Josh Hatcher's Blog

Gossip... Funny Video... Great Point

2009-04-29T09:01:00.001-07:00

Josh's Top Ten Music Videos for April 24

2009-04-24T15:46:00.001-07:00

Just testing this out...

I'm a Bloody Mess...

2009-04-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

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...

Music Video - Nail

2009-04-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. Thought I'd post a song that I wrote since Good Friday is coming up.

2009.... what the heck happened to 2008????

2009-01-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

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 Advent Conspiracy ... great video.. check it out.

2008-12-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Stealing Baby Jesus

2008-12-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-12-13T16:21:00.000-08:00

More things you don't see every day

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FWD:

2008-12-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Things you dont see often

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In the midst of a passage about the wrath of God- we see His heart.

2008-12-12T11:47:00.001-08:00

Grace.Compassion

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where good things come from

2008-11-21T06:22:00.001-08:00

"every awesome and completely perfect gift comes from God, who fathered the stars..." the hatcher translation

just remember that in the bad times... that while we are not exempt from suffering... God is the source of peace, love, hope, joy, mercy...

God fathered the stars...
satan fathered lies...

2008-11-03T17:09:00.001-08:00

Just checking to see how this mobile blogging works. If it works well, it may just change the way we post on here.
-josh-

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Yoda on Cell Groups

2008-10-24T06:52:00.001-07:00

I will get back to my series on Core Values soon,

in the meantime, I thought I should share this video from YODA about cell groups.

Yoda Groups from Fusion Church on Vimeo.

Core Value # 4. Transformation through Cell Groups

2008-09-24T08:50:00.001-07:00

Core Value # 4. Transformation through Cell Groups (A12 format) – We believe the best
place to experience life change, meaningful relationships, and effective
mission is in cell group.

The Bigger Open Arms gets, the smaller it has to get...
Most churches max out at about 80 people. Why 80? because that's all the more people that a really good pastor can maintain relationships with.
Once a church starts to get past that point (and we are well past that point) the breakdown occurs... and like a rubber band, any new growth starts to stretch out, and then when people don't feel connected to "the pastor", the church snaps back down to a small number again, never breaking through to its potential.

It's really not a biblical model. The biblical model involves Jesus, hanging out, and sharing life with 12 or so guys, and equipping them to go out and hang out with more. Sure, Jesus had hundreds of "disciples"... there were hundreds of people that followed Jesus while he was on the earth. Sometimes THOUSANDS would come out to hear him speak.
But Jesus picked a group of about 12 people, (and got even closer to a smaller group than that, Peter, James, and John) and invested in them, teaching them, training them to go out and invest in, teach, and train new believers.

If we read that accurately, and believe the Great Commission, than we see that what Jesus gave the disciples was then meant to be passed on, and on and on and on....

That's why we've built our small group model the way it is, so that it keeps going, and going, and going, and going.

If you look out across our church, and look for people whose lives are being transformed, and I guarantee you, there are some... it's happening through our cell group ministries. One cell group "adopted" a homeless guy, helped him get a job, helped him pay rent, gave him a car, and just became his friend. The guy is now a hardworking, single dad, that is doing well with his life!

This is just one story out of dozens of stories of life transformation at Open Arms.

If you want to know more about our cell group format, check out this information, and watch my message about "Community" if you haven't seen it yet!

http://www.openarmsbradford.org/community/a12.html

http://www.openarmsbradford.org/echurch/2008/09/growing-closer-to-god-part-5-community.html

Core Value #3. Every member a minister and a missionary

2008-09-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Let's dive in further into this blog series on our Open Arms Core Values. What is this crazy thing all about?

Core Value #3. Every member a minister and a missionary* – We believe God has called
every person to proclaim the message of Jesus to the lost and serve in team
ministry using their God-given resources of Time, Talents, and Finances.

Matthew 28:
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Mark 16: 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Acts 1: 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

The Great Commission is recorded in a few different passages, from the perspective of a few different authors. They each highlighted different things that Jesus said and did that day.
It’s important to understand that the Great Commission was given, not just to twelve guys in robes, but to every person who considers himself a follower of Christ.

1 Peter 2:
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Peter tells us that we are a royal priesthood… each of us that follow Christ have a calling to perform.

It’s important to note that ministry is not meant to be done by the “Pastor” or the “paid professional.” The work of reaching the WORLD for Christ is bigger than an all of the pastors in the world can do. The work of reaching just BRADFORD for Christ is bigger than what all of the pastors in town can do.
This scripture tells what a pastor’s job is.
Ephesians 4: 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The pastor’s job is not to do all the work. It’s to equip the people of God to do that work.

