Josh Hatcher's Blog
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Gossip... Funny Video... Great Point
Friday, April 24, 2009
Josh's Top Ten Music Videos for April 24
Just testing this out...
Friday, April 10, 2009
I'm a Bloody Mess...
It's Good Friday...
Every year this day comes around, and every year I miss it.
I honestly can't stand watching the passion of the christ (our church does it every year)
If I really stop and let the gravity of this day sink in.... it floors me.
It rips me open, leaving me wounded and hurting, as I realize just what all of my failures have accomplished.
The truth is, as I look at my life from early on until this moment...
I'm a lying, cheating, violent, lustful, bitter, glutton of a man who could care less about anyone but himself.
Now, there are moments when Jesus shines through...
but if you only knew who I was, what I did, and where my mind goes sometimes.
if you only knew that part of me that still clings on for dear life... begging and pleading to be let out of his cage so that he can hurt people, and hurt himself.
It is a beautiful thing to see what Jesus did for me... but it's so hard to see that person that I was... that sometimes I still am...
Galatians 2:20 (The Message)
19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Anything good you see in me is not me.
I'm a bloody mess.
The good things you see? They come because of what Jesus is doing in me. This crucifixion for me... it is something I must experience everyday.... because Josh Hatcher still lives in me. God made him special, and God loves him very much, and God saw the good that He had placed in him from the beginning, and God wanted to buy him back from the slavery he sold myself into... The fact remains that there are parts of me that need to be scourged and purged and killed to keep them in their proper place.
The rest of me is what God has bought back. What He paid for and rightfully owns. What He gave up everything so that it could be fixed... And at the end of all things, His redemptive work will be complete...
and in the meantime.... I'm a bloody mess...
Every year this day comes around, and every year I miss it.
I honestly can't stand watching the passion of the christ (our church does it every year)
If I really stop and let the gravity of this day sink in.... it floors me.
It rips me open, leaving me wounded and hurting, as I realize just what all of my failures have accomplished.
The truth is, as I look at my life from early on until this moment...
I'm a lying, cheating, violent, lustful, bitter, glutton of a man who could care less about anyone but himself.
Now, there are moments when Jesus shines through...
but if you only knew who I was, what I did, and where my mind goes sometimes.
if you only knew that part of me that still clings on for dear life... begging and pleading to be let out of his cage so that he can hurt people, and hurt himself.
It is a beautiful thing to see what Jesus did for me... but it's so hard to see that person that I was... that sometimes I still am...
Galatians 2:20 (The Message)
19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Anything good you see in me is not me.
I'm a bloody mess.
The good things you see? They come because of what Jesus is doing in me. This crucifixion for me... it is something I must experience everyday.... because Josh Hatcher still lives in me. God made him special, and God loves him very much, and God saw the good that He had placed in him from the beginning, and God wanted to buy him back from the slavery he sold myself into... The fact remains that there are parts of me that need to be scourged and purged and killed to keep them in their proper place.
The rest of me is what God has bought back. What He paid for and rightfully owns. What He gave up everything so that it could be fixed... And at the end of all things, His redemptive work will be complete...
and in the meantime.... I'm a bloody mess...
Labels: good friday
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Music Video - Nail
Saturday, January 03, 2009
2009.... what the heck happened to 2008????
It amazes me how fast time flies.
The older I get, the faster it moves.
I remember being a kid and thinking it took forever to get through a week...
now whole years pass without me even noticing.
Definitely gotta learn to savor the moment... instead of gulping down my life like a piece of pizza on the way out the door...
The older I get, the faster it moves.
I remember being a kid and thinking it took forever to get through a week...
now whole years pass without me even noticing.
Definitely gotta learn to savor the moment... instead of gulping down my life like a piece of pizza on the way out the door...
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Advent Conspiracy ... great video.. check it out.
Labels: advent conspiracy, christmas
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Stealing Baby Jesus
This is an abbreviation of a much longer concept that is in my head... maybe it will be a book someday...
A friend at a local church here in town has a nativity out front every year, and for several years in a row, Baby Jesus was stolen from the manger.
The ended up driving a rod into the ground, and chaining the infant deity to the stake, so no one would take off with him.
After a little research, I've found this is a common problem... Baby Jesus is being stolen from nativities all over the country!
It really makes me think. I'm sure there's a little bit of playfullness and mischeif involved in ripping off the little Ancient of Days....
but it's actually a trend I've seen a lot.
My church uses myspace a lot to help get the word out about what's happening, and how the community can get involved.
A woman sent me a message that said something liek this...
"You keep sending me messages telling me that your church will welcome me with 'Open Arms', but I'm pretty sure I would not be welcome. You see, I'm a polytheistic pagan. I believe in and worship many gods and goddesses. I actually do worship Jesus. I love his teachings, and I try to follow them and live by them, to be honest, he's my favorite god. I worship others as well, but I do love and respect Jesus."
This woman stole Baby Jesus!
See, she wanted Jesus.... but she didn't want what comes with Him. She didn't need the manger, or Mary, or the church the nativity was parked in front of.
