Christmas stuff already? Is that so bad?

So, I don't know if you have noticed (maybe you have, maybe you haven't) but there are a couple stations that are already playing Christmas music 24/7 and depending on who you ask, that may or may not be a good thing.  So how do you feel about it?  Do you enjoy it or do you think it's to early???

I used to think that Christmas music, decorations, anything else "related" to Christmas that was out before Thanksgiving was massive over kill and just shouldn't be done.  This year was no different, I'm seeing Christmas trees out in department stores,  Toys R Us just came out with their Christmas toy catalog, (don't forget the Christmas music) and anything else that Christmas has been "Commercialized" with.... but then literally, just the other day, something "hit me" while I was driving.  It had to be one of those "God Moments" where he just tugs at the strings of your hears and your brain and asks you a question that seems so absurd that it makes sense.....

"Do the retail stores and radio stations in a way have this whole Christmas season right?"

Make sense?  (If not, bear with me, I'll try to explain myself)

Now when I ask if all these stores have the whole Christmas season "right" obviously there is kind of a hidden meaning behind it.  I mean how can the idea of getting the best deals be a representation of what is "right" about Christmas?

No, instead, it is the idea of "expectancy"  Expecting something great, something big, something that will motivate them.... and then we sit here complaining that we just aren't ready for it yet.

How can we say that?!

If you think about it, are we as Christians in some ways being hypocrites?  Here we are coming up to this "human holiday" telling everyone what we are thankful for, how God has blessed us and provided for us and then in the next breath say "now if they would just hold off on this Holiday celebrating the coming of our Lord into the world until afterwards, when I'm ready for it, then we'll be set."

Are we in essence saying God, I'll let you know what I'm ready for you? 

When will we be ready then?  Shouldn't we be ready now? 

Now maybe this seems like a really big stretch just from the idea of Christmas songs before Thanksgiving, but it's what I came up with.  You can agree or disagree with me all you want, that's fine but if you get nothing else out of it, get this.

Are we coming into every day with a Holy Expectancy of something bigger then ourselves?  Are we ready for Christ's second coming?  Are we living like it?  Or are we saying "God, I'll be ready for it, but not until after....????"

I hope not, scripture says the second coming of Christ will come like a thief in the night.  Meaning, there really won't be any warning when it's going to happen.  It will happen when it happens and with that, we should be ready and Expecting it

So while the stores are ready and expecting a great return on their Christmas Advertising, while the radio stations are getting in the mood of the season.  Maybe we as Christians should be getting in the mood and to be ready and expecting the return of the greatest gift of all.   God's Son.

Quit Praying?

So it's been awhile since I've posted on here (exactly a month actually) not that anyone has really noticed that (ha-ha) but I still enjoy writing for the 2 people that may occasional read this ;-)

So whats new, well ministry is staying busy but that's usually normal isn't it???? But anyways...


Have we become  bored with this world?  Have we become bored with God?

What does that mean???

Does anything in this world impress us anymore???

Recently I talked with a few people about creation/the galaxy, after watching a short video about it and I asked them the question, "Isn't this just awesome?"   I was dumbfounded with the response I got "We've seen this video before, it's really not that impressive anymore."  Really, something can get to be less impressive if we've seen it before?

So then I wonder what does it take to impress us?

Are you ever impressed with the new iphone/pad/pop?  It's just the same thing with a couple of changes to it isn't it?

Does a sunset impress you?  isn't it just the same thing that happens day after day after day?

Does a new born baby impress you?  I mean, who hasn't seen a new born baby?  Don't they all pretty much look the same?  Two legs, to arms, a head etc.......?

When does something become not impressive?

When did we come to the point in life where anything that happens is just in a normal day?

When was the last time you drove to work or school and when you got there you prayed to God "thank you for looking out for me and for having the hundreds of other people on the roads follow the same rules that I did so as not to get hurt"

Does the fact that nothing really impresses us anymore affect our relationship with God?

When is the last time you looked at the stars and just felt compelled to talk to God?  A Sunset?  A storm?  A butterfly?  Spring?  The fact that gravity exists and you are still standing on this world that is spinning in a circle at several thousand miles an hour?

With all the things that are going on in this world, with the daily miracles that we see (e.g. creation as a whole) why is it that we have quit praying?  Seriously? Do you feel the need to talk to God on a regular basis, or do you pray because it has become a habit?  (Either when you wake up or God to bed, (occasionally both) and a "Lord Bless this food and drink for Jesus sake Amen" at the occasional lunch time)  Do we really feel compelled to talk to God or do we just do it because..... (insert reason here)

Francis Chan in his book "Crazy Love" has the first chapter of his book entitled "Quit Praying"

I think he has a point.  Maybe we should quit praying.  And that's not a good thing.  But Jesus says in scripture that I would rather you be hot or cold rather then lukewarm for then I shall spit you out of my mouth  (that's the Brent Paraphrased version) 

What do you think? Are we at a stage where we should just quit praying?  I hope not, because if we are at that stage, I think we have some real problems.  How can we not just sit back and continue to be amazed at all that is around us?  Yes, we have finite minds and can't comprehend everything that is because of how great it is.  But isn't the fact that we can't comprehend everything, all the more reason to just be amazed?

