outside the box

This Sunday at WE we begin a weekly study of the book of James.  I believe that James is an often overlooked letter.  For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem that much of our conversation centers on this letter from Jesus’ brother.  And I really don’t know why….

We often speak of reaching out to the lost.  We often consider how we might impact the world around us.  We often engage in discussion as to how the relevance of Christ might be readily evident in us as His people.  And yet, somehow, no dialogue from the book of James.

James is a letter of faith.  It is a letter of action.  It is a letter of practicality.  And it is a letter of relevance.  Isn’t that the answer to communicating the message of the Gospel in what many cultural anthropologists are calling a “post-Christian” culture?

Faith.  Action.  Practicality.  Relevance.

I’m excited about our journeying together side-by-side through this powerful, wonderful, often overlooked, letter.

James will ask, “Are you facing difficulties in life?  Does everything seem to be coming apart at the seams?”  And then contend, “Let me point you to the One who is bigger than all of that!”

James will probe, “Oh, you think you’re a follower of Jesus because you believe?  Big, whoop-de-do!  Faith is more than belief.  It is opening your eyes and doing something that’s beyond yourself.”

James will question, “Who are you fooling?  You claim to be a disciple of our Lord and yet still have areas of your life that you’ve failed to give Him Lordship over?  Does that really sound like discipleship to you?”

We’re going to call our study: “Outside the Box.”  Because James opens our hearts and minds to a whole other world.  A radical faith that simply cannot be contained.

Glory to God!

Jason

those who mourn

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4

God’s divine favor and comfort, amidst tragedy, grief, and mourning.

Please be in prayer for those impacted by the terror at the Boston Marathon.

And for all of those in West, Texas.

We are a people created for a Kingdom not of this world.

Our King is the Great Healer.

Glory to God!

Jason

getting off the ladder

When we are children, we think about what we will become.  Who we will become.  We dream of who we will be.  What we will do.  The things we will accomplish.

It’s doubtful that we’ve all become cowboys, astronauts, and racecar drivers.  We learn to adapt.  We change our minds.  We face setbacks.

All of this thinking, however, is on a physical level.  No matter how high we climb the ladder our view is seriously impeded until we begin to see life through spiritual eyes.  Only when we get off the ladder and begin to ascend the mountain of God does the view ever change.  Only when we ascend the mountain does our perspective change.

The Psalmist exclaims to God, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13).

The Apostle Paul pens, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

And in Ephesians 2:10 he affirms, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Regardless of vocation.  Regardless of situation.  Regardless of circumstance.  Regardless of victory or defeat.  To begin to see every moment of life as God-ordained.  Christ-centered.  Spirit-filled. And Kingdom-embracing.

God meets His people not at the top of the ladder, but upon the mountain (Hebrews 12:22).

Too often we assess our value as to where we are on the ladder (physical), rather than how we are living up to our calling as believers (spiritual).

When we get off the ladder and begin to climb the mountain of God it is then that we not only begin to become acutely aware of our calling in life, but it is then, and only then, that we begin to achieve the very things that our Father has created us and purposed us to do.

Glory to God!

Jason

heaven came down

My kids know my whistle.  I don’t necessarily whistle all that loudly or all that long.  But if I want to get their attention amidst distraction, I just whistle.  When we’re all in the Family Life Center on Wednesday evenings and there are people talking and kids everywhere and I need to get one of my boy’s attention in the sea of children on the basketball court, I just whistle, and their heads turn.  Not in a fearful way or a worrisome way.  They just know my whistle.  When we’re at home and they’re playing outside with other kids, and in one of their friend’s back yard, and Tiersa and I need them to come home, I just step out on the front porch and whistle, and I soon here a, “Coming!…” from a few houses down.  The whistle is sort of like “Heads up!” or “Hey, look this direction!”

John the Baptist came proclaiming the Kingdom is at hand!  The Kingdom is close.  The Kingdom is near.  Heads up!  Pay attention!  It’s near!  The Kingdom is near!  And then, the Kingdom (the reign and rule of God) is made a reality in Jesus.

As the old hymn declares, “Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.”

The Kingdom of heaven.  The reign of God as His Spirit rains down upon human hearts through divine will.  The Kingdom of heaven.  Heaven coming down.  Glory filling our souls.

That’s our reality.  Here’s my question: What was John’s role?  What is John the Baptist’s task in this?  Fulfilling the will and purpose of God?  Yes.  “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him” (Mt 3:3)?  Absolutely.  But ultimately, John’s God-ordained position is to announce.  To call attention.  “Heads up!”  “Hey, look this direction!” (cf. Jn 1:29,35).   “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near!” (Mt 3:2).  The Kingdom is near!  Heaven is coming down!

Calling people wherever they were in life to come, and to be a part of the Kingdom.

Our role, our task, our purpose is the same….  To call people wherever they are in life to come, and to be a part of the Kingdom of heaven.

Glory to God!

