Slow Down & Remember Well
I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 2 Timothy 1:3-5 ESV
With his execution on the horizon, the Apostle Paul takes some time to pen a letter to young Timothy. Paul served as Timothy’s mentor and spiritual father. Their relationship was deep. Paul wrote 1 & 2 Timothy to help his young friend to serve the church well.
The passage above is interesting because Paul didn’t have much time left. One would think that he would leave out the fluff and only include pastoral wisdom in this letter, right?
I would argue the above passage shows pastoral wisdom.
The Apostle Paul probably met thousands of people in his journeys. He served in churches all over the place. He worked with many church leaders and believers. If they had Facebook in the 1st century A.D., he would have more friends than you.
This passage is interesting because Paul shows how well he knew Timothy. He had seen Timothy’s tears. He was able to recall the names of Timothy’s mother & grandmother, and even mentioned their faith.
What did he do? He conveyed value. He showed how deeply he cared about young Timothy.
Now you may argue that Paul ought to know this information since he was Timothy’s spiritual father. My guess? That’s your (and my, I’m included in this one) excuse for not being so deeply involved in developing someone.
We prefer to avoid confrontation and the messiness of life. We claim to be “too busy” for such things. Instead of being obedient to Scripture and discipling those who are young in the faith, we prefer to leave that to the professionals (by that I mean pastors and ministers).
I imagine Paul was busy. Things were probably hectic in his life. Getting shipwrecked, tortured, put on trial, and chased out of town can wear a fella out. Yet he didn’t use that as an excuse. He decided instead to be obedience.
So thanks to Paul, we should look to know others deeply. Even if it is just one.
A Doritos Commercial & Jesus Feeding 5,000
If you watched the Super Bowl commercials, chances are you saw the Doritos ad with the great dane. If not, here you go:
What you probably don’t know about that commercial is that it was submitted by Kevin Wilson, a graphic designer and musician. You can read more about his story here.
The short version of his story is that he spent a total of $20 on the commercial, which was all treats for his friend’s great dane. He spent several hours trying to get the dog to dig and hold a bag of Doritos. His commercial won a Doritos contest, which included a $1 million grand prize (not bad for a $20 investment).
Oh, and his commercial was somewhere in the Top 3 of every Super Bowl commercial poll. Impressive.
But what does this have to do with Jesus feeding the 5,000?
Simple. In Mark 6:30-44, we see a great crowd has gathered around Jesus to hear him teach. They had been there for a while, and it was clear that they were getting hungry. The disciples told Jesus to send the crowd away so that they could go get food. Jesus said “You give them something to eat.”
How did the disciples respond? “We don’t have enough money to feed this crowd.” (For you Dave Ramsey fans, the translation reads “Our Crowd-Feeding Envelope doesn’t contain enough cash.”)
Did Jesus panic about a lack of funding? Nope. He asked what food they had, which turned out to be five loaves of bread and two fish. He blessed the food, and the disciples began distributing it. And kept giving, And kept giving. And kept giving until everyone was fed and there were twelve baskets left.
How often do we respond to a problem with “There’s not enough money” or “I can’t do this without a load of cash. My abilities aren’t enough”?
My guess? Too often.
What we learn from a Doritos-bribing great dane and a story out of Mark 6 is the importance of resourcefulness over resources. We generally associate resources with money. But we forget that our gifts, abilities, and ideas are just as-if not more-valuable than just cash.
So try serving and doing with whatever you have. You may just be surprised at the results. Something tells me Kevin Wilson was, and I have a hunch the disciples were surprised too.
A Few Things I’m Thankful For
Some people say I’m negative. Some say critical. Others say cynical. (personally, I prefer the term “observant”)
Whatever you call it, my natural inclination is to look at a situation and see what’s wrong. But I want to know what’s wrong so that I can see what can be fixed to make it better.
Because of my natural disposition towards the negative, I often miss the positives. I unintentionally miss opportunities to express my thankfulness and gratitude. So I thought I’d list a few random things I’m thankful for (in no particular order):
- A family (both immediate and extended, and Wesley #2) that I like being around. They are the ones who force me to stay sharp in my smart alecness
- The opportunity to work at a church with people I like, that challenge me, encourage me, and help me become more like Jesus
- A Dunkin Donuts 3 minutes from my house and 6 Starbucks locations within a 15 minute drive
- College friends in different states who continue to challenge me to grow to be like Jesus (and sometimes they don’t know they’re doing it)
- Friends who are serving in churches around the southeast that genuinely love the bride of Christ and want to see her change the world
- People who actually pray for me when I ask for it
- My iPhone 4S
- The chance to work with a Mexican food connoisseur
- The opportunity to do work that has eternal significance
- My Martin OM-28V acoustic guitar
- Being a member of a gym where several of the employees are Christians, and genuinely want to help me improve
This is by no means an exhaustive list. And I know my list is random. I warned you before you started reading. But I think sometimes we forget to be grateful for the seemingly insignificant and random things in life.
