Reaching For The Summit

What Really Matters?

2011-09-16T08:08:00.004-05:00

I had a dream the other night that kind of disturbed me...

I was at a church getting ready for a funeral, doing the things I normally do to prepare for one. Then I realized that the funeral was for me. I don't know what happened next because I woke up right after I realized it was my funeral. I looked at the clock on my phone and it was around 3 AM. I wanted to go back to sleep, but my mind was racing a bit. Then, this question came to my mind: "When I die, will the things that I focus most of my time on go with me?"

It wasn't really that odd of a question for a pastor, especially one who had been studying Matthew 6 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." But it still made me pause and reflect on the values and passions of my life.

Then, yesterday, one of our high school girls at church, Bethanie Young, was in a severe, head-on collision going home from school. She and her family are very dear to us, and we waited and prayed as the doctors repaired her broken body. Again, the thought went through my mind: "When you boil everything in life down, what really matters? Am I focused on the things of this world or am I truly "setting my mind on things above" (Colossians 3)?" I just read a quote from one of the Young's friends on Facebook that said, "My world tipped when I heard about Beth. I know it is easy for us to get wrapped up in softball; this has changed my view of what is important. God has a mission for Beth, and I can't wait to see her life unfold." I am so thankful that Bethanie knows Jesus and that God does in fact have a mission for her life. Her mom posted that when she woke up and realized that something awful had happened to her, she wanted to pray and Karla said she prayed "the most beautiful prayer of thanksgiving" to God. That is someone who knows what really matters!!!

So, what do I do with all of this? I will answer much of this on Sunday in my message called, "Pursue" in our current series, "Walking With God", but let me remind you that you must pursue the things of heaven that will last forever. You must know what really matters - Jesus Christ - and he is the ONLY thing that really matters when life is over.

If you are reading this and you have never trusted in Jesus and let him become your Lord and Savior, I am begging you - at the risk of offending you - to consider if the things your life is consumed with will last past your death. Please don't let another day go by without accepting Jesus and beginning a relationship with him. If you don't know what that means or how to do that, please contact me (nathan@antiochokc.org). I love you too much to let another day go by without saying this to you.

One day, that funeral will be mine, and it won't be me preparing for it. But I am already prepared for that day... are you???

The Miniature Earth

2011-09-07T11:14:00.002-05:00

We are very blessed compared to the rest of the world. Thank God today for what you have and ask these questions... "What will I do with this? What impact can I make for someone else today?"

Are You Connected

2011-08-31T10:30:00.003-05:00

I came across this video and I think it is hilarious.

There are many ways to get connected to God and connected to God's people, but small groups are a very effective way to do this. Would you consider joining a group or leading a group? We want everyone at Antioch to get connected! Will you get connected TODAY? Visit our webpage to find out the Connection Groups that are already formed, or contact me to get more information about how to start and/or lead a group.

Click here to find out more about Antioch Connection Groups

I'm Right... I Know It!

2011-08-26T13:36:00.004-05:00

Dan P. Greyling shared this anecdote in Reader's Digest:

A friend of mine, returning to South Africa from a long stay in Europe, found herself with some time to spare at London's Heathrow Airport. Buying a cup of coffee and a small package of cookies, she staggered, laden with luggage, to an unoccupied table. She was reading the morning paper when she became aware of someone rustling at her table. From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed young man helping himself to her cookies. She did not want to make a scene, so she leaned across and took a cookie herself. A minute or so passed. More rustling. He was helping himself to another cookie. By the time they were down to the last cookie in the package, she was very angry but still could not bring herself to say anything. Then the young man broke the cookie in two, pushed half across to her, ate the other half and left. Some time later, when the public-address system called for her to present her ticket, she was still fuming. Imagine her embarrassment when she opened her handbag and was confronted by her package of cookies. She had been eating his.

How many times do we get angry or emotional thinking others are in the wrong when it is we who are? Sean Covey writes, "we should open our minds and hearts to new information, ideas, and points of view, and be willing to change our paradigms when it becomes clear that they're wrong."

We all come from different backgrounds and the automatic assumption is that we are right and others are wrong. There is only ONE true right and that is the Word of God. Look there for the answers to what is right and be willing to humbly change your opinions when they don't line up with the Word! 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the words of God."

If we adopt this attitude, we might actually start making an impact for the Kingdom of God in the world.

Courageous The Movie

2011-08-21T20:44:00.005-05:00

Make plans to see the latest movie from Sherwood Pictures (creators of "Facing The Giants" & "Fireproof"). It is called "Courageous" and it is a movie about fathers. Sharla & I got to see a preview of it, and it is a great movie. If you see it the opening weekend (September 30), you will help to keep it in theaters. Check out the trailer and check out "Courageous". Remember, "Honor begins at home."

Can You Hear God?

2011-02-22T14:39:00.002-06:00

James 1:19-25 says:

¹⁹ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Sometimes, we don't hear what God is telling us to do because we are talking. Sometimes, we are distracted by other things like computers, television, family, sin, sports, our kids' activities, etc. Even religion and church activities can keep us so busy, we don't hear God. But James tells us to "get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." You see, God will not talk over the "noise" in your life, so if you want to hear from God, you're going to have to be quiet, be still, and remove the distractions that are hindering you from obeying Him! Just something to think about!

Exercising...

2010-10-27T08:51:00.002-05:00

I preached Sunday about enjoying life, so... enjoy this!

What Is Success?

2010-09-02T11:12:00.003-05:00

Let me give you some names and see if you know who they are? Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Taylor Hicks, David Cook, Kris Allen. Have you ever heard of them? If you are a die-hard American Idol fan, you know that these were some of the winners from the show. You've probably heard of Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jordan Sparks - they won and have done pretty well for themselves. No one really knows yet how well Lee DeWyze - this year's winner - will do, but even though these winners are still making music, just because you win American Idol doesn't mean you will be a big star.

In fact, some of the ones who didn't win have done pretty well. Chris Daughtry has done really well and he finished 4th in his season. Adam Lambert, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Elliott Yamin, Katherine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, David Archuleta, & Danny Gokey have all made a name for themselves in different circles. Some of you might have heard of Mandissa and Phil Stacy who have become well-known in Christian music. An argument could be made that some of these people who didn't win have become more successful than the ones who did win.

Let me ask you another question. I read about a man named Rings, a chain-smoking, ex-addict, ex- convict who lives out of his pickup truck, and when he receives his monthly check, he goes to the store, buys food, and takes it in coolers down to the beach to feed his fellow homeless people because of what Christ has done for him. He doesn't have a home. He doesn't have money, and when he gets money, he gives it away. Is he successful? Is he winning?

Right now, God, through Francis Chan, and many other people is rocking my world. I'm afraid that we as Christians have defined success no differently than the world - make lots of money, have security in your job or career, have a roof over your head, a steady paycheck, food on your table. That is success! Or is it?

How is success defined in your life? Do you have to win the way the world defines winning to be successful? Or through the power of Christ in you, could you be just as successful in the things that really matter even though it appears you're not winning?

Rejoice!

2010-07-12T15:47:00.002-05:00

I have a tendency to see the glass half-empty. I don't know why I do that, but it seems easier to see what's wrong than it does to see what's right. It doesn't help that I have Obsessive Compulsive Perfectionism Disorder! When my wife does something for me, I forget to notice and be grateful, but if she does something I perceive to be wrong, I don't miss it! When my children fight, I give them a parental lecture, but when my daughter does something sweet for her brother, I remain silent. When things are slow are the church (attendance, offering, etc.) it is easy to get down, but when those things are up, I go about my day as if that is what is expected.

I think the problem is that I haven't learned to rejoice! Have you? Paul wrote in Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, rejoice!" Rejoice when things are bad. Rejoice when things are great! Rejoice when you have money! Rejoice when you don't. Rejoice when you feel all alone. Rejoice when you are surrounded by family and friends. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! You don't rejoice because of your circumstance, but you rejoice because the Lord has your circumstance under control!

Somebody fill the cup up the rest of the way, won't you? It's almost full!

God Wants Your Best

2010-05-04T14:07:00.003-05:00

In Malachi 1:10, God says, "O that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you, nor will I accept an offering from you" (NASB).

Francis Chan says, "God wanted the temple gates shut. The weak sacrifices of the laid-back priests were an insult to Him. He was saying that no worship is better than apathetic worship. I wonder how many church doors God wants to shut today."

Mark Buchanan writes, "Physical sickness we usually defy. Soul sickness we often resign ourselves to."

