Pouring Out the Purfume

There are so many people in the church who are talented and have been blessed with so many things. Some are wealthy with finances, some are wealthy with knowledge. Whatever it is they have one thing is sure, it is God’s blessing in their life. So what happens when we use those blessings?

In the twelfth chapter of John we find the story of Mary coming and anointing the feet of Christ. The text reveals to us that what she used to anoint Him was a very expensive pint of perfume, about years’ worth of wages. (vs .3,5) The fragrance of the perfume filled the air. I’m sure that all who had not originally seen her walking in and cracking open the bottle soon turned their heads as they could smell the wonderful fragrance throughout the entirety of the home.

Sadly this moment of humbling worship was interrupted by the Judas who reprimanded the woman for wasting it. He claimed it could had been sold and the money given to the poor! (vs. 4,5) While this true we find in the following verse that his true motives were not so noble, rather he knew if it were sold he’d have control over it and its use.

What can we draw from this?

For starters let’s point out the fact that the scent of the perfume filled the air. When we humble ourselves in worship it leaves a lasting impression. When even though the meeting went south the men left the room with some of that scent on their clothing and they would continue to remember how someone was able to humble themselves and bless the Lord.

Whether it’s through your giving of finances to this project or another, your ability to lead others in worship, your ability to teach the word of God to young child or adult, your ability to simply pray and serve, it will ALWAYS leave a lasting impression. It will impact someone somehow and they will be drawn back to the truth that someone was so willing to humble themselves to bless the Lord, and in turn will be inspired to do the same.

Next, we can take away the fact that when someone is willing to truly humble themselves someone is bound to get offended. “Why are they doing that? That money could be used for better purposes! Their skills could be used in other ways then something as trivial as this. Their time could be better spent in other places!” Are these things true? In a way, however, when we take time to truly honor and bless the Father in heaven then time and energy is never wasted because He honors those whom faithfully serve and bless Him.

Now I’m not saying you need to go out and give all your money to some charity, I’m not saying you need to go out and do something that puts your family in terrible debt or pain. What I’m saying is you should not be afraid to bless Him. After all who is more worthy of praise and blessings? NONE! In his new album “The Attributes of God,” lyrical theologian Shai Linne has a chorus line that simply says “Not to us, not to us! BUT TO GOD BE THE GLORY!” This simple proclamation sums up the reasoning for us to bless and extol Him.

I encourage you dear brothers and sisters of the faith, bless our Lord in whatever fashion you can. If it be through monetary giving, through teaching a Christian Education Class, joining a prayer group, serving in THP Kidz (Nursery Ministry), The Deep (Kids Ministry), or OPEN (Youth Ministry), or whatever it is that the Lord has placed on your heart then do it! Do it gladly.

Go Deep.

The Tardis and God

As many of you may know I have become quite the Doctor Who fan. For those of you who don’t know, Doctor Who is a BBC show that has been around since the 60’s. It’s about a man known only as the Doctor who travels through time and space and through a series of events ends up helping people everywhere he goes. In the re-launch of the series the Doctor is the only remaining member of his people, The Time Lords. So he travels around in his ship known as the “Tardis,” doing what he knows best.

On twitter I get updates from an account count “DrWhoQuotes.” Today one came to my phone that struck me as interesting. Now before I give you this quote you need to understand that it would appear (I say appear because I haven’t gotten to this part of the series where this quote comes from) that the Tardis is alive, and at some point the living portion of it was separated from it into a human form. So here’s the quote.

The Doctor: You didn't always take me where I wanted to go.

Idris (TARDIS): No, but I always took you where you needed to go.

When I read this I thought “you know it’s kind of like God.” Many of us have been on a journey with the Lord. Through ministry and life he’s lead us and guided us. Sometimes we greatly enjoyed where he lead us, because those places were places we wanted to be. But at times; at times he lead us to places we felt uncomfortable. So we look at Him sometimes and we say

You didn’t always take me where I wanted to go

.

And He in turn replies to us

NO, but I always took you where you needed to go.

At the moment we didn’t known why he took us there, or it may be that at THIS moment you don’t know why you are where you are. However, by the end of journey you will know why He brought you through it. To make you stronger, wiser, or… to help someone else become stronger, wiser, or even… part of the His flock.

The Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Romans

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to HIS PURPOSE. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

~Romans 8:28-29

Here we find that God is working all things for good. Doesn’t mean all situations will be good or pleasant. But that by the end of it all, things will be good.

Take a moment and take a deep breathe. In Doctor Who there are many times where the Doctor just grips hold of something and lets the TARDIS go where it will take him. The sense of not knowing where he’s going or what will happen is an adventure for him, it’s exciting. Why? Because he knows that no matter what happens or where he goes, he’ll still be the Doctor and he’ll do what he does as such. Take hold friends and let the Lord take you wherever He wishes to take you.

They call me!!! ... MR.PIG!!

So I was chilling earlier and a phrase came to mind. Not sure why, completely random. It was a quote from a movie that honestly isn’t even one of my favorites. This quote comes from a fictional character, complex, multi-faceted character. It is a line spoke in the heat of battle! This line was a declaration to everyone around, to his comrades beside him and to his enemy before him. When he shouted out this declaration instantly his enemy began to retreat in fear! What was this line? What was this declaration of strength!?

“They call me…. MR. PIG!!!”

That’s right folks the line is by Pumbaa in the movie “The Lion King.” So what makes this line so great? It’s the recognition that he is something. Pumbaa was declaring to everyone who he was and that he wasn’t ashamed of that.

One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

This scripture was part of Paul’s declaration to everyone. He wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel. He was proud to be known as a Christ Follower! It’s who he was. So let me ask you, are you willing to declare who you are? If not I ask you for two things.

