Monday, June 8, 2009

what we value

Core Value #1 The Word – We believe that biblically based teaching and preaching is the catalyst for life transformation. That the Word is sufficient and powerful for instruction, encouragement and admonishment 2 Tim. 3:16, James 1:23-25

God has created me, He knows me inside and out, He knows me intimately. (Psalm 139) God is concerned for my welfare and desires that I know Him – eternally. So concerned is He that He would send His son (who His very Word calls “the Word” (John 1)) to die for me. (John 3:16) To know God’s Word is to know Him – Jesus, the Word; God – In the Flesh. To know the Word is to know God’s heart for the Kingdom and for those who would dwell in it – you and me. To know the Word is to know God’s heart for those who are lost (Ezekiel 18); His heart for righteousness, for mercy, for grace and hope and love. To know the Word is to know the wisdom and intention of God to redeem man and reconcile man to Himself, to embrace him, and betroth him, and walk with him forever. To know the Word is to know that the Father is pleased to give us what we need – to give us the very Kingdom itself – it is to trust God at His Word. (Luke 12) God has created me, He knows me, He loves me and He wants me. Who better than the Word, to give us “everything we need for life and godliness”. Who better than the one who knows me... better than I know my self? Who else should I trust with my eternal welfare or with (the) very knowledge of God (Himself), than the One who loves me so much that He would die for me to reveal to me that love?

Jesus himself spoke of the scriptures as one who esteemed, valued and believed its content. In the gospels alone, the “Scriptures” are referred to by or (speaks) directly about Jesus 22 times. In so, Jesus validates the authenticity and authority of God’s (written) Word and (at least) implies the source and power of the scriptures as God’s words and primary mode of life – revelation, regeneration and transformation; “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38 That, contained in the scriptures, is the path by which we discover the saving and redeeming knowledge of His very person – that by the scriptures – Jesus can be and is known “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,” In one statement Jesus affirms the validity of the Word as God’s message to man and that same Word being the very path by which we can receive eternal life (through Him) and attain His likeness. In desiring that we would all be like His Son, God would give all that we need to see His Son so that we might be saved and with the same stroke be powerfully transformed into the likeness of His Son.

the power of transformation, the ultimate “I Love You”… obedience…

Jesus Himself declared that our love for Him is best expressed in obedience to Him, His Word (John 14:23-24, 15:20, 17:6)); declaring that those who were truly His relation were those who “hear God’s word and put it into practice” Luke 8:21. Elsewhere we are reminded that (His) blessing is derived from obedience:

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16

Isn’t it ironic…

I don’t think that it should be any surprise, even for pure irony’s sake, that the passage in scripture that most pointedly describes the Scripture as a whole for what it is has the same address as the passage in Scripture that most pointedly declares Gods intention (John 3:16) for the Word. (John 1) As I believe the two (Scriptures and concepts) are inseparable, they are intrinsically linked by each other’s simplicity, veracity and profundity – that God intends to redeem mankind to Himself and that He intends to use His Word to do so: the Word made flesh, as well as the Word in written form: That God would not leave us wanting, but has something precious for us by His Word.

No, you’re right, the scriptures were not originally written with numbers and addresses attached to them, but that’s one of the many incredible things about our God, I can’t imagine that God had any less influence over those who systematized the scriptures for ease of discovery than He did with the actual writers of it and that He wouldn’t make sure that His sense of irony was not seen and appreciated.

to preach the Word is to bring good news, to bring life…
“‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:8-15

It is the privilege of the children of God, not only to have His Word to lead, guide and transform, but also to carry. It is our privilege and responsibility to share the good news of Jesus to all who would hear – to live in such a way as to proclaim Jesus with our attitudes, lives and (finally, our) speech. To preach the Word.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

one way to read the bible...

hey guys, sorry it's been a while, computers, servers and life sometimes tangle to make a mess of me and that which i try to accomplish...

this series of posts reflects some things very dear to me and contain actual excerpts from a conversation with a friend... bear with it as you read as the primary body of the posts will be the transcripts from a facebook im session between the two of us as we considered life with God, meeting Him in the Scriptures - being molded and shaped by His Word, Spirit, attitude, His very person... and our struggle to be, well, consistent

spending time together, working through how we might be disciples OF Jesus, not merely converts TO Christianity... thanks.

tony

me and a friend of mine, matt, catch up occasionally via facebook im. we chat about life, family, work, one day the question came up "how's your walk, you know, with God?" and a discussion began - a discussion that included things like "not bad", "i wish it could be better" and "i can't seem to read the Bible consistently". well, as we continue this talk, we challenged each other to take a fresh look at the Bible, God, His love for us, His desire for us to know Him more, and in so, approach the His Word with a different attitude and perspective.

over the following days and weeks, if we would see the other on line, we would drop a quick note and just ask "how's the reading?" or "how's your meeting with God?" and the answer has been "getting better, but..."