At Open Arms, this core value is both a blessing and a challenge.
It’s freeing to know that we have the freedom to actually do ministry. We can dream up ideas, and work with our TEAM (which can be a cell group, or a group of people interested in working together on a project)
But it also means that we need to do the work and support that work with our prayers, our service, and our finances.

If we don’t, it won’t happen. Trees don’t get cut down by themselves. The lawn does not mow itself. People don’t come to church just because a building is there, they need to be invited. The electric bill doesn’t just get paid, and poor people don’t just have food, the PEOPLE OF GOD need to give.

Open Arms is a job for all of us. Let’s pray about where and how we can serve, how much and how often we should give, and in what ways we are gifted to serve God.

Core Value # 2 - Authentic Disciples

2008-09-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Let's take a look at our Open Arms Core Values. What is Open Arms all about? How does it function? What makes us tick?

Core Value #2. Authentic Disciples –We believe the true measure of faith is
demonstrated by one's obedience and that we need to have healthy avenues
of accountability in our walk with Jesus.

There are a lot of people who call themselves Christians. There are a lot of people who believe in God. In fact, check our these statistics from the Barna Group:
Faith Groups
8% of US adults classify as evangelicals (2007) (see Evangelical category for more information)
35% of US adults classify as born again, but not evangelical. (2007)
Atheists and agnostics comprise 10% of adults nationwide. (2007)
7% of the US population identify with a faith other than Christianity (2007)
69% believe in God when described as the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today. (2007)
8% believe that God is the total realization of personal human potential. (2007)
But the boxes people check on a survey or a census does not necessarily accurately measure a relationship with Jesus.

An “Authentic Disciple” is someone who really follows Jesus. They not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk.
Sure, they aren’t perfect, they make mistakes…
but everyday, they get closer and closer to what God wants them to be.

They chose to obey the principles and commands that God laid out in His word.

They are not liars.
They are not cheats.
They are generous givers.
They are faithful and committed to their spouse.
They help poor people.
They don’t gossip.
They are forgiving.
They tell their friends and family about Jesus.

Sure, they’re not perfect. They make mistakes...
That’s why they surround themselves with people who can hold them accountable. People who can ask them, “So How’s it going man? Are you doing anything you shouldn’t be?”

They allow themselves to be questioned so that they can truly be shaped into who God wants them to be.

Scripture says that: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the face of another.

That means that REAL followers of Jesus are not lone wolves… they run in packs.

I can remember two guys that lived on the floor of my dorm in college. Keep in mind that I went to Liberty University, a very conservative Christian College with a lot of rules, including mandatory dorm curfews, and a dress code. (We had to wear a tie to class.)

One young man in the dorm was raised in an evangelical home, went to a Christian school his whole life, and knew exactly what was required of him.
But he was cynical and rude. He took pleasure in picking on people. He also snorted Ritalin to get high, snuck booze into his room, and had underage drinking parties in his dorm room. He would not listen when people would confront him, but would get defensive and sometimes violent if people challenged his lifestyle. He didn’t go to church regularly. He was greedy with his money. (and he had a LOT of it.) He hated black people, and would sneak out at night to meet up with his girlfriend and have sex. Even though he did these things, he believed in God, and considered himself a Christian.

Another young man was a preacher’s kid. He struggled with authority, he hated the strict rules that Liberty placed on it’s students. He struggled with pornography and masturbation. But he was honest. He surrounded himself with guys, and confessed his sin. He asked for help and accountability to overcome his struggles. He read his Bible, he faithfully attended church, and tithed his meager income. He prayed daily. He struggled, but he was repentant, and open to people helping steer him.

It’s one thing to say you have faith, or that you trust God. It’s another to actually do what God says. The Faith of an Authentic Disciple is measured by his Obedience to God. And he’s willing to be held accountable to that.

Core Values #1 Prayer

2008-09-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Let's take a look at our Open Arms Core Values. What is Open Arms all about? How does it function? What makes us tick?

Core Value #1. Prayer –We believe that all we do should start, run, and end thoroughly
saturated in prayer.

Prayer is arguably the most powerful tool in our arsenal as Christians.
It takes many forms, it accomplishes many things. Prayer is to us as a Swiss Army Knife is to Macguyver.

We often get this “Bedtime Christianity” view of prayer. That if we say certain words before we go to sleep or before we eat, we will be blessed. Or if we ask God for help when we need it, he will appear like a magic genie and answer our prayer.

While it is certainly a good thing to thank God for our meal, to pray before bed, and to bring our requests to Him, prayer is so much more than that.

