Be What? . . . . . Submit part 3

Klyne says, “In the end submission is nothing more than a decision about relative worth of another person, a manner of dying and rising with Christ, and a way to respect and love other people.”

The value or worth we see in the other person can be an indicator of our willingness to submit or not.  But you know what a great indicator is?  The statement of how do we see our own relative worth?  How valuable do we see ourselves, our identity?

That’s why our identity is so important and why submission is so difficult.  If we are striving for value and worth in a relationship we may not humble ourselves, because we need to prove that we are right, powerful, in charge, accepted, enough. 

Or if we are striving for worth in a relationship we may arrange ourselves under the other person, but it is more as a doormat or a victim in order to feel some semblance of love from the other person, even if it is unhealthy.

But if we know, at the core of who we are, that we are chosen and beloved, and that we don’t have to go chasing for the value.  We know we have relative worth based upon what Christ has done.  Then we can freely arrange ourselves under someone else and love and respect them.  Because their acceptance or mutual submission isn’t defining who we are, or our value.  That’s already taken care of, by God’s transformative work.

One of the action steps this week was to take a look at your core and see how you see your value in God’s eye?  Do you see yourself as beloved and chosen?  Or are you still chasing after that belovedness and choseness?  If so, before you can redefine submission you need to start at your own value.  Take some time today and meet with God, quiet yourself and ask him how much he values you.

Be What? . . . . . Submit part 2

Tuesday, August 6th 2013

Read Ephesians 5:21- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

The first part of this tune that the Holy Spirit is moving us towards hearing is answering the question- why should we submit? 

Simply put- “out of reverence for Christ.”  The source of our submission is out of reverence or as another translation puts it, out of the fear of Christ.

What does that mean?  That doesn't sound enjoyable either.  What the phrase is saying is- do we have an awe, a reverence, an oh my God.  Isaiah puts it well, “Woe to me, I am a man of unclean lips, amongst a people of unclean lips.”  When we see ourselves in light of God, in light of Christ, who he is and how he submitted himself, we are overwhelmed.  We are wrecked.

The first understanding of why we submit, is because we are wrecked at how Christ submitted and his expression of that selfless act of submission.

Again, quiet yourself and reflect on this belief of being wrecked before God, overwhelmed, in awe of who he is and the fact that he loves you incredibly.

Be What? . . . . . Submit

I am sharing our daily faith challenges over our blog simply to encourage and generate dialog.  Part of the value in engaging with our faith challenges is hearing other people's thoughts and questions.  I would encourage you to engage conversation with these faith challenges.  Thanks for reading and seeing what God may do in you and through you

Monday, August 5th- Daily Faith Challenge

Read Ephesians 5:21- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Let’s be honest, first glance at that verse, did you get sick to your stomach?  Can you actually say the word, “submit”?  Before we go on with the rest of the week, I want you to really wrestle with, why is that word so difficult to live out?

Paul is pretty clear that we should submit, but when it comes right down to it, it feels more like me training our dog Reesey.  Because when it comes to Reesey and me, she knows who’s boss.  I am her Alpha dog, I am the pack leader. Because I made her submit to me and the way I wanted things to be.  If she over stepped my bounds- nip at Caleb, grab socks, not release those said socks- I would flip her over, grab the scruff of her neck until she submits.  Until she relents. 

I believe when it comes to submitting to other people we have this sense that we are going to be dominated and have to do things the way that person over us tells us to do it.  I think we have this feeling at times that we get grabbed by the scruff of our neck and feel here we go again, I’m a Christian, I have to submit.

Today, simply acknowledge the picture that is painted in your mind and soul of what submission has looked like in your life.  Then quietly, pause and ask God to show you a different picture of submission this week.  As Bill shared last week, tune into the Holy Spirit, and listen to the tune he wants to play for you.

CAUTION- If any of you have experienced submitting in abusive, domineering, controlling ways, this is a much deeper conversation.  I’m not sharing this for us to stay in those type of relationships.  But I am believing that God can bring healing and freedom.  So if we need to have a deeper conversation, please, let’s do that.

I’m wanting the Spirit to move us universally towards something different- healthy and freeing submission.

