Monday, January 2, 2017
Thoughts From Luke - Day 62
Luke 13:1-9
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
In this passage Jesus deals with tragedies, natural disasters, the cruelty of man and the question of "If God is so powerful why doesn't He stop bad things from happening?" - in a unique way and maybe a way that we can use.
Two listed tragedies happened around 30AD. One was a slaughter of some Galileans initiated by Pilate and another was a tower in Siloam had fallen and killed 18 people. Those two were well known around the area and they didn't even have CNN or newspaper or social media. Imagine all the bad things which happened that they didn't know about. As I look back on 2016, just in our area we had the wildfires in Gatlinburg which killed a similar number to the tower falling. Around the world there were earthquakes, killings in Syria, shootings in Charlotte and Orlando, and the list goes on. These usually leave us asking questions like, "why"? Jesus has a few comments on these why questions.
First of all, He kind of hints at "why not"? I mean, if evolution is true and there is no purpose in life, no right or wrong, no reason for our existence, but we are cosmic accidents evolved by chance over hundreds of millions of years from primordial soup directed by mutations and survival of the fittest - we should expect death. Death is how our species advances. Obviously Pilate was a stronger, more advanced person who weeded out the lesser people. The tower falling on people weeded out those of inferior intellect leaving behind people who could build better towers. We are surprised by tragedy, and the reason the word "tragedy" even exists is that we have come to take for granted the goodness of God. We have come to expect the watering and the fertilizing of the tree but lament and blame God when the tree topples.
Secondly, Jesus points to the inevitability of death. We all assume we are guaranteed or entitled to 80 years or so and premature death is unfair. This past year we had famous people who didn't make it that far from Prince to George Michael, Alan Thicke, Carrie Fisher, etc. and it shocks us. Should we be shocked by death? After all, 1 out of 1 people die. Do we live like we are immortal? Probably. Jesus replies to the effect of, "Why are you surprised these people died - everyone dies." We are shocked by death because something inside us tells us that death is unnatural - we weren't created to die. If evolution is true, we wouldn't have those thoughts but since we are created beings, we do. Jesus came to defeat death and hell and Satan, and to bring eternal life. Tragedies, "premature death", serve as a megaphone saying, "Things aren't right in this world. This world is broken. The Kingdom of Earth is not your home. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Trust Jesus. Repent of your sins. Enter into the Kingdom where death and evil have been defeated and live forever in Heaven with your Creator." The grace and mercy of God is giving you a little more time to come to Jesus but don't assume you have unlimited time. The time is now!
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Thoughts From Luke - Day 61
Luke 12:49-59
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
.
The Old Testament, which Jesus referred to as "the scriptures", was around at the time of Jesus' appearance on the Earth. In it, there were over 300 prophecies of the Messiah available to the people, especially the scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the law, pointing to Jesus being the chosen one. Even today, the Jews, who believe the Old Testament have complete passages like Isiah 53 and Psalm 22 which clearly identify Jesus and yet they miss Him. Why is that?
First of all spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Jesus says to them, "How can you look at the sky at night and predict what the weather will be like tomorrow, yet you can't look at the scriptures and see that the Messiah has come"? It seems so clear doesn't it? If spiritual things were discerned with the brain, things like Scientology and Mormonism would have no followers. They are completely idiotic. Yet brilliant people believe them and give their lives to them. The Bible says that the god of this age, Satan, has blinded people's hearts and minds to the truth. Therefore, for people to understand the truth, a work of God, this fire that Jesus is talking about, the Holy Spirit, has to open one's mind. My favorite preacher, Andy Stanley, I feel is missing it lately on this point. He is such a keen mind and a gifted communicator (just ask him), that he feels that he can reason people into Heaven. Lately it's like, if something doesn't make sense, it's not important. Just accept the death and resurrection of Christ which are historical facts and follow the Guy who predicted them. The problem is at some point it requires a leap of faith - you have to admit that you are a sinner and deserve death because of it. You have to believe that Jesus is God, came from Heaven, lived a sinless death and died the death for you that you deserve. You have to take it as a free gift, not by works, be born again by the Spirit, and enter into a new kingdom even though your feet never left this planet. All that is spiritually discerned. No apologetics can convince you of that. Salvation in its essence is spiritual, not mental.