Tim Kizziar said, "Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

I've been saying that God wants your ALL, but he does let us keep some of it for ourselves, doesn't he? So, what does he want... He wants the BEST you have to offer. Your best resources; your best talents; your best time; your best emotions; your best effort; your best relationship! He wants your best, not half-hearted worship and service! I think I've got some work to do!!!!!

I Need To Pray More

2010-04-19T10:39:00.002-05:00

I talk to God all the time! I talk to him when I wake up in the middle of the night. I talk to him when I'm driving. I talk to him as I prepare messages. I pray for my wife. I pray for my daughter, Lauren. I pray for my son, Nick. I pray for this wonderful church that I have an opportunity to serve. I pray for our preschool and academy. I pray for hurting people. I talk to God all the time, but I need to pray more!

I have recently become convicted that I need to pray more. It seems that I let the worries of life or the distractions that come my way keep me from the one thing that is important - my relationship with God and talking with him. I think about how to make my life, my marriage, my parenting, my ministry more effective, yet sometimes I need to just stop and pray and wait for God to answer. I need to pray more... do you?

Does God Have Your Heart?

2010-04-12T12:16:00.004-05:00

Do you remember when you realized that you couldn't "make" your wife do what you wanted her to do? I'm told that most people realize this about year seven of the marriage and it takes them until year 10 to stop trying. I also remember the day when I realized that I couldn't "make" my wife or my kids choose Jesus... they had to choose him on their own. But I have spent many years still trying to make those choices for them. Now, I realize that I can have a positive influence on them, but when it comes to the choice to follow Jesus or not, it is all up to them!

I have been the lead pastor at Antioch for about 16 months, and I am reminded that just like my wife, daughter and son, I can't "make" anyone follow God! It is easy to think that through the right programs or the right message or the right convincing announcement, I could cause a deep desire to follow Jesus, but if God doesn't have your heart, these things will not affect you. Does God have your heart? You might attend our weekend celebration and you might not! You might give the way God wants you to give, but probably not! You might serve in ministry and you might not! You might share your faith with someone who doesn't know Jesus, but probably not! Does God have your heart?

I want you to know that I resign! I give up! I can't make people follow God! It's not my responsibility to make people follow God! But I will tell you one thing I can control... I WILL FOLLOW GOD! I WILL LET GOD HAVE MY HEART! Will you?

How's Your Prayer Life?

2010-03-22T13:29:00.002-05:00

I love how God works. Inevitably, when I am reading a book, preparing a message, and studying for my Connection Group (small group), the topics seem to merge together. Right now, I studying to begin a new study with my group called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I am preparing a message from John 9:35-41 called "Open Your Heart". And I am reading a book called "The Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller. Here's a quote from Keller:

"Though [you] may be diligent in prayer, there is no wonder, awe, intimacy, or delight in [your] conversations with God. Think of three kinds of people - a business associate you don't really like, a friend you enjoy doing things with, and someone you are in love with, and who is in love with you. Your conversations with the business associate will be quite goal-oriented. You won't be interested in chitchat. With your friend you may open your heart about some of the problems you are having. But with your lover you will sense a strong impulse to speak about what you find beautiful about him or her."

What does your prayer life look like? This is a haunting question that deserves an honest answer! God doesn't want your empty words... he wants your heart!

Unreal Expectations

2010-03-09T10:22:00.002-06:00

I woke up this morning with a very weird thought: "Can you imagine if you could only be accepted to a health club if you met the following criteria - you were completely healthy, with low body-fat, a muscular frame and no injuries or disease?" I immediately thought, "If you met this criteria, you don't need to join the health club!"

I have no idea why I was thinking about this. I don't know what my dream was. I did wake up thinking about my message for this coming Sunday, and as I was going over the Scripture in my mind (John 9:13-23) I thought about how the Jews and Pharisees had created a criteria to be accepted into the synagogue (the church). Have we done the same thing? Do we expect people to live up to unreal expectations of perfection in order for them to join our group, our church, even the Kingdom of God?

Let me state this plainly... if you meet the criteria of perfection, you don't need Jesus! In fact, the offense of the Gospel is that spiritually, you are unhealthy, injured by your past and diseased with the sin in your life. You need Jesus! I beg you, don't have unreal expectations for people to join our group or our church or the Kingdom. Let's love imperfect people into the Kingdom of God - I wouldn't be here if someone didn't do that for me.

Humility

2010-01-04T08:52:00.002-06:00

Asking God to make me humble is kind of like praying for patience. It is a dangerous thing, but humility is the primary trait of a spiritual leader - and I believe any follower of Christ, so it is not surprising that it is difficult. It is definitely NOT the primary trait in our culture!

I love sports... just ask my wife and kids! I love to play them, I love to watch them, I listen to a radio show that talks about them. I can't seem to get enough of sports. One thing I have noticed is that humility does not reign supreme in athletics. When a player does something good, he beats his chest to call attention to himself. When a coach feels that the referee missed the call, he jumps up and down, yells, sometimes says bad words. Some even have been known to throw a chair! These are NOT acts of humility.

In Philippians 2, Paul tells us what the opposite of humility is. First, it is "selfish ambition" or greed. The drive to accomplish and accumulate for ourselves. It seems that we can never accomplish enough or we can never accumulate enough. I fall into this trap sometimes, but the questions that ring in my ear are, "How much will be enough?" and "Is God not enough for me?" Greed to accomplish or accumulate will derail your spiritual journey very quickly. Instead, we should "look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others."

The second trait that stand in opposition to humility is "vain conceit" or pride. How easy it is to get caught up with self. We want to be noticed. We want to be liked. We want to be preferred above all others. We want to win. But Peter reminds us that "God opposed the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5). The only things that I have accomplished in my life that matter have been done through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I had little to do with them. If we are going to be humble, we have to "consider others better than ourselves."

Lastly, the desire to for "equality with God" or control deters us from the humble life God calls us to. We like to be in control - to be "God" of our own lives, don't we? I remember when my kids were little, and they would say to their friends, "You're not the boss of me." They didn't like to be told what to do because they wanted to control their own lives. Now at 18, I can see those same wheels turning in my daughter's life when she wants to control every aspect of her life because she is legally an adult. There is some truth to this - Now that she is an adult, I don't have to pay her car insurance, health insurance, and if she gets in trouble with the law, I'm not legally responsible. I'm more than happy to give her control of these areas of her life. But if you want to live in humility, you must surrender control first to God, and then to those you serve. If you are in a position of leadership, you must lead, but do it like Jesus did from a humble position of servanthood.

I don't expect to see humility displayed in sports anytime soon. It goes against its nature. But as followers of Jesus, we must clothe ourselves with humility. Who knows, maybe the world will take notice and turn to God. That would be better than any sporting event!

Too Busy For Christmas?

2009-12-02T14:44:00.002-06:00

It's December, and it seems like life is more busy than usual. In the next two weeks, I have 3 Christmas parties/dinners, and it seems excruciating to try and schedule a day when everyone can attend. Then there will be Christmas programs at the Preschool and Academy! Shopping! I'd like to take my family to Forest Hill Christian Church to see the "Journey to Bethlehem". Christmas Eve Celebration planning! House guests for Christmas! Christmas day dinner at our home! Decorations to put up! Christmas sermons to write! I'm just too busy... too busy for Christmas!

Did you notice that everything I mentioned above centers around Christmas. Most of them are good things centered around the birth of Jesus. It would seem that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to do this time of year... and maybe I am... if, and only if I am focused on the one this holiday is centered around. Dear God, please let my December be filled with thoughts of your son, Jesus! Please let every busy moment bring me into a closer relationship not just with "Christmas Jesus", but with the Jesus who gave his life for me!

Thankful

2009-11-18T12:52:00.002-06:00

I am thankful for many things and I have much to be thankful for! The next two Sundays, I will be sharing two messages from Psalm 107 on being thankful. Psalm 107:1 says, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever; let the redeemed of the Lord say this..." So, what are you thankful for? Sign in and leave a comment and let us rejoice together in all the things we have to be thankful for!

A Word of Gratitude

2009-10-26T12:48:00.002-05:00

I got an text last night while I was working at our Fall Carnival that told me ESPN was reporting Sam Bradford, OU quarterback, was going to have season-ending surgery and he would enter the NFL draft in April. In essence, he would never play another down of football for the Sooners. I was sad, and I have heard on TV and the radio how grateful people are for what Sam Bradford has meant and means to OU football. It is good to hear when people are grateful, isn't it?

