i've been thinking...

The Triumphal Entry

2012-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:00

This week at Heartland Church we are beginning a new series for the season of Lent called "Journey to the Cross", looking at the final events of Jesus' life here on earth and what they mean for us.

This week we'll be looking specifically at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and ultimately his death and resurrection.

There are several accounts of this story in the Gospels but my favorite is in the book of Luke.

After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'" Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They replied, "The Lord needs it." They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (Luke 19:28-44 NIV)

A couple things that are important for us to note in this story...

1) JESUS ENTERING JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY - Why is it that after traveling a great distance on foot that Jesus chooses to stop at Bethphage and ride the remaining short distance to Jerusalem on a donkey? The reason is that Jesus is making a statement. We often view donkeys as a lowly form of transportation but back in those days, only the very wealthy and kings and rulers rode on donkeys. Also, the significance of Bethphage was that it was considered to be like the city limits of Jerusalem. The Hebrew people knew their scripture well and the prophets foretold that when the Messiah came, he would enter the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus was making a statement that he was indeed that Messiah. Judging by people's response to his silent statement, they understood what he was saying. The people begin crowding around him, waving palm branches and shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

2) THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PEOPLE'S RESPONSE - There is a lot of history here, that for the sake of this discussion, we won't get into. But it's safe to say that the Hebrew people experienced a long line of oppression under ruthless governments from the time of their slavery in Egypt to Jesus' day when they suffered under the Roman empire. So when the prophets spoke of a Messiah who would come to be their King and free them from oppression, the people expected a physical king to come and overthrow the government, and to literally free them from this physical oppression.

Over the years there were a number of groups who would rise up "in the name of God" and try to overthrow the government. One such group was called the Macabees. Interestingly they took as their symbol, the palm branch (you can find Macabean coins with the palm branch on them), and they took as their battle cry, "Hosanna!" which literally means, "God save us."

Well in Jesus' day, there was a group of people known as the Zealots who were also all about physically overthrowing the government. The Zealots fashioned themselves after the Macabees and took as their symbol, the palm branch, and took as their battle cry, "Hosanna!"... "God save us from our enemies!"

Here's where this all comes together. When the people crowd around Jesus in this story, waving palm branches and crying, "Hosanna!", they certainly were recognizing his claim to be the Messiah, but their expectation was that he was triumphantly riding into Jerusalem to overthrow the government and to establish his kingdom. Their own agendas clouded out what Jesus had really come to do. It's interesting how Jesus responds to them... He looks over the city of Jerusalem and weeps, and says, "If you only knew this day what would bring you peace..." In other words, in all the excitement of this moment, they weren't seeing what it was really about.

One of the things that strikes me about this story is how it exposes our own agendas in approaching Jesus. How often do we, like the crowds, approach him as Messiah, with our own ideas of how he should act and what he should do in response to our needs? We often think we know best. One of the lessons we need to learn in following Jesus is to constantly surrender our own agendas to the will of God for our lives. We need to recognize that even when it doesn't make sense to us, God's plan is always the best plan.

Are you willing to surrender your own agenda for God's agenda?

Living in Community

2012-01-17T08:41:00.000-08:00

This week at Heartland Church we are continuing our Alternative Lifestyle series looking at Living Life in Community.

We've talked in weeks past about how intentionally choosing to live alternatively to those around us and to follow Jesus is not an easy thing to do. It takes intentionality, hard work and discipline to make significant changes to our lives.

The truth is though, that the journey of pursuing an Alternative Lifestyle becomes exponentially more difficult when we try to do it on our own, because God has created us for community.

How many of you have ever tried to make significant lifestyle changes on your own? How successful were you? Statistics show that when we invest in making changes to our lives while surrounded by a support system of other people, we are much more successful than when we try to do it alone.

God never intended for us to journey through life on our own. We see in God's own triune nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) that he himself is a communal being.

When God created Adam, the first man, he said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18) and he created a woman to be with him.

God established his covenant with a community of people (the nation of Israel) who did life together.

The book of Ecclesiastes speaks of the power of community and relationships. "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

In the New Testament we see Jesus living and doing ministry in community with his disciples. We see the establishment of the New Testament church, to which the Apostle Paul referred to as the Body of Christ - many parts who all need one another.

God has called us to live an Alternative Lifestyle and one of the ways we do that is by choosing not to journey through life alone but to surround ourselves in community. It's not always easy but it's one of the ways we begin to experience the fullness of life that Jesus came to give.

How are you doing at surrounding yourself with other people and doing life in community?

Living Life on Purpose

2012-01-12T11:21:00.000-08:00

This week at Heartland Church we continue our Alternative Lifestyle series looking at the topic of Living Life on Purpose. The phrase Living Life on Purpose has a dual meaning in my mind.

On one hand it speaks to the intentionality behind what we do... we are intentional and purposeful in the things we do. This is vital to following Jesus down this alternative path of living. When we talk about going against the norm and living according to an alternative way, that doesn't just happen by accident. We have to be disciplined, intentional and purposeful about the decisions we make. It takes hard work to live differently... do it on purpose!

On the other hand the phrase Living Life on Purpose also speaks to the idea of living toward the mission or purpose I was created for. The truth is God has created each one if us with a unique calling and has given us each unique gifts and personalities to fulfill the purposes he has for our lives. Ephesians 2 speaks of the salvation God has given us by grace alone and in verse 10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, SO WE CAN DO THE GOOD THINGS HE PLANNED FOR US LONG AGO."

A big part of the challenge of learning to live this Alternative Lifestyle is discovering the purpose that God has for our lives and then making a decision to intentionally (purposefully) live according to it.

Will you live your life on purpose?

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

2012-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

This is a powerful video in lieu of what we are talking about during our Alternative Lifestyle series. Are you giving God everything or just going through the motions of religion?

Worship and Devotion With ALL of Me

2012-01-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to worship God? What does it mean to be devoted to him? For many of us we define these things in terms of portions of our life that we take to do something for God. Worship is something we do on Sunday morning at church when we sing together. Devotions are when we take time to pray in the morning and read a few verses from our Bible. But is this all that God is looking for in our worship and devotion? Is this the standard he has set for us?

