Tuesday, June 23, 2009
You may not want to read this...
...because I'm pretty sure it's an over-share, but just in case you've ever sat down to pee and thought all was well until you discovered you were sitting on the back of your skirt the whole time, you're not alone.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Awe Factor
I was just reading the review of a book Amazon recommended for me when I logged in. It's called "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan. I don't normally take Amazon at it's word and I don't know much about Francis Chan, but this book has already caused me to worship (thank you, LOOK INSIDE! feature).
I hope I'm not breaking any copyright laws here, but I just wanted to share this with you. In the first chapter, Chan tells you to go to this site and watch the video called "The Awe Factor of God"(it's short and amazing).
This is what he writes after that... I read to the top of page 24 and I think those couple of pages sold me. It's good (and even restful and freeing!) to know we're insignificant in light of who our God is.
"Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God." -- R.C. Sproul
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Advance part 2...
I haven't taken this many notes since college. This is a very condensed version and nothing compares to hearing it yourself. These are just the highlights of what I was able to write down. Some things I just couldn't get on paper...sometimes those are the most impactful.
After Driscoll spoke, Piper started his 2 part talk on Let the Nations Be Glad. This was the clincher for getting Josh and I to register for the conference. That particular topic is one, as you know, we are really passionate about because we believe God is really passionate about it. He's God of the NATIONS! Ok...I'll let Piper preach now.
"You're not Biblically missional unless you pursue missions... This is war time, not peace time. The stakes are eternal... To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations He will one day reign in. If you do not embrace this there will be a mild or severe sickness in your soul... 'Let your kingdom come' = as long as history and as big as the globe. If your heart only lands on your city, you're getting sick. Your heart is the healthiest and strongest when it embraces His global purpose and not just His local purpose... [also talked about how your leg is made to walk. When it isn't used, it gets small and sick.]
As of today, there are 6,552 unreached people groups. The thought that us rich, fat, hungry, lazy Americans should just send our money is tragic!...
What is the Biblical task of missions? The main aim is not to maximize the number of people saved. If that were true, you'd stay at the most fruitful mission field forever and never go to the hard places... You keep crossing the boundaries into places where there's zero missional activity until there is!...
Jesus: 'I learned your language, I lived your culture and I died to bring the gospel to you. Go do the same. Find them and die to get the gospel in there!"...
The gospel doesn't camp out. It goes and goes and moves and moves until they've all heard...
If you believe in being missional biblically, you must find the people in your congregation who burn for this and set them free!...
Missions is not being invited! If somebody has invited you, it's not missions!...
Rome was not a mission field for Paul because there was a good church there. He was going to Spain because there was nothing!
Is missions necessary? Are people perishing? Is Christ's work necessary to save them?... Yes!... When you lose sight of this, urgency dies... Mk 9:43 -- "the fire of hell is not quenched"... Mt 18:8 -- 'eternal fire'... Mt 25:46 -- 'eternal punishment'... Rev 14:11 -- 'the smoke of their torment went up forever and ever'... Horrific. People perish. There's such a place as hell. They will suffer consciously forever...
Rom 2:12 -- when God sent Jesus, He started treating the world differently. Now He says Go! He didn't say that to Isaiah. Christ changed things!... We are no longer in a time of ignorance... The command of a global impact and mission came with Jesus. He brought the world out of ignorance...
All truly biblically missional people have this aim...the people's of the world... "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news."
Part 2...
"Missions is not the ultimate goal. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Missions is not the goal; it's the means...
Worship is the goal and fuel of missions. You can't call people to worship if you don't worship...
God is radically, passionately committed to the worship of His name... He forgives sin...for His own sake!...
God's ultimate goal for me - to see His glory... The main motive for missions is God's passion for God! This offends some...
The apex of His passion to display His glory is the cross. We are to praise the glory of His grace! This was infinitely costly! He did not spare His own Son...
We were made for something bigger - God. He is where our completion is. He brings us home to joy...to infinite happiness!... This is what makes His passion for Himself love... Ex: standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Being so little and small and weak in the Canyon, yet happy in our enjoyment and awe and admiration of it...
John 11:1-6 - Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus...therefore, He stayed two days longer where He was!... And let Lazarus die! Explain how that's love. He loved them and therefore didn't keep Lazarus from dying... It is more loving to let us die and see His glory than to live!... He just IS...glorious, wonderful, kind, loving...and then He overflows...
