My response to the election is I am glad it's over. I was very tired of hearing candidates attack each other and condemn one another. I was also tired of hearing the same old tired and ineffective ideas. I saw nothing from either party that was really going to solve our nation's problems. Poltical parties and government can not solve our nation's problems because all the solutions they give us are man-based and man-powered. What we need to solve our nation's problems has to be supernatural. The only supernatural thing we have is Jesus.
Now some, even many, who read this will see me as another religious nut case. I very well may be crazy, but I am not a nut. I am not a regilious fantanic. I am a disciple and follower of Jesus. I respect the office of President of the United States. I respect, but don't agree with our current president. However, he is not my authority in life. You see, Jesus is my King. He is my supreme authority.
Looking at the present situation and looking at who is best to deal with it, it seems very clear that Jesus has the power and authority to deal with every issue we as a nation and we as a planet are facing.
We have the problem of people being hungry. In Matthew 14 Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus their families. In Matthew 15 Jesus feeds 4,000 men plus their familes. He does this with a very small amont of food. Jesus feeds over 9,000 people with a couple of lunches.
We have the problem of sick and hurting people. Jesus healed people who were lame, paralyzed, blind, mute, deaf, blood disorders, and leprosy. God's Word gives us directions on how to care for our bodies and how to eat to stay healthy.
We have the problem of greed. Jesus gives us principles to live by that direct us to give. The early church pooled their rosources and helped people who needed help. The truth that Jesus taught when live by will result in needy people getting their needs met.
We have many social problems today. Jesus dealt with issuses such as murder, stealing, adultery, divorce, justice, and relating to wicked people. Again when this teachings are followed they will bring reason and rightness to these issues.
Finally, we have the concern about death. Jesus raised three people (Jairus' daugther, widow of Nain's son, Lazarus) from the dead. He also raised Himself from the dead. Jesus' love, grace, and power are unmatched.
No political party, no government, and no other being can do for us as individuals, as a nation, or as a world what Jesus has done and can do. He even did the ultimate - He died for each one of us. His death paid for our sin. No president, senator, congressman, governor or mayor has ever done that.
So when it comes to who I will follow, who I will serve, and who I will worship; it will be Jesus and Jesus only!
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Waiting on God
I don't like to wait. I'm not sure very many people like to wait. Yet David in Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." In Proverbs 20:22 Solomon says, "Do not say, 'I'll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you." And then in Isaiah 30:18 Isaiah says, "Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he raises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on him!"
I believe the message is pretty clear - Wait On The Lord!
So what does it mean to wait on God. It doesn't mean to just stop doing anything. Waiting is not passive it is active. Waiting is continuing to do the last thing God told you to do and waiting for more directions. Waiting is not inactivity.
I had a great experience on waiting on God. We have been praying about bringing in an team to do outreach in our community. We wanted to get them into our schools. I had planned to go and ask the schools about the possiblity of this. I have been praying about this for over nine months. Then one day recently I got a phone call from the schools asking me if we could help arrannge this team to come into the schools. I had for nine months been praying and talking to people about it. It was one of this people that I shared the vision with that brought it to the school authorities.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is waiting on God. It is letting God lead and following His direction. I is not getting a head of God or lag behind Him but step by step staying with Him.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
I believe the message is pretty clear - Wait On The Lord!
So what does it mean to wait on God. It doesn't mean to just stop doing anything. Waiting is not passive it is active. Waiting is continuing to do the last thing God told you to do and waiting for more directions. Waiting is not inactivity.
I had a great experience on waiting on God. We have been praying about bringing in an team to do outreach in our community. We wanted to get them into our schools. I had planned to go and ask the schools about the possiblity of this. I have been praying about this for over nine months. Then one day recently I got a phone call from the schools asking me if we could help arrannge this team to come into the schools. I had for nine months been praying and talking to people about it. It was one of this people that I shared the vision with that brought it to the school authorities.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is waiting on God. It is letting God lead and following His direction. I is not getting a head of God or lag behind Him but step by step staying with Him.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Problem of Hypocrisy
It seems the church has a PR problem. When people are asked their perception of the church one of the most frequently mentioned traits is hypocrisy.
There seems to be three reasons for this response.
One, people want an excuse to not be involved in the church.
Two, people misunderstand the church and what the church teaches.
Three, the church is hypocritical.
It is on the third one I want to focus because there in nothing the church can do about the first one. And if we deal with this third one it will help solve the second one.
So is the church hypocritical? The answer to that question is - Yes!
The church is the people. The question then really is are Christians hypocritical? The answer is of course we are. All people are hypocritical at times. Hypocrisy is simply saying one thing and doing another and we all at times do that. Hypocrisy is also not living out what you say you believe which is more serous, but again something we are all guility of at times. Is it more crictical for Christians to not be hypocritical and live out what we say we believe? Yes, it is. It also critical that we live out what God teaches us in His Word.
You may be asking why? Why is it more critical for Christians to live out their beliefs? It is simple. What we believe as Christians and how we live it out affects a person now and for eternity. If I say I am a Republican but vote for a Democrat it might affection an election but little else. If I say I believe that will go to watch someone play a baseball game and don't I might hurt their feelings but little else. If I say I believe in God but live like I don't than I could affect many people' s perception of God and thus their eternal existence.
It is very important for Christians to live out what they say they believe. How do we do that? I believe that there are three anidotes to hypocrisy.
One anidote is integerity. We live with integerity by living out what the Bible teaches and thus what we say we believe. You can't be a Christian without believe that the Bible is God's Word and the authority in telling us how to live. If we as Christians would live out the truth of God's Word and thus reflect the truth of God to the world we would not be guility of hypocrisy.
The second anidote is purity. Purity means the desire to live holy and with integrity. We will never live with integrity unless we desire to. Purity allows us not only to live out the truth of God's Word but to also have a godly motivation in doing it. Purity allows us to really see not only that we care about them but that God loves them.
The third atidote is transparency. Transparency means that when I blow it and am guility of hypocrisy (and I will be) I will admit it. When a person sins the first thing God tells us to do is confess it and repent of it. Transparency means that I don't have to try and pretend that I have it all together. I can admit my struggles, my failures, even my sins. Transparency means I am Real not fake. People aren't looking for perfect. They are looking for real.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls helps deal with the problem of hypocrisy because integrity, purity and transparency are components of Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls.
Without Hypocrisy Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls.
Joe
There seems to be three reasons for this response.
One, people want an excuse to not be involved in the church.
Two, people misunderstand the church and what the church teaches.
Three, the church is hypocritical.
It is on the third one I want to focus because there in nothing the church can do about the first one. And if we deal with this third one it will help solve the second one.
So is the church hypocritical? The answer to that question is - Yes!
The church is the people. The question then really is are Christians hypocritical? The answer is of course we are. All people are hypocritical at times. Hypocrisy is simply saying one thing and doing another and we all at times do that. Hypocrisy is also not living out what you say you believe which is more serous, but again something we are all guility of at times. Is it more crictical for Christians to not be hypocritical and live out what we say we believe? Yes, it is. It also critical that we live out what God teaches us in His Word.
You may be asking why? Why is it more critical for Christians to live out their beliefs? It is simple. What we believe as Christians and how we live it out affects a person now and for eternity. If I say I am a Republican but vote for a Democrat it might affection an election but little else. If I say I believe that will go to watch someone play a baseball game and don't I might hurt their feelings but little else. If I say I believe in God but live like I don't than I could affect many people' s perception of God and thus their eternal existence.
It is very important for Christians to live out what they say they believe. How do we do that? I believe that there are three anidotes to hypocrisy.
