1 Corinthians 16// Message Remix Pause

(13-14)Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.

I have been thinking about attitude lately. I have been thinking a lot about my attitude. I told all of you about a year ago that i had a problem with negative thinking. I have been trying to correct my negative attitude and work towards the mind of Christ. Today I was reminded that I'm not doing as good as I should. I need to work harder at changing my attitude. I still have moments of negativity. It leaks out of me when I get frustrated or when I get mad. It sneaks in and takes over my brain and I don't even see it. I don't even recognize it until it is to late.

Look what Paul says to the Corinthians: Hold tight to your convictions. If my convictions are to be positive. If I am to have the mind of Christ, I need to change. I need to turn from my ways and go toward His. He goes on to say give it all you've got. Everything. All of myself. Not just the moments when I'm thinking clear or when others are watching. But all of me all of the time. Then he says something that stopped me in my tracks. Be RESOLUTE. I love that word. It means, "marked by firm determination" (thanks Mr Webster!) A firm determination. A decision to push forward. I have to be resolute in my decision to change. I need your help. You have to hold me accountable for my attitude and pray that God will help me change!

How about you? What about your attitude needs to change? What do you need to be resolute about?

New Bible!

I love Bibles. I love to collect them. I like to have as many as I can of different shapes and sizes.
On Monday Lauren and I went on a trip to the Evansville Zoo. We had a great time looking at the animals and such. Then we had a little while before dinner time. So we went to the Verizon Store so I could get a new case for my cell phone and then on to the Vineyard Christian Book Store. I had no intention of buying anything, but then after make a few funny suggestions to Lauren, I saw something I knew I could not live without.
It's called the NIV NoteWorthy Bible.

Now this picture does not give justice to the Bible itself. There are several great features that you need to know about:
1. There are elastic straps that hold the Bible open flat on the desk. There is also a strap that goes around to hold the Bible closed.
2. The Bible is square. It has the look of Leather Bound, but has a hard type cover. It appears to be really durable!
3. This is the best one: Every other page is blank. That's right folks. Every other page. When I open the Bible, The left side has the text and the right side is completely blank. It's perfect for note taking. No more margin writing for me!
If you would like to examine this beautiful creation, come by my office and take a look!

Great Song!

"The Motions" by Matthew West

Update: This is a video that I made for my Sunday Sermon:



This might hurt
It’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care
If I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just ok
Is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything?
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets
Not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love
Make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something

Take me all the way
Take me all the way
Take me all the way

ATTITUDE- Makes Worship

Something happened yesterday and it made me think. It made me think about what true worship really is. I have been working on a "Theology of Worship" for myself.

For the last few years I have thought of worship as more than a service. I have been thinking that worship is an attitude. Here is what I have been thinking about today. I post this not as a final statement of belief, but as a draft. I want your input. Your critical input. What do you really think about this? What is right? What is wrong? What needs to be changed? What needs to be added? Please give me your honest input. (A special note here: Lauren has already given a great deal of input that has made this what it is. Without her help it would not be here!)

Over the next few weeks I plan to break each of these down. I would like to develop each of these thoughts and back them up with scripture.

A- Authentic Worship has to be heartfelt and intentional, a single focus. You have to give all of yourself to God, nothing can be held back.
T- Trinity Worship must be focused on the Love of the Father, the righteousness of the Savior, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must approach the throne of God with humility and respect.
T- Transformation Worship must leave you changed each and every time.
I- Interconnection Worship can be private, but the connection between others is vital.
T- Truth Worship is based on sound doctrine; songs, prayers and teaching must line up with the scriptures.
U- Uncommon Worship must be exceptional in that we expect the unexpected. We expect God to be there and big things to happen.
D- Demonstrative Worship transforms us and that change must be apparent to everyone around us.
E- Experiential Worship is more than going through the motions; it must be expressive and engage all parts of our intellect and emotion.

Mark 8// The Message Remix Pause

(16-19)Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus overheard and said, "Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don't you see the point of all this? Don't you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?"

They said, "Twelve."

(20)"And the seven loaves for the four thousand—how many bags full of leftovers did you get?"

"Seven."

(21)He said, "Do you still not get it?"

Crap. That's right I said it. Crap. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again. It was a few years ago and I said that word during a sermon. Today I said that word when I read this passage of scripture.

I noticed something in the passage. A few verses before Jesus tells his followers, "Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod." And in the next sentence it say that they were finding fault with each other! No sooner had Jesus finished sharing with them a warning, they turned around and became exactly what he told then to avoid. How often are we like this. How often do we here from Christ and turn around and do the exact opposite? I do it way to often.

It is easy to become like the followers of Jesus here in this passage. It is easy for us to get wrapped up in the judgment of others. It is easy for us to question others motives. It is easy for us to get mad and upset with each other. It is so much harder for us to grow up and follow Jesus' instructions. What are God's instructions here? simple. Rely on me for everything. When we had five loaves to feed five thousand? When we had seven loaves to feed four thousand? I provided. I made a way. I made it possible. SO, Seth, stop relying on yourself. Stop relying on your own power. Stop relying on others. Stop. Just trust in me. I will provide!

Are you Disturbed?

Last night we had one of our missionaries come and share about her and her husband's work in India. She shared great stories of changed lives. It was inspiring to hear her talk about God moving in a place so opposed to Christ.

One thing she said really hit me hard. She was talking about the anti-conversion laws that are being enacted in India. She said one government official in the country was quoted in the newspaper as saying something like this, "Make sure you don't disturb the Christians. When you disturb them they grow."

What a statement. What a thought. What an observation. I know the official was speaking about the churches, but for me this can be very personal. We are to be disturbed in our faith? (not by it but in it. There is a difference.) It is really easy to go to church and listen to a pastor who is saying what you want to hear. It is easy to read the Bible and look for what you already know. It is easy to go to the book store and read books that say what you agree with. What is hard is to hear things that disturb you. Things that make you squirm. Things that me you uncomfortable. Things that challenge your thinking and your way of life. When you are disturbed, you grow.

Romans 12:2- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Mark 2//Message Remix Pause

(1-5) After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins."

I remember the flannel grafts in Sunday School. You know what I am talking about? Those pieces of card stock with the special coating on the back that makes them stick to the board with flannel material on it. I remember my Sunday School teachers moving the players of the story around the board while telling us the story. I remember what they would tell us, "Look how powerful Jesus is! He can heal the man who can't walk!" What a great lesson for kids to learn.

But today I heard something different. What I heard was "look at his friends!"

Take a look at those guys. Look what they did for their friend. Look what they accomplished when they put their love into action. When they said we love you so much that we are willing to do whatever it takes. Do you and I have that same kind of passion? Do we have that same drive to bring our "sin sick" friends to Jesus? Do we have that same passion and faith? Do we really live this out in our life?

I need to work harder. I need to go to greater lengths. I need to have that kind of passion. I challenge you to do the same.