Bi-Polar Christians?

Have you ever tried to define the term “Christian”?

Has anyone ever asked you too?

Do you know how, why and when we got the term Christian and who gave it to us?

All three of those questions were asked to the Jr. High youth group on Sunday nights and the Sr. High Sunday school class as expected, many different responses came out, not one of them which was wrong, but while the first two of those three seemed to be pretty easy to answer, the third one seemed to be a struggle.  So, without looking, I ask you the same question.  “How/why/when did we get the “name” Christian?

Give up?

In Acts chapter 11 verses 25 & 26, it says “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.  So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.  The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”  Now, popular belief and research puts this around 45 A.D. or around 10 to 15 years after Christ Ascended!  So, now that we know the when, let’s get to the How and Why.  It’s obvious (hopefully) that the term Christian came into existence because they were people that were now following the ways and teachings of Jesus, The Christ.  But why was it given?  Why are we referred to as Christians?  Why we are not still referred to as Jews or Gentiles?  Have you ever wondered that? (Maybe, maybe not) but it really struck me a couple weeks ago while I was preparing lessons.  So I did a little research on it and found a thought that really stuck with me, in my ESV Study Bible it says “…the fact that the disciples were first called Christian in Antioch probably reflects a label applied by the unbelieving public in Antioch and shows that the disciples were beginning to have an identity of their own apart from other Jews.”  Now some of you may know/remember that I do like looking up the literal definitions of words, so, according to the amazingly wise Webster, a disciple is “…a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another… “It also says “any follower of Christ.”  I hope I’m not the only person who likes those definitions.

So, what does that all mean?  They were called Christians back in 45 A.D. because they had a “different identity” then the common person (Jew or Unbeliever.)  They didn’t subscribe anymore to the idea that you could only take a certain number of steps on the Lords Day but instead they couldn’t help but go out and share how they were different, and how great it was to have a new identity in Christ. 

So, how is your indentity?  Better yet, What is your indentity?  Do we have an easily indentifiable one or are we just another "Bi-Polar Christian"  Having a great mood every Sunday morning for everyone to see, but then every other day of the week we are just like every other person.  Shouldn't the people we come in contact with on a daily basis say "man, that person is different, and it's a breath of fresh air."  Isn't that was Christianity should be?  A Breath of Fresh Air from the dirty, mundane experiences of the every day world?

Are we helping others discover a new identity by showing ours? or re-discovering a past identity?

I hope we are...

I truly hope I am

But we just don't have anything in common.....

Acts 2:42-47

New International Version (NIV)

The Fellowship of the Believers

 ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

This section of scripture hit me like a ton of bricks this weekend.  Sure, I've read it plenty of times, (what church worker, let alone any person, hasn't heard dozens of sermons from Acts chapter 2?)  But for lack of a better way to put it, I've always kind of by-passed this last part of the chapter.  Until now.

Christianity in today's world is a tricky thing.  It seems that so many people have in their minds that as long as we go to church once a Sunday (or every other Sunday) we should be good.  But yet, have you looked at the churches and Christian faith of the Western Civilization compared to that in places like Africa?  Why is it growing in leaps and bounds in 3rd world countries when it seems to be stumbling in places like Europe and America?  I'll give you a hint.  I believe the answer is in the passage.

I'll get back to that in a minute...

What is one of the biggest excuses/reasons you might hear when it comes to a relationship ending?

"We just don't have anything in common"

How about when it comes to someone leaving the church?

"They just don't play the music that I like" or "I just don't like the Pastor who may be there"  All having to do with stuff in common with yourself.

Have you ever noticed that the people who seem to be the most reliable people in the church are the ones who have the desire to be a part of many different things?  Ever wonder why that is?

I think it is because they try to be in fellowship with the fellow Christians as often as possible.  Have you ever noticed that they just seem to be happier, and have an easier time dealing with situations that life might seem to throw their way?  Do people like that just seem to bug you?  Have you ever thought that maybe there is something more to it than them just having an "annoyingly perky personality"?

Verse 44 says "All the believers were together and had everything in common"  Umm, this is Acts Chapter 2, and the same chapter where “all of a sudden” all the disciples could speak in tongues that were not natural to them.  This means that people from all backgrounds, nationalities and ways of life were all together at this point in time.  Jews, Greeks, Romans, Samaritans, all people who didn't get along before, and now, all of a sudden, we read "all believers were together, and had everything in common."  

Wait, Huh?  How could that be?

If we believe that God/Jesus is greater than all things, then how come we don't act like it?  How come we don't want to spend concentrated time with him?  Western culture has set the standard that you only need to worship/Fellowship with believers once a week.  Actually, you don't even have to do that, it's perfectly o.k. to go to the beach on a Sunday instead of church, as long as you are focusing on the creation that God has given you to enjoy.  Right?

Why do we in Western Culture dread going to church?  Why do we not want to join a Sunday School class?  Why do we "forget" to pray before or after a meal?  Or even pray at all?  Why is that Pastor or that "one crazy guy" always so overbearing to me when it comes to getting right with God?  That's just not the kind of Christian I am

No, I'm not saying going to church is going to save you (hopefully the 3 people who might read this know me better then that) But I am saying, there is something to this "church thing" How many times have you caught yourself wishing over the course of the week that you wish you were doing something with a group of people rather than sit in an office by yourself?  How many times have you spent a Friday or Saturday evening at home by yourself because there was "nothing going on"?     How many times have you found yourself at church on a Sunday morning, wishing you were at home lying in the sun instead of at church?

