identity-reminding you who you are

My new Corvette--Setting my mind part 3

2010-04-07T08:45:00.004-05:00

I was driving today and was passed by a beautiful black Corvette. The low rumble of its engine, the sheen of its paint which seemed inches thick, the lines of its body, and in particular the cat-like ease with which it rounded the corner onto the entrance ramp beside me, obviously caught my attention. I have always loved fast cars, but have never been able to afford one, and so seeing these cars pass, especially as I get a little older, has become a little painful. Today, however, was different.

As I have begun this "experiment" (for lack of a better word) of "setting my mind on things above," I have experienced a liberating shift in my emotional life. I am content. I have recognized that, in the spiritual realm, where I truly exist, I have everything I could ever hope or dream of and much more. I am learning to take stock of my life according to the circumstances of my spirit, which is already present with Jesus in Heaven at the right hand of the Throne of God, according to Colossians 3, and to realize that what I see with my natural eyes simply does not count.

No, I do not have a new Corvette, but I also don't have a Corvette payment or insurance. I don't have to worry about where I park to avoid someone door-dinging me or something crapping on my gorgeous paint job. But, do you know that feeling you imagine you would have if you finally got that luscious car or dream house or perfect job, spouse, body, or whatever? ...I have that.

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment."

"Seems to be working?..."

2010-04-02T23:37:00.001-05:00

While I don't think it's correct to follow a question mark with an ellipsis, I do think it's appropriate to follow a statement like that with an explanation. "Working" is such an ambiguous description. I want to make it perfectly clear that what it does not mean is that having set my mind on things above, I have somehow suddenly been beset by loads of cash. What I have been beset with, however, is in my opinion much better than cash...peace.

That's the best thing of all, but it's not all. Ironically, once I decided to stop thinking about these issues, they very suddenly became very clear to me; and the paralyzing analysis has given way to some very simple, very effective action. It's as if fear and worry (things that for years I never thought I was even capable of) had formed a cloud around me. In a way, as I have "counted all things lost," the fear of losing is gone, and I can see clearly to do what needs to be done...so it seems to be working.

Setting my mind on things above

2010-03-31T22:48:00.004-05:00

Things got really tough this last year...mostly just financially, but if you've been there you know it eventually effects some pretty important things...if you let it. I kept hearing the Holy Spirit say to me, "Don't think about it..." and I thought, "But that's irresponsible, isn't it? This stuff needs my attention. I have to fix this, don't I?" Then I remembered Jesus' words, "Seek first...and all these things..." and Paul's words, "Set your minds on things above..." so I tried it. Know what? So far it seems to be working.

A Year since i've written???

2010-03-08T23:09:00.002-06:00

March 18? Really? When I saw that the last publish date was March 18, 2009, I was floored! It's been quite a year. So busy I didn't have time to write, then lately, so stressed I had nothing to say, primarily because I am no longer so busy. I've never been one to worry, but wow! This is quite an interesting time.

Tonight I met a man in QT who said to me, "I teach men. I teach them two things: Who God is, and who they are. If you get those two things..." Then he just smiled.

That's something worth writing.

Two trees...could it be that simple?

2009-03-18T13:43:00.002-05:00

The classic struggle between good and evil captivates us in literature, movies, even in world events. We love to see good triumph over evil, to see justice prevail, to see the right win the day.

Curious that we as Christians are so prone to jump in and choose sides in this struggle, when the very thing that caused our initial downfall was a tree called "the knowledge of good and evil," not just the tree of evil. Are good and evil really polar opposites, or are they fraternal twins, opposite sides of the same counterfeit coin?

In his final book, "Ethics," written from a Nazi prison, Dietrich Bonhoeffer points out that our real choice as humans is not between good and evil, but between relationship to God and submission to logical morality. He observed that the church of his era (1930's Nazi Germany) had been lulled into complacency by their culture of religious rationalization, leaving them void of the conviction as a whole to fight or even speak against the Nazi regime. He held that they, both individually and collectively, had learned to operate under the tree of the knowledge of good and evil rather than the tree of life, or relationship to God, and therefore had substituted their intellectual reasoning powers for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.

Heavy example, but a good reminder. We are not on the side of good or right or justice per se, but rather on the side of life. Remember that it was the ultimate alliance of good and evil that crucified Jesus, and it was not evil that He conquered when He rose, but sin and death. How much more effective are we when we listen to God's voice, live out of love for Him, instead of trying to follow the rules, or worse, trying to get everyone else to?

The Infinite Uniqueness of Your Spirit

2009-01-21T23:18:00.002-06:00

God doesn’t want you to conform to some mold and be a good little Christian boy scout. That’s just what religious people want you to do. God wants you to be more of an individual, more unique than you can even imagine. Jesus was a natural radical, a sincere rebel, an easy revolutionary, and He created you to be the same way.

Read More...

“But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.”
1st Corinthians 6:17 NIV

Paul says that when you become a Christian, you become one with God spiritually. Before you became a Christian, your spirit was dead because of sin, but now it is alive again. How did God make it alive again? By joining Himself with you so completely that you are now one with Him.

There is no dividing line, no space, no difference between your spirit and His. In fact, it is a complete misnomer to say “your spirit,” and “God’s Spirit” as if to make a distinction between the two. The scripture clearly says that they are no longer two, but one.

Notice also that he doesn’t say that God put His Spirit into you in place of your dead spirit. One verse in Colossians makes it sound that way (“For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Col 3:2), but Paul’s repeated reference to the new “self” indicates, along with this verse, that you have not been removed or replaced, but rather, regenerated.

God loved you and wanted to preserve all your individuality, every facet of your personality, and so He didn’t discard your true self, He joined Himself to you. All He discarded was the sin and brokenness that kept you in fear of revealing your true self; kept you afraid of being who He made you to be.

