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A battle for your mind

2/25/2015

A shorter challenge this week, but a challenge none-the-less. Beau and I received a message earlier today from a former BSU student who said they were in a conversation with a friend who didn’t believe in Jesus, but wanted to, but didn’t want to. The friend believed “Something” caused/created all this, but doesn’t believe the Bible or Adam and Eve… The friend is scared of Hell, but doesn’t believe in Hell.

My response was that this friend was smack-dab in the middle of Romans 2:15 The verse talks about those who aren’t believers are being drawn to God through their questioning conscience… and that even those who have never heard the name of Jesus can find Him and call on Him (I actually heard a testimony this past Sunday of this VERY THING happening in India).

This friend is right in the middle of Romans 2:15 and is beginning to recognize DEEPLY IN THEIR SOUL their need for a Savior and that there’s more than what that friend currently knows. Pray for that friend, and the former BSU student as they talk.

BUT, here’s the challenge - who is in your life right now that’s facing some similar questions? Do you know someone like that? ARE YOU someone like that? If you’re in one of these two groups, keep reading. If you’re not in one of these two groups, get in one of these two groups and keep reading.

If you KNOW someone like that, TALK WITH THEM. You don’t have to have all the answers… you WILL have the answers to speak when you NEED the answers to speak (we have that guarantee in Luke 12:12 . God isn’t interested in your deep theological training - He’s interested in your heart and your desire to help others find life through Jesus the way you (and many of us) have. Pray, and go for it. Is it scary? maybe. Will it be worth it? ABSOLUTELY.

If you ARE someone like that, TALK WITH US. Any one of the leaders in commUNITY church (or anyone else you know is following Jesus) would LOVE to sit down with you and a cup of coffee (or hot chocolate) and chat about your questions and concerns. You may not get ALL the answers you want right away, but you WILL get enough answers to help you continue on your journey. Will it be scary to ask? maybe. Will it be worth it? ABSOLUTELY.

You don’t have to wonder… you can know. So, let’s chat!

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Everyone has a story, and EVERY story matters!!

2/17/2015

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We kicked off the Easter Experience this past Sunday evening. There were a lot of people there, and from what I understand the discussion was REALLY good afterwards… That’s always encouraging to hear as a pastor.

BUT.

Let me tell you something that was MUCH more encouraging to hear Sunday evening...

As we viewed the first of 6 videos that will cover the final few hours before Jesus’ crucifixion and the first few hours AFTER He was raised from the dead, we focused specifically on how Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was getting ready to do, washed Judas’ feet. Jesus. KING. JESUS. Lord of ALL. CREATOR OF ALL. GOD HIMSELF. He humbled Himself, and lovingly served His friend (who He knew would soon be His betrayer) in a manner that was reserved for the lowest of the servants in a house - washing the dirt, mud, street grime, fecal matter (poop), and other nasty bacteria and germs off Judas’ feet. And Jesus did it to show His friends that they shouldn’t be arguing over who would be the greatest in Heaven, but rather, they should be arguing over who is going to lead through serving.

Not only did He talk about it, He SHOWED THEM. HE DID IT. This action FLOORED the disciples. BLEW. THEIR. MINDS.

I think the video of service really sank in with some of our folks at commUNITY church.

Afterwards, when we broke up into smaller groups to discuss what we’d just seen, I was not leading the discussion, but was listening to the discussion with the men… and I was encouraged. And I was lightened. And I was overwhelmed. My eyes were welling up with tears… here’s why -

I was listening to men, who, 24 months ago were headed down a much different path in life. They were stressed from relationships, stressed from their work environment, stressed from financial burdens, stressed from national and world events. STRESSED. LOST. Lost in LOVE. Lost in LIFE. LOST. HOPE-LESS. As in, WITHOUT HOPE. And they were leading their families down these very same paths they were on.

Then, as they spoke, they all spoke from a standpoint of this one, singular, RADICAL event that had happened in their lives. EACH of these men spoke of their life and struggles, and then they added, “and then I gave my life to Jesus…” and they spoke of ways to serve. they spoke of ways to love. They spoke of HOPE. They spoke of DIRECTION. They spoke from a standpoint of STRENGTHENING.

My heart was overflowing with joy… with peace.

In fact, I texted Nici during our discussion and I said this - My eyes are welling up listening to guys like ______, _______, and _______ answer some of these study questions about how once they've given their life to Jesus, they're seeing so much they were missing in life before. I just keep thinking if this church does NOTHING else, we've led these men and their families to Jesus and changed their eternities. Mind-blowing, and VERY humbling.

Let me say two things to you, Church -

1. Hearing stories of how Jesus is changing your life NEVER GETS OLD. to me, to others, to whomever you can share it with. IT NEVER GETS OLD!!! JESUS is a GAME-CHANGER. A LIFE-CHANGER. An ETERNITY-CHANGER!!! We ALL have a story, and EVERY STORY MATTERS TO GOD!!!