Jesus seems to set the bar much higher. He states in Luke 10:27 that the greatest commandment ever given to those who would follow him is to "Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength and with ALL your mind..." Apparently Jesus isn't interested in having part of our love and devotion, he wants ALL of it! Have you ever thought about what it means to worship God with ALL of who you are?

The Apostle Paul reiterates this same principle in Romans 12 when he says "I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this," he says, "is your spiritual act of worship." So apparently worship isn't about singing songs to God or taking time pray in the morning or reading a few verses from the Bible, although those things can be an important part of our worship and devotion. True worship is about giving ALL of your life to God and not just honoring him in certain moments with certain portions of your life, but seeking to honor him every moment of every day with ALL of your life.

What adjustments do you need to make in your life to worship God with ALL of who you are?

The Alternative Lifestyle

2012-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

This week at Heartland Church we are starting a new series called "The Alternative Lifestyle." The proposition of an "Alternative Lifestyle" suggests that there is another lifestyle that this is the alternative to. Each of us make decisions on a daily basis, both consciously and subconsciously, about how we are going to live our lives. And whether we realize it or not, our culture has a lot to say about what is the "normal", "acceptable" way to live. Many of us spend our lives trying to keep up with what is "normal," in the hopes that we can fit in, be accepted or even be popular and famous.

Scripture speaks to these life choices over and over again. The Bible often talks about what is considered a "normal" practice or way of thinking in the world but then offers an alternative way of thinking and acting for those who would follow after Jesus. Apparently, according to God, those who would be his followers should think and act differently from those around them. God offers an alternative to normal way of doing things and according to Jesus, it's this alternative lifestyle that leads to the abundant life he came to give, or as the NLT states, "a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10)

There is one particular verse that has always struck me in this discussion about the choice to live a "normal life" like everyone around me or the "alternative life" God calls us to in Scripture.

Matthew 7:13-14
^"13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

According to Jesus words in Matthew 7, the normal way of living (the broad path that everyone else is on) may be easier... and it may be more comfortable... and you may have a lot more friends on the journey... but it leads to one place, destruction. But the narrow path (the alternative way of living) although it may be more difficult... it may be more lonely... people may not understand you... but it leads to life!

So often we are so consumed with what feels good here and now that we forget about the final destination where our choices lead us. Think for a minute about what's "normal" today... stress, anxiety, busyness, being overworked, lonely, depressed, debt, brokenness, broken relationships, broken families, anger, bitterness, hatred, divorce... the list could go on and on. These are the destinations that pursuing a "normal" life has led us to. But Jesus offers us an alternative... peace, comfort, hope, joy, patience, love, acceptance, forgiveness, wholeness, healing... the list too could go on and on.

Which destination do you want to end up at? It's my hope that as we explore this alternative lifestyle over these next several weeks, that each of us would make a conscious choice to follow Jesus down the narrow path and begin to experience the fullness of life he came to give. Let His Kingdom come!

The Mask of Success

2011-10-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

We've been in a series at church for a few weeks now called, "Masquerade". Figuratively speaking, all of us wear masks at different points in our lives to cover up or hide what's really going on. In doing so, not only do we cover up who we really are, but we also deny ourselves the opportunity to get real with God, deal with our issues and become the people he really longs for us to be. So this series has been taking a look at some of the different masks we wear and challenging us to take off those masks and get real with God.

This week we looked at the mask of success. If it's true that every mask we wear hides something, then what Pastor Mark shared, was that the mask of success hides the lack of true identity in Christ. As this thought was developed I thought it was a fascinating idea to think about. If you think about our pursuit of success in this world, often it is motivated by image. In other words, our pursuit of success is a pursuit to create a certain kind of image for ourselves with wealth, possessions, status, etc. And the level of success we reach becomes our identity. So in essence, our identity is not defined by who we truly are but by what we accomplish and achieve, and those things mask our true identity.

But if we take off the mask of success and redefine it in God's terms, the very foundation of how we define success changes. Where the mask of success is defined by image... an image we create for ourselves that becomes our identity... success in God's eyes is defined by our identity (who we are in Christ) and this identity becomes our image. We could very easily do the same things in either scenario, but the motivation behind why we do those things totally changes. No longer are we vainly pursuing wealth, possessions, and status to create an image for ourselves but we are pursuing the things that God stirs within us out of a sense of our identity in Him.

So the big question is, how do we take off the mask of success and redefine what being successful is all about? Well according to human standards which are based on image, you've become successful when you achieve a certain image of success... you've achieved a certain status and you appear successful. According to God's standard which is based on identity, you become successful when you understand who you are in Christ, you get a sense of what God has created you to do and you live your life to fulfill that mission of what you were created for... your calling from God. What exactly that calling is, and what it will look like is different for every one of us because we were all created with a unique purpose. But the real goal in finding success is to understand who God has called you to be... what he has created you for... and to boldly and passionately pursue that purpose with everything that's in you every single day of your life.

The Mask of Religion

2011-10-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

God Story: Getting Weird

2011-08-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

God is so good and he never ceases to amaze me with the things he does and the ways he works!

I've really been wrestling a lot lately with what it means to follow Jesus... not just ideologically but in practice... to really follow him... to really live my life differently.

So a group of us from church have been studying the book "Weird: Because Normal Isn't Working" by Craig Groeshel and really talking about what it means to follow Jesus and live for him... but not just talk about it, live it!

Well, God has really been dealing with my heart on the whole money issue lately... tithing, giving, generosity, living debt free, etc. and this is one of the areas in our study of "Weird" that I've really been trying to take some action steps. I know this is an area of my life where I've had the illusion of thinking I'm in control. So over the years we've been way more reliant on credit cards than we should be and in the end probably missed out on the opportunity to be reliant on God and see the miracles of his provision on so many occasions.

