Just another week...

Yes, it is the middle of August 2012 and there is really not much to talk about in life.  We are in the midst of something amazing here at Groesbeck Church with a rebranding campaign in full swing.  We are just one month away from the relaunch of our Contemporary Service at 11:00am on Sundays and we could not be more excited about the opportunities that are going to come our way as we begin to serve the church.  

But when I really think about it...what seems to keep coming to my mind is why we do what we do?  What is the purpose of living a life as a pastor to a congregation of people who are looking for something.  It is really just that.  All of us inside are seeking something in our lives whether it be fame, fortune, love, happiness, but all of those things still really cannot fill the void that seems to get more vast every second of every day.  That is the amazing gift that we pastors have the opportunity to share on a weekly basis.  

The idea that hope can be find in a relationship with Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus alone.  It makes all those other things seem insignificant.  It brings to light the reason that we pastors stay up late and wake up early, visit the sick, preach on sundays, counsel during the week, because there is a community we are a part of that is looking for something.  We have that something and it is our job to show that to them.  

God has revealed in me that despite all things, he power and hope reigns true in all things.  It is an exciting feeling and most of all a feeling that makes me want to drive to work every morning.  A feeling that excites me when I have the chance to interact with students.  A chance that excites me when I am able to share the gospel with a student and they get it.  There is not a better feeling in life then knowing that you shared the gift of life with someone, the gift of life in Jesus Christ.  

till another day, 

normallyINDIE 

Book Review - Radical by David Platt

I first heard of this book from a friend of mine and pastor at Emmanuel Church of Greenwood named Shane Combs.  Shane introduced me to this book after he spent time reading it during my internship this past year.  Shane assured me that it was a book that would challenge my faith and my way of life as I knew it.  I took his word for it and it was entirely true.  

Among the books I have read over the past year this book is one that is set apart from the rest.  Throughout the book Platt describes different scenarios where he believes the American church has fallen short.  For most people the "American Dream" is something worth striving for and Platt sees this to be true in most churches today.  The "American Church Dream" of starting a church and it exploding to having thousands of members with a great speaker, media, and performance all in all.  But what seems to go by the way side in churches like this is the power of the scriptures and the redeeming power of Jesus' sacrificial love. The megachurch world is so concerned with reaching this point of superiority as a church, but where is our knowledge of the scripture and our true yearning for its' power. 

The book was filled with hundreds of facets of the modern day Christian church that must be changed, but for some reason this seemed to stick out.  I am not sure if it is because I seem to take for granted the book that is the living breath of God.  Because I have spent much of my lifetime with at least one bible available (not to mention four or five dependent on the translation) I have lost the anxious and excited spirit when it comes to reading the holy word of the Lord.  We, as people of God, should be praising constantly that we have the privilege to freely read and preach God's word however and whenever we please.  I am not the most patriotic of Americans, but I am thankful that God has allowed me to live in a country that allows me to freely read and worship the word of the Lord.  But my question is what would we feel like when we read the scriptures if it were not a freedom?  How would we react to the holy word of God if it was not so readily available to us?  

Platt raises these types of questions in a book that must be read by modern day Christians.  It shatters the things that seemed to be so important and brings to light the importance of the scriptures once again.  Read this book for you will be radically changed. 

till another day, 

normallyINDIE

Book Review - Erasing Hell by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle...

If you are a Christian Nerd like me or a church leader of any sorts you probably been bombarded with the argument about the after life in recent months.  There have been countless blog posts, status updates, and book written in response to the controversial book LoveWins by Rob Bell earlier this year.  I recently spent the time reading one of these responses entitled Erasing Hell by Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle.  Being a fan of Chan's recent Basic DVD series I thought I would pick up this bit of light reading to see what he had to say regarding the topic of Hell and the after life in general.

All in all, I really was not impressed with the writing as a whole.  I thought it lacked the quality authorship that Rob Bell and other scholars have on the topic.  It seemed that Chan & Sprinkle were simply trying to make a response to the book LoveWins that would be readily available to the everyday Christian reading.  I would have liked  him to go much deeper on the topic and instead of focusing so much on the importance of the topic or on his disgrace with Bell, I would have enjoyed some deeper scholarly insight into the issue.

This book was not all bad, it has some great insight and questions regarding the character of God and how it is perceived by non-christians.  It is described that for a  non-christian it may be difficult for them to understand a God that wouldn't accept all into his holy place called heaven.  I did enjoy the chapter regarding the clay and the potter.  Much of the time we, being the clay, do believe that we can design the pot, but that would be ridiculous.  For God is the potter and his divine hands are the one's molding this world.  Therefore, as Jesus states in the first chapter of Acts, we are not to know the time and place of God's actions.  This lack of control is something that must be considered when we are trying to live this life of sanctification and justification.