2. I mean it that if this church ceases to exist tomorrow, we’ve had an ETERNAL IMPACT AGAINST THE PIT OF HELL. Celebrate that!!! BUT, this doesn’t mean we sit back and rest, this means we recognize the work of the Holy Spirit through us and get ENERGIZED!!! WE PRESS ONWARD!!! WE GO FARTHER, HARDER, DEEPER, BIGGER!!!! The Church’s BEST DAYS are ahead of her!! Let’s DO THIS!!!As we viewed the first of 6 videos that will cover the final few hours before Jesus’ crucifixion and the first few hours AFTER He was raised from the dead, we focused specifically on how Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was getting ready to do, washed Judas’ feet. Jesus. KING. JESUS. Lord of ALL. CREATOR OF ALL. GOD HIMSELF. He humbled Himself, and lovingly served His friend (who He knew would soon be His betrayer) in a manner that was reserved for the lowest of the servants in a house - washing the dirt, mud, street grime, fecal matter (poop), and other nasty bacteria and germs off Judas’ feet. And Jesus did it to show His friends that they shouldn’t be arguing over who would be the greatest in Heaven, but rather, they should be arguing over who is going to lead through serving.

Not only did He talk about it, He SHOWED THEM. HE DID IT. This action FLOORED the disciples. BLEW. THEIR. MINDS.

I think the video of service really sank in with some of our folks at commUNITY church.

Afterwards, when we broke up into smaller groups to discuss what we’d just seen, I was not leading the discussion, but was listening to the discussion with the men… and I was encouraged. And I was lightened. And I was overwhelmed. My eyes were welling up with tears… here’s why -

I was listening to men, who, 24 months ago were headed down a much different path in life. They were stressed from relationships, stressed from their work environment, stressed from financial burdens, stressed from national and world events. STRESSED. LOST. Lost in LOVE. Lost in LIFE. LOST. HOPE-LESS. As in, WITHOUT HOPE. And they were leading their families down these very same paths they were on.

Then, as they spoke, they all spoke from a standpoint of this one, singular, RADICAL event that had happened in their lives. EACH of these men spoke of their life and struggles, and then they added, “and then I gave my life to Jesus…” and they spoke of ways to serve. they spoke of ways to love. They spoke of HOPE. They spoke of DIRECTION. They spoke from a standpoint of STRENGTHENING.

My heart was overflowing with joy… with peace.

In fact, I texted Nici during our discussion and I said this - My eyes are welling up listening to guys like ______, _______, and _______ answer some of these study questions about how once they've given their life to Jesus, they're seeing so much they were missing in life before. I just keep thinking if this church does NOTHING else, we've led these men and their families to Jesus and changed their eternities. Mind-blowing, and VERY humbling.

Let me say two things to you, Church -

1. Hearing stories of how Jesus is changing your life NEVER GETS OLD. to me, to others, to whomever you can share it with. IT NEVER GETS OLD!!! JESUS is a GAME-CHANGER. A LIFE-CHANGER. An ETERNITY-CHANGER!!! We ALL have a story, and EVERY STORY MATTERS TO GOD!!!

2. I mean it that if this church ceases to exist tomorrow, we’ve had an ETERNAL IMPACT AGAINST THE PIT OF HELL. Celebrate that!!! BUT, this doesn’t mean we sit back and rest, this means we recognize the work of the Holy Spirit through us and get ENERGIZED!!! WE PRESS ONWARD!!! WE GO FARTHER, HARDER, DEEPER, BIGGER!!!! The Church’s BEST DAYS are ahead of her!! Let’s DO THIS!!!

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Don't do it

2/10/2015

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DON’T DO IT!!!
If there were anything I can say or do to keep you ladies (and some of you guys) from going to watch the movie “50 Shades of Grey,” I think I’d do it (short of sacrificing my own family). I CANNOT emphasize enough the DEVASTATION that will come to your mind, your heart, and your relationships by seeing this movie.

If you’ve already read the book (or if you ARE reading the book right now), my advise is this - PUT IT DOWN. THROW IT OUT. BURN IT.

Wait… are you advocating the burning of books? Not normally, but in this case, I’ll make an exception.

It’s that serious. Our society has already become obsessed with sex, and the amount of skin that’s shown on magazines and in social media, even in a grocery check-out line, would’ve been considered pornography a few years ago. We see the movements to show more skin, to tear down barriers of modesty in an attempt to promote “freedom” and “gender-neutrality." This is nothing short of complete deception from the enemy.

Pornography in any form (video, pictures, written-word) is destroying our society, starting with elementary kids and moving on up the age brackets and generations. Don’t believe the lie that written-words aren’t considered porn since you can’t see anything. It’s ABSOLUTELY porn - what images does it conjure in your mind? What images are being placed on the screen BECAUSE of the written-word? Yes, it’s porn. And yes, it’s a MASSIVE and GROWING industry that is lying to its customers saying that you need satisfaction now without the care or concern of relationships and true intimacy. The porn industry is is one of the greatest drivers of the human trafficking / sex-slave industry (which is ALIVE AND WELL in our own country, in our own state, and even in our own town).