Now, as you process the fact that I receive texts updating sporting news, and you think whatever you want to think about me, let me share something that I am grateful for! No, it's not that I love my wife. If you were here Sunday, you already know that (and I am in big trouble for embarrassing her). Over the past two Sundays, I have shared some very difficult messages about how Jesus is polarizing and how we have to choose when it comes to Jesus. We must either follow him or walk away - there is no middle ground! We either conceal him or we reveal him - making the most of EVERY opportunity!

We will continue this series for the next 3 weeks, and just like Jesus' disciples in John 6, many times we say, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" I always want to challenge you with Scripture, but I never want to deflate your tires every Sunday, so let me share my gratitude for you. In a church as old as Antioch, there are so many of you who are following... you have not walked away. You are not just following Jesus, but you are in tune with His Spirit, and for you I am so grateful. You are the ones who encourage me to keep living out my faith. Thank you for loving and following Jesus!

Yesterday, I talked about how we reveal our love for OU or OSU or the Yankees... or how we talk about our politics with pride, but sometimes we struggle with revealing Jesus to a lost and dying world. But what I didn't say was that there are MANY of you who share Jesus with people around you all the time. You are the reason they come to Antioch. You are the reason they even found Jesus in the first place. You inspire me to share Jesus with my words and confirm him with my life. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I am forever grateful for you and your faith and your witness.

Now... KEEP IT UP! "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it in Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)

P.S. I want to brag on my small group. They are so awesome! If it weren't for them, the Fall Carnival would not have happened. Their tireless dedication to ministry here at Antioch causes me to be filled with joy. Thanks to my wife Sharla and my kids, Lauren & Nick, Rick & Angela Cole, Mike, Alicia & Conner Benton, Ken, Karen & Kelsey Brooks, Patrick & Jill Shaw for all the prep work and the running of the concession stand. I love you guys. Thanks also to Clarence Maxwell for the hayride, Rhonda French for taking the pictures, Tom & Kara Kordic's small group for helping with the booths, Kathy Evans, Shonna Owens, Julie & Carly Ramick for helping with the booths, Kyle & Sam Schasteen and their group for organizing & running the cake walk, Kirk & Erin Depaw for creating and running the "hug" booth, Jerry & Susie Pendley, Denise Tornquist, and the many others who helped clean up. I know I will forget people, and I am sorry in advance, but I am so thankful and grateful for Antioch and the willingness of our people to serve in ministry. Keep up the good work.

What Is Your Purpose?

2009-10-13T10:10:00.002-05:00

We had an interesting event happen in our weekend celebration this past Sunday. The mother of one of Antioch's members fainted during the message by Spencer Garner, a missionary we support from Mongolia. Our plans for worship were suspended for about 20 minutes as we waited for the paramedics to arrive. I have to admit that I have no formal training for what to do in these circumstances.

911 was called... chairs and people were moved from around Mary Newman so she could get some air... Spencer sat down and waited to continue... we all prayed... and then something really awesome happened. The people in our church who are experienced medical professionals went to work while we waited for the ambulance. There were no less than 4-5 people who knew what to do that responded to the scene. There were people around who were not medical professionals who also assisted as they could. There was even a woman who showed up in the lobby because she didn't know what time our worship started, but when she found out something was going on, she began to ask questions. I told her and asked her if she was a nurse. She said, "yes", and this woman whom I have never met went into the auditorium and began to help with the situation. Again, I felt helpless, but if I had tried to do anything, I would have just been in the way.

We received an e-mail from Jennifer Stier, Mary's daughter, and I want to share it with you:

"Just a brief update on my mom, Mary Katherine Newman, who became ill during Sunday's service: She was taken to Southwest Medical Center and was admitted for further testing. A stroke has been ruled out, but they are looking for an underlying cause for her fainting. We cannot thank all of you enough for your assistance and your prayers Sunday morning. When I think of all the kindness shown us, I know why I have stayed in this fellowship for over 26 years."

I have reflected on this event the past two days, and it reminds me that God has wired each of us with gifts and talents and passions for moments such as this one. You might not see this as a spiritual event, but I see it as the Body of Christ in action. Everyone who helped Sunday should realize that they are living out their purpose in ministry when they act like they did. Each of us should ask ourselves these questions: "What am I good at?" "What do I like to do?" "What desire burns in my soul?" This might change from day to day or from week to week, but when you see an opportunity where you are moved to act, don't hesitate! It might be in that event that you find your divine purpose! This is the Body of Christ being the Body of Christ! I couldn't be any prouder of Antioch than I am today!

How Bad Do You Want Jesus?

2009-09-28T10:53:00.003-05:00

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

2009-09-21T10:19:00.003-05:00

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!

Is Jesus Your #1 Priority

2009-08-31T13:01:00.003-05:00

You've heard it said before that Jesus has to be #1 in your life... that he has to be your first priority. After church yesterday, someone shared with me a great truth. She said that if Jesus is our number one priority, then that assumes that we have a list of what is number two, number three, number four, etc., and that we are supposed to pick Jesus before we pick those other things. The problem with this is that assumes that when we pick number 2 or number 5, we are leaving Jesus behind. She went on to explain that Jesus is not our #1 priority... Jesus is our everything!!! He fills every spot, and we only do what we do in light of the fact that Jesus is in our minds, he is in our actions, he is in control.

I was visiting with a friend of mine last week, and he shared something similar. He asked me a question that he likes to ask people: "What is the most important thing you can do with your life?" The answer: "Glorify God". We are to shine light on who God is, but the problem is that we tend to compartmentalize our lives and only "glorify God" when we are in a spiritual mode. When we are in a family mode or a workout mode or a career mode or a school mode or a leisure mode, we tend to "shut off" our spiritual mode.

Here's what I'm saying: You can prioritize your life, but EVERYTHING you do should be done with Jesus Christ as the filter through which you do it. He created you with himself perfectly in place in your heart, and at some point you created a void by walking away from him. Then, you tried to fill that hole with many other things, and then some of us tried to fill in the gaps with Jesus. You have to get that other stuff out and put Jesus back where he belongs as your everything. Then, you will begin to glorify God when you are in family, workout, career, school, leisure mode. There will not be a separate place for your spiritual mode - your entire life will be your spiritual mode.

Keep climbing... Keep walking... Keep moving towards Jesus!

Are You A Consumer or a Servant?

2009-08-12T13:30:00.003-05:00

Churches are popping up all over the world, and some of them are growing fast. I just visited with a pastor from Tulsa who was sharing the story of his church. They began 17 years ago with a few people, and today they run around 5000 in attendance. Over the past few years, I have noticed a trend towards "providing" people with "consumable goods and services" at church. It looks something like this... People ask what programs your church offers, and they choose a church or move around from church to church until they find the one that "meets their needs". This disturbs me a little because I can't find anywhere in the Bible or in the direction of the Holy Spirit where church is supposed to be about "my needs" or the program that I want for me or my kids. But the temptation is to program this way because it seems to work in "growing a church".

So you can imagine as I talked with this pastor that I was skeptical about his church. Then, he told me something that blew me away. He said that the strength of their church was their "empower" ministry which got people involved in ministry and service. He said that their volunteer ministry was what makes them a great church. I was speechless, but I was impressed.

Then, as I was studying for my message last Sunday, "Freedom From Sin", I found this peculiar verse in Galatians 5. As Paul was saying, "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." I had never thought of serving as the opposite of sin. I don't know if that what Paul is saying, but I do know that when you fill your life with ministry and service, your mind is preoccupied with that and you might be less likely to sin. Try to be at Antioch this Sunday, August 16, at 10:15 AM, as we discuss this idea of serving in greater detail from Galatians 6.

So what do these random thoughts mean? Our mission at Antioch is to connect people to God, to connect people to people, and to empower people to serve. Are you a consumer or a servant? What areas are you serving in? What areas would you like to be serving in? If Antioch doesn't have an opening in the area you want to serve in, how can you create that opportunity?

Noam Chomsky said, "All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decision and to consume." You are NOT helpless. What can you do to become empowered? 1. Read Galatians 6 and see how it applies to servanthood; 2. Come Sunday to hear the message called, "Freedom To Serve"; 3. Pick up an "Empower Card" at Antioch to see what opportunities are currently available.

When you consume, you will never be satisfied and will always be looking for others to fulfill you, but when you choose to serve, you will take ownership and you will become more fulfilled than you could ever imagine!

Freedom From Noise

2009-07-22T10:39:00.002-05:00

This week, we have had our Creation Safari Spectacular at Antioch. We have had around 90-95 kids each day, and it has been a great week so far. We exotic animals here on Monday (a kangaroo, a lemur, a crocodile, a fox, a six-foot albino python). We had bugs here on Tuesday (spiders, scorpions, stick bugs, etc.). This has been quite a busy place bustling with kids. Today is Wednesday, and the kids and safari guides are on a treasure hunt at the OKC Zoo! Yea!