It’s talking to God, and listening to God. It’s plugging in to His power, by agreeing with what His word says. It’s laying hands on people and then asking God to heal them. It’s a meditation more powerful than yoga… It’s crying out to God when you don’t even know what words to pray, and when the Spirit inside you prays on your behalf.

It’s a microscope as we examine ourselves before we eat a piece of bread and drink a cup of juice, asking forgiveness for our sins.

It’s a source of strength when people stand against you, criticize you, lie to you or about you, and you ask God to bless them, and do good for them.

It’s not like an email, that you send and wait for someone to read and respond.
It’s not like a cell phone call that gets dropped in the middle.

It’s a living, breathing part of a face to face relationship with a real God.

All of this sounds fine, but without real life application, it’s just a bunch of words.
Let me tell you a few stories about the power of prayer.

I used to live in Roulette, and would have to drive about an hour to Bradford at three o’clock every morning. The winter time was the worst. One time (well, lots of times actually) I fell asleep at the wheel. I had to pull over for a few minutes, and splash snow on my face to wake up.

When I approached the top of Red Rock Hill, I feel asleep, and found myself veering into the lane of traffic. I knew that I could not make it down that hill without crashing. But somehow, I was able to stay awake enough to stay on the road. In fact, I drove several miles completely asleep.

When I got to work, my dad called and asked me, “What in the world happened to you this morning?” He had been woken up from a sound sleep, with this incredible pressure and feeling that he should pray for me. I explained what happened to me at 3:45 that morning. He had been awakened at that exact same time, had got up out of bed and prayed me all the way into work that morning.

My grandmother has had a number of heart problems. Several surgeries, lots of meds, and at this time, a lot of pain. She was convinced that she was having another heart attack.

We were sitting in Pizza Hut, and as she told us about it, I leaned over, laid my hand on her back, and prayed, trusting that God would heal her heart, and that nothing would be wrong with her.

When she went in for a stress test the next morning, the doctor pulled out two pictures of her heart.

“Geraldine, this picture is your heart a year ago. Do you see the lack of blood at the top? This is your heart from this morning. Do you see this artery that goes from the bottom to the top? This was not here a year ago. Sometime in the past year, your heart grew its own bypass surgery.”

Grandma told the doctor when it happened, at Pizza Hut the day before when I prayed for her.

I remember another time, when I was in severe emotional pain. I had been “eaten alive” by the church that I was serving in. People had turned against me because of my allegiance to a pastor that they strongly disagreed with. When he left, they turned on me, and said horrible things to me and about me. It was painful. It was difficult. I didn’t even know what to do or say, or even how to pray. So I laid down on the floor in my office and just cried. For hours, I cried to God. I couldn’t even say anything to Him, because I was hurting so badly. I just laid there, and I could feel this warmth, comforting me, healing me, and loving me. I walked out of there with enough strength to make it through.

Prayer is the gasoline of Open Arms. Nothing can run without it. So pray for your church leadership. Pray for your community. Pray for your family… just spend time with God, and let Him speak to you.

To read more about Prayer, check our Pastor Mike’s Powerhouse Prayer Series.

Complacecy

2008-09-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

Complacency
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
com·pla·cen·cy /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/
Pronunciation[kuhm-pley-suhn-see]
–noun, plural -cies.
1. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

Proverbs 1:32 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

Revelation 3:15-16 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth

To be a Christian and Complacent is an oxymoron.

The life that God calls us to is not one of comfort and peace, but one where we battle, we serve, we sacrifice.

Yes, Jesus promises and dispenses comfort and peace... but not in such a way that we are lulled to sleep by it, but rather refreshed, so that we can go out and serve.

Lets ask ourselves: Have I been complacent? Have I allowed the enemy to steal my joy? Have I become discouraged? Lazy? Tired? Weak? Flabby? Faithless?

Ask God to help your zeal be renewed. Commit today to be PASSIONATE for Jesus, and not complacent.

Kingdom First

2008-07-22T15:35:00.001-07:00

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead. - William Law
---------------

Matthew 6
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
-----------

As we wrap up our study on "The Kingdom" this weekend, I thought this quote from William Law in reference o Matthew 6 was quite moving.

Are we seeking the things of this world ahead of our desire to seek the things of God?

Do we care more about our paycheck, our overtime pay, our satellite tv, our unlimited texting plan, our SUV, our Friday Night dinner out at the pizza joint, or WHATEVER?

Put your passion for knowing Jesus more at the forefront.

Make it the first and most important thing in your life.

