you will get it right. The authors then goes on to add that one of the greatest problems with mistakes of character is that the pain and aggravation of them usually lies on the surface of emotion or gets deflected over to another person or group, and never really sinks deep into the soul where ultimate change can take place. He goes one to push that idea a little further, and here are five mistakes that he feels that one cannot recover:
Adultery. Adultery is rampant in our culture. Ask people like Tiger Woods and the results displayed in his life. Ask politicians. Famous people just like ordinary people cannot escape the nuclear fallout that arises from adultery. Adultery is the ultimate betrayal. It bares naked the soul. It is narcissistic, wounded, and can’t be trusted. Adultery is expensive both in monetary terms and its relational fallout. Avoid it like you would the plague.
Pride. Pride is that inner drive that causes us to act against our own self-interest, even when everyone else can see it. Pride is lifting oneself up to a place which is not earned and cannot be sustained. Pride is so painful because it makes the bearer blind and deaf. It’s like walking toward a cliff. Everyone can see you’re near the end but you.
Resentment. You might say, “Yeah, resentment can be recovered from.” Yes, I would agree. But too many times it’s not. Resentment is bitterness that’s taken hold deep down in the soul and it poisons the well of everything you try to do. It blocks the free flow of life because unforgiveness cuts you off, not only from God, but from everyone else.
Laziness. Laziness can’t be recovered from because it wastes away the capital of life. It has no motivation or drive except that which comes from fear. And when you’re driven by fear, you’re being manipulated. Laziness discounts life as cheap, and people as something to be avoided.
Assumptions. Of all of these, assumptions are probably the most deadly. Let’s say that you are a middle-aged man and you eat like you are a teenager. You fail to exercise because you’re too busy and you don’t have time. You wake up at 42 and have a massive heart attack. Triple bypass surgery and a for sure shortened life is now yours because you, as so many others do, assumed that you’d live forever and that you wouldn’t have to take care of your body because you’ve always been able to abuse it.
Assumptions are also deadly in marriage: assuming she’ll always be home because she’s always been home, that she’ll take care of the kids, and that she’ll always think you are her hero. It leads to neglect which a lot of people do after you get distanced. Communication dries up and all of a sudden you wake up and you don’t care anymore. Assumptions in business, in life, and in relationships are all deadly and you need to avoid them at all costs.
What’s the antidote to all five of these? Gratitude, humility, and joy of work. Those simple things can get you up every day, remind you that life is a gift, that while you are not everything, you are something, and while you can’t do everything, you can do your thing
Are there mistakes that you cannot recover from? Below is a post from another blog and I am interested in your thoughts…The author first defines that there is a difference between mistakes of competency and mistakes of character. Mistakes of competency is something that we all can recover from. It is like learning to ride a bike…you will fall, but eventually you will get it right. The authors then goes on to add that one of the greatest problems with mistakes of character is that the pain and aggravation of them usually lies on the surface of emotion or gets deflected over to another person or group, and never really sinks deep into the soul where ultimate change can take place. He goes one to push that idea a little further, and here are five mistakes that he feels that one cannot recover:
Adultery. Adultery is rampant in our culture. Ask people like Tiger Woods and the results displayed in his life. Ask politicians. Famous people just like ordinary people cannot escape the nuclear fallout that arises from adultery. Adultery is the ultimate betrayal. It bares naked the soul. It is narcissistic, wounded, and can’t be trusted. Adultery is expensive both in monetary terms and its relational fallout. Avoid it like you would the plague.
Pride. Pride is that inner drive that causes us to act against our own self-interest, even when everyone else can see it. Pride is lifting oneself up to a place which is not earned and cannot be sustained. Pride is so painful because it makes the bearer blind and deaf. It’s like walking toward a cliff. Everyone can see you’re near the end but you.