so, with that in mind i am going to post some of the things that we've talked about and let you see what is transpiring (i purposely say "transpiring" and not transpired to continue to emphasize that this is an ongoing process that will last the rest of our lives - see "under construction" and that walking together, we are challenging each other to Jesus for who He is in and through His Word - meeting with Him)

so first - the original answer to the original delemna - How can i be consistent? the answer: change the way you see (meeting with) God, how you approach this time, and the Word itself:

look to see Jesus in the Word; meet with Him just as you would a friend - i like having breakfast with, or to sit quietly in my big cushy chair - reading slowly and delibrately - just spendin time. here are some tips that help me:

One way to approach the Bible: Fear and humility

Deut 11:18; Matt 7:26

Pray: ask, seek and be still

  • ask for a teachable heart (Psalm 119:1-18, 24)

  • ask for wisdom, strength and guidance (James 1:5; Psalm 119:28, Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10; Psalm 23:3, 25:9 – the outcome Isaiah 16:-17)


  • ask for a desire for the word – (Psalm 119:33-40)

  • summon the courage to listen, see and obey (2Peter 1)

Read, re-read a section at a time

  • pick a book – this depends on where you are

  • read it through – take your time and read it through, look up parallel passages, it will give a broader sense of the completeness of the scriptures

Stop and meditate on words, phrases, concepts and principles – (Psalm 119:48)

  • What does this mean?

  • What does it imply?

  • What does this do to what I know and believe?

  • How might this change the way live and love?

Look for the person of Jesus, His... exemplified by: matthew 5, 8, 9; mark 9:14-31, 10:13-31; luke 5, 6; john 4;

  • person

  • character

  • attitude

  • behavior

...use your imagination - here are some passages that paint splendid word pictures that will guide you: gen 1,2; psalm 1, 19, 23, 36, 113; job 38, 39; col 1; phil 2; heb 12 - among many others, here are some others: thethe Kingdom of Heaven is like...” pasages: Matt 13, 18, 20, 22; Mark 4; Luke 13

  • listen to the parable

  • put yourself in the story

  • His voice, listen to crowd, the wind through the trees

  • read it out loud with voice inflection

Look for

  • a command to obey

  • a sin to confess

  • an attitude to adopt or change

  • a promise to receive

  • to find joy


Pray some more

  • to be a doer and not a hearer only

  • that you would have faith and walk close to God as He leads

  • to know Jesus and be more like Him

Follow through

  • be and do what you have seen and heard

    • go do it

    • go be it

  • tell someone about what you've read Deut 11:18; psalm 92

there is a time for study, but there is always a time for relationship, the art is not taking it for granted or taking advantage of the privilege of grace (by not meeting)






Wednesday, January 14, 2009


under construction - the last bit

why does it have to be construction?

We are creatures of habit and are used to what is. I mean, we sense that what is isn't what it could be or should be, but we are comfortable – with where we are, what we are... we know it (that place), it is the easiest and least expensive place to be... I mean, “...it's paid for, I'm dry, well fed, it might not be the nicest house on the street, or room in the house, but it's ok... sufficient...”

where do we go from here? (2peter 2:4-10)

I want to be under perpetual construction – reminded daily – that I am not a finished product yet (assured that my Father loves me and that I am covered mercifully by His grace, and I am seated in the heaven's Ephesians 1 & 2, but) that I have not arrived, i am not finished.

It is God who works in you... (phil 2:12-17)

When no appreciable result can be easily measured, we must trust in the person, nature and character of God...

I want to remember that this building project is never ending – that the God that I serve, the God who loves me with such intensity – has depth that is unsearchable. That for all eternity, in His presence, I will never, can never exhaust His mysteries, His love, His attributes, His grace – that everyday, even then, His mercies will be new. (lamentations 3:23)

waiting and watching

He will be building me eternally, a wondrous adventure of discovery of all things God – glorious, magnificent, powerful, beautiful, mysterious, creative, joyous... wonder-full.

If that is what (I think) our eternity is like, how can I expect this life to be any different – at least in terms of having “made it”.

but, it's not about being sufficient... is it?

Isn't it about something much more glorious than that...

...than sufficient?

drab, dark, dirty, dingy, … dang it!

I guess, for my money, sufficient isn't enough. It's just not. I want something greater, more significant, more costly... I want something more, more importantly, God wants something more for Him and for us. (Malachi 1)

Something only construction can bring – newness – everyday newness.

keep your eyes up

So, as we go about our journey together, as we join the Master Craftsman in the work that He has already begun (and has promised to finish), let us remember what it was that we were called from, what it is that we looked like when He/we began and rejoice daily in the mercies we've already experienced and the alterations already made and live up to what has been done ("Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” Phil 3:15), striving for what is next and patiently loving those around us who are in various conditions and stages of un-done-ness and remember (Lamentations 23:19-26)


so forgive our mess, we're under construction...

and don't expect it to end any time soon, thank God ~ assembling fragile and broken pieces into to something significantly beautiful ~ mosaic