Today, it is extremely quiet! Yea! Now, I love kids and I really love it when kids get to learn about God and his creation. Tomorrow and Friday, we'll have the noise of learning and growing again. But today, I am really enjoying the quiet. It is much easier to get things done when it's quiet. It is the same at home. I love my family, and I love doing things with them, but sometimes it is nice to have some quiet to just reflect on things. What do you do with quiet? Do you sleep? Do you meditate? Do you pray? Do you reflect?

I heard a pastor give a list of the things God will hold me accountable for. On that list are things like, "have a heart of worship", "serve to advance the cause of Christ", "work hard and enjoy work." But on that list are also two that I tend to struggle with. They are, "rest", and "find solitude". I can be like my son, Nick, sometimes. He always wants to be doing something. It is hard to find rest and solitude, but it is desperately essential if we are to remain whole. It is extremely difficult to rest and find solitude as a pastor, because I know that the Kingdom of God is at stake, and there is much to be done... but if we don't find freedom from the noise of life, we will crash and burn.

This is not a call to laziness, but a call to finding rest from the noise of life and finding rest in Jesus. In Luke 10, we read the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Martha is "busy" preparing the house and the meal. Mary just sits at Jesus feet and worships him and listens to him. Martha tells Jesus to get her to help him. Jesus tells Martha that she is worried and upset about many things, and that Mary has chosen the better way.

So, today, find some time to escape the noise of life and find rest in Jesus.

I Wanna Be Just Like You

2009-06-24T16:50:00.002-05:00

There was a song out a few years ago by Phillips, Craig and Dean that went like this:

Lord, I want to be just like You, 'cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example for his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord that my little boy can read
I want to be just like You, 'cause he wants to be like me

It's a great song to sing, but do I really live like that? I got up Sunday and at the end of my message, I paid tribute to my dad; I cried and I said that I hope I can live like my dad because he lived like Jesus, but when I reflect on my life, it seems like I've struggled more than I should. How about you? I want to be an example to my kids, but sometimes it seems that the harder I try, the more I fail. I know that most kids tend to turn out like their parents, and I am REALLY praying that they only get the good qualities! About the time I'm ready to give up, I come across something like this:

Excerpts from a Father of the Year Essay Contest sponsored by Fathers.com:

Taylor - 2nd grader
"My dad is a very kind person. He loves to play with me. He always gets me what I want. I am glad I have a kind dad. If I didn't have a dad, I would feel lonely. But when I do have my dad, I feel happy. My dad always comforts me when I am scared. When there is a thunder storm, he lets me sleep with him (SORRY NICK), and when I can't fall asleep, he helps me go to sleep. He prays with me before I go to bed. I would not sell my dad for anything, not even a race car. My dad is very tall; he gets things for me that I can't reach. I love my dad and he loves me too."

Roland - A dad who lost is father and is dealing with Father's Day w/o him
"For all my life, Daddy was always there. Whether I was in a mood to talk to him or not... his love for me was always unconditional. It didn't matter if he was having a bad day or not. Now, there's one less person in the world who unconditionally loves me. And I really, really, wish I could call him on Sunday.

Neil
My dad was part of what Tom Brokaw refers to as the "Greatest Generation." After returning from fighting in World War II, he started raising a family. He worked two jobs, usually leaving for work well before my older brother and I awakened, and returning home well after we went to bed. My ad had many great plans for his family. Unfortunately, when I was 9 years old, I recall being told that my mother had cancer. My father did everything he could for the next two years to save her, but my mother eventually died. My dad lost the love of his life, all of his dreams and, for the most part, all of his finances (paying medical bills). He quickly had to give up his second job, switch gears to become both father and mother to two young boys, learn cooking, how to do laundry, as well as assume responsibility for all the other things normally done by both parents. He had to deal with the tremendous grief which consumed both my brother and me, not to mention finding additionally finances. My dad raised two sons who both went on to college and careers. He died 13 years ago. Although my father sacrificed all of his dreams to raise his sons, I do think he lived a fulfilling life."

These stories just remind me that it's not that hard to be a good Father and it's the hardest thing I could possibly do! Sacrifice... time... love... security... hugs... encouraging words... faith! There are many more things that my dad showed me, and I pray I can show my daughter and son! I wanna be just like Jesus... O dear Lord, PLEASE HELP!

Go to www.fathers.com for more stories, to sign up for their e-mails, to join the 1 million father's challenge, and to get tools to help you be a better dad. Also, be watching for a special daughter/father event coming to OKC in the Fall of 2009.

What Does It Mean To Live?

2009-06-11T16:51:00.002-05:00

I have delivered messages the past two weeks talking about living the life that God intended... and I've stared at my "to do" list the past two weeks at one task that I haven't found the will to do until now. It simply says, "Blog".

Now, I think this is a good thing - to share ideas with you and for some of you to share your thoughts back (even though this is a rare occurrence). But, when I don't have anything profound to say, that item on my "to do" list keeps staring at me... no it is screaming at me that I haven't completed all the tasks I am supposed to complete.

And then I asked myself this question, "Can we really live the life that God intended for us if we are always stuck as a slave to our lists and tasks?" We have to be organized, but do we miss out on God's plan for us because we are trying to keep it formal, orderly and controlled? The Holy Spirit of God wants to lead you every moment of every day of every week... you get the picture. He might lead you to make a list today that you can complete tomorrow or next week, but are you willing to veer from that list if he asks you to?

I think what it means to live is this... Wake up... follow God! The rest are the side dishes. The meal is God. O God, please help me to live this way and not be so stuck trying to live life my way!

Will Those Seeds Ever Grow?

2009-05-11T09:46:00.003-05:00

When you were a kid, did you ever plant seeds and then stand there waiting for them to grow? Eventually, your mom or dad would come and tell you that it would take time, care, water, sunshine, and many other factors for the seed to sprout and grow, so you would go on and play. As a parent, why don't we follow our own advice?

I hope you had a great Mother's Day. It was wonderful to get to celebrate it with my mother, my mother-in-law, and the wonderful mother of my children. It was a full day. I am so thankful that God allowed me to be born into a home with a Godly mom. I shared on Sunday that 1. Godly moms really love their kids; 2. Godly moms plant seeds of faith in their kids; and, 3. Godly moms entrust their kids to God.

I want to talk a little more about the second one. Godly moms do plant seeds of faith, but what happens after that? Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." I know that we are always hoping that our kids will turn out the way God wants them to, but sometimes - especially during the teenage years - we begin to wonder. Then we usually go through doubts about the decisions we are making and about whether or not we have raised them correctly. Did we pray with them enough? Did we yell too much? Did they see Jesus in us? Am I the only one who beats myself up regularly about how I am raising my kids?

Then, I thought about a parable Jesus told. It is found in Matthew 13, and it is incorrectly titled in my Bible, "The Parable of the Sower." Now, I realize that the sowing of seeds is important, and that we must be sowing seeds of faith in our kids, but I think the point of Jesus' story was the soil. You had four different soils described by Jesus - the hard path, the rocky shallow ground, the thorny patch, and the fertile soil.

Here is the point... are you ready for it? The quality of the crop is totally dependent on the type of soil the seeds are planted in. In other words, your kids cannot become all that God intends for them to become if they don't have a fertile, receptive heart. You have some responsibility in this - preparing the soil as they are growing up and even now - but if you have planted seeds of faith in your children, keep watering... keep nurturing... keep working the ground... keep pulling weeds (that's boys for you parents with teenage daughters)... keep exposing them to the Sonshine... and watch what God does to cause increase.

By the way... thanks mom for planting those seeds of faith and for continuing to nurture the soil of my heart. Thanks, Renee (my mother-in-law) for planting seeds of faith in my wife, Sharla. And, thanks, Sharla, for continuing to plant seeds of faith in our children, Lauren & Nick. I am eternally grateful for the mothers in my life... and I am eternally grateful for the God who continues to cause growth in planted seeds!

Does My Life Count?

2009-05-04T15:24:00.002-05:00

Erwin McManus said, "God's will for us is less about our comfort than it is about our contribution. God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance. God created you so that your life would count, not so that you could count the days of your life." Does my life count? Does yours?

I shared the story of a church that grew to 2000 and then has shrunk back to around 1500-1600. One of their members told me that when they grew, it was because the area they were in was booming, and so they didn't have to do anything... People just came to them! As a result, they forgot to "make disciples", and so therefore, the church has been declining. Isn't that what happens in most churches? We grow when we're new, but if there is not a passion to fulfill the Great Commission (to go and make disciples of all nations), we become complacent, and see a decline. Does my life count? Does yours?

