This coming Monday will be our last and final meeting together as a young adult ministry. I wanted to use this last blog to give a sort of "farewell" as this chapter of our lives closes.
First, I want to encourage you all to read the blog previous to this one. I wrote it with my "stepping-down" in mind. I know some of you really appreciated and valued the young adult ministry and so I wanted to keep you mindful of your proper foundation, lest you stumble. Examine yourself and make sure your foundation is not laid on myself or the young adult ministry. If your foundation is solely on Christ, you will remain stable even though we're not meeting anymore. I encourage you to get plugged into another ministry in order to stay accountable and engaged in fellowship. Our church has an abundance of healthy ministries for you to get involved in. Christ is your foundation, not Surrendered. Its understandable if you're sad that its ending, my heart goes out to you and I'll be praying for the Lord to supply you with a new ministry. I have been super blessed to pour into a lot of you and watch your growth in the Lord; my prayer is that it continues.
Also, I want to thank all of you who've served the Lord alongside of me over these few years. Your service to the Lord has been helpful to me in the ministry and a blessing to witness. You have been faithful to serve tirelessly and sacrificially and I am humbled that the Lord brought all of you to be my co laborers in Christ. I appreciate your labor of love and your work of faith. Beyond my gratefulness, you have a far greater reward awaiting you when you stand before the Lord.
Finally, I can't close without saying that my wife and I love you guys. We really do. We have been extremely blessed to be a part of some of your lives. I cant' help but cherish all the times we've hung out, prayed, laughed, and borne our hearts with some of you. You have been a huge blessing to us and we can't thank all of you enough for being so loving and sweet to Crysti and I. We love you! It has been a privilege and an honor to minister with and to all of you. Thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement, and love in this transitional season of our lives.
I'll leave you with Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders: "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Our Foundation
Well, I only got a few responses to the previous blog. However, in the event that more might visit this blog in the future I'll share what has been on my heart lately.
Sometimes without realizing it, we can start building our spiritual foundations on things other than Christ. It usually never is a conscious thing. As we hear so many Bible studies about how we're to rely solely on Christ and nothing else, we all are quick to vocally and mentally ascent to the foolishness of trusting in other things. Although, without realizing it, we can begin to depend too heavily on things in an unhealthy way.
This can be seen when some lay a foundation on things that are spiritually helpful and good. Even though those things are good, they are only meant to help us build on Christ, not to be the things on which we lay our foundation. There are times when we lay our foundation on fellowship or an influential person in our lives. We come to depend on such things so heavily that our foundation is dangerously laid on something other than Christ. Fellowship and a godly influence are supplied by the Lord in order to help us stand on Christ alone. We must be careful to understand the importance of them and to keep them in their proper place. If not, it can be potentially damaging. There can come temporary seasons in our spiritual journeys when, for whatever reason, there isn't as much fellowship or there isn't a godly mentor. If your foundation is not solely on Christ, how will your house stand when your friends aren't around as much or when you don't have a mentor close by. While these things are extremely helpful to our walks with the Lord, there must be an understanding that Jesus alone is enough. He must be everything. He must be the One thing. He is the only One in whom we should find our life and being. A foundation laid on anything else is faulty. Good things like mentors and friends were never meant to be built upon, only to be those that help us build our own house upon Christ.
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11). If your foundation is laid rightly on Christ, you will remain solid in those tough seasons where its just you and Jesus. You will learn what Paul meant when he said, "At my first defense no one stood with me...But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me..." (2 Tim 4:16, 17). Jesus will never let you down; He will never forsake you. He is our only firm, solid, and immovable rock. On rock, foundations are sure; on sand, the house falls.
Sometimes without realizing it, we can start building our spiritual foundations on things other than Christ. It usually never is a conscious thing. As we hear so many Bible studies about how we're to rely solely on Christ and nothing else, we all are quick to vocally and mentally ascent to the foolishness of trusting in other things. Although, without realizing it, we can begin to depend too heavily on things in an unhealthy way.
This can be seen when some lay a foundation on things that are spiritually helpful and good. Even though those things are good, they are only meant to help us build on Christ, not to be the things on which we lay our foundation. There are times when we lay our foundation on fellowship or an influential person in our lives. We come to depend on such things so heavily that our foundation is dangerously laid on something other than Christ. Fellowship and a godly influence are supplied by the Lord in order to help us stand on Christ alone. We must be careful to understand the importance of them and to keep them in their proper place. If not, it can be potentially damaging. There can come temporary seasons in our spiritual journeys when, for whatever reason, there isn't as much fellowship or there isn't a godly mentor. If your foundation is not solely on Christ, how will your house stand when your friends aren't around as much or when you don't have a mentor close by. While these things are extremely helpful to our walks with the Lord, there must be an understanding that Jesus alone is enough. He must be everything. He must be the One thing. He is the only One in whom we should find our life and being. A foundation laid on anything else is faulty. Good things like mentors and friends were never meant to be built upon, only to be those that help us build our own house upon Christ.
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11). If your foundation is laid rightly on Christ, you will remain solid in those tough seasons where its just you and Jesus. You will learn what Paul meant when he said, "At my first defense no one stood with me...But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me..." (2 Tim 4:16, 17). Jesus will never let you down; He will never forsake you. He is our only firm, solid, and immovable rock. On rock, foundations are sure; on sand, the house falls.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Are You There
I havn't been on top of updating this blog lately. I've actually let it slide for quite some time now. I want to see if anyone still checks in to read our blogs. If you stop by our site to read our blog, can you leave a comment. It can even be annonymous if you like. If you only write, "Hey, I check out this blog sometimes" it would be much appreciated. Thanks!!!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Just Jesus
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: That Christ Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Today I went to an outreach, as you know the gospel was shared, there were different preachers, so of course it was preached in different ways but it was all the same message, Jesus died and rose again so you can have life through Him. One of the preachers shared his testimony and said that when he was first presented with the gospel, he preached Jesus and nothing else, no church, no religion, just Jesus (after all, that's all we need right?). It made me remember that my friend, who led me to Christ, did the same thing. He shared nothing but Jesus, so much so that I didn’t know what church he attended or even what his “religion” was; I just knew that I wanted what he had… I was challenged because at work lately I’ve been talking a lot about my church doing this… my friends going around the world to help people with aids… but am I preaching Jesus? What He’s done for them is all they really need to know… am I preaching the Gospel of Christ? Or am I preaching just another religion?