Close Encounters- Even the Smallest

Gifts by Vicki Gravatt
This week Pastor Aaron talked about God’s math (scary!).  He shared how the God, who created the universe and everything in it, multiplies our efforts for His purposes.  I’m always startled when I see something I’ve touched, even in a small way, bear fruit.  I shouldn’t be surprised when I follow God’s lead, and get involved in what He is doing, that good things happen.  However, I’m often guilty of thinking that I have nothing He needs, so I give exactly that – NOTHING.  I let opportunities pass me by because I’ve let the lie that I have nothing to give.

Do you think that?  Do you think that you have nothing to offer the God of the universe and His creation?  I fight that battle all the time.  I think Satan likes digging in to our insecurities and telling us that we have nothing of value.  Of course, like everything Satan says, it’s a lie.  Even if it’s a lie we heard from someone influential in our lives, like a parent, spouse, boss, sibling, or teacher, it’s still a lie.  God’s word tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).  Satan HAS to tell us we’re not, because if we believed and understood how powerfully gifted we actually are, we would be an unstoppable force for Jesus and I think that just might scare Satan.
The Bible tells us that we each have a part to play.  Some people’s gifts jump out at you instantly.  They are typically the first people you notice when you come into a church, the greeter, the music team, and pastors.  After you see those folks, you may hear about a mission trip, or a serving opportunity that seems like its way over your head.  But God promises each of us a gift we can use to further His work on earth.  It is also clear that no gift is more important than another.

And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. (1 Corinthians 12:16-18)

It’s evident that when the Holy Spirit gives a gift, he also gives us passions in our lives that when combined with our gifts, bear fruit.  Serving out of gifts and passions often feels like a privilege rather than service, or work.  I keep going back to Matthew 11:29-30  “ ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God has not called us to go and do things that make us miserable.  According to Ecclesiastes 4:18  “ …. that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor….”  Did you hear that?  He wants us to find SATISFACTION in our labor – I love that!  There is freedom in that!  WE have so many choices given to us. If you have a gift of teaching, and a heart for children, then you would be most effective serving in KidsQuest, while someone with a gift for prayer would be better suited to a quiet room praying for the needs of others.  Similarly a person with a gift of mercy would be more drawn to serving those with health issues, while a person with a gift craftsmanship is better suited to our Tool Box experience. 

All of that is not to say that we don’t serve in ways that aren’t totally connected to our area of giftedness.  I remember a time when I served in the nursery.  That may not shock some of you, but many of my closest friends will tell that I’m “just not good with other people’s kids”.  I love kids in general, and I enjoy them one on one, but you get me in a group of them and start to come unglued!  When you put me in a room with more than 4 children, words like overwhelmed, frazzled, anxious, barely scratch the surface of the state of my mental health.  But there was a need, so I jumped on board, asked God for some supernatural inner peace and love, and I proceeded to chased toddlers once a month for a year or so.  Looking back, it was a great experience and has made me appreciate the folks who ARE gifted in that way, even more.

If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, please call the church office.  There are dozens of resources for discovering, refining, and using the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  What can you give to God to multiply?  Even the smallest act can be multiplied for incredible impact.

Close encounters- Lead the Dance

Learning to dance means you need to know who is leading and who is following. In your encounter with God, who is leading and who is following? At times, it is good to do a check and ask yourself if that is true across the board, every area of life, or just where you want him to lead.

Read Psalm 5:7-8
- Whose love gives us permission to come into his presence?

- What does it mean to bow down? How does that look in your relationship with God?

- How do you need God to lead you across the dance floor of life?

Take a listen to this song- “Because of Your Love”- http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=994147

Dear Lord,
Today, because of your love, I come into your presence and I take your hand. Lord, may you lead me as I dance and move in life. I want you to lead and I want to follow. Help me live that out each day. Jesus Name Amen.

Close encounters- Battle of the Dance

Read Genesis 3:1-13
- Who disrupted the intimacy of the garden?
- How did it happen?

Right after we see this beautiful interchange in relationship with the Trinity, where the Father and Holy Spirit share with Jesus their power and love, we read Mark 1:12-13 (entire story is found in Matthew 4:1-11).
- Who tried to disrupt the intimacy of the Trinity?