Resentment. You might say, “Yeah, resentment can be recovered from.” Yes, I would agree. But too many times it’s not. Resentment is bitterness that’s taken hold deep down in the soul and it poisons the well of everything you try to do. It blocks the free flow of life because unforgiveness cuts you off, not only from God, but from everyone else.
Laziness. Laziness can’t be recovered from because it wastes away the capital of life. It has no motivation or drive except that which comes from fear. And when you’re driven by fear, you’re being manipulated. Laziness discounts life as cheap, and people as something to be avoided.
Assumptions. Of all of these, assumptions are probably the most deadly. Let’s say that you are a middle-aged man and you eat like you are a teenager. You fail to exercise because you’re too busy and you don’t have time. You wake up at 42 and have a massive heart attack. Triple bypass surgery and a for sure shortened life is now yours because you, as so many others do, assumed that you’d live forever and that you wouldn’t have to take care of your body because you’ve always been able to abuse it.
Assumptions are also deadly in marriage: assuming she’ll always be home because she’s always been home, that she’ll take care of the kids, and that she’ll always think you are her hero. It leads to neglect which a lot of people do after you get distanced. Communication dries up and all of a sudden you wake up and you don’t care anymore. Assumptions in business, in life, and in relationships are all deadly and you need to avoid them at all costs.
What’s the antidote to all five of these? Gratitude, humility, and joy of work. Those simple things can get you up every day, remind you that life is a gift, that while you are not everything, you are something, and while you can’t do everything, you can do your thing
TIM KELLER ON SIN
One of the blogs I frequent is called SHE WORSHIPS. It is written by Sharon. Her post yesterday was a wonderful explanation of a much misunderstood doctrine. Her questions and conclusions are well worth our examination.-Steve
One of the things that God has really been teaching me lately is what it means that I’m a sinner. Now before you roll your eyes and think, “Oh here’s another goody-goody Christian who’s pretending to be humble because it’s what good Christians do,” just hear me out.
First off, this isn’t about self-deprecation or making myself feel unnecessarily guilty. I don’t like that I screw up and I want to do better, but I don’t beat myself up about it either. In fact, the more I understand how broken I am, there’s an extent to which I actually feel less guilty. I know that sounds strange, but seeing myself as a sinner helps me to understand why I do the things I do. The concept of sin gives me a lens for interpreting my actions. It is the reason why it’s so hard for me to do and say the right things.
And when I understand sin this way, the result is not guilt–it’s relief. When I truly understand the degree of my brokenness and how helpless I am apart from God, I can stop putting unrealistic expectations on myself to be my own savior. I can cease striving and simply rest in the work of Jesus’ perfect salvation. Understanding my sin therefore frees me from the rat-race of self-righteousness and compels me to cast myself upon God’s mercy. It’s not that holiness is no longer important, but that holiness isn’t possible on my own. I am utterly dependent on God for transformation. And what a relief that knowledge is!
In the midst of learning more about what it means to be a broken, helpless sinner, I came upon a challenging passage from Tim Keller’s book Prodigal God that has deepened my understanding of sin all the more. Keller writes,
In the past, I interpreted the above Scripture to mean that our good works are “rubbish” because they can’t earn our salvation. Our good works are ultimately worthless currency in God’s economy. I still believe that is true, yet Keller’s words also offer a fresh new insight. As Keller explains above, Paul’s good works were rubbish because the same motivation that drove his sin was also driving his good deeds.
Even when you’re trying to do the right thing, sin is always crouching at your door. That is not to say that you are incapable of good things–you are, after all, made in God’s glorious image, and God gives us grace to overcome our sin. However, Keller’s words reveal how profoundly broken we are. Sin is not occasional disobedience but a completely wrong orientation of the soul. As long as we live on this earth, we will struggle against our fallen nature in ways that we will probably never even comprehend. Every day I feel like God reveals new ways that I would be hopeless apart from Him. Seriously, in every possible aspect of my life I NEED GOD’S GRACE!