I've been feeling in my heart like God wants me to cut up all the credit cards and get rid of that illusion of control that keeps me from completely depending on him but it's like the worst time right now! We live in California but have a house in Michigan still that we've been renting just to try to pay all the bills. Well, our renters recently moved out leaving us with our normal bills plus our mortgage payment to carry... and to top it all off the city building inspector came through and cited us for $3000 in repairs which we don't have the money to pay for. The kicker is we can't rent the house again until the repairs are done so we have to do them.

I've been praying hard, believing God to provide, but all the while had a plan B waiting in the wings, knowing that I could use the credit cards to help pay the bill if necessary. Last week, the day that I got the estimate from the contractor, as I was crunching numbers trying to figure out how we were going to pay this bill, the church treasurer shows up in my office with a check for $500 that someone from the church anonymously wanted to give to us! It was as if God was reminding me that he's more than able to provide... Cool, indeed... however, there still is $2500 that we don't have!

Ironically, if we were able to find renters for the house, the first months rent, the security deposit and the $500 anonymous gift would almost exactly cover the bill. But we haven't had much luck in finding renters. Lots of interest but nothing coming through. So I just continued to believe that God could provide but my plan B was still waiting in the wings.

Well, today I was watching a message online about Bold Obedience to God and I just knew in my heart at the end of this message that the Bold step of obedience I needed to take was to cut up all the credit cards and trust that God would provide. I was terrified knowing that there was no other way to pay this bill if the credit cards were gone but I knew it's what I had to do to truly trust God in this situation. I collected all the credit cards and was getting up out of my chair to go run them through the shredder (still terrified if I was making the right decision) when I glanced at my phone and noticed I had an email. It was from one of the people who had previously gone through our house stating that they really liked the house and are planning to submit an application in the next couple days!

Nothing is for sure at this point but it was just the confirmation I needed!

The credit cards have been run through the shredder!

God is good!

Redemption Prep

2011-05-17T12:46:00.001-07:00

The Courage to Bring Change

2011-05-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the records of the kings of Israel and Judah in the Old Testament. The records are filled with wicked king after wicked king who led the people of God in idol worship, sin and rebellion against God. And then every once in a while you find a king who was fully devoted to God and would destroy the idols, shrines and high places and lead the people back to God.

I've glossed over these passages before but as I read them today, I was particularly struck by the tremendous courage of these kings who were devoted to God and led the people back to Him. Certainly it couldn't have been an easy thing to go against the tide of what had become "normal" in that culture and to bring about significant cultural change. It had to have taken a great deal of courage and conviction to stand up against the cultural current and turn things around.

As I mentioned, I've glossed over these passages before, feeling somewhat removed from the cultural context but I wonder how removed we really are. Do we not live in a culture that is full of idolatry, sin and rebellion? Certainly our idolatry, sin and rebellion looks different than it did back then, but is it not still idolatry, sin and rebellion? Doesn't it seem that these things have become the cultural norm for us? We adapt ourselves to less than godly ways of living and become numb to them because that's what's normal.

I wonder, then, where are the leaders, the people fully devoted to God who would follow the example of these courageous kings and rise up with courage and conviction to bring change? It may not be any easy road to walk, but doesn't God deserve for us to take a stand for Him?

May God fill you with passion, devotion, conviction and courage to be all he has created you to be and to stand up for what is right.

Descending into Greatness

2011-04-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Rejoicing in Suffering Prep

2011-04-06T18:01:00.000-07:00

Invisible Children 25 Project

2011-04-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

During the month of April Element Student Ministries will be taking on another social justice project partnering with Invisible Children. Invisible Children is an organization that seeks to make a difference in the lives of children and families in Central Africa that are being affected every day by the brutality of a rebel army called the LRA. This year marks the 25th year of the LRA’s brutality in Central Africa and the Invisible Children organization and others seek to make it the last. On April 25 we will be participating in an event called 25, in which we will join in as part of a group of 25,000+ people who will go without speaking for 25 hours. The goal is to allow the voices of these silenced children to be heard through our own silence and to raise money for this project. To support us in this project you can place your donations in the Invisible Children basket in the front of the worship room at church, see any of our Element students who are participating and give your donations to them, or visit our fundraising web page at http://ic.stayclassy.org/member/ic-fundraising?fcid=16555 and donate online. You can also find more information about Invisible Children by visiting the their website at invisiblechildren.com. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Check out our 25 Promo Video:

Thank You!!

2011-03-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say a special thank you to all of you who made donations to World Vision for my marathon run this past weekend. Together we were able to raise over $1500 to help children around the world who are suffering!

The race went well considering the fact that it was pouring rain all day! I was able to finish in about 5 hours and actually felt pretty good through most of it.

If you'd still like to make donations, it's not too late. You can donate online by clicking on the link below.

http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1119816&pg=personal&fr_id=1290

Thanks again for your gifts!

Foolish Wisdom Prep

2011-03-15T16:05:00.001-07:00

I Care. And So I Run. Race Week.

2011-03-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, for the last 18 weeks I have been on an intense journey of highs and lows training for the 26.2 mile LA Marathon that I will run next Sunday, March 20 as part of Team World Vision. For a large portion of my life I've enjoyed the challenge and discipline of running and the idea of running a marathon has always been intriguing to me.

A couple years ago while I was attending a conference I had the opportunity to go to a lunch that was sponsored by Team World Vision. It was at this lunch that my heart was so moved by the stories I heard of lives that were being changed because people were willing to step up to the plate and do something that seemed impossible or even crazy to most. It was at this lunch that I made a commitment to pursue the journey of running a marathon, not for what I could get out of it, but for what I could give through it.

World Vision is an amazing Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. They serve 100 million people in nearly 100 countries around the world.

World Vision, along with so many other organizations, also provides immediate disaster relief for major catastrophes like the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week. They are often one of the first responders to these crises and in fact are on the ground in Japan right now. Now more than ever they need our support so that they can continue to meet the needs and make a difference in the world.