Which means Satan tries the same ploy with you and me. Disrupt the intimacy we have in relationship with God and others. Tim Keller (Kings Cross) shares it this way, “We look at Adam and Eve and say, ‘What fools – why did they listen to Satan?” Yet we know we still have Satan’s lie in our own hearts, because we’re afraid of trusting God – of trusting anybody in fact. We’re stationary, because Satan tells us we should be –that’s the way he fights the battle.”

Any time you feel yourself pulling away from the dance with God or others, learn to recognize that is part of the battle. Part of Satan tempting you to do life on your own. If God is in relationship and is never alone, then why do we believe it would work for us?
May you hold onto this truth, another quote from Tim Keller, “What (Jesus) has enjoyed from all eternity, he has come to offer you. And sometimes, when you’re in the deepest part of the battle, when you’re tempted and hurt and weak, you’ll hear in the depths of your being the same words Jesus heard: ‘This is my beloved child – you are my beloved child, whom I love; with you I’m well pleased.’”

Close Encounters- the Dance

In Mark we first encounter Jesus when he is going to be baptized. Take some time and read Mark 1:9-11.

- Who were the characters within the story?
- How did they interact with one another?

“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit relating with one another, uplifting one another, sharing love and power with one another.” Aaron’s message- Close Encounters- the Dance

C.S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, “In Christianity God is not a static thing . . . but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance.”

- What does it look like or mean for you to see your relationship with God as a kind of dance?

Take a look at this dance by one of our Packer favorites, Donald Driver in DWTS- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fM03bC549g&feature=share

How would your relationship with God be different if it had a similar dynamic, energy filled life?

Dear Lord or do I call you dance partner,
I’m not too sure about this whole dance thing. This week, would you open my eyes to what you want to show me? Help me embrace this encounter with you as an intimate dance. May you lead me towards a dynamic, pulsating relationship with you and others.
In the Power of Your Name Jesus, Amen

Rock Solid

Don't have much experience building especially foundations. But I do remember building a “go kart". I use that term loosely because it was me and some neighborhood boys who found all this scrap wood and I had left over wheels, probably not much more that 6". Well we thought we could build something that could roll, as long as we were going downhill and someone gave us a head start push. So as I sat on it for the test run, (it was my wheels and I was the smallest, I got to go first), Jeff gave me a push, the wheels bowed out and I sunk in the middle. Needless to say, our design was flawed, we had no frame. We had no support, no structure.

When I read the parable of the wise and foolish builder, I think of that. Take a read of Matthew 7:24-27:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash."

The first obvious observation is where are you building? Not just your life- do you believe in God? But each area of life. It's not good enough, to simply say I have God as a part of my life. To have a solid foundation, we need to say each area of my life has God as its foundation.

Today, where do you need to strengthen your frame, your foundation? Is it in your family, workplace, responses, finances, truth, forgiveness, grace? Where do you need to establish a rock solid foundation?

The other observation that is so valuable about this story is that everyone gets wet. The storm impacts each builder. And that is true of you and me. Folks, our strong foundation doesn't exempt us from the storm, it provides protection, weathers us during the storm. I know that because of the many storms I have faced, the hurricane force winds or the blizzard. They were translated in marital storms, financial hurricans, moral floods, abuse type winds, miscarriages, and failure.

Folks, I have been learning; growing in asking a new question, not why the storm? But what do I need to do to button down the hatch and secure myself to my rock solid foundation? For me storms come and go in life, today I want to know that I am holding onto the presence of God and that his footings of love, truth, grace and forgiveness are my foundation. I want to be walled in by peace, hope, joy, patience as we endure the storm. Folks, it isn't about believing in the things of God, it is hearing and putting them into practice.

Today, what foundation do you need to make rock solid? And the storm that you are in today, what are one of God's secure promises do you need to hold onto and put into practice?

Beyond the Wrapping- Gift of Gifts

Gift giving comes in a variety of forms doesn’t it? I mean the easy gifts to give are to the ones you truly love, where there is an excitement and anticipation to give the gift. Even white elephant gifts can be fun because of the humor or story that goes into the time. But you know white elephant gifts aren’t the best gifts you have given or received. Then there are the gifts you feel obligated to give. It could be a boss, co-worker, distant aunt, or even a friend you didn’t know you had that type of friendship with and they got you something. Gifts, especially around Christmas can be a funny thing.