Why would God discard the very thing for which He paid the Sum of all His riches, Jesus? Why would He eradicate the one creation that contained His own image and glory? You are the crown of His creation and the treasure at the center of His plan of redemption and glory, the reward of His suffering and sacrifice.

You have not lost one ounce of individuality. In fact, the most exciting, unique, interesting, creative, bold, free-spirited people I know are people who know the stuff I’m teaching you. Since I began to see myself the way God sees me, I am so much more free to be myself than I ever was in my religious days.

God doesn’t want you to conform to some mold and be a good little Christian boy scout. That’s just what religious people want you to do. God wants you to be more of an individual, more unique than you can even imagine. Jesus was a natural radical, a sincere rebel, an easy revolutionary, and He created you to be the same way.

"Created in Christ"

2008-12-20T22:59:00.003-06:00

Paul repeats this phrase or idea several times in his letters, and frankly, it's an idea I often think and talk and write about, and just as often puzzle over in times of prayer and meditation. I understand it, but it baffles me at the same time.

Recently I was asking the Lord again about this. "What does it mean...created in Christ?" I had this answer from Him, "When does this imply your creation took place?" The obvious answer thrills and puzzles me even more, as do many truths of scripture.

If we were created in Christ, it necessarily puts our creation at the time of His creation. It means that in creating Jesus, or at least Jesus the man, the Father was also creating us. When He made Jesus, He made us.

This is clarified in Romans, as Paul explains how sin passed to us through Adam and righteousness through Christ. How did we inherit sin? We inherited it in the basis of genetics. Genetically, all of us were actually, physically "in" Adam when he fell.

It is the same with righteousness. When Jesus lived, preached, healed, worked miracles, suffered, died, conquered hell and death, rose and ascended, we were there. This is not physical genetics, but Paul says it works the same way.

Our spiritual genetic material was already in Jesus from the moment of at least His human creation, although we may have to put it before the foundation of the world to consider the rest of scripture. Why is our inner self righteous, powerful, holy, loving, unchanging, wise, and always victorious? Because we were there every moment of Jesus' life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

I guess this is why Paul calls the gospel a revealed mystery. I get it...but I don't. God is good.

More on the Myth of "the Ministry"

2008-10-13T00:33:00.002-05:00

Why is it that many of those we see as the most mature Christians are the most isolated from the world? Should we not honor the calling of the faithful car salesman, plumber, teacher, or public school student as much or more than the Christian singer or Evangelist? Who actually has the greater impact on the world?

Citizens of heaven

2008-09-22T23:18:00.003-05:00

This is not our home. We are citizens of heaven...how often do we consider this? We are not from here, so in one respect, that could mean that we are out of place, even disadvantaged, and there may be an element of that. However, the place of our citizenship is the place to which this world owes its existence and by which it is ultimately ruled.

We are not just tourists from some insignificant foreign state. We are visiting dignitaries from the power of powers, ambassadors for the Ultimate Sovereign. Therefore, our citizenship in heaven should not be held with vague sentimentalism, as weary travelers longing for home, or worse, with tortured cries, as prisoners longing for freedom.

Rather, we should see this world and its flawed and broken systems as a daughter nation under oppressive enemy control, and ourselves as its governors, sent to put things back under the reign of our infinitely benevolent King. We are from a higher place, literally sent from heaven, not for a test, as to whether we will survive this life, but for God's purpose and pleasure, that we might reflect Him and bring about, in our spheres of influence, His kingdom, on earth as it is...at home.

The Myth of "The Ministry."

2008-09-14T23:05:00.002-05:00

Interesting that we say that someone who chooses full-time Christian work as a vocation, particularly in the local Church, has entered "the ministry," when the Biblical reality is that he or she has actually left the ministry to engage in the equipping of ministers. (Ephesians 4:12)

Influence-a tribute to Dr. Bernard Holmes

2008-09-09T14:00:00.000-05:00

My father-in-law, Dr. Bernard Holmes, passed away at about 6:15 this morning in Bolivar, Mo. I'll be joining my wife and kids there tomorrow for the visitation Thursday and funeral on Friday. Those of us who know him will miss him dearly, but though he is absent from us now, he will live on in us forever.

He was a great man who touched many, many people both directly, as a professor, pastor, seminar teacher, missionary, and discipler, and indirectly, as his heart for discipleship was: "to teach others who will teach others also." He deposited his life into thousands and thousands of people, and he is still a part of them all.

He traveled all over the world teaching Christians the principles of prayer and discipleship in Korea, Russia, India, Africa, and many other places. Pastors, missionaries, and thousands of church members in those places as well as in the United States have been changed, instructed, and encouraged by his life and ministry.

He taught thousands of students at Southwest Baptist University and Columbia International University in the areas of prayer and discipleship. Before he was my father-in-law, he was my New Testament professor. We (his students) would not be what we are without him.

I know of many young men in ministry today who spent early mornings in prayer and Bible study with Dr. Holmes, followed by breakfasts made with love by his wife, Joyce. Those men will never lose the personal and spiritual impact he and Joyce had on them, preparing them for ministry, but more importantly, for life in Jesus.

A few days ago, sensing, I think, that his time might be coming to an end, he expressed regret about not getting to spend as much time as he wanted with his grandchildren, and in particular my two boys. I wanted to jump up and scream "What!?," but he was very tired, and I would never have done that anyway. I sat rather stunned that he would think his impact on my sons might lack anything at all.

My sons are, and will continue to be, two of the greatest, godliest young men you could ever hope to meet, and my daughter in turn a great and godly little girl. Why? Well, do the math. They're being brought up (and home schooled) by the daughter of the guy in the above paragraphs. They are an extension of not only their mother and I, but in an infinitely significant way, their grandfather.