The journey of training for this marathon has not always been an easy one, but what has kept me going through the difficult moments as I run, has been the thoughts of the real life people who live in the midst of horrifying poverty and injustice every day, and the fact that their lives can be changed through this small sacrifice on my part.

I write to ask if you would be willing to sponsor me as I run this marathon on behalf of Team World Vision. Every dollar we raise has the potential to radically change the circumstances for so many people who live in devastating and often deadly situations. I care and I want to do whatever I can to make a difference... and so this next Sunday I will run 26.2 miles in the hopes of changing lives.

To make a donation with a debit or credit card online, you can visit my team website at:

http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1119816&pg=personal&fr_id=1290

You can also send checks made out to World Vision to:

Skot Lokers
4342 Middlefield Dr.
Tracy, CA 95377

Your support is greatly appreciated!

The Foundation of Giving Prep

2011-03-09T14:58:00.001-08:00

The Privilege of Giving

2011-03-06T21:53:00.001-08:00

The Privilege of Giving Prep

2011-03-03T23:20:00.000-08:00

ReThink Obedience

2011-02-22T16:07:00.001-08:00

Love Hungry

2011-02-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

Less than two weeks until our 30 Hour Famine event and I'm so excited about all the ways that people have pitched in to make this project a success! The truth is, though, as excited as I am about all that we have accomplished so far, the needs are still great and there is so much more that we can do!

The theme for this year's 30 Hour Famine is "Love Hungry". Because the truth is that it's not that hard to love when it's easy. It's not that difficult to love when it's comfortable and it doesn't cost us anything. But the whole purpose of the Famine is to learn to identify with other people's struggles and hardships and to learn to love when it's difficult... when it costs us something. And that's exactly what Jesus calls us to... to not only love when it's easy and comfortable but to learn to love when it's difficult and painful... when it costs us something.

I'm so proud of all the kids who have stepped up to the plate and volunteered to go without food for 30 hours and to love through their hunger. But this project isn't just about going without food to identify with others but to raise awareness and support so that we can change the circumstances for so many people that live in the reality of hunger every day. It's easy for us to throw a couple extra dollars in the jar and pat ourselves on the backs for doing a good thing. And don't get me wrong, those extra dollars make a huge difference and change lives, but is that really a sacrifice? Does that really capture the essence of "Love Hungry"?

So I'm asking you today to consider what sacrifices you can make to participate in changing the reality of hunger for people all over the world. Just $30 will feed a child for an entire month and in many cases provide sustainable food sources for an entire family for the rest of their lives... that's $1 a day!

I don't know about you but my family goes out to eat usually once every week or two and we spend at least $30 for the 5 of us. Perhaps we could sacrifice that meal for a week and eat at home, and know that by doing so we have saved a child's life for a month and maybe even for a lifetime.

Perhaps you go out to lunch every day while you're at work. Maybe for the next week or so you could pack a lunch and take that money and donate it to the Famine.

The possibilities are endless! Be creative! But I'm begging you all to dig deep during these final days of fundraising for our 30 Hour Famine and learn to "Love Hungry".

If you'd like to make a tax-deductible online donation to our group for the 30 Hour Famine, visit our team website at http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/30HourFamine/30HourFamine?team_id=11443&pg=team&fr_id=1310.

May God bless you richly for the sacrifices you make!

I Care. And So I Run.

2011-02-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

I am running the LA Marathon with Team World Vision on March 20 to help change lives in Africa. That's right... running 26.2 miles to help make a difference! The needs are great, but I believe there is something we can do!

World Vision works with communities in desperate need to help provide things like clean water, nutritious food, education, medical care, and economic opportunity.

My goal is to raise $50 for every mile I run... that's $1310. Will you make a tax-deductible donation to support my efforts?

To make an online donation, visit my personal fundraising page at http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1119816&pg=personal&fr_id=1290

You can also send me checks made out to World Vision at:

Skot Lokers

4342 Middlefield Dr.

Tracy, CA 95377

Together we can help change lives in Africa!

ReThink Priorities Prep Video

2011-02-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

ReThink Spirituality Prep Video

2011-02-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

30 Hour Famine - WE NEED YOUR HELP!

2011-02-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I wanted to let you know about an amazing opportunity we have to make a significant impact on the world we live in. The students from Element Student Ministries and other members of Heartland Church are participating in a 30 Hour Famine. During the Famine, our students will actually NOT EAT for 30 hours. YES! You read that right. Teenagers… not eating... for 30 hours. Why? Because nearly 8,000 children under age 5 die every day because of hunger-related causes—that’s one child every 10 seconds. And we are NOT okay with that, we will NOT stand by while children die from lack of food.

In the time leading up to and during our 30 hours of fasting, the students are going to get a crash course in global hunger and come face to face with the realities of poverty and injustice. We will make a global impact by learning about world hunger and raising money for hungry children around the world through World Vision; a local impact through service projects and raising awareness during our 30 hours; and making an individual impact on us when we will all get a small taste of what it is like for starving kids around the world.

The Famine is our chance to make a difference, our chance to make hunger part of our history not our present, and our chance actually do something about hunger. Every dollar we raise has the ability to feed a starving child for a day, which means that every $30 we raise will help feed and care for a child for an entire month. Will you help us make an impact on the world this year?

To make an online donation, visit our team website at http://twv.convio.net/site/TR/30HourFamine/30HourFamine?team_id=11443&pg=team&fr_id=1310.

Thanks for sponsoring us to go without—so others can eat!

Want to know where the money raised through the Famine goes?Visit www.30hourfamine.org/about to learn more about 30 Hour Famine and World Vision’s hunger programs.

The Way We Worship

2011-02-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been reading the past couple days in the book of Exodus, the lengthy and incredibly detailed instructions given to Moses by God about how to build the Tabernacle (house of worship) and how to conduct worship, and it's got me thinking. At first glance it's easy to glaze over these portions of Scripture with their meticulous attention to every detail and easily think that it's irrelevant to us today who live so far beyond the times of Moses and the worship that took place in the Tabernacle.