Jason

giving up our rights

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

“He must become greater, I must become less,” John the Baptist (John 3:30).

“Paul, a servant of God….” (Titus 1:1).

Humility is elusive, because just when you think you’ve got it… you don’t!

For some humility is a gift.  It comes extremely naturally.  To very few humility is second nature (my grandmother is like this).  However, for most, humility is a daily choice that runs contrary to our nature.  A decision that is willfully made.  Day after day.  Moment by moment.  To humble ourselves and be ever so willing to become obedient to death, even death on a cross (connect Philippians 2:8 with Luke 9:23) whether that cross is physical or metaphorical.  To give up our rights and die to ourselves so that Christ might be lifted up and exalted through us.

When someone is being questioned in regard to a crime by a governmental official they will first be advised of their rights before any questioning begins.  The Miranda warning reads, “You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.  You have the right to have an attorney present prior to and during any questioning.  If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to you.  Should you choose to begin answering questions, you have the right to terminate the interview at any time.  Do you understand you’re rights?”  When the answer comes back, “Yes,” the next question asked is, “Will you voluntarily waive your rights and answer some questions?”

In Christ, humility demands that we give up our rights.  We give up our rights to be first.  We give up our rights to be center stage.  We give up our rights to be heard.  To be proven right.  To be exalted.  In order that He might be first.  Center stage.  Heard.  Proven right.  And exalted.  The cross of Jesus requires that we give up our rights, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  That we would willfully empty ourselves of self.  And that in turn, we would be filled by Him.

I wonder how this God-ordained approach my impact some of our struggling relationships?

Glory to God!

Jason

friendship day 2013

Friendship Day will soon be here!  February 17^th.  One week from Sunday.

Friendship Day generates an opportunity for us to invite and encourage others to come and worship with us at WE.  It provides an avenue that we might ask others to come and share the Lord with us.  It creates an atmosphere of energy as we are all striving together toward a common event and common goal.  And it uplifts us as God works in the hearts of those who call this church their “home” and as He ministers to the hearts of those who are visiting with us on the day.

On February 17^th we will also unpack a vision for the West Erwin Church of Christ that we pray will grant us renewed focus as we each minister courageously and effectively in the Kingdom of God.

I ask you to continue to pray for our day together.  To pray that the goodness of God and wonder of His Kingdom would be evident in all that we are about on Friendship Day.  I ask that you encourage others to come and share in our worship, as we praise our Father together, and as we connect and fellowship with one another.

There are cards available at the visitor’s center (please take as many as you’d like this Sunday) that provide the schedule of the day, as well as contact information.  Classes @ 9am.  Worship @ 10am.  Lunch provided in the Family Life Center immediately following worship.  No evening services.  Small groups meeting that evening.  All with the intentional goal in mind of revival and blessing.  Striving to live closer to our God.

I leave you with these words from AW Tozer, “Revival and blessing come to the Church when we stop looking at a picture of God and look at God Himself.  Revival comes when, no longer satisfied just to know about a God in history, we meet the conditions of finding Him in living, personal experience.”

Glory to God!

Jason

ten words

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14).  Ten words.  That changed everything.

In an instant, everything changed.  It was all in God’s divine plan.  All in His divine providence.  All founded in His divine initiative.

Decades later (and especially a century later), the incarnation would be at the center of debate.  There were many who questioned the validity of the Word becoming flesh.  It wasn’t entirely Christ’s deity that was under scrutiny.  It wasn’t solely His humanity that was doubted.  It was the mental gymnastics required to accept that He was both.  Divine and human.  Simultaneously.  Upon initial consideration, can we blame them?  We have the benefit of 2000 years of theology.  But the reality that Christ was 100% God and 100% human, you have to admit, is a doctrine that must be based solely upon faith.  Because it makes no earthly sense.

But He was.  Christ was with God in the beginning (John 1:1).  And then He became (John 1:14).  He became, He took on flesh, and He lived and walked and ministered among us.  The incarnation is intended to blow our minds.  And it should!  That God was willing, that Christ was willing, to “take on the nature of a servant” and be made “in human likeness” and to become “obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:1-11) should amaze us!  It is certainly designed to.

And the amazement of the incarnation must not end there.  Because the wonder of it all is that Christ is “incarnate” in us (if we can use that terminology).  God is revealed “in the flesh” when His people live out our calling as those who belong to Him.

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).  Verse 27 comes at the conclusion of an entire section of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church which centers upon the incarnation of God in Jesus.  He then transitions to the incarnation of Christ, in us!

That a holy God would, through His perfect Son, reside within an unholy and imperfect people should amaze us!  It is certainly designed to.  Our reality as those who have been sanctified by the Spirit purposes you and I to reveal His deity in our humanity.  In our divine and human nature(s).  Christ is us, the hope of glory.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14).  Ten words.  That changed everything.  Ten words.  That change us still.

Glory to God!