Secondly people don't believe it because they understand the implications - it will rock their world. Relationships will end. If you are gay, that will have to end. If you are living together, that will have to end. If you are dating an unbeliever that will have to end. If you are a Muslim or Jew you will be kicked out of your family or worse. If you are working at a job that isn't God honoring, you will be out of work. If you have a peer group that routinely behaves in ungodly ways, you will have to leave the group, if they don't kick you out first. This is why Jesus repeatedly says, "count the cost". It's sort of like, as today is New Years and people are making resolutions, everyone could be thin if they wanted to. My partner at work lost 80 lbs. this year by switching to a Vegan diet and exercising. He was getting diabetes with some sequellae, and decided to lose weight. He counted the cost and did it. I could get thin but I am not willing to give up certain things, therefore I remain plump. Most unbelievers remain that way because they don't understand or don't want to believe the sequellae of being an unbeliever, eternal hell and judgement (55-57), and therefore the cost of receiving Christ is too great.
Where does that leave us who are believers. I think we need to pray more for God to open the blinders of people's hearts and pray for people specifically. I do think we need to reason with people but also let them see a living example of how the truth works. Lastly, although it is unpopular and leads to self-centered salvation, we need to talk about sin, hell, and judgement. Jesus certainly did. He talked more about hell than Heaven. People need to understand that there is a cost involved in rejecting Christ both here (divorce, depression, anxiety, fear, lack of hope and purpose, fear of death) and eternally. We have to encourage people to "count the cost".
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
.
The Old Testament, which Jesus referred to as "the scriptures", was around at the time of Jesus' appearance on the Earth. In it, there were over 300 prophecies of the Messiah available to the people, especially the scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the law, pointing to Jesus being the chosen one. Even today, the Jews, who believe the Old Testament have complete passages like Isiah 53 and Psalm 22 which clearly identify Jesus and yet they miss Him. Why is that?
First of all spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Jesus says to them, "How can you look at the sky at night and predict what the weather will be like tomorrow, yet you can't look at the scriptures and see that the Messiah has come"? It seems so clear doesn't it? If spiritual things were discerned with the brain, things like Scientology and Mormonism would have no followers. They are completely idiotic. Yet brilliant people believe them and give their lives to them. The Bible says that the god of this age, Satan, has blinded people's hearts and minds to the truth. Therefore, for people to understand the truth, a work of God, this fire that Jesus is talking about, the Holy Spirit, has to open one's mind. My favorite preacher, Andy Stanley, I feel is missing it lately on this point. He is such a keen mind and a gifted communicator (just ask him), that he feels that he can reason people into Heaven. Lately it's like, if something doesn't make sense, it's not important. Just accept the death and resurrection of Christ which are historical facts and follow the Guy who predicted them. The problem is at some point it requires a leap of faith - you have to admit that you are a sinner and deserve death because of it. You have to believe that Jesus is God, came from Heaven, lived a sinless death and died the death for you that you deserve. You have to take it as a free gift, not by works, be born again by the Spirit, and enter into a new kingdom even though your feet never left this planet. All that is spiritually discerned. No apologetics can convince you of that. Salvation in its essence is spiritual, not mental.
Secondly people don't believe it because they understand the implications - it will rock their world. Relationships will end. If you are gay, that will have to end. If you are living together, that will have to end. If you are dating an unbeliever that will have to end. If you are a Muslim or Jew you will be kicked out of your family or worse. If you are working at a job that isn't God honoring, you will be out of work. If you have a peer group that routinely behaves in ungodly ways, you will have to leave the group, if they don't kick you out first. This is why Jesus repeatedly says, "count the cost". It's sort of like, as today is New Years and people are making resolutions, everyone could be thin if they wanted to. My partner at work lost 80 lbs. this year by switching to a Vegan diet and exercising. He was getting diabetes with some sequellae, and decided to lose weight. He counted the cost and did it. I could get thin but I am not willing to give up certain things, therefore I remain plump. Most unbelievers remain that way because they don't understand or don't want to believe the sequellae of being an unbeliever, eternal hell and judgement (55-57), and therefore the cost of receiving Christ is too great.