Some Christians (particularly Calvinists) refer to this as the doctrine of Total Depravity. If you ever run across this term, what I have just described is a helpful way of thinking about it. We are helpless apart from God’s intervening grace in our lives. We need Him to rescue us.
Yet this doctrine is not as depressing as it sounds. It produces in us gratitude and relief. The more I understand how much I need God, the more I love Him for rescuing me and the more I want to serve Him. And when I screw up in trying to serve Him, I don’t berate myself for it but instead thank God for His mercy. I then seek to serve Him better in the future because I love Him so much.
This doctrine also produces humility. Not only does it caution me against judging non-Christians (after all, I am not a Christian because of ANYTHING good in me!) but it also gives me a healthy dose of humility in my personal sense of rightness. When it comes to theology and Scriptural interpretation, I tend to be very black and white. It’s my way or the highway. Yet to have such confidence can betray a misunderstanding of the doctrine of Total Depravity. While the Holy Spirit certainly gives us confidence that we can know God and understand His Word, the doctrine of Total Depravity also reminds us that sin can interfere. Even when our motives are correct and we’re implementing all the right exegetical methods, sin is still present and can subtly creep in.
All of that to say, I appreciate Tim Keller’s words because they remind me how profoundly I need God. Even when I try to do good my heart can still be misguided, but thankfully my salvation does not rest upon my goodness. It rests in God’s. I rejoice that I serve a God who died for me and accepted me, knowing full well that I would be a hopeless sinner, but loving me anyway. I hope that as you contemplate your own shortcomings, you will cast down guilt and shame and instead experience the same sense of relief and awe for such a wonderful God!
One of the things that God has really been teaching me lately is what it means that I’m a sinner. Now before you roll your eyes and think, “Oh here’s another goody-goody Christian who’s pretending to be humble because it’s what good Christians do,” just hear me out.
First off, this isn’t about self-deprecation or making myself feel unnecessarily guilty. I don’t like that I screw up and I want to do better, but I don’t beat myself up about it either. In fact, the more I understand how broken I am, there’s an extent to which I actually feel less guilty. I know that sounds strange, but seeing myself as a sinner helps me to understand why I do the things I do. The concept of sin gives me a lens for interpreting my actions. It is the reason why it’s so hard for me to do and say the right things.
And when I understand sin this way, the result is not guilt–it’s relief. When I truly understand the degree of my brokenness and how helpless I am apart from God, I can stop putting unrealistic expectations on myself to be my own savior. I can cease striving and simply rest in the work of Jesus’ perfect salvation. Understanding my sin therefore frees me from the rat-race of self-righteousness and compels me to cast myself upon God’s mercy. It’s not that holiness is no longer important, but that holiness isn’t possible on my own. I am utterly dependent on God for transformation. And what a relief that knowledge is!
In the midst of learning more about what it means to be a broken, helpless sinner, I came upon a challenging passage from Tim Keller’s book Prodigal God that has deepened my understanding of sin all the more. Keller writes,
“To truly become Christian we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right. Pharisees only repent of their sins, but Christians repent for the very roots of their righteousness, to. We must learn how to repent of the sin under all our other sins and under all our righteousness–the sin of seeking to be our own Savior and Lord…It is only when you see the desire to be your own Savior and Lord–lying beneath both your sins and your moral goodness–that you are on the verge of understanding the gospel and becoming a Christian indeed.” (p. 78)Keller’s words may sound familiar. They are an echo of Paul’s words in Philippians 3:7-9: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
In the past, I interpreted the above Scripture to mean that our good works are “rubbish” because they can’t earn our salvation. Our good works are ultimately worthless currency in God’s economy. I still believe that is true, yet Keller’s words also offer a fresh new insight. As Keller explains above, Paul’s good works were rubbish because the same motivation that drove his sin was also driving his good deeds.