Which one are you preaching?
Today I went to an outreach, as you know the gospel was shared, there were different preachers, so of course it was preached in different ways but it was all the same message, Jesus died and rose again so you can have life through Him. One of the preachers shared his testimony and said that when he was first presented with the gospel, he preached Jesus and nothing else, no church, no religion, just Jesus (after all, that's all we need right?). It made me remember that my friend, who led me to Christ, did the same thing. He shared nothing but Jesus, so much so that I didn’t know what church he attended or even what his “religion” was; I just knew that I wanted what he had… I was challenged because at work lately I’ve been talking a lot about my church doing this… my friends going around the world to help people with aids… but am I preaching Jesus? What He’s done for them is all they really need to know… am I preaching the Gospel of Christ? Or am I preaching just another religion?
Which one are you preaching?
Friday, July 18, 2008
Me, Myself, and I
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 NKJV
We naturally and subconsciously put our selves before others. In today's society the world tries to tell us that the way to achieve happiness is through boosting self esteem, personal affirmations, and focusing on self. But that is an empty philosophy that only leads to momentary happiness. As Christians we are encouraged to put others before ourselves and to not focus on earthly things, but to be focused on what we can do to further the kingdom of Jesus Christ. These are the requirements of discipleship: that we die to our selves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. The taking up of the cross involves the total submission of your will to God. Through this only will you experience true joy in your Christian walk. Remember, joy is all about priority - Jesus, Others, and then Yourself.
We naturally and subconsciously put our selves before others. In today's society the world tries to tell us that the way to achieve happiness is through boosting self esteem, personal affirmations, and focusing on self. But that is an empty philosophy that only leads to momentary happiness. As Christians we are encouraged to put others before ourselves and to not focus on earthly things, but to be focused on what we can do to further the kingdom of Jesus Christ. These are the requirements of discipleship: that we die to our selves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. The taking up of the cross involves the total submission of your will to God. Through this only will you experience true joy in your Christian walk. Remember, joy is all about priority - Jesus, Others, and then Yourself.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Knowledge & Love
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘son your sins are forgiven’” Mark 2:5
There comes a point in our Christian walk where we get so caught up in the knowledge of Christ that we forget about his love. As if dieing on the cross 2000 years ago was not enough, he comes to us daily and shows us mercy and love. The amazing thing about his unconditional love is that he wants to have an intimate relationship with us. At times we can become “paralyzed” by our personal struggles. The wonderful thing about our loving God is that, just like he touched the man in this verse, he wants to touch each one of our individual hearts daily and say, “my child, I have always loved you, and your sins are forgiven.” It is vital that we never forget the importance of his love, because without that, there would be no salvation. No matter how much knowledge we gain in Christ, it all comes down to his love.
There comes a point in our Christian walk where we get so caught up in the knowledge of Christ that we forget about his love. As if dieing on the cross 2000 years ago was not enough, he comes to us daily and shows us mercy and love. The amazing thing about his unconditional love is that he wants to have an intimate relationship with us. At times we can become “paralyzed” by our personal struggles. The wonderful thing about our loving God is that, just like he touched the man in this verse, he wants to touch each one of our individual hearts daily and say, “my child, I have always loved you, and your sins are forgiven.” It is vital that we never forget the importance of his love, because without that, there would be no salvation. No matter how much knowledge we gain in Christ, it all comes down to his love.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Focus
“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.” Psalm 101:3-4
It has been said that your god is whomever or whatever you designate as your master passion in life. As such, the ancients worshipped gods that represented their worldly desires, such as Baal (knowledge and philosophy), Venus (lust and bodily pleasure), and Mammon (money and the pursuit of wealth). God’s people, however, are called to focus their attention on the Lord, for He alone can give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4). David had witnessed the downfall of those who center their attention on wicked things enough times to know that wickedness leads to destruction. Therefore, he made a conscious decision to refuse to focus his attention on wicked things. His declaration is made with utmost certainty and meaning of heart, saying, “…I will not know wickedness.” Each of us has to make this declaration in our own hearts if we ever want to be used by God, and we must purge our lives of the wicked things which compete for our attention. Have you made this decision in your life? Have you made Him your master passion? Paul writes this exhortation to Christians, saying, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-2).
It has been said that your god is whomever or whatever you designate as your master passion in life. As such, the ancients worshipped gods that represented their worldly desires, such as Baal (knowledge and philosophy), Venus (lust and bodily pleasure), and Mammon (money and the pursuit of wealth). God’s people, however, are called to focus their attention on the Lord, for He alone can give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4). David had witnessed the downfall of those who center their attention on wicked things enough times to know that wickedness leads to destruction. Therefore, he made a conscious decision to refuse to focus his attention on wicked things. His declaration is made with utmost certainty and meaning of heart, saying, “…I will not know wickedness.” Each of us has to make this declaration in our own hearts if we ever want to be used by God, and we must purge our lives of the wicked things which compete for our attention. Have you made this decision in your life? Have you made Him your master passion? Paul writes this exhortation to Christians, saying, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-2).
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