Prayer is not the goal of missions. Prayer is not the work of missions... Seed=word of God=power of God... Believing comes by hearing - you don't hear prayer. You hear preaching!... The gospel is the front-line work of missions... Don't make prayer more than it is. Let it be what it gloriously is...
Prayer is tapping into the power that wields the sword of the Word... Life is war. You cannot know what prayer is for until you know that life is war. If you think life is not war, you probably won't finish!
Jn 15:16 - Prayer is for mission! Prayer malfunctions when you take a war-time walkie talkie and turn it into a domestic intercom. Prayer is for WAR. It's meant to empower the Word of God.
If we know God is sovereign, why do we pray? If you want the nail in the board, hit it with a hammer! Prayer is the hammer...that's how God ordained it to work!... Mt 24:14 - pray everyday 'Thy kingdom come!' Why? Because it's coming through prayer!... God has made prayer a means of His kingdom's coming!
It is so thoughtless to presume that because He has already ordained it to happen He won't use the means to do it...
He doesn't need people! He blesses people with causality! Don't let your theology get in the way of the bible!...
Cost: we need to toughen up a little bit... Eternity's at stake, the enemy hates us, he's 10,000 times stronger, he doesn't go on vacation... War has casualties... you die, but you live.
Why suffering is necessary: 1) Because Jesus suffered and said we would. 2) Because Paul said there's no other way home. 3) Peter said it's the normal path of blessing. 4) Paul said it's the normal cost of godliness - you can't do missions if you're not. 5) Because in suffering, He's refining our faith. Paul rejoiced in his suffering. 2 Cor 12:9 - 'My power is made perfect in weakness... Most gladly will I rejoice in my weakness'.. His joy has moved from his private comforts into the glory of Jesus! 6) Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth...light of the world'...let your light shine..see...give glory to God. Blessed are you when you are persecuted, reviled...rejoice! Great is your reward... What makes you salty? Joy in the midst of suffering...it's costing you something and you're not losing your joy...
Jesus is the foundation of all this work... It will cost you everything!... Pursue the gladness of the nations. Especially the ones who are not yet reached."
--Piper, Bethlehem Baptist, Minneapolis
After Driscoll spoke, Piper started his 2 part talk on Let the Nations Be Glad. This was the clincher for getting Josh and I to register for the conference. That particular topic is one, as you know, we are really passionate about because we believe God is really passionate about it. He's God of the NATIONS! Ok...I'll let Piper preach now.
"You're not Biblically missional unless you pursue missions... This is war time, not peace time. The stakes are eternal... To belong to Jesus is to embrace the nations He will one day reign in. If you do not embrace this there will be a mild or severe sickness in your soul... 'Let your kingdom come' = as long as history and as big as the globe. If your heart only lands on your city, you're getting sick. Your heart is the healthiest and strongest when it embraces His global purpose and not just His local purpose... [also talked about how your leg is made to walk. When it isn't used, it gets small and sick.]
As of today, there are 6,552 unreached people groups. The thought that us rich, fat, hungry, lazy Americans should just send our money is tragic!...
What is the Biblical task of missions? The main aim is not to maximize the number of people saved. If that were true, you'd stay at the most fruitful mission field forever and never go to the hard places... You keep crossing the boundaries into places where there's zero missional activity until there is!...
Jesus: 'I learned your language, I lived your culture and I died to bring the gospel to you. Go do the same. Find them and die to get the gospel in there!"...
The gospel doesn't camp out. It goes and goes and moves and moves until they've all heard...
If you believe in being missional biblically, you must find the people in your congregation who burn for this and set them free!...
Missions is not being invited! If somebody has invited you, it's not missions!...
Rome was not a mission field for Paul because there was a good church there. He was going to Spain because there was nothing!
Is missions necessary? Are people perishing? Is Christ's work necessary to save them?... Yes!... When you lose sight of this, urgency dies... Mk 9:43 -- "the fire of hell is not quenched"... Mt 18:8 -- 'eternal fire'... Mt 25:46 -- 'eternal punishment'... Rev 14:11 -- 'the smoke of their torment went up forever and ever'... Horrific. People perish. There's such a place as hell. They will suffer consciously forever...
Rom 2:12 -- when God sent Jesus, He started treating the world differently. Now He says Go! He didn't say that to Isaiah. Christ changed things!... We are no longer in a time of ignorance... The command of a global impact and mission came with Jesus. He brought the world out of ignorance...