This book was an interesting look at the topic of Hell, but I would have enjoyed some deeper insight into the issue of Hell.  Because I am not a fan of responsive writings, it made it difficult to dive deep into the text.  If I were you I would grab the book LoveWins, Erasing Hell, and your bible translation of choice and pray that God will lead you to a biblically based interpretation of the issue of the afterlife.  For all of these ideas lie in scripture and must be prayerfully considered by each individual Christian.  Happy Studying.


till another day,



normallyINDIE

Move Mountains...

If any of you have been following the posts from the past summer and fall semester, you realize that I have struggled with this idea of trust.  Not trust the individuals of the world, but trusting the created of this world.

As many of you know, I am in my final 7 weeks of my internship/college career and will be beginning my life in the real world.  The real world of paying for rent, gas, food, shelter, and any wonderful gifts I would love to give my beautiful fiancé Jennifer.  This pressure has brought me to either fully trust God or worry about where my future was going to lie.  And if I can be completely honest, I have leaned much more toward worry than toward trust.  Although I have been praying every single day about my future, that was part of the problem.  Although I was praying, I was praying merely about the problem that I claimed to be "ignoring".  These faithful prayers only lead to more worry than true, leaving my commitment to God's will for my life dependent on what he was going to do regarding my future career.

But it was not until this past Sunday that I began to fully realize what it meant to trust to Lord God with all my heart.  As a youth ministry we had the opportunity to visit the Rising at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, IN.  We got connected with their ministry because Matt Allman the youth minister at the Rising was a part of OASIS at Eastview Christian Church when I was a student.  We have stayed connected over the years and when we, as a youth ministry, were given the opportunity to visit another service, the Rising stuck out.

Matt was the speaker for the night and he spoke on what happens when you truly confide in the Lord.  He emphasized the fact that God still moves mountains, you will find peace when you trust in the Lord, and also find Rest in his arms as you allow him to be your protector, provider, and father.

All of this was all things I have heard before, but there was never a better time to realize the fact the God truly WILL bring peace and rest in the Lord.  With my life in mind, I have begun to realize through prayer and worship the last couple of days that trusting in the Lord does not only include trusting in him, but also believing the he can truly do miraculous things.  With these miraculous things in mind, I have peace in the fact that my God is just that, my God.  My father, creator, protecter, and provider that will do just that, provide.

It is not a fact that if God will move mountains, but when God will move mountains.  I have found peace is this fact and I am now finding rest.

till another day,



normallyINDIE

House Church?

As I am in the beginning of the church job search, I cannot help but wonder what the church was like in the days of the apostles.  In the lifetimes of Stephen, Paul, and Peter.  What was the structure?  What was the theology?  Did they have all the answers to all the major questions, Heaven & Hell, Suffering, Destruction, and Pain.  From what I have read and very shortly studied, they did not have all of the answers or for the most part know what they were doing.  At the times of the early church they were merely beginning their journey of christianity.  Therefore, they did not know what to say on any of these major issues, in fact the leaders of the then House Church spent much of their time seeking out the advice of Paul, Timothy, Peter, and many other leaders in the Christian movement.  But even then the leaders would seek out the counsel of the scriptures.  True refuge was found in the God-breathed scriptures and these scriptures became the center of who they were, the decisions they made, and the way they acted not because they were told to do so, but because what they were doing was for God.  Although they may not have had all the answers they did have the answer that matter, that being the fact that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to save the lives of all of humanity from the crippling sin that was at the center of their lives.

 After truly thinking about these ideas, I have come to the realization that there is something very organic and natural about this model.  The fact that nothing got in the way of them truly sharing the gospel to other people because they just realized that it was their job to do so.  They felt the urgency of the story they were telling and the fact that if you do not choose to join in then, you will no longer be in eternity with Christ and his followers.

Something very organic in nature reminds me of a program that we have been holding for a couple of years now at Emmanuel and I have just been given the opportunity to be a part during my present internship.  To give you all some background, Cell Groups are the names of our student led small groups.  These small groups consist of a leader, co-leader, and prospective leader as well as as many friends they can pack into their house.  Lessons are established ministry wide for each of the 10 weeks of the semester and are provided for the leaders.  The leaders then essentially lead the group of people through the lesson and eventually preach the gospel message to, hopefully, a group of unchurched people.

I had the honor of visiting a cell group for the first time and I really was able to see the parallel between the house churches Paul was setting up in the New Testament and the Cell Groups that are taking place today.  These are merely a group of people, leaders included, who do not have it all together and aren't trying to.  These are just house churches that have leaders that long for their friends to be in relationship with Christ and they will do whatever it takes to make that happen.  Although the leaders may not have all the answered, God has equipped them with the tools necessary to preach the gospel to their friends.  (I will speak about what I believe to be these tools later this week so stay tuned).