Where does that leave us who are believers. I think we need to pray more for God to open the blinders of people's hearts and pray for people specifically. I do think we need to reason with people but also let them see a living example of how the truth works. Lastly, although it is unpopular and leads to self-centered salvation, we need to talk about sin, hell, and judgement. Jesus certainly did. He talked more about hell than Heaven. People need to understand that there is a cost involved in rejecting Christ both here (divorce, depression, anxiety, fear, lack of hope and purpose, fear of death) and eternally. We have to encourage people to "count the cost".
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Thoughts From Luke - Day 60
Luke 12:35-48
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
It's the holidays, so I just watched Home Alone and little did I know there is a Bible verse for it -"If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into." Ha! I'm sure that Jesus wasn't being prophetic of a future Christmas movie so let's see what His thrust is in this passage.
I remember High School gym class when we would have to do calesthenics like push ups while the gym teacher walked around the class of 100 guys. When his eyes were on you, you made sure that you were doing them proper but when he was at the other side of the gym, you dogged it. The same was true when working as a bus boy or summer lawn mower for the school district. I could certainly goof off a lo when the boss wasn't around but when he drove up, there was always a lookout saying "here he comes". Because I know that is in me, as a boss, I'm less bothered when I find my employees on Facebook, etc., as long as they are getting the work done. How can I demand what I couldn't give. But then, if there are employees that goof around all the time and don't get their work done - well that's another story. On the other hand, if there are employees whose work standard and ethics are so high that they don't entertain themselves on the boss's "dime" - well those are keepers. Those are the ones you know you can trust to handle even the money. Those are the ones you pay handsomely and elevate because they are operating by a higher standard.
I think that Jesus is giving us a similar principle here. As believers who are now in the Kingdom of God (see the previous blog), we are serving a new master. The previous master was Satan who was so clever that we didn't even know we were serving him because he steps in the shadows and has us serve ourselves as we live for money, pleasure, comfort, lust, food, entertainment, longevity, power, prestige, etc. As long as we aren't living for God, he wins. But now we live for God. He is our master. He owns us. However, it is sort of like this 30 year old guy that my son is going to officiate his wedding. His dad owns lots of miniature golf courses, go-kart tracks, and tourist traps in the Southeast. His dad is a multi-millionaire. The son is working for the dad in some capacity with a modest salary in a small office helping his dad run the business. Some day the dad will give the son and his sister the business. However now he is basically just serving the dad. There is a love relationship there but yet a boss/employee relationship too. The dad would be disappointed with the son if the son didn't take the work seriously because that would be showing the dad and his business disrespect. The dad wants to see the son succeed and will do all he can to help him succeed and point him in the right direction and cut him some slack. But eventually, if he disdains the business, it would all go to his sister.
I think Jesus' point here is not so much, "watch out because I'm coming back and if you aren't behaving well, you don't get to go to Heaven", but rather, here is how you identify if you are truly a son of God - a citizen of the Kingdom of God - if you have left "the matrix". First, we are eagerly, not fearfully waiting for His return because we are headed to a party (36-40). True believers are living "looking up for their redemption draweth nigh". We can't wait for the one we love to greet us, welcome us to the banquet table and say "well done, my good and faithful servant." Even though we are busy doing earthly work, we aren't forgetting that He is coming back soon and we keep one eye on the sky. Second, true believers are becoming more like Christ. Mark 10:45 says that Jesus came to serve and a true believer will be serving others. In fact, the clearest sign that you are no longer living for self and aren't part of Satan's kingdom, is that you are serving and considering others above yourself. If you are insensitive to the needs of others, are prejudicial, are hoarding, etc. you really can't be a transformed follower of Christ - you are still living for the Kingdom of this Earth. This sounds harsh and we all slide back into selfishness, but remember, just like the dad of my son's friend, his goal is to groom you not exclude you. Mercy triumphs over judgement.