Dad Holmes, I wish you could have stayed longer, and I wish we had lived closer so you and they could have known one another better. However, you have no regrets. What you have deposited in them directly is great, but what you continue to give them indirectly through their mom is immeasurable. My three children stand in testimony to you, saying, "Well done, well done, well done."

Archimedes said, "Give me a place to stand, and I will move the earth." My father-in-law found a place to stand, and through his family, his life, and his ministry, he will continue to move the earth in more ways than we can measure or chronicle. Countless people all over the globe can offer a word of thanks to God for the invaluable gift of his influence in the past, and in the future.

You are already approved by God

2008-09-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

In order to do what God intends for us to do, we need fearlessness, freedom, even recklessness at times, attributes seldom associated with people concerned with failure. Have you ever worn one of those giant inflatable Sumo suits? They’re tough to move around in, but the great thing is…it just doesn’t matter. Inside that suit, you’ll try anything because you’re not afraid of getting hurt…maybe stuck, but not hurt.

God’s approval of us based on Jesus is like a Sumo suit. We can try anything in God, because even if we fall, we just bounce right back up. Failures don’t count anymore. All that counts is Jesus in us, and He never fails.

Read More...

As a believer in Jesus, you are approved by God right now, not based on your performance or merit, but based the merit and performance of Jesus. The book of Ephesians, KJV, says that we are “accepted in the beloved.”

What does that mean? The operative phrase is “in the beloved.” It could read, “you are accepted because you are in Jesus, God’s beloved Son.” The truth behind what Paul is saying is that because salvation places us in Jesus, God literally looks at us and sees only the perfection of His Son.

2 Corinthians 1:30 says that Jesus has become three things for us: righteousness, holiness, and redemption, which simply means your righteousness, holiness, and redemption (salvation) no longer depend on you, but on Jesus.

God sees you as perfect. God approves of you. Jesus took the test and gave you His grade…and by the way, He aced it. You are approved by God based on Jesus’ ability to gain God’s approval.

Why is that important? One of our greatest temptations in reading the scriptures is to disqualify ourselves based on regret for past failures, or fear of future ones. Guaranteed approval invalidates all regret and takes away all fear. God wants us free to live

In order to do what God intends for us to do, we need fearlessness, freedom, even recklessness at times, attributes seldom associated with people concerned with failure. Have you ever worn one of those giant inflatable Sumo suits? They’re tough to move around in, but the great thing is…it just doesn’t matter. Inside that suit, you’ll try anything because you’re not afraid of getting hurt…maybe stuck, but not hurt.

God’s approval of us based on Jesus is like a giant inflatable suit. We can try anything in God, because even if we fall, we just bounce right back up. Failures don’t count anymore. All that counts is Jesus in us, and He never fails.

Verses for meditation:
1 Corinthians 1:30
Ephesians 1:6-KJV
2 Corinthians 5:21

A thought...

2008-09-08T01:08:00.001-05:00

Churches today occupy themselves either trying to get God to do something or trying to make Him seem attractive to the world. Few, however, seem to grasp or enjoy the infinite significance of what God has already done by indwelling people, and just how attractive that can be all on its own.

Easy and Light

2008-08-26T23:34:00.001-05:00

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:29-30 NIV

That’s how I believe the Christian life should be. We were born to do this. It’s in all our genetic makeup, spiritually speaking, and I believe God’s specific call for each of us is a perfect fit for our personalities, passions, and gifts. If we get it right, changing the world should be the most natural thing we ever do.

Read More...

Since high school, I’ve always used my musical abilities in ministry, either as a singer, songwriter, part of a Christian band, or a worship leader. Particularly as a young adult, I took it very, very seriously.

I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, my Dad, noticing that I wasn’t enjoying myself nearly as much as I should be, pulled me aside and said, “Son, it’s an awful lot of pressure thinking you have to change the world every time you open your mouth.”

I didn’t listen to him at the time…I thought he was being shallow. Years later, however, the wisdom contained in that little comment has literally saved me from ministry burn-out and taught me to have fun with my life. My Dad made me think, “Hey, it’s God’s job to change people…I’m just here to make the connection.”

Now I realize that my entire life is ministry. Imagine the pressure I could be putting myself under if I didn’t understand that the call of God comes without pressure. As you begin to process the idea that you are in this world to impact it the same way Jesus did, you need to be very certain of something: the pressure is not on you.

Easy and light

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you…” which means He wants us to do what He did. But He also said, “…my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Not only do I believe God has called us to do much more than most of us do, but I also believe He intended for it to be much easier for us than most of us make it. In fact, I suspect that the more we do, the easier it should get.

Take a look at those two statements—first, the call to do what He did. What a monumental call! How many of us actually have the courage to see the Christian life this way? I believe that most of us reject this call, either consciously or unconsciously, because it just seems like too difficult a job. However, Jesus did not only issue a call; He made sure we knew the pressure would not be on us.

First, He promised it would be easy. That word “easy” doesn’t mean there will be no effort involved, but rather that the work will be a perfect fit for us. He’s telling us that fulfilling His call on our lives will be natural—that it will feel right. Jesus’ call, though it may seem overwhelmingly grand, is guaranteed to be something we feel like we were born to do.

Second, He says it’s light. Very simply, it just means that when you’re fulfilling your call, it won’t really seem like work. We may get very tired, and you may appear to make great sacrifices, but to you, it will be a joy. There is an old saying: “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

I remember spending countless hours perfecting music with friends in high school, or spending entire days alone in a practice room in college writing songs on the piano. Some might call that hard work, and in a sense it was. I would emerge from some of those sessions blurry-eyed, half-witted and much in need of food and rest. However, I was invariably much more exhilarated and energized than exhausted. That work was not really work at all.