God is leading his church, not through huge productions and fancy lights, but he is leading his church through people who are willing to admit they don't have all the answers, but that they merely know that God is alive in them and they want to share that hope with as many people as possible.  I pray daily that I am one of those people and I plead with God not to harden my heart because I am distracted by everything else.  We are called to be the church, not a building, but God's people sharing the hope, love, and grace we found in the true living God, Jesus Christ.


till another Day,


normallyINDIE

"Love Wins" - Book Review

In honor of all of the controversy and my fondness of Rob Bell, I decided to purchase and read his new book "Love Wins".  What follows is my personal book review going Chapter by Chapter to describe the issues that are stated in each.

Chapter 1 - What About the Flat Tire 
          This chapter centered on the idea of the people in scripture and how they truly respond to Jesus.  What I took away from this Chapter was just truly understanding the fact that our life here in earth is about nothing else, but how we respond to the actions of Jesus.  For Jesus' ministry on Earth was not only words, but throughout history actions were a product of the words that were stated throughout scripture.

Chapter 2 - Here is the New There 
        For most it is understood that Heaven is a place that is much further from where we are presently, but Rob brings about another idea on the picture of Heaven.  For Rob it seems practical that for those who consider themselves to be followers of Christ, Heaven can be seen throughout daily life.  Through the illustration of the rich man parable that the love, joy, and peace of Heaven should not be considered to be missing from our present day life.

Chapter 3 - Hell 
        Much of the Hell discussion throughout this book is the most controversial section in the book.  For like Heaven, Hell seems to be seen in our daily lives.  It is believed by Rob that we have an opportunity on a daily basis to accept or reject God's calling for our lives, with the rejection comes destruction and turmoil.  This being lead by the opportunity to choose God daily.  This is a freedom that is through the truth that is spoken through the gospel.  Through this, like Heaven, Hell can be seen daily, Hell is here now and Hell is later.

Chapter 4 - Does God get What God Wants? 
        God heart is at the center of his ministry including his Love being at the foremost center.  As stated throughout the last chapter Love is a free choice and each person is given the opportunity to truly choose God's love.  It can even be believed that given enough time, everybody will turn to God.  For Rob believes that "untold masses of people suffering forever doesn't bring God glory."  For God will eventually melt even the hardest of hearts.  But on the other hand God's gift of love is free, thus the choice to be in love is free.   Love cannot be forced or manipulated, but it is a choice.

Chapter 5 - Dying to Live 
        Accepting the gift of love also includes the acceptance of Jesus' forgiving act on the cross.  With this acceptance of Jesus' forgiveness is an acceptance into a different lifestyle.  Thus each person who has chosen the love of Christ has chosen to die to their old lifestyle and engage in a new lifestyle that is centered on the actions paved by Jesus and his ministry.

Chapter 6 - There are Rocks Everywhere 
        Jesus is all around.  Paul found that Jesus was in all things including a rock.  Therefore Rob considers Jesus to also be apart of all cultures and apart of all areas of life.  But with this inclusion in all aspects of culture, brings to light the fact that Jesus will save everyone, which is not necessarily what Rob believes.  Instead he believes that Jesus is as wide and as narrow as the opportunities he gives his people to accept the gifts of love.  For Jesus is exclusive, but yet inclusive because he is a part of all aspects of culture.  Thus Jesus being present in ever aspect of creation, shows that he has given each person the opportunity to accept him.  For it is understood that it is only through Jesus that the breath of life can be found, but Jesus has given all people the opportunity to find it.

Chapter 7 - The Good News is Better Than That 
       For many churches today the idea of the Gospel is centered on "punching your ticket" to eternal life with God.  Although the church does center it's sermons and ideas on the action steps that come with Christianity, the most important aspect of Christianity is "punching your ticket".  But what Rob establishes is that the Gospel is much more than that.  When the gospel is reduced to such a point, the good news of the gospel becomes a ticket.  The good news of the Gospel is much more than that.  For the gift of the gospel is an unfair opportunity for the people who choose it.  For all people deserve death, but Heaven is our destination if we choose so.  Jesus is the rescue from the wrath of God, for God's wrath must be justified, but instead of us being held for our actions we are freed from this wrath.  The good news of God is much more than just a ticket, but it is a lifestyle change and a justification from the horrible life that we are given on this earth.

Chapter 8 - The End is Here 
      This chapter centers on the idea that our opportunities continue to pass as we go through life.  An important quotation that is at the center of this chapter is "While we may get other opportunities, we won't get the one right in front of us again."  Taking advantage on a said opportunity can be the most pivotal decision made.  The decision that we take and make on a daily basis will be decisions that field the rest of our life, meaning these decisions matter more than we can imagine.  Decisions take a whole new role, when you realize the importance of every small one.

All in All, this book brought to light many issues that I did not think about before.  The idea that God's love is truly at the center of his ministry, thus making the ministry of the Gospel much more about daily decisions to choose the love of Christ than "punching your ticket" to an eternity with Christ.  I do not feel the controversy did the book justice because despite all that was said, the scriptures still reigned true. There were so great ideas to be taken out of this book.