Take It Away

"What if you wake up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?"

I saw this quote the other day on a friend of mine's status. I hope that when you read it, that it hit you like a ton of bricks just like it did me. Honestly, I do not think I need to write a whole blog on this. It is pretty self explanatory and it is powerful. Actually, powerful is probably an understatement. But let me ask you a question...if everyday we only woke up to the things we thanked God for the previous day, would you have anything today? Would you have anything tomorrow? Rest assured that God is mighty enough to do just that. In a single instant, He is capable of taking anything and everything we have. Now I think He chooses not to do this because we serve a loving and sovereign God; however, I have no doubt that He can.

Other days, I really feel like I need Him to strip me bare of everything I own...all my possessions, my fears, my friends, my insecurities, my passions, my time-fillers...and leave me with nothing but Him. It would be radical, but maybe it's just the wake-up call I need to see what all He really provides for me. I challenge you to simply thank God for anything, everything, and everyone in your life. But remember if He is gracious enough to give it to you, He can surely take it away (Job 1:21).

Persona

♪Where is God in the city life? Where is God in the city light? Where is God in the earthquake? Where is God in the genocide? Where are You in my broken heart? Everything seems to fall apart. Everything feels rusted over, tell me that You're there.♫ -Switchfoot "Vice Verses"

                                     
Common questions that Christians get from non-believers (and Christians sometimes have themselves) often challenge the sovereignty and grace of God. We question God in our arrogance asking things like "Why would God let people in the world starve?" "Why does God allow thousands of people to be killed in genocides?" "How can God put people through situations like ______?" All good questions right? Wrong. Many people have trouble putting their faith in a God that seems to not care about His people. But do you ever stop and think that maybe God has more of a right to ask us why they're starving, why there are genocides, why there is crime? We are sitting around just wondering all these things, and we expect God to take care of them as if He is a genie in a bottle. Now although He is fully capable of doing such things, I feel that if He were to just answer every single prayer right off the bat, there would be no doubt of His existence, but that we would selfishly focus on what He can do for me, what He can give me. But here's the other thing, we were made in God's image (Gen 1:27), so why can't we, as ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20), take on the role that Christ would on Earth. Now yes, this may sound like a cliche "What Would Jesus Do?" statement, but it is so much more than that. It is taking on the persona, the thoughts, and the actions of God himself and pursuing a lost world with the faith and love that only comes from having a personal relationship with the one true God. ...Just to recap...Yes, God could end world hunger, genocides, and crime, but He has told us numerous times to love one another (1 Jn 4:7, Rom 12:10, Heb 13:1, Jn 13:34, etc). It is our job to end these things. He has provided the means to do such things, all we have to do is take the step of faith and get it done. 


Challenge...take on the persona of Jesus Christ. Speak, act, and think as He would and love people because He first loved you. 

10 Best Hymns

Okay so ever since I went to Elevation Church, I have been on a hymn kick. Here's my favorites :)
1. Come Thou Fount..."Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above."
2. Victory in Jesus..."Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever! He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood! He loved me ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him!"
3. Amazing Grace..."Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! 
4. How Great Thou Art..."When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"
5. I Stand Amazed..."How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be! How marvelous! How wonderful is my Savior's love for me!"
6. Jesus Paid it All..."I hear the Savior say, 'Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness watch and pray, find in Me thine all in all.'"
7. Everyday With Jesus..."Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before. Everyday with Jesus I love Him more and more. Jesus saves and keeps me and He's the one I'm waiting for. Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." (2010 camp people understand why this is one of my favorites
8. Blessed Assurance..."Blessed assurance Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His spirit washed in His blood!"
9. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross...Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
10. As The Deer...You're my friend and You are my brother even though You are a king. I love You more than any other so much more than anything

Beware of Christians...Take II

"So much of it is just what is put into your mind as you're growing up" -Michael Allen

Okay, so this is the 4th or 5th time I've seen this documentary, and, this time, I got something very different out of it than I ever did the previous times. This time I was slapped in the face by the idea of American Christianity and believing what we believe only because it is what we are told to believe.

Yes, I was raised in a Christian home, I was brought up in church, I was pretty much told what to believe...but that is not why I believe what I believe. I believe what I believe about Christianity because I have seen God work in my life and in the lives of those around me, and His presence is undeniable. Even though I have basically been told what to believe my entire life, I have been personally challenged numerous times by my studies, by this film, and by other people (professors, preachers, peers) to know what I believe and not to just take it at face value. My belief and faith is just that...mine. It doesn't belong to my parents, my church, or the things I associate myself with; it is purely mine.

Currently, I am in three science classes, Population Biology, Anatomy, and Historical Geology. I can tell you right now, that the population biology and geology classes both challenge my faith in ways that no other class ever has. I have had to question my beliefs, ponder the thoughts of "what if I'm wrong?", and struggle with keeping the strong faith that comes with being a Christian. Luckily, I knew this was coming, James 1:3-4 says "because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The challenging and testing of one's faith is necessary to have a strong faith and to soundly know what you believe and why you believe it. This testing and perseverance has all been a part of how the faith I was taught has become a faith that I can call my own.