That’s how I believe the Christian life should be. We were born to do this. It’s in all our genetic makeup, spiritually speaking, and I believe God’s specific call for each of us is a perfect fit for our personalities, passions, and gifts. If we get it right, changing the world should be the most natural thing we ever do.

Matthew 11:29-30
Philippians 2:13
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

My thoughts on revival

2008-08-19T00:07:00.003-05:00

I get very uncomfortable when I hear people talk about "revival." The honest truth is, I don't think I believe in it...at least not the way most people think. I also believe more and more that our mistaken ideas about revival are at least part of the reason we see so little of it.

Most of those who speak of or pray for revival use phrases from the Old Testament such as, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down." The more clearly I see what Jesus accomplished through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and pentecostal return, the less that prayer makes sense to me. In my view, God has rent the heavens and come down.

I believe that when believers, in whom, according to Colossians 2:9-10, the fullness of the Godhead lives in bodily form, begin to fully recognize the extent to which God has come to them personally, they will cease to pray for Him to come to us corporately, and will rather ask, "Oh that You would rend my flesh and come out!"

Now, when that happens, it may look like "revival," but it won't be. God will reveal Himself through individuals in daily situations as they acknowledge His power and presence in them. My belief is that if God has to "fall on" us like He has in the past, it will be because once again, another generation has failed to realize He has already "fallen" into us and has never left.

Chambers' voice on being revealed.

2008-08-11T12:36:00.002-05:00

I don't often quote Oswald Chambers, since for all his passion and insight, I constantly feel as I read his writings that he cannot let go of the idea that the Christian life must be difficult in order to be genuine. I assume it's a cultural lens through which he viewed life, and therefore God and the Bible. However, what a poignant statement he makes here about this process of sanctification, or "being revealed." It's definitely worth a read.

"The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He "became for [me] . . . sanctification . . . ." Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.

The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is "Christ in you . . ." ( Colossians 1:27 ). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification— imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?

Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy— it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness— ". . . kept by the power of God . . ." ( 1 Peter 1:5 )."

Being revealed

2008-08-07T10:51:00.005-05:00

"The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
Romans 8:19 NIV

The Bible does not teach us how to become like Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus lives in us so that He can be revealed in us. There is a huge difference between the two, and unless you understand that Christlikeness is not a goal to be achieved, but a gift to be experienced, you will miss genuine Christianity.

Read More...

For much of my life, I was taught that my goal should be “Christlikeness.” The process, as I was taught, went something like this: I get a picture of Jesus through His word, measure myself against it, and find “areas I need to work on.” Interestingly enough, I was assured that I would never actually reach this goal, but that this was the way it was intended to be.

As ludicrous as that seems to me now, like many people I know, I bought into that system for many years of my Christian life. I worked to be more Christlike through Bible study, prayer, Church involvement, ministry projects, etc. I even chose full-time ministry as a means to keep myself focused on becoming more Christlike, but in the end, I was no more Christlike than when I began.

In fact, as an adult, I have often looked back on my High School years as being the most effective time in my Christian life…the time when I was most Christlike was the few years immediately following a re-dedication of my life to God as a ninth grader. The truth is, the time in my life during which Christianity worked best for me was before I had any opportunity to “become Christlike.” Why? Because that’s the way it works.

The Bible does not teach us how to become like Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus lives in us so that He can be revealed in us. There is a huge difference between the two, and unless you understand that Christlikeness is not a goal to be achieved, but a gift to be experienced, you will miss genuine Christianity.

True Christianity is a bit like being a superhero. The process of Christian maturity is not about becoming something we are not, but being revealed for who we actually are. Like Peter Parker, Clark Kent, or one of my new favorites, David Dunn in M Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable,” the difficulty is not in acquiring anything; these things are gifts. Peter Parker was bitten by the spider; Clark Kent and David Dunn were just born with their powers. Becoming wasn’t the issue. The issue was being revealed for who and what they were.

As believers in Jesus, we are the same way. God re-made us into who we are. He gave us gifts we could never develop on our own, and power we could never acquire by merit or effort. The challenge for us is to acknowledge the incredible gifts we have been given, allow them to be manifested in our lives, and then perhaps learn to use them better. Becoming Christlike is a false goal. We don't need to become anything. We need to be revealed.

What is 565?

2008-08-03T22:17:00.002-05:00

Some of you have noticed the numbers "565" in the graphics on my blog header. I've had more than one inquiry as to the significance of those particular digits. No, it's not my birthday, although it's only a couple years off, ironically. I was born in May of '63.

A couple of possibilities have been suggested: The 5th book of the Bible, 6th chapter, 5th verse, which would be Deuteronomy 6:5, one of my favorite verses. Another plausible suggestion is the fifth book of the New Testament, 6th chapter, 5th verse, Acts 6:5. This is the introduction of Stephen, one of my favorite heroes of the Bible.

Neither of these is correct. However, either is equally acceptable, since the numbers appear in the template provided by blogspot, and have no significance whatsoever to my blog...sorry.

Home from Brasil

2008-07-31T22:12:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all of you who prayed and gave financially for the Brasil mission trip. God did great things through our team and through the churches in the state of Espirito Santo. I'm not big on numbers, but I need to share one number with you to help you continue to pray.

I estimate that about 500 people prayed prayers of salvation with members of our team this past two weeks in the five towns where we ministered. The church members laid a solid foundation of prayer and relationship with all these contacts, making our work seem very easy at times. It was a joy and a pleasure.