So, what’s your list?
A Few Thoughts on “Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus”
Most of us have probably watched the “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus” video on YouTube. This video has blown up on Facebook over the last 72 hours. The Huffington Post has even reported on the controversy it has stirred.
I usually don’t want videos that blow up that fast, but since someone sent it to me on Twitter, I decided to watch it.
I could quickly see why it was spreading so quickly. I had a mixture of thoughts on the video, both good and bad:
The Good
- The production quality is incredible. As a self-proclaimed nerd, I’m impressed at the video and editing quality of this piece.
- He is very articulate and smooth with his thoughts.
- My favorite line was “If grace is a water drop, the church should be an ocean.”
- I appreciate his boldness, not only in this video, but in some of his other videos I’ve seen.
- Overall he had some great thoughts.
The Bad
- The whole premise of the video is built on the idea that “Jesus is separate from religion.” He implies that Jesus came to abolish religion. That’s not the case. Jesus came to correct what we in our sinful state messed up. His disagreements with the Pharisees didn’t come because they were religious, but because they focuses on glorifying themselves and adding to God’s Word (which at that time was the Old Testament).
- His personal portrayal of religion is inconsistent with the picture given throughout Scripture.
- What he really is speaking out against is hypocrisy. We all like to talk about hating hypocrisy, but rarely do we look for the plank in our own eye first before pointing to others. How about we search in our own hearts and repent before blaming everything on others.
- I think this video has exploded because my generation is anti-establishment, unless of course we are the ones who build the establishment. Look at the Occupy movements and the Anonymous hacker group. A vast majority of those involved in both groups are of my generation. We like to fight against the organization without providing a viable solution.
- Clips like this are dangerous because we get all excited about the hype and smooth lines, but we don’t compare it to Scripture. It’s much easier to listen to someone else talk about the Bible, rather than studying it for ourselves.
-Like most people in my generation, he points out all of the wrongs. He exposes the inconsistencies. Yet he offers no solution. And most people who like the video would likely rather talk about what’s not consistent with Scripture instead of working to change it.
Overall
Again, I think it’s very well done. This guy is pretty smooth. I’ve seen a few of his other videos. All well done.
But instead of being so quick to post this to our Facebook or Twitter because it sounds good, let’s make sure we are spending time learning about Jesus on our own. The overflow of pursuing Him will make a far bigger impact than sharing a YouTube video.
Just a thought…
A few other articles for consideration
Young & Catholic (note:I don’t generally agree with Catholics on theological issues, but I agree with the writer of this article)
Passion Attendees: How to Act in Church Tomorrow
As I said yesterday, I had an incredible time at Passion 2012. God used a number of speakers, passages, and statements to convict me in more ways that I was ready for.
Tomorrow I, like you, will attend my church. There won’t be 45,000 people who have been anticipating this gathering. None of us sacrificed to pay for our trip to church. We (most likely) haven’t spent weeks and months praying in anticipation of the gathering.
Our worship leaders like haven’t traveled the world. Our preachers will probably never speak to 45,000, 4,000, or even 1,000.
So what do we do? We whine. We show our immaturity without realizing it. We wish the service could be free-flowing and last 2 hours. We don’t get why we have to stay close to a schedule. We want more videos. We more 100 moving lights. We want an international cause to give to, not a weekly offering that supports the budget and ministry of the church. We complain that our multi-generational congregation (filled with people who have been Christians longer than we have been alive) just doesn’t “get” musical worship. Why don’t they want to sing 7 songs, with each song lasting 9 minutes as we continue to repeat the chorus?
But I digress. I ran across an article yesterday that helped me distinguish between a Sunday service at my church and an event like Passion. The link is below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Reflections on Passion 2012
This year was my first ever visit to Passion. I had friends in college who went ever year, but I was never able to work it out with my schedule. So when our church decided to take a group, I signed up.
I had a pretty good idea what to expect regarding music. As a worship leader, I’ve been following the Passion movement for a while. I knew the speakers and have heard a few of them live.
As a whole, I was blown away. And the Holy Spirit convicted me in a number of areas.