Even when you’re trying to do the right thing, sin is always crouching at your door. That is not to say that you are incapable of good things–you are, after all, made in God’s glorious image, and God gives us grace to overcome our sin. However, Keller’s words reveal how profoundly broken we are. Sin is not occasional disobedience but a completely wrong orientation of the soul. As long as we live on this earth, we will struggle against our fallen nature in ways that we will probably never even comprehend. Every day I feel like God reveals new ways that I would be hopeless apart from Him. Seriously, in every possible aspect of my life I NEED GOD’S GRACE!
Some Christians (particularly Calvinists) refer to this as the doctrine of Total Depravity. If you ever run across this term, what I have just described is a helpful way of thinking about it. We are helpless apart from God’s intervening grace in our lives. We need Him to rescue us.
Yet this doctrine is not as depressing as it sounds. It produces in us gratitude and relief. The more I understand how much I need God, the more I love Him for rescuing me and the more I want to serve Him. And when I screw up in trying to serve Him, I don’t berate myself for it but instead thank God for His mercy. I then seek to serve Him better in the future because I love Him so much.
This doctrine also produces humility. Not only does it caution me against judging non-Christians (after all, I am not a Christian because of ANYTHING good in me!) but it also gives me a healthy dose of humility in my personal sense of rightness. When it comes to theology and Scriptural interpretation, I tend to be very black and white. It’s my way or the highway. Yet to have such confidence can betray a misunderstanding of the doctrine of Total Depravity. While the Holy Spirit certainly gives us confidence that we can know God and understand His Word, the doctrine of Total Depravity also reminds us that sin can interfere. Even when our motives are correct and we’re implementing all the right exegetical methods, sin is still present and can subtly creep in.
All of that to say, I appreciate Tim Keller’s words because they remind me how profoundly I need God. Even when I try to do good my heart can still be misguided, but thankfully my salvation does not rest upon my goodness. It rests in God’s. I rejoice that I serve a God who died for me and accepted me, knowing full well that I would be a hopeless sinner, but loving me anyway. I hope that as you contemplate your own shortcomings, you will cast down guilt and shame and instead experience the same sense of relief and awe for such a wonderful God!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
FRANCIS CHAN ON FOLLOWING JESUS
Francis Chan: Following Jesus [VERGE 2010 Main Session] from Verge Network on Vimeo.
This is a long clip, but thought-provoking. I'd be interested in your notes and observations.-Steve
Monday, October 25, 2010
WHAT IS THE JESUS IN YOU GOING TO DO?
'I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.' - Colossians 1:25-27
As human beings we often compartmentalize our lives. We have a family life, a work life, a play life, a thought life. 21st century Americans tend to claim to have a private life and a public one.This fragmentation tends to work directly against the wholeness that God's transforming power is working to achieve.It boils down to the question, "Is Christ divided?"
Paul speaks of a spiritual reality. Christ in us. He is at work in and through us. At all times.
He has chosen us -- He loves us and redeems us and calls us to be his partners in the Gospel.
And Christ is the hope of glory.
That hope is intended to be revealed through our living in the world as the witnesses of Jesus Christ. In all aspects of our lives. When we compartmentalize our lives we dilute this witness because we tend to make Christ Lord only in portions of our lives.
When people encounter you at work ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
When they converse with you at the ballgame ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
When your children sit across from you at the table ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
As human beings we often compartmentalize our lives. We have a family life, a work life, a play life, a thought life. 21st century Americans tend to claim to have a private life and a public one.This fragmentation tends to work directly against the wholeness that God's transforming power is working to achieve.It boils down to the question, "Is Christ divided?"
Paul speaks of a spiritual reality. Christ in us. He is at work in and through us. At all times.
He has chosen us -- He loves us and redeems us and calls us to be his partners in the Gospel.
And Christ is the hope of glory.
That hope is intended to be revealed through our living in the world as the witnesses of Jesus Christ. In all aspects of our lives. When we compartmentalize our lives we dilute this witness because we tend to make Christ Lord only in portions of our lives.