Pray for these believers as they undertake the work of loving and discipling so many new believers. I know they were very encouraged by the results and by our presence, but as I encouraged them in our final outdoor meeting on Saturday night, the work is just beginning. Pray that they will do the work of the ministry in the power of the Spirit so that it energizes and refreshes them.

Pray especially for the pastors of the five churches. Many victories have been won, but the enemy has attacked in many obvious ways since the work began. Satan is defeated. Pray that these pastors, their families and church members will walk in Jesus' victory.

Brazil day 10

2008-07-26T22:47:00.002-05:00

The work is finally finished here in Brazil. My interpreter, Renata (pronounced Heh-nah-tah) breathed an enormous sigh of relief. I have never preached with an interpreter, and while that makes it tough for me, I'm certain she's the one suffering most from my lack of experience.

Tonight in particular was a difficult message, I'm sure. I wanted so badly to encourage the church here, and the way I know to do that is to teach them who they are in Christ and show them what God has given them. I have tried to keep the number of scripture passages in a message down to three or four, but tonight I think I at least doubled that. Sorry, Renata.

Of the seven interpreters on our team, I think she was on stage the most, since at every service, no matter who was preaching, I was singing, and she had to come up with me. These seven ladies have done tremendous work this week. They not only interpret, but in homes and other ministry situations, they often minister from their own hearts as the Spirit leads.

I should also mention the sacrifices these young women have made to be a part of this ministry. All of them are giving up vacation time from their regular jobs in the Rio area. I can't remember if they're paid, but it's not much if anything. They do it because they love Jesus. Renata was married just three months ago, and has been away from her husband now for nine days...if you've ever been a newlywed, you know that's an eternity.

Our interpreters are women of God and they are heroes to all of us on the team. There's no way we will ever be able to thank them enough, but I thought it would be appropriate to mention them here at least. Thank God for servants who don't care who gets the credit!

Brazil Day 7

2008-07-24T15:31:00.000-05:00

Today was a beautiful day of ministry. Many people heard my simple, uneventful testimony and again, almost every single one prayed to receive Jesus. It's almost overwhelming...distracting at times to look into their eyes as I speak, because I see their hearts yearning and being filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

My favorite visit, however, did not end in any salvations. The lady at one house had scheduled a visit with us for today, but had gone to the church on Sunday and received Jesus that night. I told her she destroyed my plans by getting saved too quickly!

We usually refuse to visit Christians. The reason we decided to visit her, however, is that this lady had complained often of depression, and they decided we should go and pray for her. We walked in and I thought, well, she seems ok right now, but depression is sometimes below the surface a little. It didn't take more than a minute or two for me to see there was no depression in sight.

Over and over during our visit, she just kept saying, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy!" She said she used to feel something terrible inside, but now only joy! I counseled her briefly about depression and prayed, but I doubt she will ever struggle with it again.

She told us how a few months ago her son had met a young man from the Baptist Church, the son of one of the ladies accompanying me on the visit. She said that all the other boys his age are involved in drugs and trouble, but that since he met these new friends and subsequently accepted Jesus, life in her home began to radically change.

Her husband is away all week working as a truck driver, and she used to always want her son to be home so she would not have to be alone. However, when he accepted Jesus, she began to let him spend much more time with this Christian family because she loved how he made her feel when he came home. Now she tells her son to go and be with his new family, but just to spend a couple of nights at home with her each week!

Listening to her rejoicing in how Jesus had changed her life, I felt tears of joy welling up in my eyes. My interpreter said, wiping her eyes, "Everyone is crying!" What a miracle to see! I will remember that woman and her joy for the rest of my life. If you're ever in Brazil, and you have any doubt that Jesus changes lives, you should look her up.

Tonight I preached at First Baptist Church, Sao Marcos. It was an amazing service. God's presence was so powerful and sweet. One of the most exciting times of ministry I've had. God is good.

Brazil Reports

2008-07-22T21:35:00.002-05:00

Day 4:

Saturday night's crusade was a great start to the trip. I had the priviledge of opening the service with a few worship songs with the Brazillian praise team from our host church. They are a wonderful group of mostly teenagers with lots of talent and an inspiring amount of passion for Jesus.After the service, the other praise team for the night, a group from a local Indian Reservation, played an incredible mix of...Hillsong United and...Salsa! There were drums and percussion instruments EVERYWHERE! If you know me, you know I love drums, and I like them loud!

We danced and jumped and sang for at least an hour after the service. The praise team I played with and the other youth from the host church had a great time getting all us old people to do their latin dance steps with them. You may get an opportunity to see some pretty humiliating pictures of that soon...we'll see.

I preached today at two churches and saw great evidence of God's Spirit flowing out and encouraging His people. One lady in particular spoke in tears after tonight's service about what a blessing it was to feel the presence of God and to be reminded that we are one spirit with Him. That's big.

Thanks for praying.

Day 5:

It's only 5pm, but I have finished all my home visits and have a break before our evaluation time. Then it is off to our evening service, where I will preach in an outdoor evangelistic gathering. This is miles outside my comfort zone. It's something I've just never done, but I know the One who is in me has absolutely no problem making it a home run...so no worries.

The home visits today were great...Brazillians are very open and courteous, so almost everyone agreed to pray the prayer of salvation after I shared my story through an ingerpretor. That might have bothered me, but I could tell in the Spirit that many of them were truly being touched by God and meeting Him. Probably 25-30 people received Jesus today in homes and in a daycare where I spoke to the staff. Good stuff, Maynard.

Please pray for my wife and kids...they're the ones really making the sacrifice for me to be here and have all the fun.

Day 6:

I preached last night at an outdoor gathering in one of the nearby towns. At the end of my message, I had one of our team members share her story...magnificent. It's one of those stories that makes you wish you could get saved again. I'm trying hard not to be frustrated that no one came forward, but they say that while people here worship freely and respond verbally, they don't come forward easily. I know God's presence was strong and moving.