All truly biblically missional people have this aim...the people's of the world... "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news."
Part 2...
"Missions is not the ultimate goal. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Missions is not the goal; it's the means...
Worship is the goal and fuel of missions. You can't call people to worship if you don't worship...
God is radically, passionately committed to the worship of His name... He forgives sin...for His own sake!...
God's ultimate goal for me - to see His glory... The main motive for missions is God's passion for God! This offends some...
The apex of His passion to display His glory is the cross. We are to praise the glory of His grace! This was infinitely costly! He did not spare His own Son...
We were made for something bigger - God. He is where our completion is. He brings us home to joy...to infinite happiness!... This is what makes His passion for Himself love... Ex: standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Being so little and small and weak in the Canyon, yet happy in our enjoyment and awe and admiration of it...
John 11:1-6 - Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus...therefore, He stayed two days longer where He was!... And let Lazarus die! Explain how that's love. He loved them and therefore didn't keep Lazarus from dying... It is more loving to let us die and see His glory than to live!... He just IS...glorious, wonderful, kind, loving...and then He overflows...
Prayer is not the goal of missions. Prayer is not the work of missions... Seed=word of God=power of God... Believing comes by hearing - you don't hear prayer. You hear preaching!... The gospel is the front-line work of missions... Don't make prayer more than it is. Let it be what it gloriously is...
Prayer is tapping into the power that wields the sword of the Word... Life is war. You cannot know what prayer is for until you know that life is war. If you think life is not war, you probably won't finish!
Jn 15:16 - Prayer is for mission! Prayer malfunctions when you take a war-time walkie talkie and turn it into a domestic intercom. Prayer is for WAR. It's meant to empower the Word of God.
If we know God is sovereign, why do we pray? If you want the nail in the board, hit it with a hammer! Prayer is the hammer...that's how God ordained it to work!... Mt 24:14 - pray everyday 'Thy kingdom come!' Why? Because it's coming through prayer!... God has made prayer a means of His kingdom's coming!
It is so thoughtless to presume that because He has already ordained it to happen He won't use the means to do it...
He doesn't need people! He blesses people with causality! Don't let your theology get in the way of the bible!...
Cost: we need to toughen up a little bit... Eternity's at stake, the enemy hates us, he's 10,000 times stronger, he doesn't go on vacation... War has casualties... you die, but you live.
Why suffering is necessary: 1) Because Jesus suffered and said we would. 2) Because Paul said there's no other way home. 3) Peter said it's the normal path of blessing. 4) Paul said it's the normal cost of godliness - you can't do missions if you're not. 5) Because in suffering, He's refining our faith. Paul rejoiced in his suffering. 2 Cor 12:9 - 'My power is made perfect in weakness... Most gladly will I rejoice in my weakness'.. His joy has moved from his private comforts into the glory of Jesus! 6) Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the earth...light of the world'...let your light shine..see...give glory to God. Blessed are you when you are persecuted, reviled...rejoice! Great is your reward... What makes you salty? Joy in the midst of suffering...it's costing you something and you're not losing your joy...
Jesus is the foundation of all this work... It will cost you everything!... Pursue the gladness of the nations. Especially the ones who are not yet reached."
--Piper, Bethlehem Baptist, Minneapolis
Monday, June 08, 2009
Advance...
I have so much to do right now that I really shouldn't be blogging, but I just can't get this stuff out of my head and I think writing some of it down will help. Thanks for indulging me :)
So, this past weekend Josh and I went to Advance 09 in Durham and stayed with my dear friend Meghann in Raleigh. It was....I don't even know.....overwhelming? stirring? very convicting? very revealing? worshipful? heart piercing? haunting? possibly direction-altering? All of those.
Just very, very good.
I don't think you can listen to Driscoll and Piper right after the other and not have the fear of God burned into your soul as you sink further and further down into your seat. That's what happened to me anyway.
So here are some of my favorite quotes from the weekend and here is the link to hear them yourself (just scroll down...I didn't see Saturday's messages up yet).
It's more than worth it.
"3 fold problem with the church: 1) Like the church of Ephesus, Jesus is no longer our first love. We have taken our eyes off of Him. Even purity of doctrine has become primary over Jesus. Wherever there's decline in the church it's because Jesus is no long our first love. 2) We've taken our eyes off the Great Commission...Have we forgotten that we're in a battle for eternity? 3) The toxic nature of our churches....The answer: long-term, active repentance."
-- Tyler Jones, Vintage21 church, Raleigh.