Father, as this New Year approaches, may I become less and less self-centered. Help me keep my eyes fixed on you. Help me to fall deeper in love with you and the thought of Your return to so empower me that my daily activities are transformed by that realization. Amen.
Friday, December 30, 2016
My Top CCM Songs of 2016
My Top CCM Songs of 2016
Okay, here goes. My top 50 Christian songs of the year. I would preface this by saying that very few of these have made it to the radio for three reasons. 1. I may have weird tastes 2. Once they make it to the radio they are so overplayed that I get sick of them 3. I like to introduce people to less promoted artists. I think people like Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, Lauren Daigle, are way over-hyped. Let them garner their Dove Awards and CCM praise elsewhere which they will. Also, I don't get into gospel music, much R&B, hard rock so they won't be well represented. However I do include praise and worship songs which I would say is somewhat unique to end of year lists.
1. Live it Well - Switchfoot Even radio couldn't wear this one out. This is my life motto; "life is short; live it well" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_lnXy7tkQ
2. Money and Fame - Needtobreathe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ9lU1nqpQ
3. Runnin' - RelientK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_9Q2wSe8VA Welcome back RelientK. Not sure you've landed back on solid ground yet, but love this song.
4. Heroes - Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpUR1Jvck9I
5. Holy Water - Switchfoot It's really a tossup between any Switchfoot song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpzyjZtjxzg
6. Hard Love - Needtobreathe Ditto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bhKo1z0Jz0
7. Best is Yet to Come - Group1Crew How can you argue with a song title like that? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgEYeXcUuAA
8. Resurrecting - Elevation Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf8Zzn4nOzc Best worship song of the year
9. Run Devil, Run - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US1-R-R9lYQ Cheesy, but I love it.
10. Come Up - Remedy Drive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jYTgV332t4
11. Hold My Forever - Pearl City Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFLsY9MZAw
12. Where the Light Shines Through - Switchfoot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNP_Du9dSB0
13. Love Changes Everything - Red Rocks Worship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXWRxDjsEXQ&list=PLJ0WCsSHTz0D0o19KJauwvXBzM-G1Qqd1
14. Friend of the Groom - Dogs of Peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZPdHuqfEE4 retro 70's Christian music. Good stuff!
15. Across the Universe - Mosaic MSC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC36uwVbo-M
16. Love With Your Life - Hollyn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfVetZeaxuc
17. Love is Action - Tauren Wells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCnsiP8atW0
radio is trying to wear #16,#17 out, that's why they have dropped this far
18. Set My Heart - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8pMqbDAEP0
19. Sinking Deep - V.Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_peXUfPLGE Breakout album for V.Rose. I would say female vocalist of the year although everyone else in the universe would say Lauren Daigle. This song reminds me of Plumb.
20. He's the Light of the World - Dogs of Peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BJnW8nQ5T8 Take the time machine back 45 years, turn on Christian radio and this is what you hear.Oh wait, there was no Christian Radio.
21. This We Know - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_G-JQGqUl0 Best Worship band of the year.
22. Shouting Ground - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VSmlvAHOAA
23 Live on Forever - The Afters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdS7EWMNrWc
24. If the House Burns Down Tonight - Switchfoot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS7jlWG5Dlw Too soon to play this in Gatlinburg
25. Be Here Long - Needtobreathe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNL1Ei9kYyA
26. Down in Flames - Matthew Parker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQHmAQoeTEA
27. Writing on the Wall - Paper Route https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic8YJ0mRYEk
28. Set Me Ablaze - Bryan and Katie Torwalt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ca9W1VSx24
29. All I Have - Stars Go Dim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN0vzTrQzqY&list=RDZN0vzTrQzqY Pillar????