Why the sudden reversal on Sundays?  All week long we spend our time wishing we were hanging out with our friends.  Why do we wish that?  Because we have spent a lot of time with them and have discovered a lot that you have in common!  But then Sunday comes along and you may be with 200 people that you only see for an hour on Sundays (or every other) and you can't wait until you can get out of there. 

"...every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people...."

Amazing huh?  You want your church to really mean something to you?  You want to make it be "worth it"?  You need to put the work into it.  Put a desire into it.  Because when you do, you will discover that when it comes to defining the relationships, that any personal differences you may have with one another, doesn't mean squat, when it comes to the fact that we are "all one in Christ"

Let’s stop cheapening the idea of worship and fellowship, believe it or not, it really is worth quite a bit, someday, maybe we will figure that out...

Making Promises and Having calls. Are they really a big deal?

(Unity Ref. People, you'll see this in the Unity Update for Aug. so consider this an advance reading, haha) 

Question 1

Do you promise

to instruct this child in the truth of God’s word,

in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ;

to pray for them, to teach them to pray;

and to train them in Christ’s way by your example,

through worship, and

in the nurture of the church?

Question 2

Do you promise to love, encourage, and support

these brothers and sisters

by teaching the gospel of God’s love,

by being an example of Christian faith and character, and

by giving the strong support of God’s family

in fellowship, prayer, and service?

Ever heard or read either one of these questions before?  Do they sound familiar but you aren’t sure where to place it?  The above questions are (a rough form of) the questions that get asked to both the parents and the congregation every time there is a baptism during a church service.  Have you ever actually paid attention to the words?  Did you remember what they were? Or did you just answer “We Will, with God’s Help” because everyone else did?  Those two questions are a big deal, but especially that second one.  One of the things that I love about the church universal is that it is a place where anyone can teach everyone, and everyone can teach anyone.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everyone has to go to college to train to be some form of a Pastor to guide a church (that’s not for everyone, and like one of my professors once said in his class, “I don’t wish church leadership on anyone, but if you have that particular call from God, you have to follow it”) However, all of us have a call.

Wait, What?????

We do, now I’m not saying everyone has to go and get a degree in Youth Ministries, or their Masters of Divinity, but, we are all called to ministry, Ephesians 4:11(and following) says so.  “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers….so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in knowledge of the Son of God and become mature….”  

I’m sure all of you have probably read, or at least heard those verses, but have you ever noticed what isn’t said there?  No?  What it doesn’t say, is that some people are called to have no responsibilities at all.  Have you ever thought about that?

The two questions that are answered every time there is a baptism feed right into that section of Scripture.  Christianity isn’t just coming to church once (maybe even twice) a week.  It is the role God has given us to fulfill with the talents he has gifted us with “…so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity…and become mature…” 

How seriously have you taken that promise you made for every youth in your church? In society?  (Lets not worry about if a child is baptized or not right now) but how well are we doing that as a church?  How well are we at doing that as individuals?  This isn’t meant to be something that points fingers at anyone, but instead is meant to be an inspiration to look at ourselves personally and say “How can I help the younger body of Christ develop in Unity and Maturity?”  It is hard work; it is a job that takes more than just one person.  It takes more than just the two parents.  It takes more than a Youth Pastor.  It takes a family to raise a family.  Do you want to help in the raising of the family in which you are a part of, there are always openings, and all you need to do is find where God is calling you to plug in.  What good are Pastors without Evangelists?  What good are Apostles without Teachers?  The Church body needs all of those, and all of us have one (if not more) of those gifts, sometimes we just have discovered them yet.  But they are there, and they are needed.  Both in this church family, and in the world

There is a saying I came across a few years back that has always stuck with me (though I’ve added a little bit to it for this occasion.)  “Truth, Ideas, and Promises that are neglected by one generation, more often than not, are completely rejected by the next.”  That is a big responsibility, bigger than just one or two people; it takes the church (with help from God).  But the education year is coming up fast, let us all pray for clarity in what role we can fill to help one another.

Long Time Coming

Wow, it's been since the end of April since I posted in this thing?  oops.  Oh well, probably not to much of a loss as I don't think this is actually something that people are "pining" (sp?) to read.  But I can pretend right?  ha-ha.

Anyways, it's been an interesting summer so far to say the least, trying to do summer ministry, some things working, others... well.... not so much.  Apparently people like taking vacations in summer which tends to put a major hinder on bigger events that need many people....  Anyways.  I've been trying to make a dent in my "reading list" that I have (meaning books that I buy I want to read, I start and then don't get a chance to finish.)  Currently I'm reading a book entitled "Not A Fan" by Kyle Idleman and I am enjoying it quite a bit so far and it definitely makes my "recommendation list."  Anyways, I just wanted to share a part that I read recently that opened me up to something that I had never really thought of before.  I wish there was an easier way to do this instead of typing it all out, but oh well...