"What is the only reason sin has any power in my life? Because I love it. What will overcome it? A surpassing love."
--Bryan Chapell, Covenant Theological
"You need to get over your man-crush on Driscoll in Seattle and love the people God has given you!"
-- Ed Stetzer, Lifeway
"Religious people love recognition...this is not rejoicing in what God is doing in other places. 'Thy' kingdom come becomes 'My' kingdom come....Religious people elevate traditions over a love for God...secondary things....Anytime we lead people to consider what they need to do instead of what God does for them - we've preached a false gospel."
-- JD Greear, Summit, Raleigh
(From Eph 3:20) "'Able' means 'power.' Not just talking about God having power...He IS power. He is the source. He's not like batteries that need to be changed and recharged. He empowers and recharges Himself with Himself!...He's fly!...
We've made 'total depravity' an idol. False humility still keeps the focus on you! Confession is necessary, but can go to the extreme of focusing on us and puffing ourselves up instead of focusing on Him....
We have pipe dreams because we're not gospel or Jesus-centered. Many times we wish for a context for something the gospel hasn't done in us yet. We need in depth passion to see God bridge the gap between where we are and where we should be...not US bridging the gap! Not with our feet on top of the city or community!...Show HIM off!
--Eric Mason, Epiphany Fellowship, Philadelphia
"We are always worshiping. The opposite of Biblical worship is idolatry. You become like what you worship. Idolatry is living for the glory of creation...we take good things, make them god-things, making it a bad thing....
The lies: 1) They present themselves to you as a savior. Ex: woman who wants to be a mom... then turns a baby into a savior of her motherless hell. Ex: singleness....the man or woman become a savior. 2) They tell you it can mediate between you and God. Ex: the pastor... some would rather talk to him than the Lord because he's the mediator. Some pastors love being the idol....the church does not mediate; the pastor does not mediate. 3) They give you identity..define who you are. Ex: identifying more with the title of pastor, mother, etc than Christ. There's war when you remove a title because when you remove their identity, you remove their idol. 4) They tell you they will make you righteous. Ex: marriage, children, appearance, wealth, success, career, religious performance, political position, hobby, pleasure, status, health, etc....
What are you most fearful of losing? What is your treasure? What do you make sacrifices for? Where does your time and money go? What do you make emotional sacrifices for?
We don't have sex, money, drug, power, prestige problems. We have an idolatry issue.
If you idolize, you also demonize. Ex: if you idolize reformed theology you demonize Armenian theology. I demonize whoever disagrees with me.... [If I idolize Piper, I demonize those who disagree with him.]
Idol of money: 'Yes! I hate that prosperity gospel!'..and your idol is a poverty gospel. You are just as much an idolater... Idol of family: Evangelicals are blind to this. It's a relationship that should give endless fulfillment, joy, legacy, etc. That's supposed to be Jesus... Idol of sex/sexuality: Being allowed to disobey continually is the evidence of the wrath of God. The bed is an alter and we become idolaters, offering our bodies as sacrifices to the idol. Porn is a worship issue. If you lust in your heart you have already become an idolater... Idol of substance: People who eat too much don't have an eating problem. They have a worship problem... Comfort food: didn't Jesus say He would send the Comforter?...
All of these things say that we are looking for a functional savior....give me comfort, give me energy, take away my stress, make me feel good...
What do we do? Repent. Repentance is not what we preach. It's what we practice. Whoever does not repent is a heretic. Some of you are heretics."
[and in true Driscoll-fashion, he simply grabbed his Bible and walked off the stage.]
--Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle
***I had more to write than I realized. I'll finish in another post soon.
So, this past weekend Josh and I went to Advance 09 in Durham and stayed with my dear friend Meghann in Raleigh. It was....I don't even know.....overwhelming? stirring? very convicting? very revealing? worshipful? heart piercing? haunting? possibly direction-altering? All of those.
Just very, very good.
I don't think you can listen to Driscoll and Piper right after the other and not have the fear of God burned into your soul as you sink further and further down into your seat. That's what happened to me anyway.
So here are some of my favorite quotes from the weekend and here is the link to hear them yourself (just scroll down...I didn't see Saturday's messages up yet).
It's more than worth it.
"3 fold problem with the church: 1) Like the church of Ephesus, Jesus is no longer our first love. We have taken our eyes off of Him. Even purity of doctrine has become primary over Jesus. Wherever there's decline in the church it's because Jesus is no long our first love. 2) We've taken our eyes off the Great Commission...Have we forgotten that we're in a battle for eternity? 3) The toxic nature of our churches....The answer: long-term, active repentance."
