Dare you not to cry.
For those of you on facebook click through and watch the video.
Grace is unmerited favor, mercy is a disposition to be kind and forgiving.
H.T. Life is a Gift
21
Aug
2009
17
Aug
2009
Performance
04
Aug
2009
The Living Church
01
Aug
2009
It’s August 1st
You know what that means…..
Football Season, NFL preseason games start on the 13th and The Huskers start fall camp.
The first game is September 5th at 6:00 PM. Night game at the Trobee house.
If the summer has to be over at least it’s football season.
17
Jul
2009
New Music
When I decided it was time for me to step into what God had put in my heart I had really no idea all it would include.
I began recording songs and writing a book to try to articulate what was in my heart for the local church.
The book is nearly finished and next week I will begin recording a demo CD. I can’t believe it.
Yesterday I re arranged and recorded my songs and added one more you can give a listen here if you like. The new song is “With You”.
I’m not sure if the recording will be all acoustic or a full band. Let me know what you think.
15
Jul
2009
Wanna see the world saved?
John 17:9 I do not pray for the world but for those you have given me.
I don’t know how many times I’ve read that verse but this morning it stopped me cold. Jesus prayed not for the world but for those the Father had given Him.
The more I study the more I am convinced Jesus came at a time in history without mass media and huge venues to show us how we were to evangelize the world. I am not against mass media or huge venues but I am against them taking the place of making disciples the way Jesus did. Jesus walked with His disciples, those entrusted to Him, and made them His primary purpose not a means to an end.
So many times we use those entrusted to us to meet needs rather than, like Jesus, using the need to equip the saints. Jesus had compassion on the crowds but spent the bulk of His time making sure those entrusted to Him were equipped and released into the fullness of their calling.
Ephesians 4:16 says “the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
When church leaders begin to recognize, call out, equip, and release every gift into the body the church will grow.
Blessings,
08
Jul
2009
The most important 48 minutes of your life?
When is the last time you heard a message like this?
It’s 48 minutes long and might be the most important 48 minutes of your life.
Please take the time to watch it. It put me on my face before God.
07
Jul
2009
What is “Fruit”
As I collect my thoughts related to ministry and building the church I am reminded of how much God is focused on the individual. Jesus was not focused on the crowds and often avoided them. Every moment seemed to be a teachable moment as He walked with the disciples and focused the bulk of His time equipping those entrusted to Him to carry the message of hope when He ascended.
Ephesians talks about how we were each adopted as inheritors, (1:5,11,14) created to do “good things” (2:10) all being carefully fitted together with Christ as the cornerstone to build the temple of God (2:19) given specific gifts and the grace to walk in them (4:7) then it all culminates in 4:16 with:
“the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”
I believe the reason the church is not serving is primarily because of the leadership of the church but that’s a topic for another day. The question today is what is fruit?
The Bible is full of references to fruit. What is it? Certainly we can refer to Galatians 5:22 and the fruit of the Spirit but is that the sum total of the definition?
In the natural fruit is the result of excess nourishment the plant doesn’t need to survive. Fruit contains seed for reproduction, provides nourishment, and tastes good. Apple trees produce apples not dates and grape vines produce grapes not tomatoes.
Minutes ago I did a Google search of blogs related to John 15:5 and overwhelmly fruit was equated with “souls”. Ultimately everything we do in the Kingdom relates to souls impacted for eternity but are we all evangelists? are we all disciplers? are we all called to street witnessing?
Ephesians 4:11 says He gave some to be evangelists. I count 25 different gifts enumerated in the New Testament. If my primary gift is administration my being perfected in that gift will ultimately result in the church growing according to Ephesians 4:16 but not necessarily evangelism directly the way I read it.
We must all be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks us a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15) but what is the fruit I will produce as I walk in the fullness of my calling and gift(s)? It can’t be “what I do” because I can do that in my own strength and John 15:5 says I can do nothing apart from abiding in Him. How does Romans 7:4, John 15:5, Colossians 1:10, and others practically manifest in the life of a believer?
The stated purpose of this blog is “a place to process what I am learning as I choose each day to walk with my Savior”. I don’t have this all worked out this is simply what I am processing with Jesus right now. I would love to hear your thoughts.
06
Jul
2009
Worshiping Worship
Although I don’t agree with much of the theology of Tim Challies, and have taken him to task before, he makes an excellent point about people looking for “great worship”.
We have defined worship incorrectly as a church. I will write more on that later for now, props Mr. Challies.
Although there are things that can be done to enhance corporate worship, there is a profound sense in which excellent worship cannot be attained merely by pursuing excellent worship. In the same way that, according to Jesus, you cannot find yourself until you lose yourself, so also you cannot find excellent corporate worship until you stop trying to find excellent corporate worship and pursue God himself. Despite the protestations, one sometimes wonders if we are beginning to worship worship rather than worship God.
via Worshiping Worship :: worship :: A Reformed, Christian Blog.
01
Jul
2009
Great Weekend in Nebraska
God is so good,
We packed up the family and headed to our hometown of Ainsworth Nebraska last Thursday looking forward to a very busy weekend.
It was Kim’s 25 year class reunion and I had planned to lead worship at the Ainsworth Assembly of God Church on Sunday morning and having the whole service on Sunday night.
We had dinner with the class on Friday night and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends over a steak dinner. Saturday was a great day of rehearsal and teaching while Kim went to the class picnic. Saturday night Kim was asked to pray at the banquet. Why is the honored 25 year class the one that does all the work? I’ve always wondered that.
Sunday morning was great. The boys were able to play on the worship team with me, which is something I have always hoped for, and the congregation of worshipers made it a really nice service. Kim spoke briefly at the E-Free Church so we were unable to be in church together again.
Sunday night we had more worship and I spoke about what is real worship. I love this topic. Monday was a day of rest enjoying a nice meal with my parents in Johnstown.
Now we are back in Colorado Springs preparing for the next trip. Thank you for your prayer and support. I wouldn’t want to do this without you.