When people encounter you at work ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
When they converse with you at the ballgame ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
When your children sit across from you at the table ... do they see Christ in you, the hope of glory?
Saturday, October 16, 2010
LEARNING FROM MOSES
One of the new blogs I subscribe to is OFF WE GO NOW ... encouragement as you go by Pastor Leonard Lee of Roseville CA. This was yesterday's post.
Off in the distance there was smoke and the smoke piqued his curiosity. So on this day, he made the trek up the side of the mountain to investigate. Getting closer to where the smoke was rising he saw something so strange he had to get a closer look.
Moses had been a shepherd in these hills for 40 years and his once luxurious life in Egypt was all memory. He had killed a man and in the crosshairs of the Pharaoh, he fled. His life was now spent as a son in-law and husband and father and shepherd. All this was about to change.
When Moses got closer he could see the cause of the smoke was a bush that was on fire but it was not the fire that intrigued him, it was the fact that even with the fire the bush was not consumed. As he approached, Moses heard his name. Moses, take off your shoes because the place upon which you are standing is Holy Ground.
Moses is one of my heroes. I used to read his story and think, “Moses must have been great, look what God did with him.” After careful study I discovered that God is great and Moses’ greatness was only a result of being tight with God. In the story of Moses is something for all of us and you can find the rest of the story in Exodus. Here are a few things I love about this story.
I love that God called Moses by name. As Moses got closer, a voice called him by name. This is so cool to me because it means God’s invitation to Moses was personal. When God picks us He does not say… “I’ll take the fat kid with funny hair on the end” God’s invitation to us is personal, He knows us by name, He calls us by name because He loves us.
I love that God did not invite Moses to do something Moses was ready for, but rather something that needed to be done. God’s presence with Moses was what Moses needed more than preparation. In my life this is a reality. “My people are crying and suffering Moses… you go and tell Pharaoh to let them go. I WILL BE WITH YOU…” I am in over my head for 26 hours a day 8 days a week. God’s presence in my life is what keeps me from drowning.
I love that God takes Moses most common tool and He uses it for His purpose. “Moses, what is that in your hand? My shepherds Staff…” For the next 40 years this staff is the tool that God uses to turn the Nile to blood, part the Red Sea, bring water from a rock and a bunch of other amazing miracles What Moses used to care for his sheep, God used to deliver and care for His people. God takes what we have and who we are and does something miraculous with it.
I love that God and Moses built a relationship. When Moses started the journey he was reverent, took off his shoes, hid his face but he still tried to weasel his way out of God’s invitation. Over time, God’s presence with Moses became a genuine love relationship with God. Once Moses told God that if God wasn’t going, he didn’t want to go either. What God wants done God can get done, His power and will do not need me or you. The invitation of our Father in heaven is to relationship and from that relationship come all the significance any one life can handle.
These are a few of my thinking thoughts. Thanks for reading and go check out Exodus 3 and the following chapters. Tell me what you notice. Off… we go now.
Steve again ...
God is great and Moses is great because he is tight with God. Great observation. It's like I often tell people, instead of thinking you have to work for Jesus, let Jesus work in and through you.
Now off you go now and have a great day serving Jesus.
One Of My Heroes!
Off in the distance there was smoke and the smoke piqued his curiosity. So on this day, he made the trek up the side of the mountain to investigate. Getting closer to where the smoke was rising he saw something so strange he had to get a closer look.
Moses had been a shepherd in these hills for 40 years and his once luxurious life in Egypt was all memory. He had killed a man and in the crosshairs of the Pharaoh, he fled. His life was now spent as a son in-law and husband and father and shepherd. All this was about to change.
Moses is one of my heroes. I used to read his story and think, “Moses must have been great, look what God did with him.” After careful study I discovered that God is great and Moses’ greatness was only a result of being tight with God. In the story of Moses is something for all of us and you can find the rest of the story in Exodus. Here are a few things I love about this story.