30. How Sweet it Is - Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U0VASEmvHQ
31. Local Construction - RelientK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaddAGw0dc8
32. Balconies - Paper Route https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fFkQ0M-TPY
33. Wake Me Up (Amnesia) Group1Crew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYAh6wvR-o
34. Palaces - Love & the Outcome (no link??? - listen on Spotify)
35. This is the Life - Tommy Saint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGagiNpgDw4&list=PLVtgYtJUiPbzZV5XVxOFtRP3ne7HPpB9F
36. I See the Lord - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOiTOqFy4_s
37. Open the Clouds - Unspoken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y555d2j9RY
38. Galaxies - Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtwVHN9X_FU
39. On Again off Again - Group1Crew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPRv8b-kI1k
40. Bottom to the Top - V.Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKbcW1nilaI
41. Born to Live - About A Mile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Xwe6H3lJ4
42. Ends of the Earth - Love & the Outcome - (no link??? check Spotify)
43. Wherever I Go - One Republic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jclnm-0ktHM
44. Exalted Over All - Vertical Church Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqnRj1N4blA
45. Give it Time - Zach Bolen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjdlrUYsaek Remember Dire Straits?
46. Don't Fear - Flame feat. V.Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk
47. Push - Thousand Foot Krutch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk
48. Hope - John Tibbs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiS3UJ_UIOk
49. Stolen - Nine Lashes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TzbOF-bLKs
50. Keep Me - Crowder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uxh063IdT0
Thoughts From Luke - Day 59
Luke 12:24-34
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
As the new year approaches, this is a good time to regroup, reassess, take inventory, self analyze, reflect on who am I, what am I living for, what motivates me, what consumes me, and what worries me, and then make some adjustments. We are told in this passage that there is one thing that should be filling our minds and that is the Kingdom of God. This is the reality outside our reality that takes faith (vs.28) to know it is there. Are you living for The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Earth? Am I?
I love movies that illustrate this fact. There are two off hand that I think of, The Truman Show and The Matrix. In the Truman Show a concept for a TV show is cooked up where a central character is raised from birth in a huge dome with actors playing parents, friends, co-workers, wife, towns people,etc., and the whole fascination is watching this guy grow up not knowing everyone is watching him, while thinking that this is the real world. They can only keep the secret so long until Truman starts getting inklings that there is something else outside his reality and he is so consumed with this that he nearly dies trying to find it but finally does and leaves his bubble. The Matrix is similar in that all of humanity is trapped in little pods from which the computers generate electricity to run as they have artificial intelligence and have taken over the world. In order to keep the humans in this state, their minds are hooked into this make believe world called the Matrix where they they "live" and think is real. Some have figured out that there is a reality outside their reality, have broken out of their pods, and seek to find others in the Matrix that are also questioning that there may be a reality outside this reality.
It fascinates me that some in Hollywood have stumbled on the fact that there is a "world" outside our world, which is called The Kingdom of God. There is a king called Jesus who came into our world to make a way to deliver us out of the world in which we are living, and living as if this were the ultimate reality. In this world, the goal is comfort, ease, relaxation, pleasure - and we get this with money. Therefore if you work hard, make wise investments, marry well or are lucky enough to be born into wealth or power, you will have a good life. If you don't have or do any of the above, you will have a bad life and be looked down on and be miserable and hate those who have more. This is the reality that people living on this Earth have bought into whether they admit it or not. Jesus came, and we as those who have "figured it out", to tell those on this Earth that there is a reality outside this fake reality controlled by Satan, that we can be delivered into. We don't leave this Earth - like Truman - but walk among everyone else having been given the Spirit from above inside of us, and live for totally different goals - we live to please our God and don't worry about money, stuff, pleasure, ease, comfort, etc. because we have all that waiting for us for all eternity when we leave this planet. Our needs are met by our king until the day we die at which time we go to the ultimate reality where we are children of the king and live forever in pleasures forevermore.
As we take inventory of ourselves at the end of the year, look at your finances. Where is the bulk of your money going - toward pleasure, comfort, ease, and amassing buffers to prevent the loss of those - or is it going towards bringing people into the kingdom and helping those who are suffering in the injustices of this world. Are we amassing or maintaining. Our we grasping tightly to our money with both hands clenched or are we holding God's money with an open hand allowing it to come in and go out. One thing I plan on doing before the end of the year is to go through my checkbook and look at my charitable donations. Normally I do this the following year nearing tax time, and then I think," I am giving more next year." This is "next year". I need to give intentionally not haphazardly. What about you??