One anidote is integerity. We live with integerity by living out what the Bible teaches and thus what we say we believe. You can't be a Christian without believe that the Bible is God's Word and the authority in telling us how to live. If we as Christians would live out the truth of God's Word and thus reflect the truth of God to the world we would not be guility of hypocrisy.
The second anidote is purity. Purity means the desire to live holy and with integrity. We will never live with integrity unless we desire to. Purity allows us not only to live out the truth of God's Word but to also have a godly motivation in doing it. Purity allows us to really see not only that we care about them but that God loves them.
The third atidote is transparency. Transparency means that when I blow it and am guility of hypocrisy (and I will be) I will admit it. When a person sins the first thing God tells us to do is confess it and repent of it. Transparency means that I don't have to try and pretend that I have it all together. I can admit my struggles, my failures, even my sins. Transparency means I am Real not fake. People aren't looking for perfect. They are looking for real.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls helps deal with the problem of hypocrisy because integrity, purity and transparency are components of Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls.
Without Hypocrisy Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls.
Joe
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Real Problem
I have listened to both the Republican and Democratic versions of what is wrong with our nation. I have listened to both of their solutions. I want to say this with love and not be too rude, but they are both full of crap.
If the real problems of our country are going to be solved, we first have to be honest. The Republicans and Democrats and all the other political parties are addressing the symptoms not the root cause. The problem is not the economy or the educational system or crime or violence. Those are simple the symptoms of the real problem. This country is where we are today because of a lose of character. We have lost our godly character. We have been so busy chasing the "American Dream" that we have compromised every right and good thing to try and get it.
Let's look at three examples of this truth.
First, let's look at the economy. The problem with the American economy and for that matter the world economy is GREED. We are in the situation we are in economically becasue people want more than they can afford or even need. And there are people who will risk giving it to them so they can earn even more money.
Second, let's look at the educational system. The problem with the educational system is not in the system. It is first in the parents of children who do care and have raised their children not to care. Ask any teacher and that will tell you that the vast majority of the parents who come to parent-teacher conferences are the parents of the students who are doing good or striving to do good. The parents of the students who don't try because they don't care, don't come. They don't come because they as parents don't care. Another reason our educational system is not working is because in the hast and panic to fix the problem, politicans have established fixes that made things worst. We are blaming teachers and the schools for things they didn't cause and they can't fix. We have given schools the responsibility to parent the children. That will never work. That will never fix the problem. The problem is Apathy and Irrresponsibility of the parents and children.
Third, let's look at the social problems in our culture today. Thins like violence, teen pregnancy, and drug addiction. The answer we are hearing for many about these problems addresses again the symptoms. The root cause of the social problems that we see is a Denial of Truth. This denial leads to an inability to communicate Right and Wrong.
I believe that living out the truths that Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls entails will lead to solutions to these and other problems. The reason is simply that Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is based in the unchanging truth of God's Word.
The solution to the economy is found in Philippians 2:3-4 which says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
The solution to the educational system is found in Ephessians 6:4 which says, "As for parents, don't provoke your children to anger, but rasie them with discipline and instruction about the Lord."
The solution to the soical problems is found in Isaiah 56:1 which says, "This is what the Lord says: 'Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and dispaly my righteousness among you.'"
The model for solving our nation's problems are the life and words of Jesus.
Let's quit trying old, tired, man-made answers and go to some new, fresh God-made solutions.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
If the real problems of our country are going to be solved, we first have to be honest. The Republicans and Democrats and all the other political parties are addressing the symptoms not the root cause. The problem is not the economy or the educational system or crime or violence. Those are simple the symptoms of the real problem. This country is where we are today because of a lose of character. We have lost our godly character. We have been so busy chasing the "American Dream" that we have compromised every right and good thing to try and get it.
Let's look at three examples of this truth.
First, let's look at the economy. The problem with the American economy and for that matter the world economy is GREED. We are in the situation we are in economically becasue people want more than they can afford or even need. And there are people who will risk giving it to them so they can earn even more money.
Second, let's look at the educational system. The problem with the educational system is not in the system. It is first in the parents of children who do care and have raised their children not to care. Ask any teacher and that will tell you that the vast majority of the parents who come to parent-teacher conferences are the parents of the students who are doing good or striving to do good. The parents of the students who don't try because they don't care, don't come. They don't come because they as parents don't care. Another reason our educational system is not working is because in the hast and panic to fix the problem, politicans have established fixes that made things worst. We are blaming teachers and the schools for things they didn't cause and they can't fix. We have given schools the responsibility to parent the children. That will never work. That will never fix the problem. The problem is Apathy and Irrresponsibility of the parents and children.
Third, let's look at the social problems in our culture today. Thins like violence, teen pregnancy, and drug addiction. The answer we are hearing for many about these problems addresses again the symptoms. The root cause of the social problems that we see is a Denial of Truth. This denial leads to an inability to communicate Right and Wrong.
I believe that living out the truths that Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls entails will lead to solutions to these and other problems. The reason is simply that Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is based in the unchanging truth of God's Word.
The solution to the economy is found in Philippians 2:3-4 which says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
The solution to the educational system is found in Ephessians 6:4 which says, "As for parents, don't provoke your children to anger, but rasie them with discipline and instruction about the Lord."
The solution to the soical problems is found in Isaiah 56:1 which says, "This is what the Lord says: 'Be just and fair to all. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you and dispaly my righteousness among you.'"
The model for solving our nation's problems are the life and words of Jesus.
Let's quit trying old, tired, man-made answers and go to some new, fresh God-made solutions.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
What Is The Mission of The Church?
If we are going to understand the mission of the church we have to come to grips with who the churh is. The church is the body of Christ. That means that Jesus' mission is our mission. We as the church don't just make up what we want to do, we join Jesus in what He is aleady doing. What was and is Jesus' mission. Jesus according to Hebrews 13:8 is the same yesterday and today and forever, He doesn't change therefore His mission wouldn't change.
According to God's Word Jesus had five overarching aspects in His mission.
1. To Share God's Message.
Jesus said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the samll towns that are nearby. I have to spread the Good News in them also. This is why I have come." Mark 1:38 (GWT)
2. To Show God's Love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)
3. To Build a Community.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
4. To Provide Salvation to Mankind.
During his days on earth, Christ offered prayers and requests with loud cries and tears as his sacrifices to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his godly devotion. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. After he had been made perfect, he became the source of salvation for everyone who obeys him. Hebrews 5:7-9 (CEB)
5. To Glorify God.
After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you." John 17:1 (NLT)
That was Jesus' mission and that is exactly what He did. This is also the mission of the church. The key to allowing Jesus to accomplish it in us as His Body, the church is found in John the Baptizer's words in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must descrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] (Amp)
For God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls we as the church have to get back to Jesus' mission. We have to join Him in what He is already doing (not make it up ourselves).
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
According to God's Word Jesus had five overarching aspects in His mission.
1. To Share God's Message.
Jesus said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the samll towns that are nearby. I have to spread the Good News in them also. This is why I have come." Mark 1:38 (GWT)
2. To Show God's Love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)
3. To Build a Community.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
4. To Provide Salvation to Mankind.
During his days on earth, Christ offered prayers and requests with loud cries and tears as his sacrifices to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his godly devotion. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. After he had been made perfect, he became the source of salvation for everyone who obeys him. Hebrews 5:7-9 (CEB)
5. To Glorify God.
After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you." John 17:1 (NLT)
That was Jesus' mission and that is exactly what He did. This is also the mission of the church. The key to allowing Jesus to accomplish it in us as His Body, the church is found in John the Baptizer's words in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must descrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] (Amp)
For God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls we as the church have to get back to Jesus' mission. We have to join Him in what He is already doing (not make it up ourselves).