Jesus final words to his disciples are great instructions for you and me. If you want your life to count, you need to follow there marching orders... "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). We must connect to God through worship and we must connect to people by investing in their lives if we ever want to make a difference. Does my life count? Does yours?

Who do you need to invest in? Someone once said, "To the world, you may be just one person, but to one person, you just may be the world." Make your life count... starting TODAY!

"Tolerance" And Other Words To Be Afraid Of!

2009-04-27T14:48:00.003-05:00

As we closed up the series called "Unexpected Jesus", Bryan and I shared from John 4 the story of the Samaritan woman Jesus encountered at Jacob's well. Our messages centered around the idea that Jesus is "a tolerant friend". The word "tolerance" has been hijacked by certain people, and sometimes, we have allowed that word to be defined in such a way that we are afraid to use it. In fact, we have done that with other words as well (i.e. "gay", "relevant", "emerging church", etc.).

John Burke says that "tolerance is the world's inexpensive substitute for grace". Gordon McDonald says that "you don't have to be a Christian to feed hungry people or build houses for the poor, but the one thing that the world can't offer that Christianity does is grace." Paul said in Romans 2:1-4, "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" (New Living Translation)

Did you see it in there? God is kind, patient, and yes, tolerant! In fact, he is MORE than tolerant... with me... and with you... Thank God for that. He doesn't just "tolerate" us, but he loves us and he sent his Son to die for us! That's grace! In 2 Peter 3:9 it says, "God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change." (The Message)

Let's reclaim the tolerance of our Lord, and let's extend the tolerance and grace that he offered us to EVERYONE... whether they deserve it or not!

Not Content

2009-04-15T12:09:00.003-05:00

It seems that the more we hear about the bad economy, the more hopeless people seem to be. The calls we receive at the church office for help with groceries, rent, utilities, car payments, etc. have multiplied dramatically in the past 6-9 months. I do realize that as a Christ-follower, it is important for me to be compassionate and to help those that I can. I also believe that the church (a group of Christ-followers) should be compassionate and help others.

I hear people tell how bad things are for them, yet I also hear something else in some of their voices... "I am not content with what I have." Now, God has blessed my family beyond measure, but I didn't begin to feel that blessing until I learned to be content with what I already have. Contentment is a tricky thing though. Contentment is good when is finds happiness in whatever condition I find myself. Contentment is bad when it leads to complacency in an area that I need to improve in such as work ethic, spiritual growth, etc.

Contentment is an interesting thing... and this past Sunday, I talked about how Jesus was not satisfied (content) with my sinful condition, so he went to the cross and died for me. I was reading some information about what Jesus went through because of me. Crucifixion was a most cruel death.

He was whipped because of me. Hebrews limited the scourging to 39 lashes, but the Romans didn’t have this limitation. The whip was called a flagrum made with long, lashing pieces of bone and metal. The veins would be laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels were open to exposure. This whipping was enough to kill a man, but he survived it. Then Jesus had to endure the journey to Golgotha. His robe that was probably “stuck” to his back from the wounds was stripped off to be gambled for and he was spit upon. They placed a crown on his head with thorns the went in deep.

The crucifixion itself was such a horrible execution that Marcus Tullius Cicero, Rome’s most famous orator, said, “Even the mere word, cross, must remain far not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts, their eyes, their ears.” Frederick Farrar describes this pain of a crucifixion… “dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, tetanus, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of untended wounds.” He was laid down on the rough, splintered wood with the wounds on his back scratching the surface. He was fastened to the beams with large spikes - through his hands and feet. The weight of his body would cause him to sag, which would cut off the air supply to his lungs, so he would have to push up with his "nail pierced" feet to try to catch his breath (This is why they wanted to break his legs to speed up the process).

A crucifixion last for hours and sometimes for days... and Jesus endured it because of me. He went to the cross because he was not content with allowing me to spend forever without Him. Being content can be a good thing... but I'm so grateful that my Jesus... my Savior... was not content with my condition.

I heard a singer named Billy Sprague sing the following words one time:

Thorns on His head, spear in His side, still in was a heartache that made Him cry
He gave His life so you would understand... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?
If Christ Himself were standing here, face full of glory and eyes full tears
And He held out His arms and His nail-printed hands... Is there any way you could say no to this Man?

How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?

Jesus is here with His arms open wide; You can see with your heart, if you'll stop looking with your eyes
He's left it up to you, He's done all He can...Is there any way you could say no to this Man?

How could you look in His tear-stained eyes, knowing it's you He's thinking of?
Could you tell Him you're not ready to give Him your life?
Could you say you don't think you need His love?

Thorns on His head, your life is in His hands
Is there any way you could say no to this Man?

Trust is earned... Salvation is not

2009-03-31T15:49:00.003-05:00

Do you remember the story of the little boy who cried wolf? The boy was guarding the sheep, and he was supposed to call out if a wolf came, so the villagers would come to save the sheep. The boy cried "wolf" 2 or 3 times when there was no wolf. The villagers came, were disappointed, and when the wolf actually showed up, it didn't matter how many times or how loudly the boy cried "wolf", they didn't trust him enough to come and help... and the sheep were attacked. Trust is earned.

Most kids are like my kids. They want you to trust them, but they make choices that kids their age tend to make that make it hard to trust them. They will say, "I'll change," or "I'll be different next time," or "Why don't you trust me?" Trust is earned.

In John 2:24-25, we learn that Jesus did not entrust himself to the new believers because he knew the nature of man. If Jesus had entrusted himself to sinful man, he would have gotten off course and he would not have been able to save us. He knew that we could not - in our present condition - save ourselves, so he entrusted himself to His Father, God, and he went to the cross and died for you and me. Trust is earned, and Jesus can be trusted even if we cannot. When you admit that you can't save yourself - that you'll NEVER be good enough - then you can find the salvation in Jesus Christ that is freely offered. Trust is earned... Salvation is not earned, but it is freely given to all who call on the name of the Lord (Romans 10).

We are not saved because of what we do (earned)... we are saved because of what Jesus did (trust).

Why Won't God Help Me?

2009-03-19T11:39:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday, the message was a very difficult one. Why is it that it seems God doesn't help us when we ask him? Are we asking the right questions of God? Is it wrong for us to ask God for help at all? The big question is, "If God's purpose is bigger than mine, is it OK for me to ask something that might seem trivial to God"? I know that God has my best interest at heart, and that his provision is always best. I know that his power is greater than my ability. But I also know that he promised through the psalmist, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4). So am I supposed to keep asking God for help? This is a difficult topic, but one that is important.

One final note... It is in the asking and corresponding with God that we build relationship with him. If he was just a big cosmic Santa Claus who gave us whatever we wanted, we would appreciate him, but we might now know him!

Called To Reveal What?

2009-02-23T10:31:00.002-06:00

I received an e-mail from one of our members this weekend. It was informing me of a protest at Moore High School. You know that group that protests soldiers funerals with signs that say, "God hates fags." "God hates you!" "You are cursed." I still have not figured out what their "end game" is our what their purpose is.

On their website, they address the people of Moore High School with things like:
"We will picket your really large High School because you southern(ish) hypocrites keep lying to the children. So, here's what we need to tell them: "We have a message, from your Maker, High school students - we're here to deliver that God has cursed you, with your parents' lies. Now God is rejecting your filthy raging lies violent brats, God hates you. We're here to tell you that fornication makes God angry... Simple sluts - will go to hell. God has cursed you. No more jobs - the economy has crashed. Nothing left but misery - all your hopes are dashed raging punks, God hates you. You'll scream in hell. You're cursed of God, and your rants and rage won't stop us from telling you that God is your enemy, and even as you search for jobs you soon will wish you'd long repented - Yesterday - AMEN!" One of their website is www.godhatestheworld.com.

I have very little to say about this except, I don't think this is the Jesus God has called us to reveal. We are to say what John the Baptist said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Our member wanted to know what she should do. I told her to pray that people would see Jesus... the REAL Jesus! I also told her to reveal the REAL Jesus to people. We can't combat the people who are hurting the cause with arguments... we can only reveal Jesus in our own lives.

Destiny - Where Will Your Journey Take You?

2009-02-09T13:10:00.004-06:00

Does anybody have any hope that the stimulus package that our government is trying to shove down our throats has any chance of working? I don't want to be a cynic, and I am praying for our president that he will be led by God and succeed, but REALLY... I don't see any hope for this junk that our government thinks will work.