It makes me wonder a number of things.
Are there things that Christians do that make people want to steal Jesus?
Taking Him, without the "additives"?
Are we adding so much to the story, putting requirements on people to dress a certain way, listen to a certain kind of music, or even BELIEVE a certain way?
I think people won't even walk in the door of a church, because those that have gone before us have set such a good example of passing judgment and damnation out with their communion cups.
Sure, there are exceptions. Many Christians have done it right... but if you ask Joe Schmoe on the street what he thinks about Jesus... you'll find that they look at Jesus as someone they like... and his followers as someone he doesn't.
"Well, he didn't try MY church." you might say.
My son thinks homemade macaroni and cheese tastes gross. He only tasted it once... when he was four. Three years later, he is NOT gong to try it again.
Will he like it more if I cram it down his throat? Will he like it someday? Will he like it if it is someone else's recipe? Probably not. He won't try it until he is ready.
People aren't going to try your church, just because you say it tastes good. In fact, they might even go with you to church, and find it's just not their flavor.
To be honest, our modern concept of a "church service" is a long way off from what they did in the new testament anyway! We've added an order of service, and all these traditions. Even our modern services are steeped in tradition, whether they are our own new traditions, or modified old ones.
I think if people knew they could have JESUS... pure, simple, straight, JESUS... the promises He offers, the hope He gives, the power over sin and death, the atonement.... the connection to a community of other people that loved them.... the beautiful, simple gospel, unadorned by tradition, style, preference, and cofusing theology....
if they knew they could get that.. i think they wouldn't feel they have to steal him.
They would start getting to know Him, and us Christians, and if we play our cards right.. they would start to feel like they "belonged".... maybe they're theology isn't perfect.... maybe they still worship other gods and goddesses... but if they really feel like the belong, and they start to see the POWER of Christ to change lives, and the love and compassion of Christ through us... maybe they would actually come to "believe"
anyway.. just a few crazy thought about "stealing baby jesus"....
thoughts?
A friend at a local church here in town has a nativity out front every year, and for several years in a row, Baby Jesus was stolen from the manger.
The ended up driving a rod into the ground, and chaining the infant deity to the stake, so no one would take off with him.
After a little research, I've found this is a common problem... Baby Jesus is being stolen from nativities all over the country!
It really makes me think. I'm sure there's a little bit of playfullness and mischeif involved in ripping off the little Ancient of Days....
but it's actually a trend I've seen a lot.
My church uses myspace a lot to help get the word out about what's happening, and how the community can get involved.
A woman sent me a message that said something liek this...
"You keep sending me messages telling me that your church will welcome me with 'Open Arms', but I'm pretty sure I would not be welcome. You see, I'm a polytheistic pagan. I believe in and worship many gods and goddesses. I actually do worship Jesus. I love his teachings, and I try to follow them and live by them, to be honest, he's my favorite god. I worship others as well, but I do love and respect Jesus."
This woman stole Baby Jesus!
See, she wanted Jesus.... but she didn't want what comes with Him. She didn't need the manger, or Mary, or the church the nativity was parked in front of.
It makes me wonder a number of things.
Are there things that Christians do that make people want to steal Jesus?
Taking Him, without the "additives"?
Are we adding so much to the story, putting requirements on people to dress a certain way, listen to a certain kind of music, or even BELIEVE a certain way?
I think people won't even walk in the door of a church, because those that have gone before us have set such a good example of passing judgment and damnation out with their communion cups.
Sure, there are exceptions. Many Christians have done it right... but if you ask Joe Schmoe on the street what he thinks about Jesus... you'll find that they look at Jesus as someone they like... and his followers as someone he doesn't.
"Well, he didn't try MY church." you might say.
My son thinks homemade macaroni and cheese tastes gross. He only tasted it once... when he was four. Three years later, he is NOT gong to try it again.
Will he like it more if I cram it down his throat? Will he like it someday? Will he like it if it is someone else's recipe? Probably not. He won't try it until he is ready.
People aren't going to try your church, just because you say it tastes good. In fact, they might even go with you to church, and find it's just not their flavor.
To be honest, our modern concept of a "church service" is a long way off from what they did in the new testament anyway! We've added an order of service, and all these traditions. Even our modern services are steeped in tradition, whether they are our own new traditions, or modified old ones.
I think if people knew they could have JESUS... pure, simple, straight, JESUS... the promises He offers, the hope He gives, the power over sin and death, the atonement.... the connection to a community of other people that loved them.... the beautiful, simple gospel, unadorned by tradition, style, preference, and cofusing theology....
if they knew they could get that.. i think they wouldn't feel they have to steal him.
They would start getting to know Him, and us Christians, and if we play our cards right.. they would start to feel like they "belonged".... maybe they're theology isn't perfect.... maybe they still worship other gods and goddesses... but if they really feel like the belong, and they start to see the POWER of Christ to change lives, and the love and compassion of Christ through us... maybe they would actually come to "believe"
anyway.. just a few crazy thought about "stealing baby jesus"....
thoughts?