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Need for Revival
I haven't posted for awhile. Forgive me. It has been a rough and busy summer. It has had it great moments too. I have a new grandson, Jeremiah Lucas. We hired two new staff guys at the church. It has been a difficult time also because of some conflict within the church. God has taught me some amazing things in the midst of this conflict. I want to share three of them with you.
The first one is how much the church in America needs revival. I knew that the church needed revival and my wife and I having been praying for revival for several years. But God has shown me through out church's struggles how much the church truly needs a powerful moving of God's Spirit in the us.
The chuch and when I use the word church I am refering to the people, not the building or the programs or the ministies or the structure. The church is as self-centered as the world is. The church is as much about comfort as the world is. The church is as pleasure obsessed as the world is. The church needs transformation. The church needs to become God-Centered. God has given me a greater desire revival. He has given me a greater urgency to pray for revival and teach and preach about revival.
The second thing God has been teaching me is how to beg. God is causing me to plead and cry out for revival. I used to pray nice little prayers for revival. I now get on my face and cry out to God to please bring revival. I picture myself as a beggar pleading for bread and the bread is Jesus the Bread of Life. I want Jesus to come and renew His church and once again be the Head of His church.
The third thing God has been teaching me is how to love those who not only disagree with me, but attack me and try to harm me. I am learning to love people who really don't like me and have nothing good to say about me. It is easy to love the people who think am a great pastor. However, Jesus tells me to love the one who don't like me, who see me as their enemy.
Allow God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls by make you desperate for revival. I want to ask that you would set aside some time each day to cry out to God for revival in your church and in the church in America.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Because He Said So
In Luke chapter 5, Luke relates the event when after a hard night of fishing and catching nothing Peter had come into the shore. Jesus asks to use the boat to teach from and so Peter agrees aand they put out just a little from the water's edge. Jesus teaches for awhile and then tells Peter to go out to deep water and let down his nets. Peter is not very enthusiastic, but his does and hauls in such a huge catch that he has to get another boat to help him.
There are so many awesome truths contain in this story it is unbelievable.
First is where and when Jesus tells Peter to do the fishing. The way that fishing was done in the Sea of Galilee was that they went out out night and threw out their nets in shallow water. They did it at night because as it cooled off the fish came up to the surface and it was easier to get them in their nets. Yet Jesus tells Peter to do the exact opposite of how he had learned to do it.
Jesus doesn't go with the human focused way of doing things.
In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Paul writes, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of your were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Jesus didn't let Peter catch anything the night before and had him to do everything "wrong" on this day so that when he got the huge catch he couldn't point to himself or luck or nature, but only to Jesus as the source of this great catch.
The second truth we see here is why Peter did it.
In Luke 5:5 Peter says, "Master, we've worked hard all night and havn't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
Peter says, "Jesus this is stupid, we have worked hard all night and got nothing and now you are telling me to do something that I know won't work. But because you said to do it this way, I will. What God wants is for us to Just Do What He Says. He is not asking for us to analysis it, reason it out, or list pros and cons. He is telling us here is what I want you to do so just do it. Why? Because I Said So.
In 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel tells King Saul, "Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams."
We want reasons and explanations and then we will make some cool sacrifice. Jesus wants everyday obedience.
The third truth is seen in Peter's response to the situation.
In Luke 5:8 after they hauled in this fantastic catch Peter falls on his knees and says to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Why does Peter have this reaction? Peter sees the power of Jesus. Peter sees the holiness of Jesus. Peter begins to see Jesus for who He really is - God!
Every time someone in Scripture saw God they had this same reaction.
Moses in Exodus 3:6.
Joshua in Joshua 5:13-15
Nation of Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-5
Peter, James, and John in Matthew 17:5-6
The Apostles in Mark 4:39-41
When we really encounter God we see how far removed we are from His perfect holiness and righteousness. And we fall down in acknowledgment of our sinfulness and His perfection.
I want to to what God wants me to do just because He Said So.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
There are so many awesome truths contain in this story it is unbelievable.
First is where and when Jesus tells Peter to do the fishing. The way that fishing was done in the Sea of Galilee was that they went out out night and threw out their nets in shallow water. They did it at night because as it cooled off the fish came up to the surface and it was easier to get them in their nets. Yet Jesus tells Peter to do the exact opposite of how he had learned to do it.
Jesus doesn't go with the human focused way of doing things.
In 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Paul writes, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of your were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Jesus didn't let Peter catch anything the night before and had him to do everything "wrong" on this day so that when he got the huge catch he couldn't point to himself or luck or nature, but only to Jesus as the source of this great catch.
The second truth we see here is why Peter did it.
In Luke 5:5 Peter says, "Master, we've worked hard all night and havn't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
Peter says, "Jesus this is stupid, we have worked hard all night and got nothing and now you are telling me to do something that I know won't work. But because you said to do it this way, I will. What God wants is for us to Just Do What He Says. He is not asking for us to analysis it, reason it out, or list pros and cons. He is telling us here is what I want you to do so just do it. Why? Because I Said So.
In 1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel tells King Saul, "Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience? To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice. To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams."
We want reasons and explanations and then we will make some cool sacrifice. Jesus wants everyday obedience.
The third truth is seen in Peter's response to the situation.
In Luke 5:8 after they hauled in this fantastic catch Peter falls on his knees and says to Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Why does Peter have this reaction? Peter sees the power of Jesus. Peter sees the holiness of Jesus. Peter begins to see Jesus for who He really is - God!
Every time someone in Scripture saw God they had this same reaction.
Moses in Exodus 3:6.
Joshua in Joshua 5:13-15
Nation of Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-5
Peter, James, and John in Matthew 17:5-6
The Apostles in Mark 4:39-41
When we really encounter God we see how far removed we are from His perfect holiness and righteousness. And we fall down in acknowledgment of our sinfulness and His perfection.
I want to to what God wants me to do just because He Said So.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
What is Life?
I loving watching people. People totally fascinate me. People also fascinate God. I believe it to be one of the ways God and I are like. One of the things that fascinates me about people is how we try to make life have meaning and purpose. Most of us try hard to do the right things or to do enough things that we can look at our life and call it meaningful.
In Matthew 16:25 Jesus makes a bazarre statement. He says, "For whover wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." I have read that verse many times. I used to just read and go, "Yeah right," and go on.Now when I read that verse I stop because it seems to connect with me more than ever. I think it is becasue as I grow older I want my life to really count for something. I realize the only way my life can have meaning is to surrender myself and I mean all of myself to Jesus. Jesus is what makes life have meaning and purpose. It is not what I do that focuses attention on me that gives life purpose, it what I do that focuses attention on Jesus that gives real purpose to my life.
Since Jesus is what gives life meaning, I decided to look at what Jesus said about life. The first thing I did was to look at the words Jesus used to mean life.
One of the words translated life is the word helikia it means age or time of life. Jesus is simply referring to life as a span of time. I can live 10 years, 25 years, 50 years, or 100 years and my life can impact the world or not. It doesn't depend on the length of life, but on the content of life.
Another word translated life is the word bios. It means physical life. It is simply existence. Every person who has been physically born into this world has bios. Just because a person has bios doesn't mean that they are really living. People with physical life don't necessarily have meaning and purpose. Our existence gives us value, but it doesn't always give us purpose.
A third word translated life is psyche. This word means soul. Human life is not just physical. It is also spiritual. Jess uses this word a lot. He wants us to understand that our lives are both physical and spiritual. He indicates that it is the spiritual aspect that gives life its meaning. Our lives have meaning because as people, we have a soul that can connect with God. When I connect my life with God I have both value and purpose.
