Just realized that I wasn’t going to let a little thing like “Sunday Evening” pigeonhole me with these “Mind Dumps.” Therefore, I introduce to you the (drum roll please)…
Mid-Monday Mind Dump—a one time only (or not) down-loading of what’s on my mind.
- Got all great things planned for our “Diary of a Wimpy Christian” series this Fall. That will be a ‘Can’t Miss” series so plan on being there from the start and the whole way through. It begins August 22nd and runs for 4 weeks.
- We were in John 11 this past weekend. It’s the chapter about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead but there’s so much more in there. For one, I taught about how it seems Christians have always been aware of 2 scripts we can live by but were only really willing to live by the one that says Jesus will fulfill all your wildest dreams and make sure you are wealthy, healthy and comfortable. Or at least to make our name famous. After-all, that’s why He came and died, right?
That script is usually supported by taking scriptures grossly out of contest like,
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Never mind that this is the Lord talking about a future to reestablish Jerusalem for the grandsons and granddaughters of the Babylonian captives. What about those that had to live in captivity for 70 plus years?! Oops
Then there’s Ephesians 3:20,
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”
There’s a comma there people! The text goes on to make it crystal clear that this is according to His will, not our whims!
People also like to refer to Hebrews chapter 11 because it has the super-stars of the Faith. It’s even referred to often as the “Hall of Faith.” But most often people will read all the way to mid verse 35 and then act like they have run out of interpretive gas and can’t possibly finish reading the verse. Maybe I should show you both halves and you’ll see why…
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Hebrews 11:32–35(a)
Oh, and keep in mind that verse 1–31 seem to be a breeze to read as well!
Now, Hebrews 35(b)-40,
“…Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
What?I That can’t possibly be from the same passage! That must be the apocryphal version, right?
Wrong.
Oh, and people love John 14:13,
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do..,”
Who wouldn’t love that? I’ll take a new Ferrari and a mansion and a yacht (for starters). Oh, “In Jesus name.”
Grrr!… Perhaps you should at least finish the rest of the verse which reads, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Again, this is for the accomplishment of God’s will not our greeds!” Nevertheless, Bible abuse keeps right on happening.
- Then there is the other script that all of us are loosely aware of somewhere in the back of our minds—the one that I mentioned above in fully explained passages and passages you need to read all the way through instead of taking them out of context. But we (American Christians especially) aren’t usually open to the suffering script. For example…Today, the part of the suffering saint will be played by, “John Doe” of Ventura, California and he—
“Wait just a second there Mr. director! (That would be God, BTW) I’m an American Christian living in the postmodern, Emergent Church, Alice in Wonderland age. I don’t do suffering. Give that script to the guy in China or Iran, or Indonesia, South America—I don’t care where, as long as it’s not here and as long as it’s not me! Is there a role for the lottery winning, book authoring, wealth magnet, Christian version of Brad Pitt? I’m perfect for that!”
God makes us all for a purpose—all of us for the ultimate honor of brining glory to His name. That might happen with you being very successful by this world’s standards and using your life in every way to point back to God. But it might also happen with you living a very difficult life and everyone seeing how you live with such joy in spite of your adversity. Truth is, the second script is the one no one wants, but it’s the more powerful script by far!
Anyway, just saying.
- Starting to resent NASCAR a little for emptying out churches every time they bring the slightest semblance of a race to town! Does this mean that Southbrook is made up primarily of Rednecks?
- Thrilled about the fact that this summer will most likely see at least 3 new faces join the Southbrook team (EP, Dave Kush [already hired], Monroe Worship Leader [almost ready to announce], Lifegroup’s pastor (down to the last 3 candidates), and more! Keep praying! Pray that each new member will have an all out, off the hook, love for Jesus coupled with a fired up sense of urgency about reaching people through Southbrook Church
- Downloaded the final episode of “Lost” and will watch it sometime over the next couple of days. The trick will be avoiding all human contact until then in order to keep the ending a surprise! That will be difficult at staff meeting tomorrow. So let me put this out there. First one to blab is fired!!
Cya!