Now my third science class, Anatomy, is also unlike any other that I have had to take in my two and a half years at Winthrop. Anatomy opened a whole new side of Christianity for me (...if you're confused, just stick with me for now). Anatomy has allowed me to see the human body from a point of view that most scientists and people in general don't see it from. It is not just a living organism, it is a masterpiece. A masterpiece in which God has intricately designed every body system, bone, and organ to function for His people. If you study even just one organ of the human body, I believe that the existence of a Creator in undeniable. Call me ignorant, tell me that I am overlooking the evolutionary evidence, but I will tell you that I refuse to believe that such a intrinsic organism with such a complex and fascinating makeup happened by chance. In fact, one professor told me that "if something makes sense to you, it's probably right." Although she was making a reference to the earth being billions of years old and rock formations, I'm gonna have to agree with her on the statement and add to it that Christianity makes sense to me. A Creator makes much more sense than chance, and it is this that has strengthened and sculpted a large portion of my faith.

I challenge you to do what the film Beware of Christians did for me. Question your faith, a weak faith is possibly worth less than no faith at all, and you should question it to search for what you really believe. This may take some sorting through everything you've been told over the years and filing through the rubbish that many of us just take at face value, but it is worth it to own your faith and to be able to stand firm on what you believe and to be able to know why you believe it.

*"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1

Stereotype #2

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" -Matthew 28:19-20


So this is a continuation of my blog from yesterday and my stereotype affirmations or pulverizations (is that a real word??? idk) that I had occur yesterday by Elevation Church.


My last few stereotypes were these:
4. Contemporary worship is sometimes used only because it is what is popular despite whether it is theologically sound or not, or has any meaning at all for that matter. 
5. Worship is too organized
6. Satellite churches often put a lot of time and effort and money into winning the lost do not put enough into developing the saved. 


Now my reaction after Sunday...
4. I absolutely love contemporary music in worship, but there is some great theology and moving words in those great old hymn that we know and love. I think a mixture is needed to get the most out of a worship service. Elevation and many satellite Churches are lacking in this area. The music is great, but it is often just loud enough that you can't hear yourself praising your Lord and Savior. I prefer a more intimate type of worship; one where I don't feel like I'm at a Christian concert every Sunday.
5. Again with the worship...now don't get me wrong, I know everyone has their own taste of worship, but this is my blog so I'm giving you my view and opinion. Again, when worship is too organized I feel as if the intimacy between an individual, a congregation, and the Savior can easily be lost. The passion is often present, but the motive is often missing. When endless hours are spent  practicing just so you sound good and the way you sound becomes more important than the God and creator you are worshiping, something is wrong. Now I'm not judging anyone's intentions, I'm just saying that I believe that digging-deep, soul-filled, awe-inspiring worship is much less likely to come by with highly organized worship. Feel free to object to this, but it is just my  opinion. 
6. Lastly, I feel as if satellite churches do not put enough effort into enriching the lives of the Christians that are making decisions for Christ. They are masters at getting the unsaved into their doors, holding the lures of free t-shirts and free cds (both of which I received yesterday as a first-time visitor) out in front of people and leading them right into the front doors of their church, but lack in the spiritual nourishment that we as Christians need. Again, don't get me wrong, whatever it takes to get a lost person to come to church is worth it because everyone needs to hear of the loving, saving power of Jesus Christ and everyone deserves a chance to make that decision of knowing Him; however, what about when that person becomes a Christian? What else is there for them to do? They can...serve on the welcoming team...come to every Sunday morning service...hand out free t-shirts at the "tent out front". But where's the nourishment? Where is the communal involvement that comes with being a God-fearing church? No where to be found. I know it is hard to minister to individual when attendance is so high, but that is where individuals needs to be ministering to individuals, and I saw little evidence of that at Elevation. If the sole focus of a church is bringing in the lost, Elevation is on pointe! But I believe that there is a delicate balance of winning the lost and developing the saved that is necessary. 


I feel like I'm a church critic, and I understand that a church that is making any sort of advancement for His kingdom is doing well, and I support Elevation Church in everything that they do! I also challenge all churches and people of churches to follow through with the great commission "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:19)...but don't forget the latter part!!! "And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" Go and get but then make sure to guide and enrich. 

Stereotype #1

"But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out." -Acts 5:19


This morning I went to Elevation Church with my roommate. I have to be honest, I went with a bad taste in my mouth because I have never been fond of mega churches. I have a couple of stereotypes, and I will cover them in a matter of two blogs (one today and one tomorrow) because it really is too long for just one blog. Here's half of my reasons behind not like satellite churches:
1. To me they seem very impersonal 
2. Often they are focused on "feel good" messages (never on hell, tithing, you're-in-sin-so-fix-it type messages that may be a little unsettling but need to be preached nonetheless) 
3. Often the pastor reads a passage of scripture and then never returns to it or any other scripture during his message.


