Passion

Great thoughts from Kevin DeYoung over at his blog today…

Reaching the next generation—whether they are outside the church or sitting there bored in your church—is easier and harder than you think.  It’s easier because you don’t have to get a degree in postmodern literary theory or go to a bunch of stupid movies.  You don’t have to say “sweet” or “bling” ” or know what LOL or IMHO means.  You don’t have to listen to…well, whatever people listen to these days.  You don’t have to be on twitter, watchThe Office, or imbibe fancy coffees.  You just have to be like Jesus.  That’s it.  So the easy part is you don’t have to be with it.  The hard part is you have to be with Him.  If you walk with God and walk with people, you’ll reach the next generation.

And then going on in his article he talks about “passion.” I have always loved that word. More than purpose or strategy or drive or other new hip words. I love passion. If you read that article, I think John Piper is an example of that in action. Why does he reach young people? Why do college kids listen to him? Passion.

Now if we could just all agree on what “just having to be like Jesus,” actually means.

Safe

I want to be safe.

I don’t take risks.

People can claim all they want that “playing it safe” is somehow a bad thing. That the risky, the edgy, the progressive people–they are getting it done, they are the movers and shakers–and here is the kicker–that they are doing what God wants. Really? God doesn’t want you to be safe?

“The safest place to be is the center of God’s will.” You’ve heard it. Do you not believe it? When God and I are tight, when I feel (I know feeling is an emotion, unreliable, I get it) but work with me. When I feel connected most to Him…I don’t care where I am or what I am doing…I feel safe. In fact I don’t only feel safe…I am safe.

“But it feels risky”…what did I say about feelings.

So what am I getting at here. Do what God wants you to do! Write a book or don’t. Move overseas or don’t. Worship with guitars and lights or don’t. Live on a farm or don’t. It is always safe if it is what God wants. There is only one way I can take a risk in life. That is when I make any move without God.

God doesn’t take risks.

God wants me to be safe.

Love

Love God. Love others.

So often now the mantra of Christians. Excuse me, “Christ Followers.” But is it complete? Or completely accurate? Or does it need to be?

I am never commanded to love others with all my heart and soul and strength. Or is it heart and soul and mind? I always forget. But, either way, I think we are in danger of worshiping people. Are we Jesus-centric or people-centric?

Is the focus of the sermons, again excuse me, “messages,” you hear, people (yourself often) or God?

Decisions

Brett Favre was asked recently if his coming back from retirement was the right decision. He said only time will tell.

From a christian perspective can that be accurate? If as a believer I am in God’s will and seek his guidance on all decisions, big and small (talking hypothetical here) is a decision ever “wrong?” Would every decision I make, if it is clearly what God wants me to do ever be wrong down the road (in the future).

Or another way to ask it, does God ever lead you, or explicitly tell you to make the wrong decision. (Which would of course make it right, since he said to do it.)

Yes, I am combining the world’s view of wrong and right with Gods. Dangerous. God can use failure as success and so on. I know it and believe it. But to me does that then mean (for instance) that if God told me to buy a certain car and it turns out to be a lemon. It turns out to be a financial disaster. Years later do I say it was a mistake, I made the wrong decision. Or was it the right decision because God told me to do it. And only be the wrong decision if I didn’t obey God and buy the lemon. Missing what he desired for me to learn.

You can see where I am landing, but not biblically certain. So back to Brett Favre. I am leaning towards a belief that states it is not accurate or true to say only time will tell. It was either right or wrong from the very beginning.

Playa

The Student Ministries at church gives me opportunities to do some fun stuff. Below is the latest design for an upcoming message series. Thought I would share. Since I am down like that, yo.

Hero

One of my modern day heroes, Marc Driscoll.

Are you aloud to have heroes? Is it only supposed to be Jesus? What if he falls, fails or screws something up? I don’t know and I don’t care, he is a hero of mine right now. And I’ve got others. From Ray Kroc to Andy Griffith to John Piper. But today Marc Driscoll.

Check out the video here about Pastor Marc on ABC news.

Worship

Saw this on Church Relevance.

Does this feel like Christmas . . . (you don’t have to watch it all if you don’t want too.)

Not like a concert or pure entertainment or anything, simply worship? One of my favorite things during worship has always been intelligent lights that blast me right in the eye. I guess its like heaven.

Boom

And “boom goes the dynamite.”

Not someone elses words about Tony’s beliefs. Tony on Tony. Tony Jones.

[ht:JT]

Told ya.

IT

I knew I had seen it before.

Craig Groeschel’s new book is a rip off.

Shack

I have not read the Shack.

I really, really want to rant about it, but was told I couldn’t because I haven’t read it. I told them I haven’t read the book of Mormon either but I know I disagree with it.

So I won’t rant about it…yet. I mean, if I was going to rant I might discuss how God was never personified as a female in all the recorded scriptures, and as of now we don’t baptize in the name of the Mother, the Son, and his sister the Holy Spirit, but I guess I can’t say all that yet. I guess I can’t say that I think it is a little off that God is basically represented as Oprah, and wouldn’t it have been cool if the Oprah character was also in a wheel chair—because you know, that would be more inclusive to everyone. We don’t want to hurt any ones feelings. Oh, and I can’t even begin to talk about how it isn’t meant as theology it is just fiction, yet everyone promotes it as theology and a great way to understand the trinity, but be sure to remember it is just a novel. Huh?

Anyways it will all have to wait. I was given the audio version of it, so maybe I’ll get through it one day.

You can only hope.