Can I Be A Martry for Christ?

I always believed that being a martyr was such an incredible testimony to who you believe Christ is. The very word brings images to my mind that invoke words like: prisoned, poor, torture, dedicated, sacrifice, loyal, passion, servant, & powerful. I have learned lately, that one doesn't have to have that story to be a martyr.

When Jesus Christ left this world, he sent the Holy Spirit to us to testify about Christ. John 15 tells us that we are also to be used by God to testify about Christ. This means we are to be his "witnesses" to this world. A witness in a courtroom gives the perspective on a persons character, actions, and life events. They help people see what the person is really like. Thats what people are suppose to be able to gather by watching our lives.

The Greek word that John uses to describe 'testify' is the word 'martyr.' This is a loaded word for us as Christ followers. We have a rich history of people who have lived & died for the name of Jesus. They lived & died to make sure that people would know the character, actions, & love that God gave us through Christ. This is the same idea that we are to give to the lives we live today.

Are we being 'martyr's' for Christ? You don't have to physcially die to be a martyr...you only have to spiritually die to yourself & begin to live the life that Christ asks us to. To follow His ways and to give up all you have to show this world who he is. They are waiting to hear about Him, what is our life saying about Him...or in other words, what are we testifying about the Christ?

Refueled!!

I am learning more and more about myself everyday. I have always had a high amount of daily energy. There is just an inner passion to do something great that lives inside of me. God made us all that way...I've just found out how to discover what mine was and now dedicate my life to doing it. Recently though, I have realized that there is a secret to keeping that passion going...it needs FUEL!

Here are a few ways I am learning to FUEL myself for Gods passions inside of me:

#1 I have to fuel my passion with some Jesus time. It doesn't get any simpler or harder than that. The End.

#2 I am the ONLY person responsible for developing myself as a person. ITS NO ONE ELSE'S job but mine. I have to put myself around like-minded leaders, books, podcasts, friends, and other people much smarter & passionate than me who can pour into me. If I keep expecting someone else to do it for me, I'll be a bitter & undeveloped leader who always makes excuses.

#3 I can't expect myself to be able to ALWAYS give to ANYONE who asks of me. The reality is, sometimes, I'm running on empty, Just because someone has our cell phone number, FB, Twitter or email address or knows where we sleep...doesn't mean they get to have access to us. I am learning I don't have to respond to every email, text, FB, etc to be a good person...in fact, many times, quite the opposite is true.

#4 I have to have some "me" time. There is something about just doing something alone that brings me great perspective on all God has given me. The last thing I should do is FORCE myself into an obligation that I have a choice over. I need to make sure I'm not lazy with this idea, and take advantage of it. But when I'm allowed some time to think, gain perspective, and relax, I'm much better to everyone I need to be around, meet with, plan for, give to, & pour into.

This isn't an exhaustive list. Only what I'm learning now. I hope you all learn to develop yourself...because no one else is going to do it for you. Lets Go!!

Who do you resemble?

Its funny how different people can totally look alike, isn't it? I've been told that I look like Owen Wilson and that I also resemble Keith Urban. I'm not sure thats true when I shave, but when I rock the 5 o'clock shadow, even I can see the resemblance.

It makes me wonder how much the inside of me is really reflecting the resemblance of Christ? I know we are the workmanship or masterpiece of Christ, so we tell of his amazing glory. But do I dull that pristine shine? Do I hinder the glow of the Spirit that should radiate from my words, my thoughts, my actions, my desires?

All too often the answer is a resounding yes. I would much rather reflect the beautiful & mysterious purity that comes from living an obedient life than to continually have my own freedom but diminish the power of being a clear reflection of His resemblance.

We are His body. May we continue to strive towards Him through devotion to personal holiness, obedience & always being held by His grace to even begin trying...with our without make-up or a 5 o'clock shadow.

Unamazing Grace

One of the central themes to following Christ is that He has an amazing amount of Grace for us. As I look and evaluate the current trends or themes of Christianity, I am filled with so much hope. We now have a better picture of what Biblical Christ following even means. As I grew up, it seemed there were only sermons about 'getting your act together' from a preacher who obviously had arrived at that glorious location where sin did not abound in his life. A place where everyone gets "there." In fact, its called "ThereLand," the place for the holy & godly. Oh to taste the treats of that place! To sing those songs, to run on those grassy fields & to be friends with such amazing and glorious people.