The last word is zoe. It means vibrate life. This life is not just physical existence, but real living. A life filled with purpose, meaning, adventure, and yes, suffering. It is a life lived in relationship with Jesus. Jesus uses this word when He says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
In talking about life Jesus uses the word zoe more than any on the other words to describe it.
When I try and save my life I can only experience helikia and bios. When I lose my life for Jesus I will experience psyche and zoe.
God created me to not just exist (helikia & bios) but to really live (psyche & zoe).
In Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls we will allow God through His Son, Jesus and His Spirit to give us real life (zoe).
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
In Matthew 16:25 Jesus makes a bazarre statement. He says, "For whover wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." I have read that verse many times. I used to just read and go, "Yeah right," and go on.Now when I read that verse I stop because it seems to connect with me more than ever. I think it is becasue as I grow older I want my life to really count for something. I realize the only way my life can have meaning is to surrender myself and I mean all of myself to Jesus. Jesus is what makes life have meaning and purpose. It is not what I do that focuses attention on me that gives life purpose, it what I do that focuses attention on Jesus that gives real purpose to my life.
Since Jesus is what gives life meaning, I decided to look at what Jesus said about life. The first thing I did was to look at the words Jesus used to mean life.
One of the words translated life is the word helikia it means age or time of life. Jesus is simply referring to life as a span of time. I can live 10 years, 25 years, 50 years, or 100 years and my life can impact the world or not. It doesn't depend on the length of life, but on the content of life.
Another word translated life is the word bios. It means physical life. It is simply existence. Every person who has been physically born into this world has bios. Just because a person has bios doesn't mean that they are really living. People with physical life don't necessarily have meaning and purpose. Our existence gives us value, but it doesn't always give us purpose.
A third word translated life is psyche. This word means soul. Human life is not just physical. It is also spiritual. Jess uses this word a lot. He wants us to understand that our lives are both physical and spiritual. He indicates that it is the spiritual aspect that gives life its meaning. Our lives have meaning because as people, we have a soul that can connect with God. When I connect my life with God I have both value and purpose.
The last word is zoe. It means vibrate life. This life is not just physical existence, but real living. A life filled with purpose, meaning, adventure, and yes, suffering. It is a life lived in relationship with Jesus. Jesus uses this word when He says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
In talking about life Jesus uses the word zoe more than any on the other words to describe it.
When I try and save my life I can only experience helikia and bios. When I lose my life for Jesus I will experience psyche and zoe.
God created me to not just exist (helikia & bios) but to really live (psyche & zoe).
In Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls we will allow God through His Son, Jesus and His Spirit to give us real life (zoe).
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Let's Get Real About Same Sex Marriage
I have been following all the furor over the President coming out in favor of same sex marriage. Let's get real! We have known for some time that the President was supportive of many issues dealing with the homosexual community. He is not stupid. He knows that he will not get many if any votes from those who are opposed to same sex marriage, so he guarantees himself a stonger vote from the homosexual community by coming out in favor of same sex marriage. The President is first and foremost a politician. Does the President coming out in favor of same sex marriage make same sex marraige right or wrong? The answer is no it doesn't.
I read a letter in my home town news paper from some person saying that in the early church there were marriage ceremonies for same sex couples. First, that is a lie and the person just simply made that one up. Second, let's say that the church, and the time peroid that the person referenced meant they were referring to the Cathloic Church, had ceremonies for same sex marriages. Does the fact the church had same sex marraige ceremonies make same sex marriage right or wrong? Again the answer is no.
The fact that the President of the United States says same sex marraige is right and that the church had ceremonies for same sex marraige does not make same sex marraige right. Why? The nature of marraige is not determined by the President, the church or the culture. The nature of marriage is determined by the one who instituted it - God. Man didn't invented marriage, God did. In Genesis 2 we are given the account of God created humans, male and female. Then in verses 22 & 23 it says, "Then the Lord God made woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man'." This was the first marriage ceremony. Father (God) giving the bride (Eve) to the groom (Adam) and even complete with vows. God clearly estabishes marriage here as between one man and one woman. Jesus in Matthew 19 agrees with the Father that marriage is to be between one man and one woman only.
I don't care what the President or the church or the culture thinks about same sex marriage. I care what God thinks. God in His Word indicates that marriage is one man one woman.
God graciously gives us the freedom to think and believe and live like we want to. He does reserve the right as Creator, Lord, and Savior to have the ultimate say. He also tells us that if we choose to disobey Him and His will we have to live with the results of that disobedience.
My job as a surrender disciple and follower of Jesus is not to condemn people. Jesus says that in John 3:17. My job is to in love speak the truth. I believe that same sex marriage is wrong because God says it wrong. I don't believe I have the right as a Jesus follower to try and punish or ridicule people who choose to support same sex marriage.
You have the right both from God and from our nation to believe and live as you desire. I don't have to agree with you or support you in your choice. I do have to love you. My loving people doesn't mean that I agree with them all the time. And my disagreeing with a person doesn't mean that I don't love them. Let's stop looking at same sex marriage as an "issue". Let's look at people not issues and love not condemn.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
I read a letter in my home town news paper from some person saying that in the early church there were marriage ceremonies for same sex couples. First, that is a lie and the person just simply made that one up. Second, let's say that the church, and the time peroid that the person referenced meant they were referring to the Cathloic Church, had ceremonies for same sex marriages. Does the fact the church had same sex marraige ceremonies make same sex marriage right or wrong? Again the answer is no.
The fact that the President of the United States says same sex marraige is right and that the church had ceremonies for same sex marraige does not make same sex marraige right. Why? The nature of marraige is not determined by the President, the church or the culture. The nature of marriage is determined by the one who instituted it - God. Man didn't invented marriage, God did. In Genesis 2 we are given the account of God created humans, male and female. Then in verses 22 & 23 it says, "Then the Lord God made woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman for she was taken out of man'." This was the first marriage ceremony. Father (God) giving the bride (Eve) to the groom (Adam) and even complete with vows. God clearly estabishes marriage here as between one man and one woman. Jesus in Matthew 19 agrees with the Father that marriage is to be between one man and one woman only.
I don't care what the President or the church or the culture thinks about same sex marriage. I care what God thinks. God in His Word indicates that marriage is one man one woman.
God graciously gives us the freedom to think and believe and live like we want to. He does reserve the right as Creator, Lord, and Savior to have the ultimate say. He also tells us that if we choose to disobey Him and His will we have to live with the results of that disobedience.
My job as a surrender disciple and follower of Jesus is not to condemn people. Jesus says that in John 3:17. My job is to in love speak the truth. I believe that same sex marriage is wrong because God says it wrong. I don't believe I have the right as a Jesus follower to try and punish or ridicule people who choose to support same sex marriage.
You have the right both from God and from our nation to believe and live as you desire. I don't have to agree with you or support you in your choice. I do have to love you. My loving people doesn't mean that I agree with them all the time. And my disagreeing with a person doesn't mean that I don't love them. Let's stop looking at same sex marriage as an "issue". Let's look at people not issues and love not condemn.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Burdens
I have a burden. My burden is for revival. I want to be revived. I want to have a passion for Jesus. I want a passion for His Word. I want a passion to obey Him. I want a passion to worship Him. I want a passion to communicate with Him. I want a passion to serve Him by serving others. I want a passion for helping others to know Him and develop a passion for Him.
I also want revival for Jesus' church. I want my local faith family to be alive and obsessed with Jesus with nothing else competing against Him. I want the church in American to experience revival. I want the church in America (all followers of Jesus) to have one pure and holy passion to know Jesus and follow hard after Him.