"But I tell you the truth:  It is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you"  (John 16:7)

"Did you catch that?  Jesus, God in the flesh, says it's better for him to leave, because when he goes the Holy Spirit will come.  It's better.  Why would he say that?  When I was in seminary I did a study of the references in the Bible that speak of God being with man.  The Bible speaks of God being with Abraham.  God was with Joseph.  God was with Elisha.  I noticed that most all of the references of "God being with" were in the Old Testament.  It just wasn't in the New Testament.  I couldn't figure out why that was.  I kept thinking I was missing something.  Here's what I discovered:  there is a subtle but critical prepositional change from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  In the Old Testament it says "God with us" - but in the New Testament it's "God in us" (emphasis mine).  Jesus says, "It's better for you if I go" - because while God with you is good, God in you is better.  Jesus could be with his followers; but the Holy Spirit would live in his followers.

Sometimes I hear people talk about the different men and women of the Old Testament, and there is a hint of jealousy.  They may say it, or just insinuate it, but here's what they communicate...

What would it have been like to hear God's voice and see him move in such powerful ways?  I wish it was the same for us as it was for those whose stories we read about in Scripture.  When I get to heaven I can't wait to ask David, Elijah, or Moses what it was like.

But I think it will be just the opposite in heaven.  Before we can ask David what it was like to slay the giant, to win the battles, he'll say, Tell me what it was like on earth to have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, giving you strength when you are weak.  We might say to Elijah, What was it like to call down fire from heaven before the prophets of Baal and to raise that boy from the dead?  And I think Elijah might say, Yeah, he actually ended up dying again.  You tell me what it's like to have God living inside of you.  What was it like to live life on earth with the Holy Spirit giving you joy when you're depressed or giving you the power to overcome that sin in your life?  We might say to Moses, What was it like to follow the cloud by day and the fire by night?  What was it like to meet with God on that mountain?  And Moses might say, I had to climb that mountain to meet with God.  You tell me what it was like to have him dwell within you every day.  What was it like to have the Holy Spirit giving you directions when you didn't know what to do or where to go?"

How amazing is that?  Have you ever thought about that?  How often have we ever wondered what it was like to "live during those days" just to experience what the people went through. 

I was thinking today of a question that has been asked of me (and I have asked others) several times.  "Where have you seen Jesus today"  And yet I have never even thought about an answer of "I saw him when I looked in the mirror this morning"  Have you ever thought that way?

Christ/God/Holy Spirit lives in us!

How amazing it is, and yet so often it is overlooked.

Brent's Blog - April 25

B.Y.M.B.  (Brent's Youth Min. Blog) - Unity Update May 2011

Has your relationship with God changed the way you lived your life?

Has your relationship with God changed you?

Has your relationship with God changed at all over the last year?

All valid question I think, maybe some of you have seen this question before, (I’d like to hope so), and if you haven’t, take a look at the marquee next to the youth room next time you go by it J  One of the things that we (myself and youth group leaders) have strived to do this year, particularly on the Sunday groups was to help the students develop a sense of just what Christianity is and what it involves.  It’s not just talking a good game, but it’s about living it.  It’s not about what you do and where you are one day a week, but it’s about what you do, what you say and who you are 7 days a week.  Has your relationship with God taught you anything about yourself?  How about what we are up against in life?  Or has it helped you realize that you can and are free from your past?  A true relationship with Christ is never easy, no one ever said it would be, and anyone  who thinks that it will be is just kidding themselves.  But what does it look like to grow in Jesus?  Or to phrase it differently, what does “Spiritual Growth” look like?  Some of you may know that one of my favorite authors is Mike Yaconelli, the founder of Youth Specialties.  Though he died in October of 2003, he has had a never ending impact on me (as well as several other people I know who continually read and re-read his books.)  So with that, I’d like to share with you a small part of his book “Messy Spirituality” and then have you ponder his words and how close (or far) they might be in regards to your life today.

“We would all like to believe that growth results from one mighty decision, a once and for all commitment to God  And while we should celebrate our initial decision to follow Christ, it’s just the beginning of our spiritual journey, not the end.  It is the first of many decisions, all of them important, all bringing growth.

Hundreds – maybe thousands – of decisions make up genuine growth, some moving us closer to God, some possibly moving us a little bit farther away, but all contributing to a deeper, richer and more textured relationship with God.  During my adolescence, I made hundreds of decisions to become a Christian, to re-become a Christian, to rededicate my life to God, to rededicate my rededication, to go into full time Christian service, to treat my parents better, etc…  I meant every one of those decisions, yet I successfully acted on most of them for only about two or three days.  Still, those two or three days laid the groundwork for the next decision.  I couldn’t have made the next decision if I had not made the previous one.  I was growing one decision at a time.  No question about it, my growing looked inconsistent:  two steps backward, one step forward, up, down, in, out etc…  But I was growing all the same.”