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
As the new year approaches, this is a good time to regroup, reassess, take inventory, self analyze, reflect on who am I, what am I living for, what motivates me, what consumes me, and what worries me, and then make some adjustments. We are told in this passage that there is one thing that should be filling our minds and that is the Kingdom of God. This is the reality outside our reality that takes faith (vs.28) to know it is there. Are you living for The Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Earth? Am I?
I love movies that illustrate this fact. There are two off hand that I think of, The Truman Show and The Matrix. In the Truman Show a concept for a TV show is cooked up where a central character is raised from birth in a huge dome with actors playing parents, friends, co-workers, wife, towns people,etc., and the whole fascination is watching this guy grow up not knowing everyone is watching him, while thinking that this is the real world. They can only keep the secret so long until Truman starts getting inklings that there is something else outside his reality and he is so consumed with this that he nearly dies trying to find it but finally does and leaves his bubble. The Matrix is similar in that all of humanity is trapped in little pods from which the computers generate electricity to run as they have artificial intelligence and have taken over the world. In order to keep the humans in this state, their minds are hooked into this make believe world called the Matrix where they they "live" and think is real. Some have figured out that there is a reality outside their reality, have broken out of their pods, and seek to find others in the Matrix that are also questioning that there may be a reality outside this reality.
It fascinates me that some in Hollywood have stumbled on the fact that there is a "world" outside our world, which is called The Kingdom of God. There is a king called Jesus who came into our world to make a way to deliver us out of the world in which we are living, and living as if this were the ultimate reality. In this world, the goal is comfort, ease, relaxation, pleasure - and we get this with money. Therefore if you work hard, make wise investments, marry well or are lucky enough to be born into wealth or power, you will have a good life. If you don't have or do any of the above, you will have a bad life and be looked down on and be miserable and hate those who have more. This is the reality that people living on this Earth have bought into whether they admit it or not. Jesus came, and we as those who have "figured it out", to tell those on this Earth that there is a reality outside this fake reality controlled by Satan, that we can be delivered into. We don't leave this Earth - like Truman - but walk among everyone else having been given the Spirit from above inside of us, and live for totally different goals - we live to please our God and don't worry about money, stuff, pleasure, ease, comfort, etc. because we have all that waiting for us for all eternity when we leave this planet. Our needs are met by our king until the day we die at which time we go to the ultimate reality where we are children of the king and live forever in pleasures forevermore.
As we take inventory of ourselves at the end of the year, look at your finances. Where is the bulk of your money going - toward pleasure, comfort, ease, and amassing buffers to prevent the loss of those - or is it going towards bringing people into the kingdom and helping those who are suffering in the injustices of this world. Are we amassing or maintaining. Our we grasping tightly to our money with both hands clenched or are we holding God's money with an open hand allowing it to come in and go out. One thing I plan on doing before the end of the year is to go through my checkbook and look at my charitable donations. Normally I do this the following year nearing tax time, and then I think," I am giving more next year." This is "next year". I need to give intentionally not haphazardly. What about you??
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
My Top 10 Christian Albums of 2016
My Top 10 Christian Albums of 2016
As usual there were plenty of other great albums put out this year like One Republic, Judah and the Lion, Ben Rector, JohnnySwim, Paper Route, Gawvi, who are professed Christians but, although may have some spirituality in their albums, have put out albums that wouldn't be perceived as Christian per se (by my definition). Therefore they aren't included in my list. So here goes..
10.
9.
This is the year of the worship album, or else it's just that our church finally started a contemporary worship service and I am not denying myself of this music anymore to keep me from being discontent. Anyway, Mosaic MSC has some outstanding songs.
8.
Matthew Parker put out a great album here. Unfortunately, the songs aren't "Christian" enough (by my definition since it's my blog) to put up higher. Maybe as I listen closer, I will analyze the lyrics more and move it up.