-- Tyler Jones, Vintage21 church, Raleigh.
"What is the only reason sin has any power in my life? Because I love it. What will overcome it? A surpassing love."
--Bryan Chapell, Covenant Theological
"You need to get over your man-crush on Driscoll in Seattle and love the people God has given you!"
-- Ed Stetzer, Lifeway
"Religious people love recognition...this is not rejoicing in what God is doing in other places. 'Thy' kingdom come becomes 'My' kingdom come....Religious people elevate traditions over a love for God...secondary things....Anytime we lead people to consider what they need to do instead of what God does for them - we've preached a false gospel."
-- JD Greear, Summit, Raleigh
(From Eph 3:20) "'Able' means 'power.' Not just talking about God having power...He IS power. He is the source. He's not like batteries that need to be changed and recharged. He empowers and recharges Himself with Himself!...He's fly!...
We've made 'total depravity' an idol. False humility still keeps the focus on you! Confession is necessary, but can go to the extreme of focusing on us and puffing ourselves up instead of focusing on Him....
We have pipe dreams because we're not gospel or Jesus-centered. Many times we wish for a context for something the gospel hasn't done in us yet. We need in depth passion to see God bridge the gap between where we are and where we should be...not US bridging the gap! Not with our feet on top of the city or community!...Show HIM off!
--Eric Mason, Epiphany Fellowship, Philadelphia
"We are always worshiping. The opposite of Biblical worship is idolatry. You become like what you worship. Idolatry is living for the glory of creation...we take good things, make them god-things, making it a bad thing....
The lies: 1) They present themselves to you as a savior. Ex: woman who wants to be a mom... then turns a baby into a savior of her motherless hell. Ex: singleness....the man or woman become a savior. 2) They tell you it can mediate between you and God. Ex: the pastor... some would rather talk to him than the Lord because he's the mediator. Some pastors love being the idol....the church does not mediate; the pastor does not mediate. 3) They give you identity..define who you are. Ex: identifying more with the title of pastor, mother, etc than Christ. There's war when you remove a title because when you remove their identity, you remove their idol. 4) They tell you they will make you righteous. Ex: marriage, children, appearance, wealth, success, career, religious performance, political position, hobby, pleasure, status, health, etc....
What are you most fearful of losing? What is your treasure? What do you make sacrifices for? Where does your time and money go? What do you make emotional sacrifices for?
We don't have sex, money, drug, power, prestige problems. We have an idolatry issue.
If you idolize, you also demonize. Ex: if you idolize reformed theology you demonize Armenian theology. I demonize whoever disagrees with me.... [If I idolize Piper, I demonize those who disagree with him.]
Idol of money: 'Yes! I hate that prosperity gospel!'..and your idol is a poverty gospel. You are just as much an idolater... Idol of family: Evangelicals are blind to this. It's a relationship that should give endless fulfillment, joy, legacy, etc. That's supposed to be Jesus... Idol of sex/sexuality: Being allowed to disobey continually is the evidence of the wrath of God. The bed is an alter and we become idolaters, offering our bodies as sacrifices to the idol. Porn is a worship issue. If you lust in your heart you have already become an idolater... Idol of substance: People who eat too much don't have an eating problem. They have a worship problem... Comfort food: didn't Jesus say He would send the Comforter?...
All of these things say that we are looking for a functional savior....give me comfort, give me energy, take away my stress, make me feel good...
What do we do? Repent. Repentance is not what we preach. It's what we practice. Whoever does not repent is a heretic. Some of you are heretics."
[and in true Driscoll-fashion, he simply grabbed his Bible and walked off the stage.]
--Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle
***I had more to write than I realized. I'll finish in another post soon.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Baby got Book
Maybe I should have memorized this version in the 8th grade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4
I like em real thick and red-lettered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTYr3JuueF4
I like em real thick and red-lettered.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Feed the Forgotten
After reading this over at Shawnda's I just couldn't not post this. I'm the first to tell you that I don't give like I should...but my gosh, I'm truly among the richest in the world! I can feed my family....at every single meal...all of them. So, this got me. I hope it gets you too.
Please.... I'm praying that you will....
Read it. Pray. Respond.
Please.... I'm praying that you will....
Read it. Pray. Respond.