1. 1. Speak it out! Literally outline in your prayer times declare who you are. Declare that you are a follower of Jesus the Messiah! Declare the blessings you have as a co-heir in Christ! Speaking out these things speaks life over yourself, your home, your land, your finances.

2. 2. Walk it out! Don’t walk as a victim anymore and don’t walk as heathen anymore. If you’re declaring that you are a follower of Christ then act like it! Stop speaking doom and gloom over your life, all you’re doing is cursing it! Also don’t do the things you know Christ wouldn’t approve of. James says that he’ll show his faith in Christ THROUGH his works.

Hope I Don’t offend you but...

So lately I’ve gotten tired of a couple of things. First thing are people being afraid to present truth because they are afraid of offending people. To often Christians miss the chance to speak truth because they are afraid of offending people. We have to realize that the Gospel is offensive to people.

When people are faced with the fact that they are sinful, that they can not in their present state enter into the kingdom of God, it offends them. Why? Because people don’t like to be told they are wrong! It’s human nature. If I came up to you and said ‘Hey what you’ve been doing all your life is completely and utterly wrong,’ you’d be offended.

It happens, it’s part of life, you can’t be worried about it.

Now let’s flip this proverbial coin. One thing that I am highly annoyed with is people who take the excuse “Well the gospel is offensive and I’m just being real,” and use it, either knowingly or un-knowingly, to be a complete jerk. There is such a thing as tact.

I’m not in anyway saying that you should water down the truth; whether it’s the truth of the gospel of you bringing to light something that has been hidden. I’m just saying that there is a way of presenting the uncompromising truth that doesn’t have to make you (who represent Christ) sound like a jerk. (thus making Christ sound like a jerk) Let us not forget the words of Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.”

True sometimes it’s hard to say things in an easy way and in those cases you just need to play it by ear. That being said there is no reason for you to go in and just drop the hammer on everyone just because you think you have the right. Christ did not call us to change the masses. He’s called us to allow the Holy Spirit to use us to change the masses.

I’m just saying there is a balance there. On one hand it’s time for Christians to step up and be what they claim to be. Stop making excuses as to why you sin. Just do it! At the same time, do not be one of those annoying ones who go around condemning everyone to hell even those who are in the trenches with you. Learn to speak the truth in love.

I’m just say’n…

Something to Marvel

Check these out

This first one was given to me by my friend Caitlin Sattler. She's pretty much awesome. But she gave this to me because she knows i love marvel comics and because she's my friend.

This one was given to me by one of my students, Lizy. She's a pretty awesome kid too! She found this at some random comic shop up north. Needless to say i feel loved :)

lol no showing off these cool posters and talking about how much i feel loved is not the point of this post. This was just a clever way to talk about Marvel comics. Not because i'm a geek but because i have a point to make :)

Check out that last one. It says 70 years. wow. 70 years and idk how many characters and character changes. Over the last several years Marvel comics has become part of our culture and society. Why?

Because they were able to create a legacy. They created timeless stories that were passed from one generation to the next. People have taken these stories and they become part of their lives.

Stories about fictional people with real struggles. Struggles that relate to everyone in some fashion. As a result these fans willingly share their passion for these comics. Telling friends, family, and people they don't even know.

Now stop for a moment and think about this. what would happen if we had the same passion to tell other people about something actually life changing? An intense passion to tell people about how God came to earth in the form of a man and died on the cross just so that you, me, and everyone else can have a relationship with the Father.

Now that's really something to Marvel.

Hero Academy 2010 Promo

hey guys here's the Hero Academy Promo for more information check out www.heroacademy.wordpress.com

At least i'll always have memories...

Sad day my friends. Hollywood Video is closing. ::tear:: I'm sad because i have a lot of fond memories at Hollywood Video.

When I first moved to Louisiana years ago Family would go to Hollywood Video rent movies and then go home. We'd stay home all weekend watching movies together. I know many people don't believe that watching movies is good family time but for us it was. We'd eat dinner in the living room and fire up the VCR (yeah that's how long ago it was) and we'd just have fun. We had a habit of making jokes and commenting on what was going on.

I remember sitting on the floor searching through the "Special Interest" section trying to find new and interesting Anime! Then while checking out i'd check out the assortment of candy. I loved it!

Years later i found myself working there. It was fun for me. I loved movies, i loved finding new movies, I loved helping people find different and interesting things. The people i worked with were always fun and interesting to say the least. Sure there was stressful times but nothing a good taco from the taco bell across the street couldn't fix. I have story after story of interesting customers and employees.

haha i worked there for so long that people ask if they know me all the time because they recognize me from there. haha sadly i can still remember if they had late fees and and if they were decent customers or complete and utter jerks.

::sigh::

Oh well. So long old friend. You shall live on in the memories of people for many years to come.

Day 1 of district council

So day one of district council was pretty groovy! brother doug brought an AWESOME message!

i didn't know they were going ot make me stand up infront of everyone though... if i had i might have exited out to the restroom for a few minutes haha

afterwards we all wentout to ihop. praise the lord! it was good eating!! quick recap of the conversation.... carafe full of ranch dressing... destroy... jock strap....amen...

yeah you try and fill in the holes haha

welp i'm out peace and love everyone :)

long night

So we got this groovy speaker here at the moment. Great guy named Dr. Peter Wyns. I strongly recommend you get him to come to your church. :)

One thing... this brother can PRAY!! lol so when he comes make sure you have lots of time. last night we were at church until 11pm haha!

at the moment i'm in the kids church watching princess bride with the kids :) haha fun stuff