I want John 2:17 to characterize me. my faith family and the church. The verse says, "His disciples remembered that it is written, Passion for your house consumes me" I want passion to consume me and every believer so that Jesus can be glorified.
I want the reality of Joel 2:28-29 where Joel predicts God's Spirit being poured out on all His people to be experienced by the church. I want to be filled and empowered and enabled by God so that I can and will obey God.
I want the reality of Habakkuk 3:2 where Habakkuk prays for God to revive and make known His work in the world to be experienced by God's people. I want God's power to be displayed through all of God's people so that the world can know Him.
The whole reason for Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is for God to open up us as His people and pour His Spirit on us and in us so that we can display His glory to the world.
If you will join me in asking God to do that I would really like to hear from you.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
I also want revival for Jesus' church. I want my local faith family to be alive and obsessed with Jesus with nothing else competing against Him. I want the church in American to experience revival. I want the church in America (all followers of Jesus) to have one pure and holy passion to know Jesus and follow hard after Him.
I want John 2:17 to characterize me. my faith family and the church. The verse says, "His disciples remembered that it is written, Passion for your house consumes me" I want passion to consume me and every believer so that Jesus can be glorified.
I want the reality of Joel 2:28-29 where Joel predicts God's Spirit being poured out on all His people to be experienced by the church. I want to be filled and empowered and enabled by God so that I can and will obey God.
I want the reality of Habakkuk 3:2 where Habakkuk prays for God to revive and make known His work in the world to be experienced by God's people. I want God's power to be displayed through all of God's people so that the world can know Him.
The whole reason for Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is for God to open up us as His people and pour His Spirit on us and in us so that we can display His glory to the world.
If you will join me in asking God to do that I would really like to hear from you.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Death and Dying
Last week a very close friend of mine with to be with Jesus. He had been in a battle with cancer. I know many people look at this as if he lost the battle, but he actually won. He is cancer free now with no possibility of it ever returning. The pain that he endured for so long is over. I would count that as a win. Death however is still hard. It is hardest for those who are still living and miss the perosn who has died. I can honestly say, "I hate death!" Death for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus is not to be feared. But it is also not something that we are to embrace and desire. The sting of death comes from sin. Through Jesus' death and resurrection He overcame sin and death. I don't have to fear my physical death if I die a spiritual death. In Galatians 2:20 Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." When I allow myself to be crucified with Jesus and die to self and live in Jesus then I don't have to fear physical death. I still grieve over not having my friend to relate to, but I am joyful for him because he is with Jesus.
There are other types of death that are much more tragic then physical death. I am watching the death of several marriages. The death of a marriage is much more tragic and painful then physically dying. The death of a marriage means the death of a dream, the death of a relationship and can mean the death of security. It breaks my heart to watch two people who at one time loved and cherished each other degenerate into fighting with and hating each other. It also breaks my heart to see their children hurt so deeply as they watch their family and their world fall apart. The death of intimacy and hope and security is worse than any physical death I have ever witnessed.
It pisses me off to see marriages and familes dying. It means that Satan has won a victory. It doesn't have to happen. It doesn't have to end in death and Satan winning. Jesus raised people back to life physically. Jesus raised and is raising people back to life spiritually. He can take whatever the illness is that is causing a marriage to die and heal it. He can take a marriage that is dead and bring it back to life. The key in restoring a marriage is the same as it is in facing physical death without fear - Surrender!
In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." God can and will restore our lives, our dreams, our hope, and our marriages if we will surrender ourselves to Him. Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about surrendering ourselves, everything we are and everything we have, to Jesus. When we do that He can do anything.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
There are other types of death that are much more tragic then physical death. I am watching the death of several marriages. The death of a marriage is much more tragic and painful then physically dying. The death of a marriage means the death of a dream, the death of a relationship and can mean the death of security. It breaks my heart to watch two people who at one time loved and cherished each other degenerate into fighting with and hating each other. It also breaks my heart to see their children hurt so deeply as they watch their family and their world fall apart. The death of intimacy and hope and security is worse than any physical death I have ever witnessed.
It pisses me off to see marriages and familes dying. It means that Satan has won a victory. It doesn't have to happen. It doesn't have to end in death and Satan winning. Jesus raised people back to life physically. Jesus raised and is raising people back to life spiritually. He can take whatever the illness is that is causing a marriage to die and heal it. He can take a marriage that is dead and bring it back to life. The key in restoring a marriage is the same as it is in facing physical death without fear - Surrender!
In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." God can and will restore our lives, our dreams, our hope, and our marriages if we will surrender ourselves to Him. Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls is about surrendering ourselves, everything we are and everything we have, to Jesus. When we do that He can do anything.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls
Joe
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Doubts
In a recent conversation I had the person expressed a reluctance to share their doubts concerning God with me because they didn't think I ever had any doubts. I know that many people think that pastors don't doubt. Well, I don't know about other pastors, but I do.
My doubts fall into one of two kinds. One area of doubt I have is about God's goodness.I doubt some times that He is a good all-loving God. I know that sounds bad. I don't doubt God's existence because there is just to much evidence that God is. I do however at time question God's love for people (usually me or someone I love). I don't always understand why God does something or allows somethings to happen. I some times don't have a clue as to what God is doing.
When I am in one of those doubt periods of my life I have found two things that help me to trust God. One is to believe God is who He says He is in Scripture and second to focus on the cross. I know I will never understand God fully. If I did He would be a pretty wimpy God. I have to believe that God is:
1 John 4:8 & 16 - Love
Psalm 111:4 - Gracious
Daniel 9:9 - Merciful
Exodus 34:6 - Abounding in Love
I have to see the cross as an eternal proof of His love and grace ande mercy. I have to believe along with Paul what he says in Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God gave Jesus so that my sin could be paid for and I could know God and be with Him for eternity.
So based on what Scripture says and on the reality of Jesus' death on the cross for me - I Believe He is a Good and Loving God!
The second area I have doubts about God are really doubts that I am not good enough. I believe that God can and is willing to do anything for You not me. I am a nobody and there is no reason why God should love me or do anything important in my life. My doubt is about God working in and through me.
When I have this doubt I simply argee that I am not good enough, I am not worth it, and that I don't deserve anything. I also acknowledge that I never will be good enough or deserve it. The fact that Jesus had to come and die for me says that God knows I Can't Do It! So by recognizing and admitting my totally inability to be good enough I again see the cross as relieving my doubts. I see God as agree that I am not good and that I don't deserve His love, but loving me anyway. When God loving me is based in Him and not me then my doubts can be handle.
I still at times doubt. The latest was let's see, yesterday. I will always go through seasons of doubting. It is not the doubting that is the issue, it is what do I do with my doubt. Peter summs it up well in John 6:68 when he says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." I will go to Jesus.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
My doubts fall into one of two kinds. One area of doubt I have is about God's goodness.I doubt some times that He is a good all-loving God. I know that sounds bad. I don't doubt God's existence because there is just to much evidence that God is. I do however at time question God's love for people (usually me or someone I love). I don't always understand why God does something or allows somethings to happen. I some times don't have a clue as to what God is doing.
When I am in one of those doubt periods of my life I have found two things that help me to trust God. One is to believe God is who He says He is in Scripture and second to focus on the cross. I know I will never understand God fully. If I did He would be a pretty wimpy God. I have to believe that God is:
1 John 4:8 & 16 - Love
Psalm 111:4 - Gracious
Daniel 9:9 - Merciful
Exodus 34:6 - Abounding in Love
I have to see the cross as an eternal proof of His love and grace ande mercy. I have to believe along with Paul what he says in Romans 8:32, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" God gave Jesus so that my sin could be paid for and I could know God and be with Him for eternity.