I wonder though as I read this, how God feels about our worship. So much attention is given in this day and age to our personal styles of worship and what we like or don't like. But when was the last time we really asked how God wants us to worship? If he was so specific in his instructions to the people in Moses' day, is it too far fetched to think he might have an opinion on how we worship today?

That's not to say that I think our worship forms and styles today are irrelevant, or that God is not pleased with the sacrifices of worship we bring to him. But I think in the consumeristic culture we live in, church and worship can easily just become another thing we consume... another thing to feed our own selfish motivations. We can easily become consumers of worship rather than givers of worship. If indeed this is the way we operate, it is completely contrary to the essence of what worship is all about. Worship is an opportunity for us to take the focus off of ourselves and to honor God who is highly exalted above all of our selfish ambitions. Worship is about honoring someone else above ourselves and often involves sacrifice.

When was the last time you took time to consider or even ask God how he wants you to worship him?

When was the last time your worship cost you something?

Are your acts of worship truly God-honoring or self-indulgent?

Take some time to pray, read the Bible and consider how God might want you to worship. See what specific instructions he might give to you.

God's Goodness in the Midst of Struggle

2011-01-24T10:48:00.000-08:00

All of us have struggles and hardships in life. As Christians it can sometimes be difficult to reconcile God's plan with the struggles and hardships we face. How could a God who is so loving and caring allow me to go through this? The hope that we cling to though, is that God sees the bigger picture. As human beings we often have a limited perspective. We only see what lies before us. But God sees our entire existence. And often it's the most difficult seasons in life that shape us for the greater things that God has in store for us.

I was reading the story of Joseph in the Bible today and was particularly moved by this very principle in his life. Joseph was a favorite son of his father Jacob and his brothers despised him for it. So one day when they were out in the fields his brothers sold him into slavery to do away with him. Through a series of events, Joseph ends up in prison in Egypt for a number of years. But God uses those days of misfortune and eventually Joseph becomes second in command in the entire land of Egypt next to Pharaoh. God uses Joseph and his godly wisdom to literally save people's lives, including Joseph's own family, during a severe famine in the land.

After all Joseph had been through, I love what he says to his brothers when he reveals himself to them: "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you." Joseph certainly had plenty of reason to be angry and upset with his brothers, but instead he sees the larger plan of God in the midst of all that has happened to him.

Now, none of us are promised the outcome of Joseph's life in the midst of our struggles and hardships. For that matter, none of us are even promised the outcome that we desire. But God does promise that in ALL things he works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28) Regardless of what you're going through and regardless of the outcome, we can hope in the promise that God is good, and that he is working on our behalf.

To Him be the glory!

ReThink Right Living

2011-01-23T17:22:00.001-08:00

Leading from a Place of Yearning

2011-01-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

The Book of Psalms were written as poems and songs of worship to God. They were the modern worship songs of their day and so we can learn a lot about worship by reading and studying them.

I've always been drawn to the words of Psalm 42, but was intrigued by an article I read yesterday that described this Psalm as an example to those of us who lead worship. In this Psalm, the psalmist cries out to God, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” You can sense from his words that this is obviously a deeply personal prayer from a man who is yearning for God from the depths of his soul. But as the author of the article pointed out, this isn’t just a cry between himself and God, but a cry that he pens and shares with others. This is a very personal prayer but one that also comes from a leader who bears his soul before the people.

Perhaps the challenge we can glean from this passage, for those who lead worship (or who lead in any capacity for that matter), is to foster this kind of deep-seeded yearning for God in our lives and to learn to lead from that place. We can’t manufacture or fake this kind of longing, but when it’s real, others will see it and this sense of yearning may just be ignited in their hearts as well.

Today consider, what are some ways you can foster a sense of yearning and longing for God in your life?

Our God

2011-01-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Love this song!! Nothing is impossible for our God!!

The Power of Words

2011-01-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

I was reading the story of Jacob and Esau this morning and was struck by the portion where Jacob steala his brother Esau's blessing. The story goes that Isaac, the father of Jacob and Easu was growing old and near the point of death. He wanted to give his eldest son Esau a blessing before he died and so he instructed Esau to go out and hunt some wild game, prepare it and bring it to him and then he would give him a blessing before he dies. Jacob the younger brother learns of this and sets out with his mother's help to deceive his father and steal the blessing of his older brother and indeed he does. He disguises himself as Esau and his father speaks a blessing over him and his life.

What strikes me about this story though is the apparent power behind the words that Isaac speaks. When Isaac speaks the blessing over Jacob, that's it and that's the way things are going to be. There is no taking it back or changing what has been said. When Esau comes in to receive his blessing both he and his father are overcome because they realize they have been deceived. However, there is nothing they can do to change it. The words have been spoken and that is the way things will be.

Reading this story, I wonder how much we take our words for granted? Proverbs 18:21 says that, "The tongue has the power of life and death..." It seems we live in a day and age where words don't mean much. We can say whatever we want to say and they're just words. We don't have to be accountable for the things we say because if things get too out of hand we can simply state that we didn't really mean what we said... they're just words!

But as I read this story I can't help but wonder how our words really do affect our lives? Perhaps the words we speak mean much more than we give them credit for. Perhaps they affect our lives and the lives of those around us more than we are aware of.

Today, consider how the things you speak might affect your life and the lives of those around you.

Above All Else

2011-01-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

I was reading the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis this morning and was struck by a particular passage in Chapter 22. Mind you that Abraham has waited his entire life to have a son. God has made him promises that he would have a son and that through this son, Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and they would become God's chosen people. Finally at the age of 100 God's promise is fulfilled and Abraham has a son and names him Isaac. I can only imagine the love and attachment that Abraham has for this son of his.

But now as the story unfolds, God comes to Abraham again and says to him, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."