That’s why I find it interesting about the gifts that were given by the Magi. The Magi searched for “the eventual King of the Jews” as to pay homage to a literal King, but through their expedition, through their journey they found something very different. And I believe we can learn a lot about giving gifts from the caravan of Magi and company who gave three gifts to baby Jesus.

It’s not what the gifts represent as much as what we can learn from the gifts given. I think the first thing we can learn from the Magi is in Matthew 2:11- “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. . . . .” The Magi gave themselves. They humbled themselves, they bowed down and worshiped a baby, even though they were brilliant, affluent, creative men, they were Magi. But when they saw the baby Jesus, they gave themselves and humbled themselves at the feet of Mary. That is what we need to learn and carry with us, what does it mean to “give ourselves” to others? What does it look like to humble ourselves and give ourselves to those in our life? I believe it isn’t simply something we learn from the Magi, but this is exactly what God did for us. He gave himself for us in the form of a baby, His Son. This Christmas season, take some time and challenge yourself to give yourself to someone; spouse, kids, parents, co-worker, friend, teacher. Don’t worry about the how yet, simply think through and challenge yourself with the “who.”

The next part of the Matthew 2:11 says this, “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Each of these gifts are gifts of value, gifts of significance. Not only that, each of them the Magi knew how to gather or make the gifts, so they were invested in the gifts they gave. The final thing we learn from the Magi visit is that they gave gifts of value. I’m not talking about the Christmas list; I’m not talking about giving the I-pad, jewelry, Super Bowl tickets, or a new Lexus.

With the backdrop of the first response, “giving yourself” to someone, the gift of value needs to come from who you are. And that is where we slam on the breaks and say I don’t think so. Because when we look inside to who we are, we don’t see a gift of value, we see a white elephant gift, we see garbage. We believe because of the difficult experiences and relationships we have gone through, who we are at the core isn’t worth it, isn’t significant. And why would we give anyone that we love, garbage, give them the “yuck” of what we see and feel.

To be able to give out of who we are, we need to have a transformed foundation. We need to believe the truth of who we actually are. This is who you are,

“I am God’s handiwork, fearfully and wonderfully made, created in His image for such a time as this.”

Say this to yourself.

That isn’t some New Age mumbo jumbo or a rerun of Stuart Smalley from SNL, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me.” No, this statement is the truth and promise of God’s word. I am God’s handiwork (Ephesians 2:10), fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), created in His image (Genesis 1:27), for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). When that is our foundation, our lives change and our relationships change. We no longer have to live out of the garbage; we get to live out of the rich significance of who God says we are.

Which means when we answer the question, what is your gift of value you need to give someone in your life this year? It changes. We give out of who God has created us to be, so maybe the gift of value you give isn’t about the list or pretending or performing. The gift is actually; Creativity, passion, joy, forgiveness, insight, grace, ingenuity, truth, impact, detail, compassion, craftsmanship, service, listening ear, love, patience, wisdom, time and maybe treasure.

I’m not asking you to give something that you haven’t experienced or that isn’t who you are. I’m asking you to give yourself to someone out of the foundation of who you are. I believe if we begin to do that, we will be transformed and the people in our lives will begin to be transformed in ways that are far different than we have experienced. And that this Christmas you will begin to live beyond the wrapping of Christmas.

Today, who are you going to give yourself to and what gift of value are you going to give them?

Beyond the Wrapping- Gift of Presence

Have you ever wondered- would Jesus have coffee with you? Think about it. Y our favorite coffee spot; could be Exchange Bank Coffee House here in Plymouth, WI or Starbucks or even your back porch. Would Jesus sit down and have coffee with you in the morning or in the afternoon and share life? Would he have an "I Love Bill" coffee mug? In honor of you of course.

I believe that is one element of what Jesus wants to do and promises to do in your life. And why he came, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel… which means… God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

God with us, doing life with us. Walking with us, challenging us, wrestling with us, correcting our path, loving us and spending time with us. Not only does he say he will come and be with us, he promises he will stay. John 14:16-18- “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

The beauty in Jesus coming is the expression of love, sacrifice, and the fact that he never leaves us. He gives us a gift of the Holy Spirit to be our companion, our guide, and our hope. How may this Christmas season lead you into understanding more of who Jesus is by way of his Gift to you, the Holy Spirit.

