How Bad Do You Want Jesus?

I attended the OU vs. Idado State football game a few weeks ago with my daughter (Lauren), my son (Nick), and their friend (Jeffery). It started at 6 PM and if you didn't know, it was pouring down rain that night. We bundled up and got to our seats because we were just as interested as the other 80,000 plus people about how well Landry Jones, the backup quarterback would play. I wasn't very smart because I wore jeans instead of a more water-proof fabric, and with the temperature in the 60's, it was kind of cold. Before the first quarter was over, my kids wanted to go underneath the stadium to get something to eat and to get out of the rain. Jeffery reluctantly went with them even though he wanted to stay and watch the game. I finally went down at the end of the 1st quarter and we ate and stayed below for the 2nd quarter watching it on the TVs underneath the stadium. When it was almost half-time, and OU was leading 34-0, I went up the ramp to see if the rain had let up and to watch a few plays. The rain was coming down harder and the crowd was still 75,000 plus strong - watching a blowout, getting wet, shivering in the cold. The same thing happened in Blacksburg, VA this past weekend as Virginia Tech destroyed Miami in a pouring rain, and the fans (even the Miami ones) stayed until the end.

On the day after Thanksgiving, people will get up at unbelievably early hours to stand in ungodly lines to try to get a bargain on sale items. If a concert is general admission (no assigned seating), people will arrive early and push through the crowd to get the best seats in the house. At football games, people will arrive hours early to "tailgate" just to get ready for the game. People read the sports section every day in the paper or on the internet to keep up with their teams. They read the sales circulars to see if anything is on sale. People listen to their favorite recording artists on their ipod and memorize every word to every song. People spend millions of dollars on tickets, concessions, Cd's, hats, t-shirts, etc.

You probably know where I am going with this, but how much does this remind you of your journey with God? I've actually had someone tell me that they didn't attend church on a given Sunday because it was raining and they didn't want to drive in the rain. I know people don't fight to get the front row seats at church. Have you ever stood in line and pushed through the crowd to make sure you got a seat at church? Have you ever showed up early to "tailgate" (not a bad idea, but I'm thinking more along the lines of preparing for a celebration)? Do you read the Bible daily to make sure you know what's going on in the spiritual realm? Are you willing to spend as much money on your spiritual development as you do on entertainment? Do you memorize Scripture like you do your favorite songs or useless facts?

I'm not trying to discourage you! In fact, I want to encourage you. Listen, there is nothing more important than your relationship with God through his Son, Jesus, and I just think it's about time to start living like the followers of Christ we say we are. How much do you want Jesus? Do you want him more than all the other things of life? He wants you that much! You consume his thoughts! How about we do the same for Him?

Let me know if you want to tailgate Sunday! I'll cook breakfast.

The List Maker

If you're anything like me, you like "to do" lists. I like them to a fault. Some of you feel my pain! Others of you can't stand them... can't work by them... hate them. And there are probably some of you who can work with them or can live without them... either way!

Sunday, I made a statement in my message as we finished up this series that focused on filling the empty space in your heart. This void was not there when God created you. He created you perfectly with your heart full of him. He was in the perfect place in your life... but somewhere along the way, all of us decide that we can do it without God and we sin. Romans 3:23 says that "all sin and fall short of the glory of God." This empty space leaves us lonely and wanting. Most of us try desperately to fill that void with stuff the world says will satisfy - money, material things, work, relationships, family, etc. - but the empty space is still there because only God can fill it. Sometimes, we try to put God back in our lives on top of the "stuff" that occupies that space and hope that he will just fill in the gaps. That doesn't work either!

Jesus can't be at the top of your list... he has to BE your list! He can't be your #1 priority, he has to be your ONLY priority! I received an e-mail yesterday after the message, and I want to share it with you. It is actually a journal entry from the sender of the e-mail:

"I am such a list maker. I love, love, love lists! No, I love making list. Everything never gets completed on my lists, but I love making lists. In fact, sometimes I spend more time making my list than actually completing what’s on my list. So today during church when Nathan said that Jesus should be the list, not just on top of a list of priorities, well it resonated with me. What do you mean, I thought skeptically? No more making lists? Are you telling me I’m not to waste any more time compiling a ridiculously long list of things I’ll never accomplish? What nerve! And what list maker could possibly not make a list? The list maker is an analyzer, a planner, a dreamer. What would a list maker be without their lists? But at the same moment I excused the comment I also embraced it. What a thought! If only I could step aside, relinquish my list, and allow Jesus to conduct my daily affairs…think of what I could accomplish! What if the only thing on my list was Jesus? How would I spend my time? Who would I talk to? What would I do? Where would I go? All right, sounds fun. Jesus, you have made the list. You are a List Maker."

I want Jesus to be my List Maker! I want him to be my Priority! I want him to direct my "doings" today! Dear Jesus, don't let me do anything today that is not directed by you!