So based on what Scripture says and on the reality of Jesus' death on the cross for me - I Believe He is a Good and Loving God!
The second area I have doubts about God are really doubts that I am not good enough. I believe that God can and is willing to do anything for You not me. I am a nobody and there is no reason why God should love me or do anything important in my life. My doubt is about God working in and through me.
When I have this doubt I simply argee that I am not good enough, I am not worth it, and that I don't deserve anything. I also acknowledge that I never will be good enough or deserve it. The fact that Jesus had to come and die for me says that God knows I Can't Do It! So by recognizing and admitting my totally inability to be good enough I again see the cross as relieving my doubts. I see God as agree that I am not good and that I don't deserve His love, but loving me anyway. When God loving me is based in Him and not me then my doubts can be handle.
I still at times doubt. The latest was let's see, yesterday. I will always go through seasons of doubting. It is not the doubting that is the issue, it is what do I do with my doubt. Peter summs it up well in John 6:68 when he says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." I will go to Jesus.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Surrender
We think of surrender as defeat. God sees surrender as freedom and victory. We are slaves either to Satan or God. If Satan is our master we have surrendered ourselves to him and we have given him control. We are thus slaves with no freedom or victory. If God is our master we have surrendered ourselves to God and we have given Him control.
Paul writes in Romans 6:13-14, "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." When I have surrendered my life (including my body) to God and He is my master then I can experience life and righteousness and grace.
When God is my master I can also experience true freedom. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says to the Jews who had believed, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth with set you free." When God is my master I am free to be my real self, the person who God created me to be.
A great philosopher, Bob Dylan, once said you have to serve somebody. I surrender my life to serve Jesus and Him only. Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls involves surrender all of yourself to Jesus and allowing Him to be your Master.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Paul writes in Romans 6:13-14, "Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." When I have surrendered my life (including my body) to God and He is my master then I can experience life and righteousness and grace.
When God is my master I can also experience true freedom. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says to the Jews who had believed, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth with set you free." When God is my master I am free to be my real self, the person who God created me to be.
A great philosopher, Bob Dylan, once said you have to serve somebody. I surrender my life to serve Jesus and Him only. Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls involves surrender all of yourself to Jesus and allowing Him to be your Master.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Turning Sixty
On February 18 I did someone that I have never done before, I turned sixty years old. In itself turning sixty is not a big achievement. It simply means I have lived a long time. When I say a long time even that is a relative term. Sixty will seem old to some of you and to some you will think this guy is just a youngster. I say, "God bless" all of you who still think of my as young at sixty.
When I turned sixty I began to think not of all that I had not accomplished with my life but with all the people God had brought into my life. God has graciously brought some amazing people into my life. And they have greatly blessed and enriched and changed me. I want to mention several because God had used them so much in my life.
The first people God used were my parents. I had the weirdest parents in the world. I know all kids think that their parents are weird. I'm sixty remember and looking back I now see that my parents Were Weird. They were also some of the hardest working and honest people I have ever know. They were not perfect, but that instilled in me a morality that still is intact today.
When I was a teenager God brought a lady into my life named Mary Founier. She was the first person I had ever met who really liked being a Christian and who lived it out all the time. Then a few years later God brought three college students into my life who not only loved Jesus but enjoyed loving Jesus and were excited about serving Him. These four people had a huge impact on the way I saw Jesus. And God used them to direct me to spend my life serving Him; preaching, teaching, and ministering.
The next group of people have had the biggest impact in my life, they are my wife and children and grandchildren. My wife is the most awesome person God ever created. She is not a perfect person, she did marry me, but she is the perfect wife. God has used her to love me, help me, confront me, teach me, and travel with me for almost 40 years. And though not every minute has been the best, I would honestly not trade any of our time together. She is my companion, my lover, and my best friend. Then there is my son. He is not perfect, but a dad could not possibly have ask for a better son. God has used him to show me so much truth over the years and now that he is thirty, now that makes me feel old, God uses him as a fellow disciple of Jesus to teach me ever more truth. I have a great daughter-in-law who loves and supports my son and to watch how she and my son relate brings great joy and delight to my spirit. Then there is my granddaughter, Goober. She is a constant source of joy and challenge. She has such a spirit of joy, wonder, and energy. I want to have that same joy in Jesus, wonder of Jesus and energy from Jesus that she has.
The finally group of people that God has used in my life are the pastors that I have worked with over the years. I worked with four pastors over a twenty year peroid. Three of these men were great friends and mentors. One was a jerk, but God even used him in my life to show me the kind of pastor not to be. I was taught by God through this men how to teach, preach, minister, and shepherd God's people.
The person who has most impact my life is not just a human being, He is the God/Man - Jesus. He is my life. I can not imagine living life without Jesus. Life is hard and at time it sucks. If I didn't have an personal love relationship with Jesus, not only would I not have lived to be sixty, I wouldn't have wanted to. It is not just that I can't imagine life without Jesus, I would have no life without Him. He Is My Life!
I don't know exactly how much longer I have on earth. I know that God has shown me that if He doesn't return or I don't die then He wants me to continue to pastor for ten more years. For those years and how ever many more God gives me I will allow God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls.
Joe
When I turned sixty I began to think not of all that I had not accomplished with my life but with all the people God had brought into my life. God has graciously brought some amazing people into my life. And they have greatly blessed and enriched and changed me. I want to mention several because God had used them so much in my life.
The first people God used were my parents. I had the weirdest parents in the world. I know all kids think that their parents are weird. I'm sixty remember and looking back I now see that my parents Were Weird. They were also some of the hardest working and honest people I have ever know. They were not perfect, but that instilled in me a morality that still is intact today.
When I was a teenager God brought a lady into my life named Mary Founier. She was the first person I had ever met who really liked being a Christian and who lived it out all the time. Then a few years later God brought three college students into my life who not only loved Jesus but enjoyed loving Jesus and were excited about serving Him. These four people had a huge impact on the way I saw Jesus. And God used them to direct me to spend my life serving Him; preaching, teaching, and ministering.
The next group of people have had the biggest impact in my life, they are my wife and children and grandchildren. My wife is the most awesome person God ever created. She is not a perfect person, she did marry me, but she is the perfect wife. God has used her to love me, help me, confront me, teach me, and travel with me for almost 40 years. And though not every minute has been the best, I would honestly not trade any of our time together. She is my companion, my lover, and my best friend. Then there is my son. He is not perfect, but a dad could not possibly have ask for a better son. God has used him to show me so much truth over the years and now that he is thirty, now that makes me feel old, God uses him as a fellow disciple of Jesus to teach me ever more truth. I have a great daughter-in-law who loves and supports my son and to watch how she and my son relate brings great joy and delight to my spirit. Then there is my granddaughter, Goober. She is a constant source of joy and challenge. She has such a spirit of joy, wonder, and energy. I want to have that same joy in Jesus, wonder of Jesus and energy from Jesus that she has.
The finally group of people that God has used in my life are the pastors that I have worked with over the years. I worked with four pastors over a twenty year peroid. Three of these men were great friends and mentors. One was a jerk, but God even used him in my life to show me the kind of pastor not to be. I was taught by God through this men how to teach, preach, minister, and shepherd God's people.
The person who has most impact my life is not just a human being, He is the God/Man - Jesus. He is my life. I can not imagine living life without Jesus. Life is hard and at time it sucks. If I didn't have an personal love relationship with Jesus, not only would I not have lived to be sixty, I wouldn't have wanted to. It is not just that I can't imagine life without Jesus, I would have no life without Him. He Is My Life!