I would encourage you this season to take some time and pour two cups of coffee, one for you and one for Jesus and spend some time with him. He longs to spend time with you. Share, allow him to be your companion, your guide and your hope today and everyday. (highlights from Pastor Bill McCaskill's sermon on December 11th, 2011 to listen to it in it's entirety follow this link- http://www.newlifecommunitychurch.us/messages)

Relate: Vision

"Without vision the people will perish." (Proverbs 29:18a) We can connect a lot of realities to this verse, it can be physical, it can be corporate or even non-profit. Without a vision the company or non-profit will no longer exist. But how does it apply to marriages?

When we look deeper into the word perish, it actually means "exposed, naked, uncovered," you could also say it means vulnerable, unprotected or directionless. With that deeper understanding, look at the impact of this verse, "without vision my marriage will perish." Without vision my marriage will be exposed, unprotected, directionless.

Which begs the next question, what is the vision of your marriage? Do you have one? Do you have a destination to your steps in marriage and if you do, how will you know when you get there?

I think all of us can have good intentions when it comes to our marriage. I think all of us want to have a healthy life giving marriage. But intentions don't get you anything. Andy Stanley says, "direction, not intention, determines destination." It is the direction of your marriage that will determine the destination.

Which leads to the other reality, if we don't have a concrete vision for our marriage, other things will take its place. Instead of focusing on the direction of a vision-filled marriage, we begin to focus on the past. Either the good ol' days or the past hurts. It's like driving to a destination, but only using your rearview mirror to get there. Looking at where you came from versus where you are going.

Or we focus on circumstances, instead of our future vision. Circumstances come in all kinds of forms and distractions; kids, budget, work, church, working out, grocery shopping, chores, and the list goes on. Don't get me wrong, those things are realities of every day. But if we don't have a future vision, we will be more focused on putting out fires than the growth of your marriage.

So what is the vision of your marriage? God says in Jeremiah that "he has a hope and a future for those who call upon him." And Solomon says in Proverbs that "he will make our paths straight for those who trust in him and not our own understanding." The results of your marriage is exactly what you put into it. If you put into it life giving elements, you will have a healthy life giving relationship. If you focus on other things, like your past and everyday circumstances, you will have a shallow, directionless marriage.

A vision doesn't have to be much; it can be a word, or a statement or a series of words. For my wife Theresa and I, over the past few years we have worked on putting a vision together for our marriage/family. We chose four words- adventure, safe, grace, creativity. We wanted to have a relationship of adventure, where we took risks, had fun, and did what we could to live outside of the box. In the same breath we wanted to have a marriage that was safe. When I say safe, I mean vulnerable, an openness to share from the heart. We also want to have our children be in safe environments for growth and becoming who God created them to be. Grace should sound simple, but in families, sometimes they are the last people we are gracious with. We need to be open to second chances and undeserved favor. Finally creativity, allows us to be who we want to be, as individuals, but also have fun from art to going grocery shopping.

Take time this week to draft a vision with your spouse. Take time to think through the direction of your marriage, because I believe it will give you the opportunity to live life anew with your spouse.

Journey Essentials: No More Fig Leaves

Would you agree with this statement- The largest obstacle in our journey is failure? Why or why not?

I would argue that the largest obstacle that stands in our way from going forward and keeping up with momentum, in our journey is failure. That failure can be mistakes, sin, shame, guilt, you name it, it holds us back from experiencing all that God wants to share with us and do with us.

No doubt the bible is God's love letter to us and it details his pursuit of a relationship with us. But what is unique about the bible is it is also the hall of fame of failure. Throughout the pages, it has names and stories of people who failed, sinned, screwed up, and then had to learn to live with that reality. The greatest of all failures was Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:25-3:13). Take some time and read through their story. And ask yourself these questions:
1. What was Adam and Eve's response to their failure?
2. What is my response to my failure?
3. What was God's response to Adam and Eve's failure?

If you take some time to read through this story and ask those questions, I believe you will be amazed to see how God works.