Now here's what I learned today about each stereotype, what I learned about God, and what I learned about the vision of His coming kingdom. Please note that I have my stereotypes for a reason, I have been to other satellite churches that have formed these ideas, and Elevation strengthened some stereotypes, and demolished others.
1. I still think that satelitte churches are very impersonal, but can do their best to form a united body of believer and welcoming atmosphere for unbelievers at each location. I was raised in an average sized baptist church for my whole life, and I have to admit that I find it weird when people are clapping and giving a standing ovation for someone who is miles away or praying with someone on a television. These personal aspects of a relationship within a church body and between a pastor and his congregation are lacking. However, Elevation staff, volunteers and dedicated members are welcoming, not judgmental and loving of everyone who walked in the doors.
2. I was pleasantly surprised with the message this morning. Given that the lead pastor, Steven Furtick, did not preach, it was a wonderful message. The passage used was Acts 5:17-29 which is about Peter and other apostles being freed from prison and the main focus was on having bold obedience. The message was focused on the fact that obedience triggers opposition, releases miracles, and requires faith. It was made clear that upon doing God's work is not easy and that ridicule and persecution may happen but that the faith we have in God will carry us through the rough times if we are willing to sacrifice our lives for the advancement of His kingdom. The part about obedience releasing God's miracles hit me pretty hard. The verse used was Acts 5:19 which says "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out." The point being made here was that Luke wasn't making a big deal out of this miracle. An angel opened the jail door for heavens sake!!!!!!! This is a great representation of Luke's faith. For his point of view it was probably something more like, "Yeh an angel of the Lord opened the jail door, but what do you expect? This is God were talking about after all." Basically, no big deal. Miracles shouldn't surprise us because we are serving the creator of the whole universe and he is mighty and powerful to do ANY and ALL things! It meant a lot to me because I am often surprised about how God works things out in my life, but I really shouldn't be if I have enough faith to truly believe that He is in control. 
3. I have heard some criticism of Steven Furtick about this third stereotype, but I will not comment on him because I did not hear him speak. Craig Groeschel (Steven Furtick's pastor) spoke, and he did a magnificent job of making scripture the basis of his message. Props goes out to all those pastors who manage to keep the most important thing at the top of their agenda, that being that the Bible is the foundation and cornerstone of all Christianity.


I challenge you to not just believe stereotypes about churches. Go make your own ideas about churches (and not just satellite churches). And if it is a Jesus believing, Bible teaching, theologically sound church, then the form of delivery is not an issue. You can have a preference, but there is nothing wrong with it. Like I said, I still have some of the same beliefs about satellite churches, but many of them were transformed today. 

10 Things That I Just Don't Understand

1. Why people name their cars

2. Why people factor in pressing the snooze button x amount of times when they set their alarms...why not 15 extra minutes of sleep instead of pressing snooze 3 times?

3. Why people set themselves up for failure

4. Why people curse...expand your vocabulary

5. Why people listen to screamo "music"

6. Why people drive below the speed limit
7. I don't understand "high fashion" magazines...the models and their clothing look ridiculous.

8. Why would someone dress up his or her dog?!?!

9. Why kids/teens date before they can drive

10. Spray tans...if everyone knows its fake, what's the point of it?

Artistic

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." -Genesis 1:1

So in church this morning, my pastor took a firm stance against evolution. As a science major, I know evolution backwards and forwards, I have been taught it more times than I can count, and I do not believe it. But this blog is not really to combat evolution....in this post I am just going to point out one thing about God's creation that has stood out to me.

I truly believe that one attribute of God is that He is an artist. He designs intrinsic masterpieces that function at the highest level of intellectualism that the human brain can grasp, and He creates us all (male, female, human, monkey, dog, bacteria, etc.) beautiful and worth standing in awe over.

I had one course my first semester of college called "Human Experience" (HMXP for short). In this course we were supposed to be finding out who we really were since most of us were on our own now and just starting college. Apparently a liberal arts college thinks that the best way to find out who you are is to sit down with a bunch of other people and listen to their problems and views. Who woulda thought that finding out who I am would involve so many opinions of other people thrust upon me? Anyways, overall the class was crap, but it got me one step closer to my degree; however, I specifically remember one awesome thing that I got out of that class. One day, a discussion we were having involved evolution versus creation. One very intelligently designed guy said, "I don't see why people couldn't believe in evolution. Our DNA is 98% the same as chimpanzees, if that's not proof of a common ancestor, I don't know what is." Silence filled the room until the girl next to me did what I wish I had the guts to do at the time, she spoke up. She said, "Maybe its not proof of a common ancestor, but rather a common creator. Just like Picasso or van Gogh has common themes and brushstrokes in all of their paintings, maybe God leaves similar marks on all of His masterpieces." I was blown away and that statement has been with me ever since. Maybe God is using the world around us, the familiar, to create the variety and beauty that we see today among His creation. All I know is that I praise God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

I challenge you to view God as an artist and enjoy His creations to the fullest. Go star gazing, watch some animals, or enjoy being around people. And most importantly, praise Him for His beauty and the beauty of His creation.