Many more people received Jesus in homes today. It's a cool process. All these visits are set up by friends or family members who are believers and they all know a missionary is coming to talk about their need to be saved. Sometimes it seems too easy, and once or twice I think people have prayed just to get us out of the house, but almost without exception, when we finish the prayer, I look into moist eyes and see that they feel the presence and love of God.

Please pray for my church, as they are without their worship leader for two more services while I'm here.

From Brazil Day 1-3

2008-07-19T16:16:00.003-05:00

The first two days of the trip were spent in transit, one by air, and the other by bus...uneventful, except to say I'm glad it's over...that road seemed as if it would never end! We are in a Hotel across the street from first Baptist church of Barra do Sahy, our host church.

The pastor's name is Fabio...yes, Fabio, and no, he's not blonde and muscle-bound. He's extremely organized, whic is a blessing to us, and also extremely passionate about seeing his community and nation come to Jesus. Pray for him as you lift up our team as well.

It's saturday evening now and we are preparing for our first evening outdoor service in which I will have the priviledge of leading worship with the praise team from the church. We had a great time worshiping during our rehearsal, and it should be fantastic tonight.

Thanks to all of you who gave and thanks for those who will pray. Most of all thanks to God for the opportunity to be a colaborer with Him.

The Next Food Network Star

2008-07-08T00:01:00.005-05:00

Yes, I watch the show. It's clean...and there's food. Last night something really stuck out with me and has been stuck in my mind all day.

One of the contestants commented that he loved the French people and how they live their lives and therefore had begun to define himself as a French chef. The judge asked, "Have you ever been to France?" His response was what you might expect..."No, but I've read...and studied..."

He's basing his life on something he's only read about! He's defining himself by something he's never actually seen or experienced! The judges were not impressed, and I'm pretty sure that's why last night was his...well...last night.

Honestly, this guy is barely more than a teenager, so I give him a break. He hasn't been alive long enough to have very many defining moments, so he substitutes the best he has...something he's read and studied. That's fine for a kid, but eventually you have to get your teeth into something real, right?

All day today I keep having this thought: how much of my faith is like that? How much of what I talk about have I really seen and experienced? Thankfully, I've seen a lot more in the last few years than I ever thought I would, but I want to see and do more.

I want my words to be thick with reality and infused with life, born out of relationship and experience. May God deliver me from the stale suppositions of my own intellect, from the sweet stench of human cleverness and from the well-disguised distraction that is religious knowledge! (alliteration is fun!)

May we all deliver ourselves from a faith without works. We need to get our teeth into something real, don't you think? That now-former food network star hopeful needs to go to Paris. Where do you need to go?

My Fixation

2008-07-06T23:06:00.003-05:00

Why am I so fixated on our identity in Christ? Because our identity in Christ is Christ in us.

Some would say it is self-centered to focus on our Identity in Christ, but it is actually the best way I know to keep us from focusing on ourselves.

The truest way to live a crucified life is to identify completely with the resurrected Christ as our only life.

The surest way to set our minds on the Spirit is to come to terms with the fact that we are not natural beings engaging in spiritual pursuits, but are spiritual beings engaging in spiritual life.

The purest way to abide in Him is to commune with Him as He abides in us.

Yes, I'm fixated on my identity in Christ...or at least I try to be.

Untitled

2008-07-03T23:51:00.001-05:00

I followed an electrical storm for about 30 minutes tonight. What a show! Impressive does not begin to describe it. It’s no wonder, really, that the predominant mindset in Christianity is the same as in pagan and religious cultures worldwide…that God is infinitely big and therefore infinitely distant.

In reality, however, this infinite God has gone to infinite lengths in Jesus to bridge this distance. Jesus was a man indwelt by God, meant to be the first among many (Rom 8:29). God, whose power and holiness can never be compromised, chose instead to lay it down and demonstrate His desire for connection with His most prized creation.

Our philosophies cheat us today as they did in Paul’s day. We see the Majesty of God and we feel small, insignificant, and powerless, while God seems great, omnipotent, and distant. Though that may seem a noble and spiritually enlightened thought, it is anything but noble, and full of darkness. In fact, the problem with it is that it’s not a spiritual thought at all, but a natural one.

To have a mind that is set on the spirit, as Paul instructed us, is to reject the notion that things are as they appear, feel, or reason out. The spiritually enlightened thought at the sight of a great storm, the oceans, canyons, or mountains, is that these things are but a sampling, a glimpse, a hint, if you will, of what power and holiness has literally taken up residence--in us.

Selah.

Chocolate Milk or Tea?

2008-07-02T23:11:00.005-05:00

So, which are you, a chocolate milk thinker or a tea thinker? It's more important than it sounds. Think about it, do you believe you're one spirit with Him or do you see Him as just an additive to your old self?

Throw some Hershey's syrup in a glass of milk and the name we give what you just made suggests that one thing has been added to another--an obvious improvement, but still an additive. However, take a teabag and steep it in water for a few minutes, and no one calls the result "tea-water." We call it tea.

Why? Because we didn't just improve a cup of water, we made something completely different. In fact, the tea didn't simply alter the water, it took over. The water is no longer called what it was, but is now defined solely by what has transformed it. We just call it "tea."

The Holy Spirit is not an additive. He didn't improve you, He re-created you. You're not a better person, you're something completely different. You are not a combination of the old and new, either. You are defined solely by Him who has re-made and transformed you.

At some point I hope to develop a theology of sweet tea, but that will take further study. For now, try to see yourself as something re-made, not just improved. Think tea, not chocolate milk.