Jason

adoration, praise, relevance, and commitment

If I were a relatively unchurched individual and we were talking about the relevance of faith, how would you convince me of the commitment that you have to Christ?

Our first response is generally either one of orthodoxy or orthopraxy?  “Orthodoxy” meaning “right doctrine.”  “Orthopraxy” meaning “right practice.”  Whichever one we begin with in our explanation (either orthodoxy or orthopraxy) we generally follow with an invested pursuit of the other (which makes perfect sense by the way).

But if I were a person who had little to no previous exposure to the Christian faith, and you and I were going to walk through the commitment that you have to Christ, to the Christian faith, to the church family that you have invested yourself into and who has invested into you, and if you were going to speak to the impact faith has upon every aspect of your life – What would you share with me?

Perhaps you’d begin with a desire to be faithful to God.  Faithful to His Word.  Faithful to your calling.  Faithful to the relationship that He grants through Jesus.  Surely you’d tell me of the change salvation brings to your life.  A change of heart.  A change of priorities.  A change of perspective.  Maybe you’d speak to me of transformation.  The continual transformation that you experience day after day.  The transformation that you’ve witnessed in the lives of others.

When speaking specifically to the concept of commitment to our Savior and to His people, in order for faith to be seen as real and relevant to others (whether to those who are churched or unchurched) it must come from deep within us.

We sing the song Listen to Our Hearts, “How do you explain?  How do you describe?  A love that goes from East to West?  And runs as deep as it is wide?”  And then, as the chorus declares to our God, “So listen to our hearts.  Hear our spirits sing.  A song of faith that flows.  From those you have redeemed.  We will use the words we know to tell you what an awesome God you are, but words are not enough, to tell you of our love, so listen to our hearts.”

The adoration and praise of the Father; a life that adores and praises our Father; a church that adores and praises our Father; is undeniable, relevant, and real when it comes from deep within.

Glory to God!

Jason

the Word of life

How much of your day is committed to reading Scripture?

What role does a consideration of God’s Word play in comprising your life?

For some, being led and counseled and nourished by Scripture is a normal, healthy discipline practiced each and every day.  But if I were to speculate, for many this is not the case.

It is interesting that we will readily testify to a perceived reality of God’s Word as a foundational part of who we are as believers, and yet what we generally mean by “foundational,” is our understanding of Scripture, rather than its message spoken routinely into our lives.

In gratitude the Psalmist acknowledges, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

In reliance he confesses, “I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

In order for Scripture to be “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” and so that we might have the philosophy of God’s Word such that it is wholly “hidden within our hearts” (with the goal of fidelity to God) – continual, intentional time must be invested into facilitating our Father ministering to us through His Holy Word.  Certainly He ministers and speaks to us through His Spirit and through life, but Scripture, if it is to be all that our God intends in our lives, is to be unequivocally formative and central.

And as we read the Bible, what is our purpose?  What is our aim?  What is our goal?  Because how we approach Scripture is crucial.  Do we read God’s Word so that we might master it?  Or so that we might be mastered?  Do we study so as to gain support of our presuppositions?  Or so that we might be filled by God?

At the beginning of the year many make renewed commitments to read and study Scripture.  I want to encourage you in this.  However my prayer is that we would not only be committed to being a people of Scripture, continually fed by Almighty God through His Holy Word, but also, in our study, have the paramount agenda of closeness and faithfulness to God.

Because if I understand anything from our Lord it is this: He honors genuineness.  And He honors faithfulness. 

Glory to God!

Jason

when all of life becomes prayer

As we embark upon a new year together, I wonder what sort of resolutions have been made among us?  I wonder what sort of changes those of us who call the West Erwin Church of Christ our “home” have in mind to make in the year 2013?

The beginning of a new year grants us an opportunity to reflect.  An opportunity to consider the previous year.  Who we are.  Where we are at in life.  What we are doing well.  And what areas of life we are failing in.

Not everyone takes advantage of this fresh start.  To many January 1^st is no different from December 31^st.  Certainly we have the opportunity to make changes every day.  Every moment.  But sometimes, taking advantage of an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and say, “From this point forward things are going to be different” proves monumental.

So here’s my question: What if we became known as a people of prayer?  What if prayer was definitive rather than supportive?  What if a life of prayer characterized you and me?

It seems to me that the Apostle Paul leads us to a reality of all of life encompassed within prayer (1 Thess 5:17).  To a point in time when all of life becomes prayer.  When prayer and connectedness to God becomes such a natural assimilation of who we are that we become a people of prayer.

Could we integrate a commitment to prayer and to being a people of prayer into our thoughts and actions this new year as a church?  Would you commit with me to praying bold prayers?  Prayers from the heart.  Prayers of reliance and praise and submission.  Could we dedicate intentional effort to being men and women, individuals and families, who live lives characterized by prayer?

Because only when all of life becomes prayer will we begin to see the Kingdom break in all around us in epic, radical, profound ways.

Glory to God!

Jason