Growth in Christ, as much as we would love for it to be, never is charted like a hill that keeps going up at the same 35 degree angle all the way to the very top (the end) instead it is like an intense never ending Roller-coaster, constantly going up and down hills, loops around, sometimes feels like your spiraling out of control only to soon be back on the straight path up another hill…. Well you get the picture…          Your roller coaster looks different then the person next to you but that one constant is that it is always moving forward.  Your trust in God may waver sometimes, your love for him may not seem as strong when a loved one passes or you may have struggle securing work, then when you might witness a wedding.  Your life in this world is going to continually change.  But, the one thing that won’t change is the love that God has for you when your life is in him.  While your life might be doing a corkscrew right now, going up a hill or going down a hill, the one thing that you can always count on is the fact that is continually moving forward.  In the Psalms, Isaiah, and Luke  (just to name a few) a phrase that you see is “and it came to pass”  Have you had a bad year this year?  It will pass?  Have you had a good year this year?  It will pass  Things on this earth will continue to change, how you use them in your life is up to you, but the one thing that will never pass, is the love that Christ has for you.  So, in all the things that you may have gone through in the last weeks, months, even years… has your relationship with God changed you at all?  Has it helped you be closer to him? I hope so, because a relationship with a person who above all else, does nothing but love you would (I hope) always make you strive to be closer to him, I know it has for me.

Holy Week: Day 6 - Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.  But what is so Good about it.  Our Savior was killed on this day many years ago.  Often people can wonder how with the Christianity that we believe, one of the biggest highlights of the Christian calender year is the idea that we are "happy" for his death.  What kind of religion can we be they may ask.  He died and you call it good Friday.

When Christ died, he was dying so that we don't have to.  If someone was to take all your sins, all your wrong doings that you deserve death for and put them on himself so that he was to die and you may live, how would you feel?  I don't know about you but I would feel pretty good.

But there is another part, I think sometimes a part of this story that is overlooked.  Many of you know the crucifixion story (if you don't then read it here)

There were two other crosses up there along with Christ, one on his left and one on his right both occupied by thieves.  One thief hurled insults at him while the other one repented and ask if Christ would remember him at his resurrection.  This thief knew that he was wrong and that he needed forgiveness.  That my friends, is a representation of the choice that we have to make.  Which thief are you?  Are you the one hurling insults, telling Christ to save you just because he should and he can.  Or are you one that is accepting responsibility for mistakes in life and asking for forgiveness.  Christ wants to reside in your heart, make it his home, but is it a true home?  Or are there some doors that you have locked and are not letting him in.  Pray about it and find that key to let him in.

Holy Week: Day 5 - Thursday

Luke 22:7-23

The Last Supper

     ⁷Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

   ⁹“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

   ¹⁰He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹²He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

   ¹³They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

   ¹⁴When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

   ¹⁷¹⁸For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

   ¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

   ²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²²The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” ²³They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

The Passover will soon have a new meaning!!

Ok, I'm referencing that comment to this scripture, not to what might happen this year.  Have you ever noticed the parallels between the first passover (for all Israel) and this passover (for the disciples)? 

Hold that thought for a bit.

Ever since that first Passover that was held by the Israelites and eaten in a hurry, the annual Passover meal had become for the Israelites like what Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner has become to families of today.  It was a time when families would get together and share in a good meal and celebrate something important.  Planning was to be made to make sure that a "proper dinner" would take place, I mean the Passover was a big deal to the Jewish people.  So despite all the hub-bub that was going on with Jesus this week and his disciples, how did it get to be that not even one of them thought about the upcoming passover and make sure at least something was set up for it?  How is it that not even 1 of the 12 even remembered about the Passover

The day of the meal is when Jesus tells them to go prepare, he doesn't ask if they have, he tells them to do it because he knows they haven't.  (once again, he bails them out) but he also knows that everything is going to be done in a hurry tonight, just like it had been many years before in Egypt.  Christ new what was coming but once again, the disciples were blind as to what was about to happen.  They didn't realize just how fast the next 24 hours would go.  But how could they not know? it's not like they hadn't been told on a few different occasions what was going to happen. 

Wait, is this like us?  We know what is going to happen, Christ will return..... Are we ready??????

The passover no longer means that the angel of death has passed over the Jews, but it now means that the wages of sin have been paid.  Do you accept that?

Holy Week Day 4 - Wed.

Not much is said (actually, nothing that I can tell) in the scriptures for this 4th day of Holy Week.  The closest we even get to mentioning this day is in Mark chapter 14 (part of which I referenced yesterday) where we go from 2 days before the Passover to the Day off the passover.  So, we go from Tuesday to Thursday just like that.

What happened on that 4th day?  Maybe Jesus just needed a "day off"  everyone needs one of those right?  and not to sound condescending to any other type of profession but people in ministry need one just as much as anyone else.  Yes, a lot of things have been going on the last few days and even more were going to be happening in the next couple days, can we really criticize Jesus for taking a "day off" to rest and prepare is soul (he was human remember) for what was to come?

Now, lets say you were only going to live until Friday what would you do?  Would you try to get as much fun stuff in as possible?  That's a good possibility but I think if we look at it in the old popular phrase of W.W.J.D.  (what would Jesus Do)  Jesus would spend a day just relaxing and visiting with his closest friends and companions  (disciples) and just getting himself (and soul) ready for what was about to come.  It looks as though he didn't spend it trashing the temple again, or doing as many miracles as he could that day, but he spent it in rest.