In most of our failure, we turn and run and hide. We are filled with guilt and shame and so we hide, just like Adam and Eve. But yet, how did God respond? He looked, he came towards, he sought out, Adam and Eve. And he does the same with you and I. We believe that our failure, sin, shame and guilt disqualify us from God's love. But the reality is, God loves us and in the midst of our failure, sin, shame and guilt, he wants to come near us and love on us.

In his book, He Loves Me, Wayne Jacobsen says, "God sees something redemptive even in letting us fail. He seems less concerned about our mistakes than how we respond to them. Do our mistakes lead us away from trusting in our own strength or wisdom and toward seeking what it means to put our trust in him?"

Maybe, from today forward, instead of seeing failure, sin, shame and guilt as an obstacle to your journey. Maybe God wants to use it as a catapult to launch you ahead in your journey, and experiencing the depth of his love for you.

Journey Essentials: His Plan

Have you ever started on a journey, road trip or adventure and at some point during your time you realized you forgot something? Or maybe you realized you weren't prepared enough for the long haul? That happened to me on a trip up the Boundary Waters of northern MN back in 1995. I thought I could do the entire trip on eating ramen noodles and beef sticks. Needless to say, by the last night of our 4 day trip I was hungry and sick of my menu choices. It caused me to resort to some drastic action, but that is for another time or listen to the message online. But the point is, I didn't have a journey essential. It may sound foolish, it may sound naive, but the truth is I thought I could get by with a limited menu.

I believe the same is true in our spiritual journey. I believe that we think we can get by with certain things or survive without certain things and we then at some point gravely wish we made a better decision. Maybe that is where you are at right now. Maybe you are walking on your journey and your stuck? Maybe you are at a crossroads and just don't know where to turn? Maybe you have created a belief of how the journey should be, and its not that. I don't know where you are at on your journey, but I do know there are certain essentials we just need to have.

The journey essential I want you to have with you, like food, is this: know that God's plan for you is to experience the depth of his love. Some of you are like "dah" I know that. Just like I know you should pack more than just ramen and beef sticks. But I would argue we don't live that way everyday. I don't believe we live as though God loves us deeply, because we allow things to get in the way. Then we determine that God must not love me today because of the circumstances we face.

We decide that based upon a certain criteria God loves us or doesn't love us. And we miss the truth that at the core of who God is, HE IS LOVE (1 John 4:8 and 16). I know all of us do this, but if we pray or read the bible, we believe God loves us. But if we curse or lie to save our a*# he doesn't love us. If we get a raise God must love us, but if we get sick or loose a loved one he doesn't love us. If we help someone in need he loves us, but if we are bitter with our children or spouse, he doesn't love us. It is as if God's love is like our first grade school crush, and we pick up a flower and pick the pedals wondering each and every day; he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not, he loves me. It must be a good day.

Folks, our journey doesn't need the added attraction of a roller coaster, up and down with God's love. The Journey Essential you need to have with you each and every day is God loves you period. Not because of anything we do or don't do, not because of anything we say or don't say. Not because of circumstances or failures. He loves you because at the core of who he is, he is love.

Check out this verse:

1 John 4:16, “we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.”

This is the verse I want you to carry with you this week and the steps ahead on your journey. Print it, write it down, e-mail me and I will send you a laminated copy I have here. Hold this truth, this journey essential close to your heart. This will guide you each and every step and will give you freedom to stop striving to make God's love a reality in your life.

This week, rest in this verse and rest in his love.

Don't Pray For It. Or Maybe You Should?

The dreaded "P" word- patience. Most folks don't want to pray for it because it takes "forever" as Caleb would say, to receive. But maybe it is more about our perspective on patience than it is on how it actually applies to our life.

My wife Theresa shared in her blog this past week about our son Caleb and gave a great life example of patience. She said, "My little guy turns 6 today. We spent years trying to have another child. Years of heartache and loss. Years on our knees praying for a sibling for Jayda. In God’s perfect timing, He gave us Caleb. Though it was not my timing or the road that I wanted to walk to get him, it was ALL worth it. Caleb amazes me daily." There is no doubt patience was what was needed during that period of time. In our grand scheme of things we wanted 4 kids- two boys, two girls. But God had other plans and allowed us to have 2 beautiful children who are filled with life and love. As I have seen and as Bill had preached about this past weekend, maybe patience is more about waiting on God than it is to have patience with another person who annoys you.

