Jesus is eternal life
John 5:39-40 says,
“39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.“
The Pharisees knew the Scripture. They studied it and memorized it. More than you and I will ever do. Yet as they studied and memorized, they missed Jesus. So as you learn, study, read and memorize the Word don’t do it in such a way as to miss Jesus. As you read, look for the Scriptures to tell you about Jesus. He is our only source for eternal life. He is the most needed important reality in the world. Don’t make the mistake the Pharisees made and think that eternal life is found in reading and studying and keeping the law and being moral. That is not how eternal life is found!
Eternal life is not found in rule keeping, but only in the mercy of God in Christ Jesus on the cross. So, as Jesus says to you, “come to me“. I urge and plead with you, seek Him in the Scriptures and find Him.
Matt Chandler
I have been listening to Matt Chandler for a while. He is the pastor at The Village Church in Dallas, TX. I don’t like the idea of putting someone on a high pedastal over Jesus. There are some people in life that when I listen to them, they focus my heart on Jesus. (like John Piper) And this is why I like them. But, besides the obvious, Piper, Matt Chandler has really pointed my heart towards Jesus. Maybe he will do the same for you. I really enjoy his new blog as well, Though there are not a lot of posts yet, he has said some really insightful things.
Remedy Church
So, some of you may know, some of you might not. God has called me to plant a church. There is still much to do, but we are very excited and nervous. As you might have guessed, the name is going to be Remedy Church.
Ok. I know what you’re thinking, but just give me a chance to explain. Yes, you know I like dc*b, but this is not just about trying to find a name that involves dc*b.
God is leading this church to do a few things. All of these things involve the word remedy, thus the name.
1st – Those that are believers, we know and have the eternal remedy – Jesus. He is the remedy for this world.
2nd – The church can be a remedy to this world to stand up for the poor, the marginalized, the outcasts of society. Remedy Church will seek to be the remedy they need to help them in their temporal circumstances now, AND while serving them, tell them about their eternal need for Christ.
There will be more coming…but for now, what do you think about the name or the graphic?
Charis, coffee & selflessness
Making coffee. I love coffee.
I love my children. They teach me so much.
What do these seemingly different things have in common? It is a HUGE deal to the girls to get to help me make coffee. They argue who gets to “push the button”. Whoever gets to start the coffee pot wins. They both love to get to be the one to do it. Tonight I was making coffee and Charis was helping me. She heard Jaycie yelling in the background how much she wanted to get to push the button.
The coffee pot was on already. It just started. I walked over to where Jaycie was trying to explain that the coffee pot was already on. I hear Charis yelling back to Jaycie, “You can turn it on. You can do it Jaycie”. I walk back over and the coffee pot is off. Charis had turned it off for Jaycie. Jaycie turned it on and began to smile extremely big.
So, I ask Charis, “Why did you turn the coffee pot off for Jaycie?”
She says to me, “Because, I love my sister”
Isn’t it amazing how a 2 year old understands selflessness and we who are “more mature” are so selfish?
Lead like Moses
In Exodus 18 Moses was over-worked and his father-in-law Jethro gave him some advice to delegate his work out to relieve the stress. In v. 21 Jethro told Moses to look for three qualities. “look for (1) able men from all the people, men who (2) fear God, who are (3) trustworthy…“.
If you are in an area of leadership, these 3 qualities are essential. Look for them in the people you delegate to.
1. Able men – Competency is absolutely crucial. No matter how nice the person is, if they are unable to accomplish the task, you are setting yourself (and them) for failure if they simply cannot perform the task. It’s not mean-spirited to assess people’s competency. It is essential in being a leader. Good leaders will put “able men” in positions not just “nice men”.
2. Fear God – In ministry, competent men who do not walk with Christ are of no help. It is imperative if one is in ministry that he fear the Lord and walk with Christ daily. He must LOVE the Word, seek Christ in the Word everyday and obey the Word. All of these things, (love for the Word, seeking Christ in the Word, and OBEYING the Word) are tangible expressions of a healthy Fear of God.
3. Trustworthy – Men must be competent and fear the Lord. You must also be able to trust them. It is essential to know they always have your back…no matter what. They will stand up for you and defend against the enemies attacks. Trustworthiness is earned. It is earned by showing that you will defend your leader.
Leaders, don’t lead alone. Put men around you that are able, fear God and trustworthy and see what God does.