I wish you could share in every experience I had. But since that’s not possible, here are a few thoughts:
Takeaways
The conference started with people reading Scripture for about 30 minutes straight. The sermon during the morning session on Day 3 was the speakers taking turns reading through Ephesians. 45,000 college students stood in complete silence. I was encouraged and convicted at how much the Word of God was elevated.
48 hours before the conference started, the Chick-fil-A Bowl was in the GA Dome. 24 hours before the conference, the Atlanta Falcons whipped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the GA Dome. What had twice been a temple of worship to football, success, fame, athletic ability, and status quickly turned into a place of worship of Jesus. 45,000 college students boldly declared that we were here for Jesus, the cross is enough, and we surrender all to Him.
As a former event planner, Passion is an administrative feat of epic proportions. I can imagine only a few of challenges they must have encountered. I applaud Louie Giglio for surrounding himself with passionate and diligent people.
Regardless of where you fall with Louie Giglio’s theology, he has great energy. His ability to converse to 45,000 college students is incredible. He effortlessly is able to put a positive perspective on everything, from announcements to instructions.
Kristian Stanfill is becoming a favorite of mine. It’s clear that his work on stage is simply an overflow, not a performance.
All of the speakers clearly proclaimed the truths of Scripture. I was challenged and convicted in every session.
We were placed in Community Groups. We started in rooms of roughly 2,000 people, then got to groups of 8. This 8 included people I didn’t know. Honestly, I’d rather have a Community Group of 1 (that one is me, if you couldn’t figure that out). But I was encouraged and challenged during the conversations we had.
Tech team, live stream guys, designers, filmmaker, and photographers for the conference: I applaud you. You have a high-pressure job in a difficult venue. Well done.
Things I Don’t Understand
When did it become acceptable-and even encouraged- for Christian guys to look like they only bathe on Saturdays? And we have questions why the world doesn’t take us seriously.
When thousands of people from the conference head to get on Marta, we forget that regular Atlanta folk use this system. They don’t want us yelling, shouting, singing, and trying to start the wave on the train platform. We may be the only Christians they encounter, so let’s be gracious. Let them think well of us.
There’s no need to “woo” every 3 minutes during a sermon or someone speaking. And it’s cute to yell random things when you’re 5, not in college.
If those of us who were in attendance don’t actively pursue a deeper understanding and love for Christ and search our hearts for sin, we will remain in the entitled state of the rest of our generation. Let’s try to excuse our sin as “a phase we all go through.”
Overall
For me, the conference can be wrapped up with a phrase Paul uses repeatedly in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians: “in Christ.” All joy, hope, peace, comfort, and everything else I need are found in Christ.
So instead of looking all over the place for quick fixes and fast remedies, I’m learning to daily look to Christ. And maybe, just maybe, He’ll do something through me that I can’t take any credit for.
That sounds like great fun.
Links
Merry Christmas, Y’all
I’m born and bred southern. I appreciate boiled peanuts, tractor pulls, and the 2nd amendment. An appreciation for Southern culture runs deep in my veins.
So I believe your Christmas would be incomplete without hearing this Christmas tune (I’m not sure it’s a full fledged “classic.”) Because nothing says Merry Christmas like a blonde mullet, kids line dancing, and a reindeer wearing overalls.
You’re welcome.
Discounted Apples and Life Lessons
When you live alone, you can be completely independent in planning your schedule (this can be both good and bad). So if I want to go grocery shopping late at night on a whim, I can. And often do.
Last night I needed to run to the grocery store to get a few things. As usual, I started in the produce section. I needed to pick up some fruit. The apples were in the front, so I started there.
I must be honest: I was a bit excited when I saw that three different kinds of apples were 10 lbs. for $10. Lately apples have been $2 or more per pound. A sale in my eyes is a great thing. Read more
You Went to Public School
I’m a proud graduate of the public school system. From kindergarten through 12th grade, I went to six different schools in three different cities and two different states. Needless to say, my public school career was a tad diverse.
Through that time I noticed a few things that show who went to public school. In college, I could watch someone in the cafeteria, then was able to guess they went to public school. So here are a few ways I can tell you went to a public school:
- Ranch is a requested condiment for pizza
- Hot sauce is used on fried chicken Read more
Who Pays for Your Stupid?
When Genesis 3 happened (i.e. when sin entered the world), everything changed. Perfect relationships were now broken. Perfect creation became slightly off. We were disconnected from God.
And mankind was no longer full of perfect wisdom.
Meaning we became masters of stupid.
In speech, in action, in thoughts, in relationships, at work, at home. Stupid invaded every aspect of our beings. Read more