Can you imagine the horror for Abraham? Not only is this the son he has waited for 100 years for, but God has made Abraham all sorts of promises concerning this son of his. But seemingly without hesitation Abraham goes. He takes his son to the place God shows him, ties him to the altar and raises his knife to slay his beloved son and finally God intervenes and stops him. His words to Abraham are these, "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

What strikes me about this story is that God wants our pure, unadulterated love and devotion. He wants to be first place in our lives, above all else. For Abraham, God wanted to ensure that even what he had promised him and blessed him with, hadn't become an idol that Abraham treasured above God.

All of us have things that we love and cherish in life... be it relationships, money, possessions, jobs, status, etc. But the important thing for us to remember is not that those things are bad, but that God wants to be first in our life above all those things. For us to value anything above God is idolatry... we are worshipping something else above God.

So what are the things you value and cherish? Would you be able to stand up to the test of God and surrender those things if he so asked? Is there something he is perhaps asking you to lay on the altar and sacrifice in your life? What changes do you need to make in your life to solidify your devotion to God above all else?

WHOLEHEARTED Devotion

2011-01-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

I was reading a book today and came across the story of King Amaziah from the book of 2 Chronicles. The first portion of the account of Amaziah's life is about his obedience and devotion to God and the success he experienced in life. The second portion of the account of his life is about his disobedience to God and the defeat he experienced in the end.

There was one statement in 2 Chronicles 25:2 that I found particularly poignant though. It says, "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly."

It seems that this halfhearted obedience to God was perhaps what eventually led to his disobedience. I was particularly challenged by this because I know for me, working in full-time vocational ministry, I've had moments where it's easy to let my service and obedience to the Lord become part of the routine of what I do and not be given out of a place of true love and devotion. I do it because it's what I have to do and not because I love to do it.

I don't ever want to serve God just because it's what I'm SUPPOSED to do! I want to fall in love with him more and more every day and serve him with WHOLEHEARTED devotion!

Do you ever experience this sort of halfhearted devotion to God?

What are some ways you can keep the passion and fire alive in your life to wholeheartedly serve God?

Hurry Up, God!!

2011-01-06T08:06:00.000-08:00

If you know anything about me, patience is not a strength of mine. When I decide I want something, I want it now! When I decide to make a change in my life, I'm ready to make it now! Why wait for something that is inevitably coming? Let's just get to the end result.

Well, if you know anything about God, he doesn't always work that way. God seems to be much more concerned about the process we go through in getting somewhere than the actual destination itself. What's most valuable is not necessarily the blessing that lies at the end of the road but the things we learn and the ways we grow along the journey.

I was reading the story of Abraham this morning and was struck by his own impatience... not that I can blame him! Abraham was 75 years old and childless when God began to make him promises that his offspring would be God's chosen people and God would bless the world through them. After ten more years of waiting for God to give them a child, Abraham and his wife Sarah were still childless. They obviously were growing impatient and it seemed less and less likely that a man who was 85 and a woman who was now 75 would have children. So they decided to take things into their own hands. Sarah had a servant by the name of Hagar and decided that perhaps Abraham should sleep with her and they could have a surrogate child through her.

Hagar did indeed conceive a child for Abraham and it looked like perhaps their plan had worked. However God returned to Abraham when he was 99 years old, 24 years after he began promising Abraham descendants who would change the world, and he told him that his son Ishmael (Hagar's son) was not the chosen one but that he would still have a son with Sarah. A year later, 25 years after God's initial promises, when Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah is 90, their son Isaac was born.

Here's the kicker for me though... Along with Isaac, Ishmael would also grow into a great nation that would become some of the fiercest enemies to God's chosen people throughout all of history and even to this day. The repercussions of Abraham and Sarah's impatience became a long lasting stumbling block to the nation of Israel who were the descendants of Isaac.

So the obvious challenge for us (for me) is learning to be patient and wait on God. It's a difficult struggle for those of us who often lack patience, to wait patiently for God to fulfill his plans. But one of the obvious messages from this story is that our own impatience, and trying to force things to happen before it is time, can often cause more damage than it does good.

I personally have things that I've felt for 10+ years that God has called me to and it's a constant struggle to wait for God to fulfill his promise and not just try to make those things happen on my own.

So what are the promises that you are waiting for God to fulfill?

How well are you patiently waiting on him?

What are the possible repercussions if you become impatient and try to force things to happen?

Psalm 37:7
"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..."

Obedience to God

2011-01-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

It's interesting to me that all of us who claim to be Christians would likely agree that we desire to do God's will. We desire to live our lives in such a way that pleases him. But it's one thing to have a desire to do God's will and it's another thing to actually do it.

I was reading the story of Noah this morning in the book of Genesis and was struck by verse 22 in chapter 6.

Genesis 6:22
"Noah did everything just as God commanded him."

What an amazing statement... to have it said of you that you did EVERYTHING just as God commanded you! It's an easy thing to have good intentions, but in the end intentions don't amount to much. The difficult part of following God's plan for your life is making the appropriate adjustments and the difficult changes to actually live according to his plan.

As we face this new year... this fresh start... may God empower each of us not only with the passion and desire to do his will, but the determination and discipline to actually do it! May it be said of us at the end of 2011 that we did everything just as God commanded us. To Him be all the glory!

New Beginnings for 2011

2011-01-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

I was reading the story of creation this morning and was overcome by the awesomeness of our God! What an amazing thing that God simply spoke creation into existence! The Bible tells us that God spoke and it was so... and not only that but it was good!

As we begin this new year there is hope to know that no matter what you are facing that God is big enough and strong enough to carry you and sustain you through it. The answers to our prayers may not always be what we expect or even hope for but there is hope in knowing that God is in control. There is hope in knowing that with a single word from his mouth, God can alter the course of history.

My prayer for all of you this year is that this would be a year of new beginnings, of transformation and positive change. I pray that God would speak into the darkest places of your life and bring new life... that at the end of this year you would look back and be able to say with God, "It is good."