What the World is Waiting For

2008-06-30T00:00:00.006-05:00

"For those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." Romans 8:29

To me, this is the real meaning and purpose of Christianity. God sent His Son to give birth to many sons. God chose to reveal Himself to a generation through His Son, a man infused with the life of God. Now His purpose is the same, multiplied. He infuses His life into people who believe in Him, and reveals Himself through those God-soaked people.

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The world is definitely waiting for something. The world is missing something, needing something, yearning for something. You’ve seen the pictures of war-torn or poverty-stricken countries around the world. You’ve heard the stories of violence and hatred and poverty in our own country, and perhaps even experienced some of it yourself. Yes, the world is in need. Something just isn’t right.

Considering the exponential growth in human knowledge, the advances in medicine and technology, it may be logical to assume that the human community would be living in Utopian bliss by now; but it seems like the opposite is true. Even the super-rich, who actually have access to all these gifts brought to us by the triumphs of human creativity, seem to be floundering…perhaps more than anyone. The world needs something.

Romans 8:19 says, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” In other words, the missing element in the human formula is not greater ingenuity or effort; it’s not in technology or medicine or knowledge or achievement of any kind. The missing puzzle piece is a personal encounter.

What might surprise you most, however, especially if you’re an evangelical, is that it’s not a single person that the world needs...specifically, it’s not Jesus. If it were Jesus, Paul would have written that the “Son,” not “sons” of God needed to be revealed. God already revealed His Son to the world. What the world hasn’t seen, at least not with much frequency, are “sons” of God.

The beauty, richness, power and authenticity that the world yearns for will not be found in an encounter with God’s Son, although that’s the goal and the eventual result. Again, this may be tough to swallow if you were raised in Church, but the creation is not waiting for an encounter with Jesus; they’re waiting for an encounter with you and me.

This floundering system of unhealthy relationships, dysfunctional families, greed-driven institutions and market-driven churches has been confronted with the truth of Jesus and has rejected it, but that’s not God’s whole plan. The second phase of His plan, the one most of us have missed, is to reveal sons and daughters just like Jesus who live and work and move through this natural system in a supernatural way.

What this world needs is an encounter with people of flesh and bone whose lives and love prove that God is real and that Jesus is alive. That’s the prize they deeply long for, but do not even know to seek. What the world is waiting for, what the world is missing, what the world needs in order to finally be made right, is you.

To me, this is the real meaning and purpose of Christianity. God sent His Son to give birth to many sons. God chose to reveal Himself to a generation through His Son, a man infused with the life of God. Now His purpose is the same, multiplied. He infuses His life into people who believe in Him, and reveals Himself through those God-soaked people.

So am I saying the world doesn’t need Jesus? No, of course the world needs Jesus, but Jesus is in us. Look at it this way. What you need is Jesus—what the world needs is you. God put you where you are so that He could use you to show Himself and His love to your little corner of the world. God has heard the world’s cry for help, and He has responded by giving them His next greatest gift…you and me.

What if?

2008-06-24T23:48:00.003-05:00

What if we really believed God lived in us?

What if we really believed Jesus was alive now...in us?

What if we really believed what Jesus said?

What if we were only allowed to claim as beliefs those things we clearly put into practice?

Righteousness is Christianity 101

2008-06-23T22:40:00.004-05:00

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness." Heb 5:13 NIV

Remember, I said this is Christianity 101. You've got to get this, or nothing else in the Bible will be clear to you. Everything you think you know will be tainted if you don't have the mentality that your right standing with God depends completely on Jesus and nothing else. To use the analogy from Hebrews, lots of the meat in the word will be awfully tough to chew if you think you have to earn or maintain good standing with God at any point.

The Confidence of our Call: "Follow Me."

2008-06-19T23:30:00.005-05:00

Think about it. Jesus says to us, "Follow Me." That means He intends for us to do exactly what He did. Then Peter asserts that God has already given us everything we need to live and be "godly," or, literally, like God.

Do the math: Jesus calls us to be like Him, and God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, deposits everything we need into our spirits the moment we step into faith in Jesus. The truth is, when Jesus spoke those supernaturally pregnant words, "follow me," He knew God was backing Him up. He wouldn't have said them otherwise.

In the Jewish culture of Bible times, when a Rabbi said those words, "Follow me" to a pupil, it was the most powerful thing any of them could hope to hear. The clear implication of these words is this: "You recognize that I am a great teacher. Now I am affirming that I see in you the potential to be at least as great as I have been. I fully expect you to do everything I do and more. I will invest everything I am in your training, and I expect nothing less than for you to outdo me before you are finished."

When Jesus called the disciples, that's what they heard--an expression of unlimited confidence in their value, character, and talent. That's an amazing thing for the twelve, and for the seventy, but even more amazing for us. The confidence He has placed in us as New Covenant believers is even greater.

Jesus' call to us says this: "Follow me, and you'll do greater things than I have done. How will you accomplish this? Well, it won't be without me. I have given you my Spirit, and because I am constantly before the Father in heaven praying for you, pulling for you, your potential is unlimited--unthinkable--unimaginable. My confidence in you is not only based on the talent and character I have placed in you as my creation, but even more so on my own limitless life inside you. So come, follow me."

You are Supernatural

2008-06-18T23:48:00.003-05:00

We are not of this world. We are citizens of heaven. To those who believe in Jesus, God gives His own life, His divine nature. John says we are "from God." We are supernatural.

Paul scolds the Corinthians for acting like "mere men." Most of us do the same. How do we avoid that mistake? Acting like normal, everyday human beings just seems to come...well, naturally. How do we learn to live like the supernatural beings we are?