I was listening to a radio talk show host who said that we gave $17 billion dollars to General Motors, and that it is not working. On top of that, the taxpayers aren't even the first in line to get paid back... The banks will be paid first! REALLY! In fact, the government that said we couldn't let GM fail and go into bankruptcy is now suggesting that we force GM into bankruptcy so that we can get our money back. There's some efficiency in government, don't you think? That same talk show host also said that we have spent nearly $10 trillion dollars since October trying to "bail out" our economy. That is enough money to pay almost 90% of ALL mortgages in the United States. Would that stimulate your economy if you only owed 10% on your house?

Hope is a funny word. It gets thrown around like it comes easily or like it is cheap... But hope is a precious commodity. We all need hope. Hope for a better future... hope for relief from a horrible past... hope for a divine destiny. In Romans 8, Paul says this... "Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

What are you hoping for? An eternal life in heaven? That has been promised. Are you hoping for relief from the pains of this life? God's Spirit is here to help. Do you wish (hope) that your life would be better than it is? God's wish for you is an "abundant life" (John 10:10).

But, I've been struggling with something. I have been thinking how we all wish we could just arrive at our destination, and we miss much when we ignore the journey. When we're 13 we wish we were 16. When we get married we hope that we'll just begin with a perfect marriage. When we struggle with our weight we pray that the pounds will just disappear. When we become a follower of Jesus we think that God will impart on us the perfect life that we have always wanted. The problem is that in each of these instances, we miss the journey... the process... the growth.

Even when we realize that it is a process, sometimes we look for the rules, regulations or guidelines that will help us get there. "If I just do this..." "It worked for them..." "What's the least I can do..." The problem with rules and regulations (especially when it comes to our faith) is that they can never substitute for a real relationship or real progress. The journey is what it is all about.

God doesn't want robots who do the "right" thing, but don't even know him. Walking with God every day is how we live out this hope... it's how we grow in relationship with him and progress towards the eternal life he has promised. And how much more fulfilling will that life be when it is spent with a God who we know intimately! Living by rules and regulations (or expecting others to live by our rules and regulations) means that we don't trust God's Spirit to live in us (or in others), and to direct our (their) paths.

Divine destiny can only be found in a daily walk with God! Where will your journey take you?

Take A Leap Of Faith

2009-02-03T13:33:00.005-06:00

From Monty Python to U2... from Allie Barone ("Everybody Loves Raymond") to Rick Warren... It seems that people are asking, "What is the meaning of life?" "Why are we here?"

God has put within us a "God-shaped" hole. It is in our heart; it is in our soul; it needs to be filled; and it can only be filled by God. We all crave meaning. We all want life to make sense. It is no wonder that Bono sang, "And I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

One of my favorite scenes from the third Indiana Jones movie, was when Harrison Ford was trying to find the holy grail. He had passed two of the tests that had killed most people before him. He stood at the opening of a cave and looked down at a drop of several hundred feet and across at another opening in the rock. It looked impossible to get to the other side, but his instructions said to take a leap of faith. It looked like If he jumped, he would fall to his death... but he did what the instructions said, and when he jumped, a ledge that had blended in with the floor of the canyon was there only about 3 feet below to catch him. He walked over to the opening and continued on his quest.

Take a leap of faith. Sooner or later, you will have to believe. Thane Pittman said, "I'll see it when I believe it." Erwin McManus said, "I don't know how to prove God to you; I only hope to bring you to a place where you and him can meet." Truth is not found through academic pursuit. Faith is not something that you do when you get all the facts lined up. Sooner or later, you will have to just believe; to just put your faith in something.

I am not saying that when it comes to faith in God, we need to check our brains at the door. In fact, God wants you to pursue truth no matter what, because he knows that the pursuit of truth will always lead back to him. God is not concerned that you believe what religion tells you... he is not even concerned that you follow what Christianity tells you... What he is concerned about is that you find the truth, because truth is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Take a leap of faith. If you have decided that there is no God, that takes faith as well. What if you're wrong? Take a leap of faith. Believe in Jesus. Know God. Let his Spirit lead you. I have staked my entire life on the truth that God is real and that his Son, Jesus, died to save me. This is truth!

Take a leap of faith... and when you do, I'll bet you'll find the source of all truth, and you'll find the meaning that your soul has been craving. Take a leap of faith!

Life Is Full Of Questions

2009-01-28T09:49:00.003-06:00

Why are we here? What is our purpose? Does it even matter if we know why? What is true? Is truth absolute? If I believe that something is not true, does that change the fact that it is true? Is truth and meaning found in what I believe? If God is real, then why does he allow suffering, pain, sickness, death? Why do I have so many questions?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is our purpose?" from 2 Corinthians 5. You are here to develop a heart for God ("love the Lord your God"), and you are here to determine to speak for God ("love your neighbor"). This week, we'll begin a series called, "DESIRE", where we'll uncover what every soul craves. We'll answer some of our questions from the book of Romans, but I also want to encourage you to pick up a copy of "Soul Cravings" by Erwin McManus, and read the third section entitled, "Meaning".

Life is full of questions, and I know where to find the answer! Do you?

We Need Each Other

2009-01-22T11:21:00.002-06:00

It isn't very often that I miss a meal. I'm very blessed in that regard. Most medical doctors say that a human in good health can go 4 to 6 weeks without food and still survive. There have been people who survived longer than that and also people who didn't make it that long, but it really all depends on your health before you stopped eating. But the reality is that most of us could miss a few meals and it wouldn't affect our over all health. Which brings me to my point. We need each other. Spiritually we need a community of believers around us if we are going to survive the spiritual battle that is taking place around us. My youth minister, who is now a preacher is Kansas City, Kansas, spoke about this very thing a few months ago. He said that we can miss church on occasion, like missing a meal, and it doesn't really affect us, but if we don't stay connected to our church body, spiritually we will begin to shut down.

We need each other. We need to look out for each other. We need to notice when people in our community aren't around. We were never meant to try to live this life alone, God wants us to be in community with each other. Will you commit to being a part of this community and help each other live like God wants us to live?

Are You Making A Real Difference

2009-01-13T15:23:00.006-06:00

I have come across three stories this week that are great examples of how we - as followers of Jesus - could make a real difference and impact our community one person at a time.

First, there is a website called xxxchurch.com. Craig Gross is a minister who decided to make a real difference, and instead of preaching at a church, he started a ministry to help people get out of the porn industry and prostitution; he also has accountability software for people who want to monitor the internet surfing on their computer, and a blog that helps men and women struggling with internet pornography to confess and overcome their addiction. Craig recently decided to move from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada ("Sin City") to begin a church on the Las Vegas strip called Stripchurch.com. He is trying to minister to people who really need God. What an incredible concept. Craig, his wife and their two young children made the move recently. Nightline was interviewing them, and they asked Craig's wife how she could move her family to such an awful place. They asked, "Isn't this the worst place to raise a family?" She replied, "Yes, this is the worst place to raise a family, but God has called us to this ministry; so (in tears) how could we not come?" Now, that's making a real difference!

Second, my wife, Sharla, watched a news report on News9 this weekend, and it told of some young people who have moved into a downtown OKC apartment building that used to be a crack house. They are intentionally moving into the area to give hope to hopeless people and call them to accountability by taking care of the community. They all have jobs and cars, and they come from as far as California. The Refuge will also be sharing the love of Jesus with these lower-income people in downtown OKC. One girl said, "You're knocking on people's doors in the morning to use the bathroom, and it's not comfortable, and it's not what you thought it'd be, but you feel like you want to love Jesus more than you want to be comfortable." Now, that's making a real difference.

Lastly, Rick Reilly, from ESPN The Magazine wrote a story that I read about recently. It was about a high school football game in Texas between Grapevine Faith and Gainesville State School. Faith's head coach, Kris Hogan, wanted to do something nice for the Gainesville team (they were 0-8 coming into the game and Faith was 7-2). Faith had 70 players, 11 coaches, many fans, and the latest equipment. Gainesville had 14 players, 1 coach, no fans, and a lot of baggage. You see, the team from Gainesville State School was made up of inmates who had convictions for drugs, assault and robbery; many had been disowned by their families and they were wearing antiquated equipment. In fact, after the game, they lined up the 14 players, handcuffed them, and escorted them back to the bus for the ride back to their prison cells. So, Hogan decided to have 200 of the 400 fans for Faith switch sides for one night and cheer for the other team; they made a spirit line for them to run through, with a banner that said, "Go Tornadoes" for them to break through; they wore their colors; they cheered for them during the game. Hogan wanted to send this message, "You are just as valuable as any other person on the planet." Even though they lost the game 33-14, the inmates gave their coach, Mark Williams, a sports bottle water shower as if he had won the state championship. After the game both teams gathered on the field to pray. One of the inmates, Isaiah, asked to lead the prayer. He said these words, "Lord, I don't know how this happened, so I don't know how to say thank you, but I never would have known so many people in the world cared about us." As they walked back to their bus under guard they were handed a bag for the ride home (a burger, fries, a soda, some candy, a Bible and an encouraging letter from a Faith player). Gainesville's coach grabbed Faith's coach and said, "You'll never know what you people did for these kids tonight. You'll never, ever know." Now, that's making a real difference.