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5

A Prayer of Surrender for This New Year

2011-01-01T08:49:00.000-08:00

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is discord, unity,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is error, truth
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
And where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant me that I may seek not so much to be consoled but to console,
Not so much to be understood but to understand,
Not so much to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in losing ourselves that we find ourselves,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- Saint Francis of Assisi

Obedience

2010-11-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about obedience. God calls us to be obedient to him and to his ways. But it seems like often our obedience is a rote mental exercise without passion or feeling. We're obedient because we have to be... because we don't want to suffer the consequences of being disobedient, so we obey.

I read this quote the other day though and it really struck me: "Obedience to God is not a mental discipline; it's a yielded heart to God." In other words we obey not because we have to or something bad will happen, but because we get to... because we are so moved by the love that God has for us that we are passionate about loving him in return and doing things to please Him. I submit myself to my wife and am obedient to her (most of the time :-)) not because I have to or something bad will happen but because I am so in love with her that it is a joy to please her.

It's true that God has laid out some guidelines for our lives that he invites us to follow... and sometimes they aren't the most fun things for us to do. But the Bible is very clear that the guidelines God has given us are for our own benefit. He loves us sooooooooo much and wants us to experience all that life with him has to offer, but in order to experience that, there are some rules to follow.

It's kind of like eating vegetables... there are a lot of kids who hate eating vegetables. As kids we'd rather just eat junk food all the time because it tastes better. But our parents make us obey the rules and eat our vegetables because they know if we only eat junk food that in 10 years we are going to be 400 pounds! It may seem better to just eat junk food because it tastes better but the truth is in the long run we will suffer because of it.

God sees the bigger picture and he invites us to follow his rules because he knows that in the long run we will be better off. Can you imagine what a mess life would be if there were no rules or guidelines? Perhaps some of you are suffering because you have failed to follow the rules... you've metaphorically become the 400 pound kid and now are struggling to get out of the mess you've made.

The truth is there is no middle ground when it comes to obedience... if we don't obey then we disobey. I pray that we would all become passionate lovers of God who are obedient to all he tells us to do... not because we have to, but because we get to!

Discipline

2010-11-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

So I'm not by nature a very self-disciplined person... I suppose compared to some I am! But I tend to be a person who is led by my emotions. If I feel the urge to be self-disciplined then it's not a problem, but when I don't feel like it, it's very difficult. But I've been working really hard at being more self-disciplined and doing things because it's the right thing to do whether I feel like it or not.

Let's face it, none of us really like discipline! Discipline is not a fun thing... that's what makes it discipline! But the truth of the matter is that discipline is for our benefit. When we were children our parents disciplined us when we did things we shouldn't do because they wanted us to become the best people we could become. I don't think any of us probably enjoyed that discipline but ultimately it was for our benefit. I've known people over the years who really lacked parental discipline during their childhood and although it may have seemed like a great thing at the time, their lives have been ruined because of it.

The Bible speaks of how God also disciplines us for our benefit so that we can become all that he intends us to be. Listen to the words from Hebrews 12:

⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
   “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
   and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a]
⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Our natural tendency is to want to run from trial, hardship, pain and discipline but sometimes those are the very things we need to go through to grow into the people that God wants us to be.

I heard this great quote once about self-discipline that has stuck with me: "Discipline yourself so someone else won't have to." I love that because the truth is the only time someone else has to discipline us is when we are not doing what we are supposed to do. So if you discipline yourself to do the things you know you need to be doing, then no one else is going to have to discipline you.

So consider, in what areas are you being disciplined? In what areas do you need to be more disciplined?

Faith

2010-11-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 11:1 says that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." We live in a culture that says "I have to see it to believe it." But faith as it is defined in Hebrews 11 does not mix with this worldview. We cannot live with an "I have to see it to believe it" mentality and also live in faith... the two are irreconcilable.

As Christ followers, God has called us to live by faith. If you think about it, the whole notion of "I have to see it to believe it" is really an issue of control. "I want to be in control of my life and so unless I have proof that something is real and true, then I can't accept it. I don't want to act in extreme ways, ways that seem contrary to what would be beneficial to me, unless I have proof that it's going to pay off in the end."

On the contrary then, living by faith is surrendering control. "Even though I can't see it, taste it, touch it, hear it, or smell it, I believe it to be true. Even though it may seem extreme, counter-cultural and it may not make sense to me, I accept it because God says it's true." It's learning to let go of control and believing that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways are better than our ways... it's believing that he's big enough and strong enough to order and direct our steps. It's learning to live life his way instead of our way.

So what areas of your life have you been clinging to control? What things do you need to surrender to God? In what ways do you need to begin living by faith?

The Feast of Passover

2010-11-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Created for Relationship

2010-10-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

Look to the One!

2010-10-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was reading this morning in the book of Isaiah and was struck by a particular verse in which the Lord rebuked the people for taking notice and celebrating the things around them that were indeed good, but failing to look to the One who created and brought about those good things. I wonder how many times I do the same? So many good and beautiful things surround me on a daily basis and yet how many times do I fail to stop and acknowledge the One who brought those good and beautiful things about? My prayer today is that not only will I be more aware of the beauty that surrounds me, but that I'll also be more aware of the presence of the One who brought these things to be.

Thanks be to God!!

hear the call

2010-09-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

"'not called!' did you say? 'not heard the call,' i think you should say.

put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. go and stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there.

then look Christ in the face - whose mercy you have professed to obey - and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world."

- William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

Becoming the Message

2010-09-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

By God's grace, might we seek to become communities of humility, repentance, and authentic hope.

"Humility comes when we see ourselves as beggars who have been gifted with food and invited to bring that food to others. Repentance demands the courage to admit our weaknesses, acknowledge our wounding of others, and seek reconciliation. Authenticity means that we bring our grievances with an honesty of emotion and openness to correction. Hope means that in spite of the relentless terrors, tragedies, and traumas of life, we abide with a stubborn confidence that there is a greater story at work - a story that does not deny these painful realities but interprets them in light of the story's ending, an ending where weeping turns to laughter, and despair dissolves into joy. These corporate virtues and practices articulate the very color and texture of the gospel story. By living them out, we are the message." Shane Hipps

365 treasures: day 68

2010-09-18T19:30:00.001-07:00

Jonas Brothers Concert

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365 treasures: day 68

2010-09-18T11:27:00.001-07:00

A little paint and some work and we've got a new table!!