7.
Just when I thought RelientK was dead, after their last terrible less than Christian album, they return to their old greatness - although not as overtly Christian as their older works which are classics. That's why I can't rank it higher although quality wise it certainly deserves a higher ranking.
6.
Vertical Church Worship Band is the worship band of the year with this album. There were multiple other great efforts with Chris Tomlin, Passion, Brian & Katie Torwalt, Elevation worship, and Mosaic MSC, but this album surpasses them all.
5.
The Digital Age, David Crowder's back up band, put out their second album. Although arguably not as good as their first one, still good enough to make #5. Not included on this is their recording sessions of "Oceans" which is really good. Check it out on YouTube
4.
Group 1 Crew was one of my most anticipated releases this year because they seem to keep improving both individually and collectively. This album didn't disappoint with a number of good, catchy, radio friendly songs.
3.
Did, I mention David Crowder? His second album has found his style. He feels more comfortable in this album than his first and this one incorporates a little rock and rap with his hillbilly style. Good stuff. A lot of other years this would have been #1. But...
2.
Needtobreathe put out a classic with Hard Love. Probably the most talented Christian band that has tremendous cross-over appeal is, in my view, hampered only by their lack of boldness for Christ in their lyrics, concerts, and interviews.
1.
They just keep getting better. Bold lyrics and still crossover appeal. Nothing else was close to this.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Thoughts From Luke - Day 58
Luke 12:13 - 21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
In context, this question always blows me away. Jesus just talks about heavy things like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and someone from the crowd cries out "tell my brother to split the inheritance with me." This is probably one of those leather-lung guys like at Christian concerts yells out to the band, "We love you Switchfoot" or "Sing, Girl Named Tennessee". It's sort of like teaching kids spiritual truths in Sunday School and in the midst of the best part of the lesson, one raises their hand to ask the question, "What are we having for snacks?" Now maybe I'm being too hard on the guy because Jesus had just been teaching on selfishness, so maybe the guy was tracking with His teaching. Nonetheless, Jesus responds to the guy's question in a couple ways.
First He says that His function isn't to be a lawyer on Earth. This is interesting because in Heaven He does function as our advocate. Steven, as he was being stoned and about to enter Heaven, sees Jesus standing before the judge of Heaven as if to be his defense attorney pleading His case. We are told we have an advocate on high and He is our Wonderful Counselor. This, however, was not why He came to Earth, to resolve the unfairnesses heaped upon you by this sinful, worldly system. He came to deliver us eternally from that system. Therefore, in the midst of trials, injustices, questions of litigation, remember - you are just visiting this planet, act accordingly.
Secondly, Jesus gives a warning about excesses. The guy yelling out to Jesus, obviously had enough to keep him alive otherwise he wouldn't have been there. His basic needs were being met. Yet, he wanted more. He wanted an abundance. Inheritances often are like that. You want them so you can buy more stuff or pay for the stuff you have gotten in debt over while living in excess currently. Life isn't a Monopoly Game where you try to get ahead of everyone by owning more properties, having more cash, and building more and more houses and eventually hotels. What is the problem with that? You get rich while everyone else gets poor. The Biblical principle is distribution of wealth so everyone's needs are being met. I sound like a democrat, don't I. Ha. Well, if the rich are too greedy to give their wealth away, I guess we have to go socialistic. Ideally though, the principle seen in this passage is that God gives to some abundantly in order that they can give it away, not hoard, and then receive from God treasures in Heaven and more on this earth to give away because they have been found faithful.
Today is Dec.24th, the day before we amass treasures in excess. First of all, don't be mad if you gave graciously and someone else didn't. Don't be like Charlie Brown who is mad because no one sent him a Christmas card. Like the man who wanted his brother to give him his equal share, this world isn't fair. We are the ones to extend grace and don't expect others to give it to you. God has given you all the grace you will ever need. He has filled your cup to overflowing. Secondly, this is a good time to add up how much you have given away this year. Let Christmas remind you that you have one week to empty your coffers so God can fill them back up again.
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