Bill gave a new definition of patience which I think is valuable and necessary as we walk through our journey,

"Patience is waiting expectantly for something of much greater value to happen with God's involvement than you could of achieved by your own intervention."

How true it is. How many times do we "run out of patience" because it isn't going the way we expected it or wanted it or dreamed it? How many times, do we try and crawl up on God's throne and say, "no, I meant life to look like this?" As Bill shared and reflected on David's writings in Psalms, we can grow in patience when we are willing to climb off the throne and trust that what God wants to do is greater than anything we could ever dream or imagine.

This week I would encourage you to look back through Psalm 40 and share with us how you have seen this passage and God's directive, of trusting and waiting upon him, has worked in your journey. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to interacting with you.

Billie Jean is definitely not my lover by Jim Parker

I played trumpet in junior high band, sort of. I'll never forget those September nights, marching around on the freshly cut grass of the high school football field. I still remember the feel of my mouth piece bumping against my lips with every step I marched. And, how that plastic music holder bounced around atop my trumpet like a bobble head in an old station wagon.

I was never any good at the trumpet. I guess I didn't have the lips for it or something. When Michael Jackson's song Billie Jean was big our band chose that as one of its songs for our half time show. The trumpets all had this solo we were supposed to play. It was the melody to the chorus of the song. I remember struggling through that solo in the junior high band room trying my best to get it down and failing ever more with each puff on the trumpet. Then it happened. This girl who also played trumpet, I don't remember her name, but her face is still clear in my mind offered me some much needed but little wanted advice. She said, "just play it like it sounds." That statement sent me into a bout of nervous pre-teen angst the likes of which would accompany me through most of my formative years.

I grew up in a really conservative family. We had very little music in the house and what we did have was my Mom's old gospel quartet 78 records. I knew that day that my problem was not that I couldn't hit the notes, master the pitch, or keep the tempo of Billie Jean, it was in fact that I'd never heard the song. Here I was, a teenage boy, and I had never heard this Michael Jackson classic. I assumed at the time there were probably people living in caves in the most remote parts of the Dark Continent and that even they knew this song. I felt like such a loser. It was like I'd try to fake who and what I was all year long and suddenly this girl had grabbed at a loose thread and completely unraveled my persona in one tug.

You know a lot of days I still get that same feeling I had that day in the junior high band room. I've come a long ways since those days of red and white polyester band suits and feathered plastic band hats. The last few years I've really begun to discover who I am and what I'm here for. But when I get around the right people and feel someone tugging at that loose thread those same old feelings of insignificance come right back to the surface. Vision is being able to look into your future and see what God MIGHT do if we are willing to let him. Don't let people make you feel that you can't, that you are less, that you don't fit the mold. Vision is figuring out you can't but that God can. Vision is believing something bigger is ahead on the road of life. Vision is you being all God made you to be and understanding that under every persona there is a scared junior high boy or girl waiting for his world to crumble. Don't be intimadated. Go after the dreams God is dreaming with you and for you. It really won't matter if you know what Billie Jean sounds like or not.

4th Dimension Vision

What would life be like if we all lived with a blindfold on? Can you imagine doing life with a blindfold on? We know that wouldn’t make sense, it would cause all sorts of problems. So why do we insist on doing life without a vision.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Without vision people will perish . . .” Vision in the Hebrew means to mentally perceive, gaze at, to have a vision of. What would it look like to have a vision for your life? What if you had a vision for your family, career, relationship, spiritual journey?

Take a look at this passage again in the Message version- “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals they are most blessed.”

We want to introduce a new dimension of vision, it’s called the 4th dimension vision. The 4th dimension, as you know, consists of seeing, feeling, and experiencing the movie, as though it was happening. Similarly I want this to be true in our spiritual journey. 4th Dimension vision is this: Seeing God and joining His activity.

What would it be like to see God in your family and join Him in what He wants to do?

What would it be like to see God in your career and join Him in what He wants to do?

What would it be like to see God in your relationships and join Him in what He wants to do?

What would it be like to see God in your journey and join Him in what He wants to do?

Let's share
Take some time to recognize where God is . . . Can you see Him? If so, share it with us, reflect on it. If not, why? What is blocking your vision? What is getting in the way of seeing God? Encourage you to share that as well.