Porn tells you that you don’t need relationships for instant gratification; Porn tells you it’s ok to abuse your women and children ("teen sex" is the most searched and viewed type of porn in 2014). Porn tells you it’s ok to hook up and move on (spreading STD’s at an alarming rate and severely hampering the understanding of love and sacrifice in a relationship). Porn tells you that sex is ok and good (which it is, BUT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF MARRIAGE, and when taken out of those confines, it creates emotional and mental and physical issues that take years and sometimes decades to overcome). Here’s the bottom line - PORN LIES TO YOU.

It takes you farther than you want to go (I’ve heard testimony of this from men and women I know); it keeps you longer than you want to stay (once you see it, it’s SO MUCH EASIER to go back to it the next time); it costs you more than you want to pay (emotional and physical issues arise and don’t go away easily). THE EFFECTS ON MEN AND WOMEN ARE HORRENDOUS.

What does the Bible say about this?
Matt 5:28 - if you’re lusting in your heart and mind, you’ve already committed adultery against your spouse.
1 Cor. 6:18 - FLEE from sexual immorality (i.e., RUN FROM IT!!)
Eph. 5:3 - Among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality…

Your thoughts now may be, “Crap… what if I’m already doing this?” My answer is this - HAVE HOPE!! The Bible doesn’t end with condemnation!!

But the Bible also says this:
1 Thess. 4:3-5 - abstain from sexual immorality and control your own body in holiness and honor…
1 Cor. 10:13 - no temptation is taken you but that which is common to all of us, and GOD IS FAITHFUL!! He won’t let you be tempted beyond what you can handle and will provide a way of escape…
1 John 1:9 - if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to CLEANSE US from ALL unrighteousness!!!

THERE IS HOPE FOR ALL OF US!!!!

What do I do if I’m struggling with this? Repent. Find accountability. Move forward in forgiveness and the strength of the Spirit.

Men, stop viewing the websites and magazines.

Women, stop watching the sultry tv shows and reading the “mommy porn” books.

Husbands and wives, STOP viewing it on tv or online and START DOING IT with each other!! ALLOW GOD TO HEAL YOUR MIND, YOUR HEART, and YOUR MARRIAGE!!!

And this weekend, when that trash debuts in theaters all across the country, skip watching the garbage and enjoy time with each other...

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The enemy is real

2/3/2015

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Your leadership team is working through a study of the book of Ephesians. Every week, we cover the next verse (or verses) until we’ve worked through the entire book. We’ve been studying it weekly since sometime last summer. Recently, we slowed down and briefly discussed this verse - Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might.” After spending weeks and months seeing who we are in Christ, what Christ has done for us, how Christ treats us, and how we should treat each other, Paul begins closing his letter with that statement.

Why? Why would Paul use this as an encouragement? I know those who are a little more knowledgeable of the Word know what’s coming next in the chapter. Many of us have read it time and time again, and we begin simply glossing over it because we think, “oh yeah, it’s about putting on God’s armor…” and it becomes a metaphor for going into battle.

BUT…

But what if it’s not a metaphor? What if what we miss time and time again is that the battle is REAL and is REALLY going on around us RIGHT NOW. The battle for your mind. The battle for your heart. The battle for your body. The battle for your soul… it’s real and is happening. So what do we do? Where do we start? We start in verse 10 of chapter 6. BE STRONG IN THE LORD. WHAT?! How is that supposed to happen? I feel so weak all the time!!

Many of us don’t know the battle is real… then we experience it and realize it is real. We then move on to a feeling of weakness… we feel defeated because we stumble. because we fall. because we don’t get up quickly. because… well… essentially, we feel hopeless.

I submit this to you for consideration - OUR FEELINGS ARE WRONG.

We’re allowing our feelings to drive our thoughts (instead of the other way around). We have the ability and the strength and the hope to fight on in the battles we face!! We may not feel it, but allow our thoughts to change our feelings (this is what Romans 12:2 talks about) and we can recognize great measures of success!!! Our strength won’t come from us… from our own efforts… from our own desires… We are told by Paul to be strong IN THE LORD, and in the strength of HIS MIGHT. It’s ALL ABOUT HIM working IN US!!!

So, are you allowing Him to work in you? If the answer is no (and I’m betting there are a few who feel this way), the follow up is this - “I don’t even know where to begin.” Begin with a consistent time of repentance and seeking His steps through prayer. Continue with a consistent time of hearing from Him through what He’s already told you (in His Word). Start reading through Ephesians (slowly). Read different versions (for readability, I’d suggest the New Living Translation or maybe even The Message) to gain an understanding of what it says, then dive deeper. ALLOW HIS WORD TO PERMEATE YOU. (For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit… - Hebrews 4:12) As you spend time talking to Him and hearing from Him, you’ll begin to see the battle that rages on around you AND you’ll start to recognize His strength in you.

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A battle for your mind

Everyone has a story, and EVERY story matters!!

Don't do it

The enemy is real

Jason

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