I don't know exactly how much longer I have on earth. I know that God has shown me that if He doesn't return or I don't die then He wants me to continue to pastor for ten more years. For those years and how ever many more God gives me I will allow God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls.
Joe
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Is God Safe?
I became a Christian when I was 12 years old. I didn't really think much about what God was like at that time. Yeah, I knew He was loving and powerful and eternal, but I didn't focus much on who He really was and what He was like. As I grew up in the church and as God got more and more important to me I began to seek out who this God I had given my life to really was. I have spend a lot of time in the Bible and since it has been almost 48 years since I became a Christian, I have found one huge misconception I had about God. That misconception was that God was safe. God is not safe. In the C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy asks Mr. Beaver about Alsan. Lucy wonders if Alsan is a man, and when told that he's a great lion, Lucy worries about meeting him. She asks Mr. Beaver if Alsan is safe. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good." I can total agree with that statement that God is not safe, but He is good. The God have come to know through His Word and through experiecing a daily relationship with is not in any sense safe. I believe a better description of God is wild and untamed.
Why do I say that God is wild and untamed? There are five descriptions of God that indicate that He is wild and untamed not a bit safe.
Right after God had delivered the people of Israel from Pharaoh and his army by parting the Red sea and letting the Israelites go through on dry ground and then destroying the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, Moses and Miriam sing a song of praise to God. In Exodus 15:3 they sang, "The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name." God is a warrior. I know this isn't the usually picture of God we hear in the church, but there it is. Moses experieced God as a warrior who fought for His people. Four times in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy we are told that God fights for us as His people. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 King Jehoshaphat is told that his enemy will not win the batttle because the battle is not his but God's. This indicates that God will fight for His people and defeat the enemy. A warrior is not a safe person. A warrior is a wild person.
In Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 we are told that God is a consuming fire. Fire is never safe. Even when fire is used to warm our bodies or cook our food it is not safe. Living in New Mexico I have seen the Forrest Service do controlled burns that got out of control and destroyed property and homes. God as a consuming fire is not safe.
Exodus 34:14 says, "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Jealousy is not safe. I have seen jealousy turn a mild mannered, lay back person into a intensely obsessed person who would do anything to get what they wanted. I know that jealously is not seen as a good trait in people. God being a jealous God means that He who created us and redemmed us wants us for Himself. The fact that God is jealous means that He loves us passionately and would do whatever it took to establish a relationship with us like sending His Son to die for our sins on the cross.
In Pslam 18:47 and 94:1 God is described as the God who avenges me. I remember one time a bully was picking on a friend of mine who could not really defend himself. Another friend and I went and took care of the bully and we were not controlled in how we did it. A person who is out to avenge a wrong can be very intense. God is intense as He avenges the wrongs done against His people.
Pslam 140:7 says, "O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle." God is my deliverer. He will rescue me from the enemy, Satan. God will not be safe when He comes to defeat the enemy, He will be focused on getting me out of the enemy's control. He will be wild.
I have to come to know and experience a God who is strong, passionate, wild, and untamed. He is not safe and nice. He is good. He is a God who will Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls of my life and guide me into unsafe but awesomely good places.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Why do I say that God is wild and untamed? There are five descriptions of God that indicate that He is wild and untamed not a bit safe.
Right after God had delivered the people of Israel from Pharaoh and his army by parting the Red sea and letting the Israelites go through on dry ground and then destroying the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, Moses and Miriam sing a song of praise to God. In Exodus 15:3 they sang, "The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name." God is a warrior. I know this isn't the usually picture of God we hear in the church, but there it is. Moses experieced God as a warrior who fought for His people. Four times in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy we are told that God fights for us as His people. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 King Jehoshaphat is told that his enemy will not win the batttle because the battle is not his but God's. This indicates that God will fight for His people and defeat the enemy. A warrior is not a safe person. A warrior is a wild person.
In Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29 we are told that God is a consuming fire. Fire is never safe. Even when fire is used to warm our bodies or cook our food it is not safe. Living in New Mexico I have seen the Forrest Service do controlled burns that got out of control and destroyed property and homes. God as a consuming fire is not safe.
Exodus 34:14 says, "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Jealousy is not safe. I have seen jealousy turn a mild mannered, lay back person into a intensely obsessed person who would do anything to get what they wanted. I know that jealously is not seen as a good trait in people. God being a jealous God means that He who created us and redemmed us wants us for Himself. The fact that God is jealous means that He loves us passionately and would do whatever it took to establish a relationship with us like sending His Son to die for our sins on the cross.
In Pslam 18:47 and 94:1 God is described as the God who avenges me. I remember one time a bully was picking on a friend of mine who could not really defend himself. Another friend and I went and took care of the bully and we were not controlled in how we did it. A person who is out to avenge a wrong can be very intense. God is intense as He avenges the wrongs done against His people.
Pslam 140:7 says, "O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle." God is my deliverer. He will rescue me from the enemy, Satan. God will not be safe when He comes to defeat the enemy, He will be focused on getting me out of the enemy's control. He will be wild.
I have to come to know and experience a God who is strong, passionate, wild, and untamed. He is not safe and nice. He is good. He is a God who will Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls of my life and guide me into unsafe but awesomely good places.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Two Sins Don't Equal Righteousness
Romas 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Two words in that verse always get my attention. The first word is all. Everybody has sinned. That means Me. I have sinned. I don't like to admit that, but I have sinned and I am a sinner. I praise Jesus that I am a recovering sinner.
The second word is sinned. There are three words in Scripture that mean sin. One is the word that we translate sin and it means to miss the mark. It means that we have missed the stardard that God has sit which is prefection. I have to be perfect to be acceptable to God and I haven't been so I have missed the mark or fallen short of God's glory because He is pefect. The second word is transgressions. I have transgressed or I have step over the line. God set boundaries and I have step over some of those boundaries and I am where I shouldn't be. The boundaries are not to keep me controlled they are for my good, my protection. The third word is iniquity. It means to disobey God and knowing that I am disobeying and not care.
Jesus hates all of these because that separate us from Him. Jesus died on the cross for all three of these. Jesus doesn't want any three of these to be part of our lives. We seem to want to keep them because we keep doing them.
The fact that we keep doing them brings me to the point that two sins will never equal righteousness. We seem to want to rationalize our sin, transgressions, and iniquities. The number one way we try and do that is to say either, well, so and so did it so I can too or well, what so and so did was worst than what I did or so and so did it so I have the right to do it. The problem with that thinking is two fold. One God defines what sin is and what transgressions are and what iniquity is, not us. We can say it wasn't wrong, but if God says it is then it is. Secondly, we don't just sin, we sin aginst God. We don't just trangress, we transgress against God. We don't just commit iniquity we commit iniquity against God. We are offending God with out wrong doing and as the offended party He has the right to decide what the puishment is.
When we use other people's action as an excuse to sin, we offend God. When we say our sin, defined by God as sin, is not sin, we make God a liar. Everyone has an excuse for sin and they are just like arm pits. Everybody has a couple and they stick. When others sin even if it against me I don't have a right to sin and then try to justify it based on what they did against me. Two sins never equal righteousness.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls means I acknowledge my sin, confess it, and repent of it, that equals righteousness.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
The second word is sinned. There are three words in Scripture that mean sin. One is the word that we translate sin and it means to miss the mark. It means that we have missed the stardard that God has sit which is prefection. I have to be perfect to be acceptable to God and I haven't been so I have missed the mark or fallen short of God's glory because He is pefect. The second word is transgressions. I have transgressed or I have step over the line. God set boundaries and I have step over some of those boundaries and I am where I shouldn't be. The boundaries are not to keep me controlled they are for my good, my protection. The third word is iniquity. It means to disobey God and knowing that I am disobeying and not care.