7 "Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8 Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Luke 17:7-10

Are you motivated to serve those around because of guilt or fear or rewards? The idea of, what's in it for me? As long as I get something out of it, I will do it?

Or are you motivated to serve out of love? Maybe it is more about love than it is about you. If we are moving along the spiritual journey continuum and closer to being a passionate Christ follower, what does loving those around you look like?

Jesus shows us what that is with his life, but specifically he show us through this passage

. . . . Having loved his (Jesus) own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. . . . he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:1, 5 (portions)

Jesus lived out and called us to love like this. Really, I believe Jesus points us to this; love is as love does. Think about that statement for a minute. Love is as love does . . . . .

What does that look like for you? How is Jesus asking you to live that out with those around you? I am sure it isn't washing your boss' feet . . . but what is it for you? And it's not for you to get a raise, it is to love. Remember love isn't simply a noun or a feeling. Love is an action, love is a verb, love is a choice.

Love is as love does. Share with us what that looks like for you.

The Journey- Pharisee vs. Tax Collector

Take some time and read Luke 18:9-14.

One of the first questions Pastor Bill asked in his journey guide this week was this:

Do you most identify with the Pharisee or the Tax Collector in the story?…All the time or in certain situations?
Explain.

For me. I used to identify with the Pharisee. I had my reasons why I was better than everyone else. I propped myself up upon my religious "accomplishments" and had a pointy finger for those who didn't "measure up" to my standard.

But thankfully God broke me of that. Granted he kicked out my prop from underneath me, but it was a much needed fall from pride and arrogance to grace and humility. Today, I see more similarities with me and the tax collector. I long for a heart that Jesus gently forms and guides.

I believe the times I struggle today with a judging heart is actually with the Pharisee. I have found it more difficult to forgive and give grace to Pharisees. I want Him to keep working with me on that, because the Pharisees need a change of heart as much as the tax collector. Jesus was about changing hearts, if that is the case, then I need to join him in that by him changing mine and being open to how he will use me to guide others.

Journey Guide 3 weeks late

I thought I would follow the journey guide we are doing as a church and interact with you through the blog. I will try and do this weekly or multiple times a week. If you ever miss the week we hand it out at church, it is always downloadable on our website http://www.newlifecommunitychurch.us/ as well as the sermon.

This week we looked at Luke 15:1-10. One of my favorite passages, the lost sheep and the lost coin. The first question I want to interact about is this:

What does it mean to you to be sought after (as in God seeking after you)?

That blows my mind. When I look at God, at times, I am overwhelmed by how awesome He is, I am in awe that he created this world, but so much more, the entire universe and then some. That he has enough care to add delicate detail to a flower and a glimpse of his power in a lightening bolt. Yet, he longs to be in a relationship with me. Yet, he pursues me with a love that is relentless. He will not stop pursuing me or those around me. That blows my mind.

My God, our God is amazing.

What is your next step?

As a tribe, why do we exist? As a church, what are we about, what is our mission?

To help spiritually confused people become passionate Christ followers.

Everything we do as a church, is filtered through that mission. And as I studied Jesus and his interaction with his disciples I saw the same thing. We always assume the disciples are these iconic stainglass figures who started the early church with impecable and fearless faith. We overlook where they started. We overlook the fact that these men were simply just ordinary men who were called by Jesus to, "Follow Me." It was in that pursuit, in that journey where these men, through years of following became passionate Christ followers.

I believe the same is true of us today. But I want to see, what is the bench mark of a follower. What is it that Jesus pushed them on, in becoming a passionate Christ follower?

Mark 3:14 "He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that he might send them out . . . "

Two things come jumping off the page for me when I read this. Jesus wanted his disciples to follow him in two areas, intimacy with Him and influence with others. Because we are all on a journey, somewhere between spiritually confused and passionate Christ follower. It is good to identify, where are we on our journey? And what is the next step I need to take?

Specifically, this week, what is the next step you need to take in growing in itimacy with Christ? What is that next step you need to take where God is more active in your day to day things? Can you ask God, what do you have for me next? Does that draw you closer to him?

Share with us, what it is for you and how you want to be challenged in that next step. Thanks!!