Are you making a real difference? Antioch will not be a place that is content to just exist for ourselves. With God's help, we will make a real difference, impacting our community one person at a time. Why don't you share stories that have inspired you? Leave a comment of ways in which people have made a real difference in your life... in the lives of others... in their community. Tell us your dreams about what you think God might want to do through you! Make a real difference!

Don't Forget, He's In Your Face

2009-01-05T12:15:00.003-06:00

We had a great Sunday yesterday. I am excited about the future of Antioch, and walking alongside of you in ministry for many years.

Yesterday, we talked about beginning 2009 by renewing our lives and by walking in the Spirit of God. In Romans 8, Paul says, "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies." He also says, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

Many times, we see Jesus as a person who is "not here", so we can use him when we need him, and leave him when we don't. We attend church once or twice a week, we participate in a small group, we might even read our Bibles every once in a while, but when we get focused on the flesh (on the things of this world), we think we can leave Jesus behind. But, if the Spirit of God is leading our lives, we need to remember that he is ALWAYS with us... he is in our heart... he is in our mind... he is in your face! In other words, he is before you at all times, so what will you do with him?

When you are faced with a difficult decision, he is there. When you are tempted to think a lustful thought, he is there. When you are discouraged, he is there. When you want to say that bad word, or that crude joke, he is there. When you feel like giving up, he is there. When you don't know what to do, he is there. He is always there. He is in your face. He will help you... He will comfort you... he will provide the way of escape from the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13)... He will keep your mind focused on what He desires instead of the distractions of the flesh that might choke out your faith (Luke 8:7, 14).

Take a moment right now, and acknowledge the presence of the Spirit of God. Thank him for the blessings you have received. Ask him to help you overcome temptation today. Give him the reigns of your life, and plead with him to always stay... IN YOUR FACE!

Don't miss this Sunday. Bryan and I will present the vision that the leadership of Antioch has for the future. You won't want to miss it.

Jesus Is The Light... Are You A Mirror?

2008-12-10T11:09:00.004-06:00

As we ask ourselves the question this Christmas season, "Why Did Jesus Come?", we have to ask if he came for all the reasons we celebrate the holidays. One thing I like about celebrating Christmas in our weekend celebrations is that there is no pretense... we ALL know why we are gathered to sing and to celebrate... it is because of Jesus' birth. But do people that we see everywhere else - at work, at school, driving in our cars, at home, at the store, at the ball game - know that is why we personally are celebrating Christmas?

We learned Sunday that Jesus came to "replace darkness". He is the "true light that gives light to every man". The questions is, are you reflecting that light? John 1 says that John the Baptist "came as a witness to testify concerning that light." Later in the chapter, it says that John "testifies concerning Him (Jesus)". We need to be mirrors of Jesus. We cannot produce light, but we can reflect the light that is Jesus.

Take the challenge this Christmas season to reflect light and help Jesus replace the darkness in the world. You cannot forcefully remove darkness... darkness is replaced with light. Let's shine the light of Jesus by being a mirror! If we do, the world will never be the same again!

Will You Use Your Weapon

2008-11-24T11:53:00.003-06:00

Would you ever consider entering into a battle without any way to defeat the enemy? The obvious answer to that is no. Then why do we, as followers of Christ, leave the weapon that God has given us behind? In Matthew 4, we see Jesus being tempted by the devil. Jesus has been fasting for 40 days and at the point when he is his weakest, Satan comes to tempt him. With everything that the devil tempts Jesus with, Jesus comes back with Scripture.

I don't know about you, but I am tempted sin (in one way or another) on a daily basis. And if I am honest, the times that I am able to resist the temptation are the times in my life that I am actively seeking God. Is this just a coincidence?

Paul says in Ephesians 6 that if we are going to stand against the devil's schemes that we need to put on the armor of God! And the way that we combat the devil is with the Word of God. It applies to our lives today! The writer of Hebrews says "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

I wanna issue a challenge. Will you commit to having your bible with you at all times. Not having one bible at home, one in the office, and one in the car, but making a conscience effort to take your bible with you wherever you go. We make sure that we have our phones, ipods, watches, and many other things with us at all times, will you commit to including your bible to your list? I wonder what will happen to us when God's word becomes a staple in our lives!

(Obviously you need to open up the Word, not just have it with you!)

Sunday Notes 11/23/08

2008-11-24T11:34:00.003-06:00

Our worship attendance was 161. That puts our monthly average at 157.
A big thank you goes out to all of you who helped deliver the Thanksgiving baskets to families all over the Oklahoma City area. Thank you also to those of you who brought baskets to the church.
Be on the lookout for what are next outreach will be.
Our average weekly offering for the month of November is $7961. We have met our budget for the month and we still have a week to go. Thank you for being faithful in your giving!
Be sure to read Ephesians 5:17-20 in preperation for this Sunday's message.

Sunday Notes 11/16/2008

2008-11-17T15:29:00.002-06:00

Our worship attendance was 157. The previous 2 weeks, we had an attendance of 143 and 166 respectively. That puts our November average at 155.
Don't forget that Thanksgiving baskets are due at the church by this Wednesday, November 19th.
Please come prepared to take a Thanksgiving basket (or two) this Sunday and deliver them to the families that have contacted the church. Maps to the houses and phone numbers will be in each sack.
Our sermon series titled BE continues this week. Be sure to read Ephesians 6:10-20 in preparation for this week's message.

Who's Supposed To Be #1

2008-11-17T14:35:00.004-06:00

OK... I'll admit that I'm a huge college football fan, and a very big OU fan at that. I hope that doesn't hurt my ability to pastor you OSU, Tulsa, Notre Dame or (ugh) Texas fans. This has been an exciting year to watch, and the Big 12 south title is on the line. This week, OU plays Texas Tech, and if they win that and beat OSU (assuming Texas beats Texas A&M and Tech beats Baylor), there will be a three-way tie to find out who goes to the Big 12 Championship game. The deciding factor will be who is the highest in the BCS rankings.

All of you non-football fans, hang in there, I'm getting to the point. I keep hearing people say that you can't put Texas below OU because Texas beat OU, but if OU beats Tech, how can you put them below Tech, and how can you put Tech below Texas because they beat them? The argument goes round and round in circles. The decision of who is first is left to the opinion of a handful of people.

In Ephesians 5:21-6:9, we saw that God has clearly put certain people in leadership roles in different relationships. He did not leave it to public opinion.

The husband is the leader of a marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33). This is a God-given role that is more of a responsibility than a right. It is NOT to be abused by the husband. In fact, the majority of this passage (vs. 25-33) is used to describe how the husband is to love his wife enough to sacrifice everything including his own life. He asks the wife to give up her desire... he asks the husband to give up his life. The point here is that when a wife is always trying to "be in charge" or she is worrying about not having authority in the marriage, she has stopped focusing on the most important thing in marriage... a loving, healthy relationship. When the husband abuses his authority and tries to "put his wife in her place", he has also stopped focusing on that loving, healthy relationship. I counsel couples getting married that marriage is not 50-50 (give and take), where you each "give a little and take a little". Marriage is supposed to be 100-100, where each of you give 100% of yourself to your marriage partner. Then, you both get exactly what you need - 100% of your spouse. The key is to focus on the relationship... Wives respecting their husbands and husbands sacrificing for their wives.

The parent is the leader of the family (Ephesians 6:1-4). I assume that I am preaching to the choir since I don't expect many kids to be reading this blog. Children are to obey, and honor their parents. Children should NOT be the ones calling the shots in the family. Does that mean they don't have an opinion? No... as they grow older, they should be allowed to give input into the family, but the final decision belongs to the parents. In Nebraska, they have a law that your can relinquish your rights as parents and give your kids to the state (that wasn't the original intention of the law). Over 30% of the kids being "given" to the state are between 11 and 17 years old. I know there are some circumstances that might require this, but God has given me a responsibility to raise my children, and to lead them, and to train & instruct them in the Lord. I don't have the right to just stop! But, just like the wife/husband relationship, if I abuse my authority as a parent, or if my son or daughter are always trying to "be in charge", we miss out on the most important thing - a loving, healthy relationship that God intended for us to have.