I love that God called Moses by name. As Moses got closer, a voice called him by name. This is so cool to me because it means God’s invitation to Moses was personal. When God picks us He does not say… “I’ll take the fat kid with funny hair on the end” God’s invitation to us is personal, He knows us by name, He calls us by name because He loves us.
I love that God did not invite Moses to do something Moses was ready for, but rather something that needed to be done. God’s presence with Moses was what Moses needed more than preparation. In my life this is a reality. “My people are crying and suffering Moses… you go and tell Pharaoh to let them go. I WILL BE WITH YOU…” I am in over my head for 26 hours a day 8 days a week. God’s presence in my life is what keeps me from drowning.
I love that God takes Moses most common tool and He uses it for His purpose. “Moses, what is that in your hand? My shepherds Staff…” For the next 40 years this staff is the tool that God uses to turn the Nile to blood, part the Red Sea, bring water from a rock and a bunch of other amazing miracles What Moses used to care for his sheep, God used to deliver and care for His people. God takes what we have and who we are and does something miraculous with it.
I love that God and Moses built a relationship. When Moses started the journey he was reverent, took off his shoes, hid his face but he still tried to weasel his way out of God’s invitation. Over time, God’s presence with Moses became a genuine love relationship with God. Once Moses told God that if God wasn’t going, he didn’t want to go either. What God wants done God can get done, His power and will do not need me or you. The invitation of our Father in heaven is to relationship and from that relationship come all the significance any one life can handle.
These are a few of my thinking thoughts. Thanks for reading and go check out Exodus 3 and the following chapters. Tell me what you notice. Off… we go now.
Steve again ...
God is great and Moses is great because he is tight with God. Great observation. It's like I often tell people, instead of thinking you have to work for Jesus, let Jesus work in and through you.
Now off you go now and have a great day serving Jesus.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
"DUH" MOMENTS WITH GOD
LEONARD I came across this blog called Off We Go Now Encouragement as We Go. Great post on the gospel called "Duh Moments With God." If you like this, go to the link and read more. - Steve
Sometimes I get what I call “Duh Moments.” ”Duh Moments” are what happens when something that should be clear becomes clear and I say “Duh.” I have a lot of these with God so on the anniversary of one full year since I started this blog, I am going to share with you one of my “Duh Moments” with God. The word “Gospel” means good news. The four gospels in the New Testament are the four accounts of the life of Christ and are called gospels because they tell the good news about Jesus. The bible also mentions “The Gospel” and this is the incredibly good news that through faith in Christ we can be forgiven and redeemed.
Today, most church going folks couldn’t tell you what the Gospel is, and for many it is set of facts and information we believe. Get the information right and you are saved… get it wrong and “No Soup for You!”
In Romans 1:16, Paul wrote that he was not ashamed of the Gospel because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone… This verse was always used to get me to be more bold and the leverage word in the verse is the word “ashamed.” It means what we think it means. I have heard a “ton-o-sermons” on this verse and guess what, I always end up feeling ashamed for feeling ashamed… this is certainly the recipe for transformation. (See the post on sarcasm and realize I still need to work on this.)
I heard statements like “what if they die and go to hell and you never told them because you were ashamed of the gospel?” Here is a confession. Shaming me into feeling no shame didn’t really work. Then the “Duh Moment” with God.
I read the rest of the verse and discovered that the reason Paul felt no shame was not about how screwed you are without Jesus but rather because the Gospel is FREEKING AMAZING!!! Duh.
The Gospel is the power of God. So many Christians are looking for the power of God… going to healers, watching Christian television, begging God to do stuff… making deals with God about giving, serving, loving others… just to get some of that God Power working in their direction. But right in front of our faces is this Gospel, this good news and it IS the power of God. It does not contain the power of God, it does not refract, reflect, channel, hold or manipulate the power of God… no it IS THE POWER OF GOD! Duh.