Jesus hates all of these because that separate us from Him. Jesus died on the cross for all three of these. Jesus doesn't want any three of these to be part of our lives. We seem to want to keep them because we keep doing them.
The fact that we keep doing them brings me to the point that two sins will never equal righteousness. We seem to want to rationalize our sin, transgressions, and iniquities. The number one way we try and do that is to say either, well, so and so did it so I can too or well, what so and so did was worst than what I did or so and so did it so I have the right to do it. The problem with that thinking is two fold. One God defines what sin is and what transgressions are and what iniquity is, not us. We can say it wasn't wrong, but if God says it is then it is. Secondly, we don't just sin, we sin aginst God. We don't just trangress, we transgress against God. We don't just commit iniquity we commit iniquity against God. We are offending God with out wrong doing and as the offended party He has the right to decide what the puishment is.
When we use other people's action as an excuse to sin, we offend God. When we say our sin, defined by God as sin, is not sin, we make God a liar. Everyone has an excuse for sin and they are just like arm pits. Everybody has a couple and they stick. When others sin even if it against me I don't have a right to sin and then try to justify it based on what they did against me. Two sins never equal righteousness.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls means I acknowledge my sin, confess it, and repent of it, that equals righteousness.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Not About Feelings
Yesterday was a bad day. I felt lousy at the very beginning of the day. I have been struggling with feeling effective lately. I feel like most things I've done lately have failed and not been very effective. I have felt like a failure. Yesterday was one of those days, from about 6 in the morning until about 6 last night 12 hours of hearing in my spirit and feeling like I didn't matter, no one was listening and I was a failure. Then last night God began to get my attention.
He first reminded me of two men in Scripture who from the world's view point may not have been great successes either. The first one was Noah. Yeah, I know Noah obeyed God and build the big boat and saved his family. 2 Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness and in Genesis we are told that it took Noah 120 years to built the ark. So Noah preached for 120 years and not one person outside his family ever responded. God never changed one other person other then Noah's family through his preaching. Noah would never have been asked to speak at some huge nation wide preachng conference if he would have lived today. Noah would not have been written up in Christianity Today. Noah would not have been asked to share the stage with Rick Warren or Bill Hybels or Billy Graham. God reminnded me that Noah was not from the world's perspective a success.
Then God reminded me about Jeremiah. Jeremiah the weeping prophet. He ministered for 40 years with no success. Jeremiah was laughed out, put in prison, publicly humiliated and even physically harmed. The nation didn't listen to what Jeremiah was preaching and the nation was carried into captivity because of their disobedience to God. Jeremiah's preaching did not to change that.
Yet both of these men are held up in Scriptuure as great men of faith and models for us to follow. God reminded me that what pleases Him is not success, effectiveness or ability. It is obedience. Obeying God is what He has commanded us to do and it is obedience that pleases Him.
Another thing God did yesterday was to remind me that it is not about how I feel. My feelings are not always an accurate measurement of the reality of the situation. If I live based on my feelings they may lead me away from God's will not towards God's will. I knew that how I was feeling was not what the reality of the situation was. I allowed God to not let me go with my feelings. I through the work of the Holy Sprit chose to obey based in my will not my emotions.
Then God did a truly gracious thing. I had shared with a person last week and I felt (again those feelings) like I had not help him at all and then as he and talked last night, he shared how God had used our time together to help him deal with his struggle. God was again telling me it is not about me, it is all about Him!
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 (The Message)
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
He first reminded me of two men in Scripture who from the world's view point may not have been great successes either. The first one was Noah. Yeah, I know Noah obeyed God and build the big boat and saved his family. 2 Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness and in Genesis we are told that it took Noah 120 years to built the ark. So Noah preached for 120 years and not one person outside his family ever responded. God never changed one other person other then Noah's family through his preaching. Noah would never have been asked to speak at some huge nation wide preachng conference if he would have lived today. Noah would not have been written up in Christianity Today. Noah would not have been asked to share the stage with Rick Warren or Bill Hybels or Billy Graham. God reminnded me that Noah was not from the world's perspective a success.
Then God reminded me about Jeremiah. Jeremiah the weeping prophet. He ministered for 40 years with no success. Jeremiah was laughed out, put in prison, publicly humiliated and even physically harmed. The nation didn't listen to what Jeremiah was preaching and the nation was carried into captivity because of their disobedience to God. Jeremiah's preaching did not to change that.
Yet both of these men are held up in Scriptuure as great men of faith and models for us to follow. God reminded me that what pleases Him is not success, effectiveness or ability. It is obedience. Obeying God is what He has commanded us to do and it is obedience that pleases Him.
Another thing God did yesterday was to remind me that it is not about how I feel. My feelings are not always an accurate measurement of the reality of the situation. If I live based on my feelings they may lead me away from God's will not towards God's will. I knew that how I was feeling was not what the reality of the situation was. I allowed God to not let me go with my feelings. I through the work of the Holy Sprit chose to obey based in my will not my emotions.
Then God did a truly gracious thing. I had shared with a person last week and I felt (again those feelings) like I had not help him at all and then as he and talked last night, he shared how God had used our time together to help him deal with his struggle. God was again telling me it is not about me, it is all about Him!
For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 (The Message)
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Power of God
Habakkuk 3:2 says, "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew then in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
I want that verse to be a reality in my life and in the life of my faith family. I am tired of not see God's power dispalyed in His people and that includes me. I want to see God's power released in His people. I want to see people lives changed. I want to see people healed, marriages restored, families brought back together, strongholds of sin destroyed, addictions overcome and brokenness be experienced. I want to see God do today what He did in the Bible. I don't want to hear that crap that, "Oh, well the time for those miracles are over or God is doing those things not just here in America."
I have begun to cry out to God to renew the awesome deeds, that only He can do, tody. I have begun to cry out to God to show His power and fame in my life and in the life of my faith family. The beginning to one of my favorite songs, No Chains on Me, says:
This is dream, a dream for the world to see You
A dream for the world to know You, to love Your name
That is my dream. That dream will not happen because I am a good preacher or a good teacher or a good man or a nice guy or moral person. That dream will only become real if I and all who call ourselves Christians surrender our lives and wills to Jesus. The world does not want to see what we as followers of Jesus can do, the world wants to see what only God can do.
Please, join me in earnestly praying for God to display His power and glory through us. Join me in praying for true Spirit pour out revival in Jesus' church. Join me in asking God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
I want that verse to be a reality in my life and in the life of my faith family. I am tired of not see God's power dispalyed in His people and that includes me. I want to see God's power released in His people. I want to see people lives changed. I want to see people healed, marriages restored, families brought back together, strongholds of sin destroyed, addictions overcome and brokenness be experienced. I want to see God do today what He did in the Bible. I don't want to hear that crap that, "Oh, well the time for those miracles are over or God is doing those things not just here in America."
I have begun to cry out to God to renew the awesome deeds, that only He can do, tody. I have begun to cry out to God to show His power and fame in my life and in the life of my faith family. The beginning to one of my favorite songs, No Chains on Me, says:
This is dream, a dream for the world to see You
A dream for the world to know You, to love Your name
That is my dream. That dream will not happen because I am a good preacher or a good teacher or a good man or a nice guy or moral person. That dream will only become real if I and all who call ourselves Christians surrender our lives and wills to Jesus. The world does not want to see what we as followers of Jesus can do, the world wants to see what only God can do.
Please, join me in earnestly praying for God to display His power and glory through us. Join me in praying for true Spirit pour out revival in Jesus' church. Join me in asking God to Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls.
Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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