How do I know he took a day off?  I don't, but it's just my guess/belief that he did, like I said, he was a 100% God but also 100% man.  He had the same needs of rest like every other person ever needed.  I get warn out on Sundays when it comes to 2 church services, a Sunday school class, usually a meeting and a youth group, by the end of the day I'm beat.  People say/believe that people physically age faster in Ministry, can you imagine that if Jesus had been a common man and had the ministry that he did?  He'd be the only white-haired balding 33 year old in the world.  (thankfully he was more then just a common man)

Why do I believe he took the day off?  Through a combination of the 4 Gospels we can see that just about everything Jesus did during the week and every nuance he might have had so why does no one mention anything about Wednesday?  You would think that if it was anything like any of the other days there would at least be passing reference to it somewhere, but there isn't.  I don't think it was just from an oversight from the 4 writers either, as each Gospel is written the farther into his life they get, more and more attention is paid to the details and then they all of a sudden they just skipped a day?  I doubt it.

As I was looking into some stuff I stumbled across another blog by a Army Reserve Chaplin named Timothy  (I'd give him more credit if I could but that's all I know about him, but some of what he wrote also influenced some of the things I have written here) but there is one section he wrote about this that I want to share with you so let it be known that the following are not my words, but his...

I think it’s more plausible that Jesus “took a day off”.

The question that begs to be answered is “Why?”

I have one idea, one “speculation”  (and let me stress:  this is mere “speculation.” ).  Bear with me: Have  you ever been to a more “liturgical” kind of church service?  For those of us  who have, you will recall that the basic structure of the whole service is what we call “antiphonal.”  An “antiphonal” service has a compelling format because it is the format of “dialogue”:  First, God speaks and humans  listen.  Then, humans respond and God listens.  What if this antiphonal dialogue is rooted in Holy Week?  I think it is.

You see what I’m driving at?  What if Jesus’ last week is antiphonal?  First, God speaks and humans listen.  Then, humans respond and God listens.  Maybe Jesus “took a day off” because he was listening: listening to his Father, but also listening to see humanity's response to what he just did the day before (he taught in the temple and on the  Mount of Olives, remember?)  Maybe, Jesus was just listening.  Just resting and
listening.

God is speaking to us this week, have we been listening?  Are we responding to what he's been saying because he is listening to us as well.

"Amen, Come Lord Jesus"

Holy Week: Day 3

Mark 14

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

 ¹ Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ² “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
 ³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
 ⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
   ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
 ¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.


When is the last time you gave up something costly for God without worrying about how much it cost?  Have you ever saved up money to buy some new $600 computer without thinking twice but really had to debate about putting 20 bucks in the collection plate at church?

In this story, it is a woman  (probably Mary, sister of Martha and Lazerous) anointing Jesus with a Jar of pure nard.  Now it is referred to that this jar of nard could have been sold for the equivalent of 300 days wages for a common laborer.  Last time I checked, a woman during those days didn't even classify as a common laborer so imagine just what it might have actually taken for her to purchase this. Jesus knew what he was about to give up and I believe Mary realized it as well (whether directly or indirectly)

Christ gave up who he was on this earth, he gave up his body so that we might have our body in Christ.  What have we given up for, or even given to God.  Now I'm not saying we have to save up a bunch of Money, buy some super expensive Calvin Klein perfume and go around dumping it on people, but Christ gave his life to us so that we might live in him.  Are we ready/willing/able to give our lives to him so that others might know the gift he gave us all so that others may have Christ live in them and they in him?

" In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Holy Week Day 2

Mark 11: 11-25

¹¹ Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

 ¹² The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
 ¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’^[c]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’^[d]”
 ¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
 ¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples^[e] went out of the city.
 ²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
   ²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly^[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”


Right after Jesus entered Jerusulam he left again only to re-enter about 24 hours later?  Does anyone else view that as a little bit strange?  Or does it possibly have some significance? I don't know, maybe it does, maybe it doesn't.  What relevance does his cursing of a fig tree have to do with anything?

Does the mature fig tree represent the Jews of the day?  Mature fig trees with they leaf (bloom) also produce fruit at the same time (or very shortly after) but for some reason this fig tree did not.  Is it a representation of the Jews the day before?  Did they put on a good show but really produce nothing else?  Do we?

Continuing on, we get to the story of  Jesus cleansing the temple.  Often though I look at this as a representation of Jesus cleansing myself.  Today there is not one actual physical temple that Christ dwells in.  Instead he sees us as his temple.  But how does your temple look right now?  Is it a place that you can actually see God living, or is it a place of robbers, using your life for your own advancement and gain like the people using the temple were in this story?  What kind of Spiritual Warfare was going on in the minds of those who were in the Temple?  Satan is not like God, he can not be at all places at one time, he can only be in one place at a time.  Was he in the Temple at that point in time?  Planting ideas in the minds of the money changers, cheating people with bad returns on money exchanges and forcing them to buy different animals for the ritual sacrifices?  How many of these people were just one day earlier waving palm branches, putting on a good show like the fig tree only to a few hours/days later being the ones who were cursed and cursing God?