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365 treasures: day 67

2010-09-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

365 treasures: day 66

2010-09-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Element Food Wars

365 treasures: day 65

2010-09-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

Family Trip to Yosemite

365 treasures: day 64

2010-09-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

My Girls!

365 treasures: day 63

2010-09-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Fun at the beach!

365 treasures: day 62

2010-09-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

My handsome little man!

365 treasures: day 61

2010-09-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

Funny Faces

365 treasures: day 60

2010-09-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

My Beauty Queen!

365 treasures: day 59

2010-09-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

Fun at the Park!

365 treasures: day 58

2010-09-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

The love of my life!!

apologies!

2010-09-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

so i set out a while back on this 365 treasures adventure. the goal was to take time to slow down and find one "treasure" every day and to snap a photo of it and post it. as of late, i have done a terrible job at keeping up with it. my apologies to those of you who have been following me and waiting for the updates. i am going to make a concerted effort to a do a better job at keeping up with it. in the mean time i am updating today with numerous photos from the past several weeks of things that have been meaningful!

food wars promo

2010-09-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

2010-08-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

I needed this today!

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

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Location:Psalm 121

365 treasures: day 57

2010-08-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

My office buddy for the day!

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knowledge or love?

2010-08-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

i was reading this morning in 1 corinthians:8 and was struck by a particular thought. in verses 1-3, paul says, "we all possess knowledge. but knowledge puffs up while love builds up. those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. but whoever loves God is known by God."

i was struck, thinking many of us come to church seeking to "know more" about God, but how often do we come together to really let God change us... to learn to love more. sure, knowledge is helpful but if that knowledge doesn't somehow change us and cause us to live our lives differently (in this case, loving more) then all we get is a big head. as he says in verse 2, "those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know." true knowledge of God that changes us, brings with it humility, whereas knowledge alone that doesn't affect our lives only brings pride.

let love change you!

365 treasures: day 56

2010-08-22T22:54:00.001-07:00

A little bedroom makeover!

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365 treasures: day 55

2010-08-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

First day back to school!

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365 treasures: day 54

2010-08-22T22:51:00.001-07:00

Our vacation ride!

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365 treasures: day 53

2010-08-22T22:49:00.001-07:00

Making a plate for Nana

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365 treasures: day 52

2010-08-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Picture day!

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questions of suffering

2010-08-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

365 treasures: day 51

2010-08-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

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365 treasures: day 50

2010-08-12T20:35:00.001-07:00

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365 treasures: day 49

2010-08-07T21:20:00.000-07:00

Coast Guard Parade

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365 treasures: day 48

2010-08-05T19:54:00.001-07:00

Got to sit on a 1.4 million dollar custom bike made by Orange County Choppers!

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365 treasures: day 47

2010-08-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

Illy getting her nails done... So cute!

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365 treasures: day 46

2010-08-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

The backdrop to my morning run.

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365 treasures: day 45

2010-08-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

Heading to Michigan

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365 treasures: day 44

2010-07-31T23:27:00.000-07:00

Surfing!

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365 treasures: day 43

2010-07-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

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365 treasures: day 42

2010-07-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

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365 treasures: day 42

2010-07-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Izzy's Birthday

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365 treasures: day 41

2010-07-22T09:24:00.001-07:00

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Spirit and Eternity

2010-07-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

365 treasures: day 40

2010-07-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauty!!

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365 treasures: day 39

2010-07-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

My new MacBook!!

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365 treasures: day 38

2010-07-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

Good times with good friends!

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365 treasures: day 37

2010-07-10T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauties!!

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365 treasures: day 36

2010-07-06T09:52:00.001-07:00

Marianne's Ice Cream... Yummm!!!

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365 treasures: day 35

2010-07-05T23:48:00.000-07:00

She fell asleep on my lap... Nothing better!!

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365 treasures: day 34

2010-06-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

We start 'em young!

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365 treasures: day 33

2010-06-28T21:45:00.000-07:00

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365 treasures: day 32

2010-06-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

Family snack tine!

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365 treasures: day 31

2010-06-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

Thankful for my new iPhone!!

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365 treasures: day 30

2010-06-23T16:19:00.001-07:00

Thankful for our new house!

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suffering

2010-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

i started reading the book of job today. i think job chapter 1 is quickly becoming one of my favorite scriptures. all of us at some point or another experience suffering and loss (some more than others) and can identify with job. probably few of us have experienced suffering and loss in one single day on the scale that job did... but nonetheless we know what it's like to have a bad day.

what i love about job chapter 1 though is his response to it all. he doesn't ignore the suffering but tears his robe and shaves his head which is the custom of mourning in job's time. he is obviously deeply effected by the tragedy that has just occurred. but it doesn't end there. the scripture says that he tore his robe and shaved his head, then he fell to the ground and worshiped! what an amazing response to the worst day of his life... he fell to the ground in worship.

listen to job's words:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”

in this world, we will all experience suffering and loss. but i pray that in those moments we would have the faith of job to acknowledge our pain, but also in it and through it, to fall to the ground and worship.

365 treasures: day 29

2010-06-22T16:18:00.001-07:00

Thankful for restful activities like disc golf!

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365 treasures: day 28

2010-06-21T22:00:00.001-07:00

Fun at Costco!

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365 treasures: day 27

2010-06-21T21:59:00.001-07:00

Happy Father's Day to me!

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365 treasures: day 25

2010-06-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

thankful my sister is in town for a few weeks!

following

2010-06-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

we are not called to follow a program but a person. as we come to know this person, we encounter God. as we conform our lives to his teaching and his way of living, we grow in godliness. christianity is about knowing and following Jesus... somewhere along the line we lost sight of that.

365 treasures: day 24

2010-06-13T19:56:00.001-07:00

thankful for community!

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