Power for what? Salvation… kind of a big deal, I got now power for that. Transformation… Another big deal, I got no power for that. Cleansing of guilt and shame… I got no power for that. Healing of wounds, broken heartedness, fear, anger, addiction, slavery to sin… I got no power for that. Destroyed marriages, rebellious hearts, wayward kids, hopelessness, discouragement… I got no power for that. But God does and the Gospel IS the power of God. Duh.
So here’s a question; Did you know you had that much power at your disposal? Did you know that in your grasp is the power of God to alter eternity and change lives? Did you know that God has given us access to His life altering, sin forgiving, God reconciling, and heart transforming power? WOW!!! Call the paper, alert the media, send out a press release because that is BIG.
When I focused on the Power of God, the Gospel, I got motivated. No shame needed for removing my shame. I got excited because I have access to the only power that can do what NEEDS to be done in a persons life. I am a steward of this power. Holy Smokes, how cool is that? Now when I read “I am not ashamed of the Gospel” I get excited and say “Duh, who in their right mind would be ashamed of that kind of life changing power!” Thank you Jesus! Off… we go now.
Sometimes I get what I call “Duh Moments.” ”Duh Moments” are what happens when something that should be clear becomes clear and I say “Duh.” I have a lot of these with God so on the anniversary of one full year since I started this blog, I am going to share with you one of my “Duh Moments” with God. The word “Gospel” means good news. The four gospels in the New Testament are the four accounts of the life of Christ and are called gospels because they tell the good news about Jesus. The bible also mentions “The Gospel” and this is the incredibly good news that through faith in Christ we can be forgiven and redeemed.
Today, most church going folks couldn’t tell you what the Gospel is, and for many it is set of facts and information we believe. Get the information right and you are saved… get it wrong and “No Soup for You!”
In Romans 1:16, Paul wrote that he was not ashamed of the Gospel because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone… This verse was always used to get me to be more bold and the leverage word in the verse is the word “ashamed.” It means what we think it means. I have heard a “ton-o-sermons” on this verse and guess what, I always end up feeling ashamed for feeling ashamed… this is certainly the recipe for transformation. (See the post on sarcasm and realize I still need to work on this.)
I heard statements like “what if they die and go to hell and you never told them because you were ashamed of the gospel?” Here is a confession. Shaming me into feeling no shame didn’t really work. Then the “Duh Moment” with God.
I read the rest of the verse and discovered that the reason Paul felt no shame was not about how screwed you are without Jesus but rather because the Gospel is FREEKING AMAZING!!! Duh.
The Gospel is the power of God. So many Christians are looking for the power of God… going to healers, watching Christian television, begging God to do stuff… making deals with God about giving, serving, loving others… just to get some of that God Power working in their direction. But right in front of our faces is this Gospel, this good news and it IS the power of God. It does not contain the power of God, it does not refract, reflect, channel, hold or manipulate the power of God… no it IS THE POWER OF GOD! Duh.
Power for what? Salvation… kind of a big deal, I got now power for that. Transformation… Another big deal, I got no power for that. Cleansing of guilt and shame… I got no power for that. Healing of wounds, broken heartedness, fear, anger, addiction, slavery to sin… I got no power for that. Destroyed marriages, rebellious hearts, wayward kids, hopelessness, discouragement… I got no power for that. But God does and the Gospel IS the power of God. Duh.
So here’s a question; Did you know you had that much power at your disposal? Did you know that in your grasp is the power of God to alter eternity and change lives? Did you know that God has given us access to His life altering, sin forgiving, God reconciling, and heart transforming power? WOW!!! Call the paper, alert the media, send out a press release because that is BIG.
When I focused on the Power of God, the Gospel, I got motivated. No shame needed for removing my shame. I got excited because I have access to the only power that can do what NEEDS to be done in a persons life. I am a steward of this power. Holy Smokes, how cool is that? Now when I read “I am not ashamed of the Gospel” I get excited and say “Duh, who in their right mind would be ashamed of that kind of life changing power!” Thank you Jesus! Off… we go now.
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