  Remember that in this week called Holy, we are to make ourselves Holy before God and not be like the teachers of the Law and try to find any way possible to remove Christ from our lives.  And not just this week, but every day of our lives

I looked up, and I saw my Lord a Weepin
I looked up and I saw my Lord a weepin for my soul
Alleluia he is coming
Alleluia he is here
Alleluia he is coming
Alleluia he is here

Holy Week, Day 1 (1 day late)

John 12: 12-18

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

 ¹² The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
   “Hosanna!^[d]”
   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[e]
   “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
 ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
 ¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
   see, your king is coming,
   seated on a donkey’s colt.”^[f]
 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
 ¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Wow, how quickly people can change there opinions.  That is the capability that we have as humans, think back to the days of your childhood and think at the people that you had as your best friends.  How many of them were still your best friends a few years later.  How many of them were still even your friends? 

At this time in History Jesus was just about everyones best friend (notice I say just about, he wasn't one of the Pharisees and Saducees, and well, the Romans)  How quickly things would change over the course of the week though. 

Did you know that the book of John is the only one of the 4 gospals that actually uses the phrase "Palm branches"?  Matthew and Mark use the phrase "branches" and the gospal of Luke says "cloaks"  So why do I want to focus on the book of John?  Well, would you believe that the Jews "kinda got it right?"  They were just off by about a week and the style was just a little wrong.  Palm Branches back in that day were what were waved around to celebrate a victory and with Jesus' entry into Jerusulam, that is what they (thought) they were celebrating.  They thought they were celebrating Jesus' victory over the Roman empire which would lead to Jewish Rule in the world.  But instead of being the ones to celebrate the victory, they helped lead to the victory, and it wasn't Jesus' victory over the Roman rule, but instead it was the victory over the power of Satan.  It gives us hope for the future and something to really look forward too with his second coming.

Yes, yesterday was Palm Sunday......  But maybe it's on Easter Sunday that we should actually decorate our church with Palm Branches, to celebrate Christ's victory over death.

  Hey, it's a thought

  "I looked up, and I saw my Lord a'comin
I looked up and I saw my Lord a'comin Down the roadAlleluia he is coming
Alleluia he is here
Alleluia he is coming
Alleluia he is here"

Perfection? Whats that?

Brent’s Youth Ministry Blog                                                           

Let’s start this article this month rewinding about an hour from right now (when I’m currently writing this):  It’s February 24, A Thursday morning at 9 A.M. and I’m sitting here at the church offices pondering what I want to write on this page.  I’m struggling with what to put on the currently blank screen.  Usually I don’t have a hard time putting some thoughts down and going from there, but not this week. I’ve been struggling since Tuesday trying to think of the perfect thing to write for this month’s Update.  Then it hits me.  Perfection, what is it?  Do I know perfection?   What about when it comes to our spiritual lives.  I feel those are two words that are used together much more then they ever should be.  Is there such a thing as perfect spirituality?  Or how about Spiritual Perfection?  Society as a whole seems to want to strive for spiritual perfection but then how do you obtain it?  Many people view being spiritual as finding what their purpose is in life and that can be proven by the number of sales of Rick Warrens book “The Purpose Driven Life.”  People seem to be looking for a purpose in life to direct them in how to be spiritual people of God and leading to how lead the perfect life.  But the perfect life really is impossible in human life.   You can try as hard as you want to be perfect and to have everything in a row but it is not something that can happen. 

Youth Ministry is a prime example of this idea.  When I first started being the “head youth dude” in ministry 6 years ago (seems like just yesterday) I had visions in my head about what the perfect youth ministry would be like.  All of the kids I worked with would soon have their lives in perfect order, meetings would always go exactly as planned, the “right” questions would always get asked, every student would make Profession of Faith etc…  But I discovered something very quickly.  The very fact that I had an idea of a “perfect ministry” was in fact imperfect.  Meetings don’t always go as planned.  What seemed like a great idea in my head and on paper doesn’t always translate to a great idea in a group.  We aren’t going to have 100 kids show up next week that weren’t here last week (though we are still trying J )

I think Mike Yaconelli sums it up best, he said “It's not about perfection; it's about our intimacy with God, or our connection, our relationship with God. Once we get through that, once we realize that we can be imperfect, flawed, broken; those kinds of things are the ingredients of spirituality.”  The purpose of Youth Group over the last 3 years and hopefully for the next many years to come is not about being the “prefect Christian teen” whether just in church or in daily life.  It isn’t about change; it is about growth, it is about growing closer with God.  It is about realizing that you can be who you are when you come to God.  You don’t have to make everything perfect before you come to him.  He wants you to come to him as you are.  So are you?  Or are you waiting for Sundays when you get all dressed up?  But being intimate with God also means being open with others.  When someone asks you how you are doing, what do you say?  Are you someone that just says fine to everyone and keeps walking or are you honest with them and tell them what is really going on.  We are all made in God’s image and being open with one another I believe is also being intimate with God.  He desires relationship between him and you but also with you and the rest of his creation.  That is what we were created to be. 

            So how about it, are you trying to make your life look perfect? Are you looking for that purpose in your life to make your life perfect?   Do you want to try and lead the perfect life?  Then don’t be afraid to show your imperfection.  Express your openness, your brokenness with God and others, be honest with each other.  Being open and honest on how you are is what we all should be.  We all want to help each other but it is up to you to allow yourself to be helped.  Not only help from others, but to look up and seek help from God, our perfect creator.  That, my friends, will lead us to perfection.