The master (employer) is the leaders of the slave (employee) (Ephesians 6:5-9). I don't have much to say here except this... Employee, you need to WORK HARD to help your employer succeed. It will benefit YOU in the long run. Quit worrying about titles, prestige, and authority. Just work, and see what happens. Employers, you need to treat your employees with the respect they deserve. It will benefit YOU in the long run. Enough said!

Who is supposed to be #1? God has set things up the way he wanted it. That is the wrong thing to be focused on. Focus on a loving, healthy relationship. Put yourself second whenever possible. ("Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." - Luke 6:31). When you do, Jesus will be #1 every time!

Be Second

2008-11-13T11:22:00.003-06:00

I wanted to remind all of you who are preparing for Sunday to read Ephesians 5:21-6:9. Also, I have a question for you to think about. Why is it so hard for us to let others be FIRST?

Be Different

2008-11-12T08:49:00.016-06:00

I am entering a world that I never thought I'd enter. Why would anyone want to read what someone else is thinking? Are blogs just for people who are elite and intellectual thinkers? Are they for people with too much time on their hands? Are they for the younger generation, and if I do this I might be heading into the demonic world of "My Space" (ha - or am I supposed to write lol?)?

I had always wondered if it would be good for people to discuss the topic from the previous Sunday's message or begin discussing the upcoming topic. Then, I had someone say to me after last week's message, "I wish we could discuss the topic more." This past Sunday, I preached from Ephesians 5:17-6:16 on the topic of being different from the world (click here to listen to the sermon). The text was long and very difficult to cover in 30 minutes, so I chose to only scratch the surface hoping that people would study the text further for more application from the Holy Spirit (what a novel idea). This message was the 6th one in the series called "BE". The others were: "Be The Church", "Be Changed", "Be Love", "Be Missional", and "Be One".

If we are going to be different and stand out from the world, we must 1. Stop living like we used to live ("put off the old self"); 2. Change the way we think ("be made new in the attitude of our minds); and 3. Start looking like God ("put on the new self"). Paul mentions several issues that deal with our old self and our new self in the following verses that remind me of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). They seem to be a very high standard of living for the Christ-follower, and since I was limited on time, let me address them:

1. "each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor." When my dad was sick with cancer, my parents decided to tell me the truth (even though I was only 5). I have heard of many people who "kept the truth" from kids in this situation to "protect them". There are other examples of justification for lies. Is this ok? If you're going to hurt the other person, is it ok to lie or to withhold the truth? What does the Bible say about telling the truth? (Exodus 20:16; Leviticus 19:11; Ephesians 6:14; Colossians 3:9). Is it ever ok to lie?

2. "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Is is ok to get angry? When? When is it NOT ok to get angry? When does anger turn to sin? How does this give the devil a "foot in the door"? Do you remember when Jesus got angry (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:12-17)? Why was he angry? Why is it important for you to resolve your anger before you go to bed?

3. "He who has been stealing must steal no longer." OK, I know that I'm probably not writing to shoplifters and armed robbers, but let's look at this more closely. Is it stealing to not work hard while you are on the clock? Is it stealing to take things from your office that the company bought for you to use (i.e. paper, pens, etc.)? Is it stealing to cheat on your taxes through creative accounting? The context here indicates that the opposite of stealing is "hard work" for the purpose of being "generous". How are you doing in this area? In what other ways do we "steal" and justify it? What does this do to our integrity? (Exodus 20:15)

4. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths." Do you remember when you were younger and you used to tear others down with insults so that you could prop yourself up? Aren't you glad adults don't do that? O, you mean they do? "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Yeah, right!!! But surely it doesn't happen in the church, among God's people, does it???? Is this what "grieves the Holy Spirit of God"? We must use our mouths to "build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

5. "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawlings (fighting) and slander, along with every form of malice." I was driving home the other day, and I stopped to turn on my street. There was a car coming towards me, so I waited because I value my life. The woman in the car behind me began to wave her arms in the air and yell at me because I didn't turn so she could hurry on. As I turned, I looked in the mirror and she gave me the one-finger salute. WOW! Could she have been filled with bitterness? I looked for the fish or cross sticker on the back of her car! This is difficult, but let me state my opinion... There is NO ROOM in the church among God's people for bitterness towards each other, or rage, or anger; definitely there is no room for fighting or slander (back-biting). Most of this comes because we don't get what we want or because people are different than us. This should not be! We are called to love one another throughout Scripture (John 14:34-35), not fight. We have much work to do on this one. Also, why did Paul say it was ok to be angry in verse 26, but then tell us to get rid of it?

Now Paul throws in some of the "stuff" we are supposed to "put on" that makes us look like God.

6. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other." Where do I start? I already dealt with the negative, but it is the things mentioned in point 5 that usually causes us to fail with this one. So, how do we change this? It's actually easier than you think. Do you sin? Did God forgive you because of Jesus? You have no basis for not forgiving someone else? Read Matthew 6:14-15.

7. "Live a life of love." Romans 13:8 says, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another..." How do you change your way of looking at people? How did Mother Teresa do it? How do you see people? Do you truly "love" them? How about your enemies (see Matthew 5:43-45)? Living a life of love would revolutionize the world, but why is it so hard? Is this the key to the whole passage of Scripture?

Paul returns to the "stuff" we need to "put off".

8. "there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity." The Greek word for "sexual immorality" is porneia where we get the word pornography from. You are on the internet reading this blog, so you know how easy it is to find pornography or for it to find you. That one is easy to see as wrong, but Paul seems to address an even higher standard. We know that it is wrong to have an affair while we are married or to have an affair with a married person, but Paul seems to address an even higher standard. We know that the Bible states that pre-marital sex is wrong, but Paul... you know what I was going to say. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that lust was the same as adultery. Paul says there should not be even a hint of these things in our lives. He says later that "it is shameful to even mention what the disobedient do in secret." Here is where I stir up some controversy. Instead of making statements of fact, I'm going to ask you some questions: What do you watch on tv or at the movies? Do they glorify sex or sexual things? Is it wrong to laugh at or fill our minds with these things? Ladies, how do you dress? Do you reveal things in your clothing that might cause a man to lust? Are you trying to call attention to certain areas of your body? Men, do you look at women who are not your wife in a sexual way? What kinds of jokes do you read and send on the internet? Are any of them sexual in nature? Is it wrong to laugh at them or to pass them on? Is this what Paul is talking about? You decide!

9. "or greed." We live in difficult economic times. People are having to make tough financial decisions. Yet, greed still abounds. Materialism is rampant in our society. We think we have to have "stuff" to survive. New cars, new homes, new clothes, stuff, stuff, stuff... Is it wrong to have stuff? When does it become wrong? Is materialism the same as greed? Colossians 3:4-6 says that greed, immorality, impurity, and lust are part of our sinful nature.

10. "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." OK, here we go again with the stuff that offends. We all struggle with sin, and you must remember that Paul is trying to "raise the standard" for Christians. So, let me ask you some questions: Is your language different from the world? Do you cuss? Do you abuse the name of God or Jesus Christ? Do you fill your mind with books, movies and TV shows that do this? Is it sin, or just something you should try to avoid? What is foolish talk or coarse joking? How can you fill your mouth with more thanksgiving?

This post is already too long, so let me end with these two:

11. "you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Another key to looking like God is light. You need to live in love (Ephesians 5:1), and you need to live in light (Ephesians 5:8). John 3:19-21 says that good is done in the light and evil is done in the dark. In other words, when you are following God, you deeds can be exposed because you aren't doing anything you need to hide. If you are struggling with a secret sin, the best thing you can do is find someone you can trust and confess it to them. Sin loses its power when it comes out into the open.

12. "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." The third key to how you are supposed to live is to live in wisdom. Be smart when faced with decisions of right and wrong. Walk in the way God wants you to walk - pay attention to everything, and take advantage of every opportunity to live for Him.

OK, I apologize for this being so long. Aren't you glad I didn't share all of this in the sermon... I'd still be preaching. Now, I didn't do this so I could write my thoughts down. This is for group discussion. Write a reply sharing your thoughts on any of the points from the Scripture. Bryan and I will be sharing thoughts on this blog so we can keep growing in Christ, and so that we can keep reaching for the Spiritual Summit!