Matthew 7:21-23 freaks me out

Have you read this passage lately? Scary. Jesus drops this bomb and doesn't really even explain it. Just says, "Listen when judgement comes some of you are going to think you are in... and your not!" You will say to me, "but we did all kinds of work and drove out demons and taught in your name," but my answer will be, "sorry, get out!". That is some scary teaching from Jesus. I think the part of it that is the most disconcerting is the fact that Jesus never gives the thing to avoid so that this doesn't happen to you. So we are left to assume what might be wrong with someone like this. Maybe it was that their heart wasn't in the right place... that's my guess so far.

That is what I am going to be chewing on for the rest of the day... love to get your thoughts on the passage.

whew... Sunday night mind dump

Today has been a long day but a great day:

This morning-

• accidentally overslept because I turned on alarm 2 instead of alarm 1. Alarm 1 was set for 5:30 alarm 2 was set for 9 am. Woke up at 6:47 AM...
• wanted to prep my half of the morning (E our worship leader and I were tag teaming the worship sermon) turns out the software that we use to time the message malfunctioned and I didnt have nearly the amount of time I thought I was going to have (20 minutes became 10). So it wasnt a big deal that I didnt get to prep the message this morning because I didnt end up using it. God knew that I needed the extra sleep after being up with Savannah almost all night for the last week (she is sick).
• Went no notes for my part of the message today... mostly because I scrapped what I had to say and just tagged on the end of E's message (which was excellent). No notes felt good... really good. I should do that more often - more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
• Worship ROCKED. The band sounded great and were extremely worshipful. E did a great job of leading us to a place of true worship.
• We had a ton of new people. It was all I could do to say hi to several of them. Many of them slipped past me before I was able to say anything at all. Just goes to show you that we all need to be warm and welcoming - trying to connect with anyone that we dont know.
• Our teams are really coming together - the greeters are rocking it out, the communion team is forming up, the hospitality team feels like they have really hit a strong stride, everything feels "tight"
• Erika said goodbye this morning. Bitter sweet. Glad to see that she is following God's calling for her life. Sad to see her go.
• We announced the hire of Patrick Wheeler the new student minister.
• The Next gathering is coming up next Saturday - at the bud building!
• Cant think of anything else because I am so tired.

This afternoon

• Went home after church and grabbed the girls and headed off for Ocean City. We had to pick up G (my grandma, Savannah's great grandma who watches her during the week) who is living with us now! However she retains a residence in Ocean city just incase she gets tired of the wild life we live!
• I was so tired all the way there and back.
• Just got into bed... so sleepy.
• Savannah was amazing as usual all the way there and back she barely cried or fussed. She just sat in her seat singing and laughing and playing - she is the picture of contentment.

okay I am going to bed now.

Genesis 3:4... thoughts on great sex

As I was studying Genesis 3 today I had a thought (obviously not my original) Gen. 3:4 is the lie that Satan used to tempt Adam and Eve into sin. At its core it was a question of the goodness of God, or put another way God's intentions for Adam and Eve. As we are talking about great sex - sex the way God designed it - I would say that each of use is faced with a choice will we believe that God has our best in mind or not.

Not an easy question to answer... I think that most of us would like to think that we assume positive intentions from God, but when the rubber meets the road is that what we really believe? Do we live out our beliefs by obeying God's commands for us? When we read verses like 1 Timothy 5:1-2 which instruct us to be pure with each other... as pure as you would be with your brother or sister. That is pretty darn pure. The question is can we trust God or is God holding out on us? Do we believe what He says in His word that it is better to not have sex before marriage?

Our culture tells us that we cant trust what God says... that God is just a prude. Sounds strangely familiar don't you think?

Tell me your thoughts. Why do you think that God would put such strict "restrictions" on something that we inately desire so strongly? Do you think that God is holding out on us or do you see wisdom in God's restrictions?

Psalm 90 and Brevity

I am currently doing a study on how to use your time effectively. One of the scriptures that was referenced in the study is Psalm 90:10a&12 it reads like this, 

"The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 

Moses wrote those words, probably near the end of his life. They are really convicting to me. It is funny how we avoid thinking about the brevity of life. Yet, when you stop to think about the fact that you are going to die you cannot help but evaluate the way you are currently living. After just a short evaluation here are a few things that I plan on changing about the way I am living:

1. I am going to watch less TV

2. I am going to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier... I work better in the mornings

3. I am going to journal more about what I spent my time on each day (Socrates said, "The unevaluated life is not worth living" I hope this will allow me to evaluate better)

4. I am going to spend more time having face to face conversations with life group leaders (I have been convicted lately that I need to do ministry in a more relational way)

Have you evaluated your life lately? Ask yourself this question... if I died today what would people remember me for? What do I want to be remembered for?

What is God's will for your life?

I have been reading Henry Blackaby's bible study Experiencing God with my accountability partners for the last month and a half. One of my big takeaways has been the reminder that God is always at work around us and that we simply need to join Him in His work. That has got me asking, "What are you doing God? What are you up to around me?" Good questions to ask. Blackaby gives the example of Moses. God had already decided to set the Israelites free. He invited Moses to be a part of what He was already going to do. It was up to Moses to decide whether or not he was going to join him or not. 

What is God up to around you? What is He inviting you to be a part of? Are you willing to step out and join Him?

Ever thought the bible was hard to read?

Have you ever thought the bible was hard to read? I have talked with quite a few people over the past few weeks who have expressed frustration with reading the bible. Most of them say that they don't know where to start and even if they did they are pretty sure that they wont understand what it says anyway. 

I will be the first to admit I have felt that way myself from time to time. The bible is a big book to tackle. It is a combination of 66 books and letter. It employs almost every literary structure. It is full of prophecies and poetry. It can be very intimidating. However, as christians there is nothing more crucial to us knowing God than reading what He has to say to us. So how do we do it? I have been reading a book by a guy named Howard Hendrick called Living by the Book that does a great job of explaining a method for reading the bible that allows you to get a ton out of it every time you pick it up.  Let me suggest that you pick this book up and read it. It will definitely help you in your journey. 

More to come on this subject in the future!

The New logo...

Here is a little sneak peak for those of you who weren't able to make it to sundays meeting...

Don't forget if you have any ideas to get this "N" everywhere there is a $15 Starbucks card to the person who comes up with the most creative idea!