I wish I could take credit for this one

So, here we are on the 12th day of February.  How has the journy of 2011 been for you few but faithful readers.  (or maybe you're just bored and read this, I don't know, either way...)  Anyways, I've never been one that was big on news years resolutions, but this year, well I felt differently about it and I actually made two.

1.  Eat smarter and find some kind of way to get more excercise  (I tried the gym thing but with a youth ministry schedule, it's hard to find enough time to do a whole gym routine).  Anyways, this one is slowly coming along but it's getting there......

2.  Rebuild the personal devotional life.  Here I am, a guy who works for the church, and I haven't had a solid/consistant personal devotion time since college.  Pretty said isn't it.  Well, that was my goal, to have just a few minutes every morning spending time with God.  So far it's been great, I haven't missed on yet :)  In fact, I find myself again wishing there was more and looking into joining a young adult BSF or something similar to that.  (heres hoping it can work out somehow)  Anywasy, when it comes to devo's I've been going through a book I picked up recently called  "Pause for Power"  written by Warren Wiersbe  (If you haven't read his book "On being a Servant of God"  I highly recommend it)  Anyways, His devo for today really kind of struck me so I wanted to share that with you today.  I'm actually typing it out so hopefully I don't make any mistakes.  Anyways....

                                     Motives for Obdience.

1 John 2

 ¹ My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. ³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

Obedience to God's Word is proof of our love for Him.  There are three motives for obedience.  We can obey because we have to, because we need to, or because we want to.

Slaves obey because they have to.  If they don't obey, they will be punished.  Employees obey because they need to.  They may not enjoy their work, but they do enjoy getting their paychecks!  They need to obey because they have a family to feed and clothe.  But Christian are to obey their heavenly Father because they want to - for the relationship between them and God is one of love:  "If you love me, you will obey what I command"  (John 14:15)

This is the way we learned obedience when we were children.  First, we obeyed because we had to.  If we didn't obey, we were punished!  But as we grew up, we discovered that obedience meant enjoyment and reward, so we started obeying because it met certain needs in our lives.  And it was a mark of real maturity when we started obeying because of love.

"Baby Christians" must be constantly be warned or rewarded.  Mature Christians listen to God's Word and obey it simply because they love him.

Something to Ponder:  What are some of God's command you obey primarily out of obligation?  Which do you obey because of the benefits you receive?  Are there any you obey out of sheer love?

All good thoughts and questions I think to revisit on a weekly (if not daily) basis.

Priorities

Priorities.

Everyone has them, not matter what your age may be.  When you are a young child, your priority is just that, being a kid, going and playing outdoors, meeting the neighborhood kids, looking both ways and holding your parents hand while crossing the street, etc…  As you grow older, your priorities change, you start having to pay attention to harder subjects in school, and you need to find that first job so you can afford your first car.  You wonder how you can let the girl or guy you like know that you like them without actually telling them.  You move on to college, and decide what career you want to have (sometimes you decide multiple times) you want to find a spouse, and settle down.  You are in your 30’s now, you want to make a name for yourself in your job, you are trying to raise a family and make it all work and mesh together.  The kid’s sports and piano lessons, the golf game you want to improve at, the house you are trying to maintain the mortgage to pay off….  Now you are 50’s, kids are growing up, starting to do their own thing and you are trying to desperately to stay “relevant” in their life (don’t worry you always will be), they are working on choosing colleges and/or careers.  You are wondering why you decided on the career you did and trying to figure out if it was all worth it.  Now you are 80, your kids are gone and married, you have grandkids now and you spoil them every chance you get.  You try to get as much traveling in as you can to see the places you wanted to while you were younger but just couldn’t do, you go to coffee every morning with some of your friends (and maybe some aren’t but they still show up at McDonalds anyways)…. Well you get the picture now right?

So, how far off am I?  Or am I somewhat close?  How we live our life is an indication of what we view as the most important to ourselves.  I started thinking about priorities the other day as I was reading through some different passages of scripture and my attention was drawn to a verse in Luke that says "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  Wow!!!!, now that may not seem like much, but if you think about it, those are the very first recorded words of Jesus in the New Testament.  Jesus knew what the important priorities in life really were.  Do we?  If someone is really looking for us, would we really be in the church?  Would we really make sure we were in the presence of God?  Or would they find us on the golf course, or the bowling alley, or at some sporting event?  Where are we putting God in our priority list of life?  Where am I putting God in my priority list of life?

All too often it just seems so easy to sleep in on Sunday morning because we were out late on Saturday.  Or to go to that one sports game on Sunday morning, or to go grocery shopping on Sunday morning because the crowds aren’t as big, or…. Well I think you get my point.  Now, I’m not saying that skipping church that one Sunday morning is going to lead you to a life of Condemnation, but what I am saying is that God sees what our priorities are on any given day.  So what are we showing him in our lives?  One of the biggest things that I see in youth ministry is that 90 percent of the things kids see their parent’s value and give the extra effort towards are things the children will value and prioritize as well.  So, where does not only God, but your children see your priorities being?  Is it on the newest electronics gizmo out there?  Is it on that new designer purse that you see in the store window?  Or is it on something like family meals and devotions together? Making as much effort for our kids to be at a youth meeting once a week as we do for them to be at sporting events every day? 

Where your priorities lie is up to you, Jesus’ was on his Father.  Where are yours?