It turns out, there is no such place. There never was. The place called "there" doesn't even exist. What does exist is the humble place of journeying with a Christ that has more grace than I do sin. A Jesus who knows my hearts desire is to serve him. A place where everyone believes that they need Jesus just as much as everyone else, and that actually affects the way that they treat anyone they know or meet.

If you believe that the only people in need of grace are ‘those’ people over ‘there’ that are caught up ‘in sin,’ then I wish to inform you that the concept of grace isn’t very amazing at all. Its very un-amazing. We could sing the song: "Unamazing Grace, how terrible the sound. That made a wretch like me. I once was humbly saved, but soon arrived in that place, where everyone isn't as amazing, as me."

Who Does Jesus Believe in?

We are in the middle of our "Miracles" Series at Remnant. We've been praying over the prayer walls for the past few weeks and learning how to pursue the heart of Christ the way the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years did. She did something physical and believed something deep within her heart. God has been asnwering a lot of our prayers and its been such a great reminder that we can be used by Christ to do unbelievable things.

Tomorrow at Remnant, we are going to learn what was really going on when Jesus called on people to become His followers, specifically His disciples. We believe that the stories of Jesus always have a deeper meaning than what we have normally read from the stories. I often say: "we can't understand the words of Jesus, until we understand the world of Jesus. Come find out what He believed when it came to choosing the ones who would carry His message of hope & redemption to the world. Tomorrow night @ 7p!

Miracles Part II

Remnants March series is on "Miracles." Last Tuesday we learned about what the Bible teaches us when it comes to the pursuit of a miracle. Often times, people are looking to God to 'touch' them, but we see a few times with Jesus that the people wanted to just touch the hem of His garment. The idea is that God wants to do miraculous things in our lives and sometimes they take place as 'we' reach out to touch Jesus.

The question then becomes what touches the heart of Christ in such a way that His power moves on our behalf? What are the things that touches Christ's heart and invokes His response to us? I know its not as simple as 2+2=4, but God has always responded to the cry of His people.

There is something about the passionate & trusting pursuit of Gods goodness that allows for God to dictate His response. When we really believe that the Miracle is up to Him, and that our role is to seek to touch the heart of God without an agenda, Miracles begin to take place in our hearts & lives.

Unavailable Focus

The moments where are minds are not cluttered with todo items, deadlines, reminders, emotional issues, & other stressful thoughts are the times where we can really become effective. The challenge of living a spirutally balanced life often is found in our inability to be focused. When your mind isn't unavailable to all of the seemingly 'urgent' components of daily life, your spirit & heart can't be available to hear the voice of wisdom, calm, serenity, direction, peace, or comfort.
The focus that comes when there isn't a thousand things trying to get your attention is essential to having a healthy & balanced life. Setting aside time to write, think, pray, listen & just 'be' will make refresh so much more than you can imagine. Our values get mixed up when we keep going from here to there, checking this box, making this deadline, finishing that project, making that call, and doing it all over again tomorrow & calling it: living.
Humans weren't created to be machines of productivity. We were created to reflect a glorious & amazingly in depth Creator & to live a life that honors him. Thats hard to do when the most important thing in life isn't being, but doing. It bares repeating: we were created as human beings, not human doings.

Touching Him

Last night at Remnant we launched our new series "Miracles." We talked about a woman who was considered 'dirty' or unwanted by the standards of her day. She had a condition that made it impossible for her to be touched. When Jesus was touched by her, His power instantly healed her situation.

I was blown away by how Jesus didn't just restore her physically. He allowed her to have access again to a community that she was osterisized from. She was allowed back into the realm of friendship. She could be hugged.

I know a lot of people how have emotional issues that make them difficult to love. I want to introduce you to the real Jesus...He might be different than you've been told. He desires for you to want to touch Him & move His heart towards you. Just know, you will never be the same once you do.