Because in the end, you can't take your cell phone or your nice house with you.

Happy Happy Fourth

2008-07-04T10:57:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday USA

Happy Birthday too, to Isaiah And Michaelah!

and Happy Tenth Anniversary to my wife Zoe!

Replacement for Mike

2008-07-01T14:53:00.001-07:00

hmm... Pastor Mike is out of town.
Maybe we should get this guy to replace him.

;)

Pastor's Pray for Politicians

2008-06-28T11:16:00.001-07:00

YEAH, BUT... (the biggest enemy to WHAT IF)

2008-05-31T09:29:00.001-07:00

I was listening to Reggie McNeill, the author of "Present Future" and other great books on church growth. He's a grumpy old southern codger that really has his finger on the pulse of the new Christianity... he was talking about how FEAR kept him from experiencing God's best for him...

He said that the biggest enemy to God's best is YEAH, BUT...

Statements that begin with YEAH, BUT... are motivated by fear. And they hold us back, like chains around our feet.

I hate bugs. I despise insects with a passion. I was successfully able to avoid a bee sting all the way until sixth grade, when one flew in my mouth and dug his little stinger into my upper pallet.

Ticks, Wasps, beetles, ladybugs... keep them ALL away from me.

That passionate fear of bugs reminds me of Indiana Jones and his fear of snakes... I can overcome it when absolutely necessary, but I still hate them.

My kids, unfortunately have learned this fear, and called it their own. They informed me yesterday that the downstairs bathroom was "Closed Until Further Notice". It seems a giant hornet had moved in, and it just made more sense to walk all the way upstairs when nature came calling.

I of course, "man-ed up" and wiped out the fiery little critter, and saved the day. The whole time I was choking back the urge to side with the kids, and just leave the downstairs bathroom closed!

As we enter this summer, with visions of WHAT IF in our heads, there is going to be a lot of temptation to say, YEAH, BUT...

What if serving God cost me everything?
YEAH, BUT.. what if everything meant that I would have to give up my cable tv, or my cell phone?
What if serving God was something I loved to do?
YEAH, BUT.. what if I have to quit my job to do it? We got to have an income?
What if everyone did their part?
YEAH, BUT... I'm no Mother Theresa, and I don't think I could do the things she did....

You get the point, right?

When we are envisioning this new and exciting future that God has for us... these YEAH, BUT.. statements of fear can cripple us, and keep us from the destiny that God wants to share with us!

He wants us to reach out into our community... YEAH, BUT... I'm not a preacher, and the guys I work with don't want to hear about Jesus.
... so what if you don't PREACH to them, but show them love! They should already know that you go to church, and the you believe in God... why not pour LOVE out on them, and accept them for who they are, and be patient with what they do wrong?
CS Lewis says this about the way Christians are supposed to be:

"Pure, spiritual, intellectual love shot form their faces like barbed lightning. It was so unlike the love we experience that its expression could easily be mistaken for ferocity."

We know that we are supposed to be generous, and give God the first part of our income...
YEAH, BUT... I'm already having a hard time making ends meet! If I give, I won't be able to pay my bills....

Guess what! God's Math is different. All I can say is that I have tithed for more than ten years now, and while I've been in tight places... I've never been without. When I choose to be generous and give a gift to someone over and above that tithe... it ALWAYS comes back to me! One time, I painfully gave 20 dollars to a person in need, and God supplied 400 dollars in gifts and income from unexpected sources within the next two weeks.

We know that following Jesus is hard. We know that going to church and a cell group requires time and commitment. We know that serving in children's ministry, or the worship team, or in the media booth can be stressful and difficult...
but instead of saying YEAH, BUT...

let's gulp down that fear, and do what has to be done! God will meet you there, and do amazing things with your obedience!

Trash Evangelism

2008-05-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this video from Off the Map..

what little act can you do this week to show someone that Jesus loves them?

Best Ribs Ever

2008-05-15T15:16:00.001-07:00

I had to travel to Batavia, NY to visit Northgate Church ( http://www.northgatefmc.com )

On the way home, my friend Andy took me out to eat at Alex's Place ( http://www.alexsribs.com ) near the Batavia Downs Race Track.

I had the Half Rack Lunch Special - Garlic Ribs with BBQ on the side, coleslaw, fries, and a bowl of Cheesy Pepperoni Soup.

These were by far, the best ribs I've ever tasted in my life, and perhaps the best restaurant I've ever been to in my life.

The establishment looks like an old speak-easy, and it was a little darker inside than I prefer, but again, the food was ABSOLUTELY amazing, and if any of you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend getting ya' some ribs!