"Be transformed by the renewing of your minds." Step one...heck, maybe all the steps are just this: change your mind. Eradicate every trace of belief that you are "only human." Practice seeing yourself as God's offspring, a new creation, a heavenly being in an earthly disguise.

My suspicion is, the more you identify yourself with the divine, the more you will allow God's nature and the character of Jesus to ooze and gush and pour out of its hiding place in your spirit. Forget trying to change your behavior; devote yourself to a radical change of mind. Simple, really: see yourself as supernatural, and supernatural actions will follow.

Jesus Took the Test and Gave You His Grade!

2008-06-15T23:54:00.001-05:00

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, [4] in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4.

Since we get our life from God's Spirit in us, and not from our old sinful nature, we exist as those who have met every requirement of God perfectly. Why? Because Jesus passed the test for us--with flying colors I might add. He never sinned. He made an A+, a perfect score. Then, in the wake of total success, He allowed Himself to receive the punishment for all the failures of mankind.

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I'm stealing this illustration because I never had a teacher this dishonest, but a friend of mine was lucky enough to play small college football and take a course under one of his assistant coaches. I don't know what the course was, but it doesn't matter, really. My friend hated school in all ways, except that it gave him the opportunity to play football, so whatever the class was, it was sure to be stressful for him...at least that's how he thought it would be.

However, as the professor/coach brought the first day of class to its conclusion, he asked all the football players to stay after class. I'm sure most of them expected him to give them some sort of speech about "no preferential treatment and they'd better take his class seriously or they'd suffer on the practice field for it" or something of the like. What they got was quite the opposite.

Here's the gist of what he said, "I don't want you guys worrying about this class. I want you thinking about football. Therefore, I'm marking your final grade right now. All of you will receive an A for this class, no matter how you actually perform. I don't want to see you in class; get your sleep. Simply show up on test days--I'll let you know at practice when they are scheduled. Come in for the test, sit down, and write something in every blank. It doesn't matter what you write, just don't be the first to finish so no one gets suspicious."

My friend normally hated taking tests, but this was a new world! He showed up every test day with complete freedom and confidence! He had never experienced this kind of feeling before in an academic situation! On test days, he had always been worried, stressed, frustrated, or even depressed, but not any more! He knew he would be successful, so he felt no pressure at all.

As unethical as it was, that teacher's system for his players is a pretty good illustration of what Jesus did for us, with one drastic exception: Jesus didn't cheat for us. What Jesus did was even better. He took all our tests for us and gave us His grades!

You see, the commands of the Old Testament are like a school curriculum for us, but we don't actually have to pass. This is a curriculum meant to show us that we could never pass on our own and therefore need help, big time.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [2] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, [4] in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1-4.

Since we get our life from God's Spirit in us, and not from our old sinful nature, we exist as those who have met every requirement of God perfectly. Why? Because Jesus passed the test for us--with flying colors I might add. He never sinned. He made an A+, a perfect score. Then, in the wake of total success, He allowed Himself to receive the punishment for all the failures of mankind.

That's what it means to be a sin offering, and that's how we got His grade instead of ours. He exchanged our dead, sinful spirits for His living, perfect one. He gave us His life in exchange for death, and therefore all His success in exchange for our failures.

You see, like that coach/professor, God doesn't want you worrying about being good enough. He wants you keeping your head in the game. There's a lot for us to do here on earth. He doesn't want us wasting our time with religion, so He took it out of the way. He has taken all the pressure off.

Therefore, we can walk into every test of life with total confidence, knowing that God always sees us as A+ students, always celebrates our success even when we fail, because He judges us by Jesus' performance, not our own.

(By the way, if that makes you want to go live a sinful life because you know God won't judge you, there's a good chance none of this applies to you...you need to become an actual believer in Jesus.)

For those of you, however, who sincerely long to please God in all you do, this should be the best news you have ever heard. Psalm 119:32 says it this way: "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free!" When we truly understand the grace and goodness of God and His complete and utterly free gift of complete and utterly irrevocable righteousness in Jesus, we are free to live like the A+ students we most deeply desire to be.

Here is your grade card for life and godliness and Christianity and righteousness and holiness: Jesus took the tests and gave you His grade.

God's gift of intimacy

2008-06-04T10:11:00.006-05:00

"He who has joined themselves to the Lord is one in spirit with Him." 1 Corinthians 6:17

I'm glad I'm going to heaven, but I'm much more glad that I know that every day, no matter what I do or say or think or go through, God Almighty is always with me, closer to me than my own breath. I never need to fear anything or worry about anything. I never have to wonder if He hears me pray, or if He knows my heart. I also never have to worry that He might get fed up with me and bail out. Jesus' blood shed on the cross makes sure that can never happen.

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As a believer in Jesus, the Bible says you're one spirit with Him. What an incredible gift! Why is it that we spend so much time thanking Him for eternal life in Heaven, and most of us never even think of this unbelievable gift of intimacy with Him? We are one in spirit with Almighty God!

Think of it! We can never be separated from Him, not even for an instant. How ridiculous that sometimes we think we're not "close to God." Sure, sometimes we don't feel Him like we do at other times, but that is only because our minds have strayed. In our spirits, we are always completely joined to Him, regardless of how we feel. The key to keeping a sense of His presence is really simple: just remember that He's always there, right inside you, and that you can never be apart!

I'm glad I'm going to heaven, but I'm much more glad that I know that every day, no matter what I do or say or think or go through, God Almighty is always with me, closer to me than my own breath. I never need to fear anything or worry about anything. I never have to wonder if He hears me pray, or if He knows my heart. I also never have to worry that He might get fed up with me and bail out. Jesus' blood shed on the cross makes sure that can never happen.

Think of the price God paid to regain intimacy with us. Jesus suffered shame, humiliation, pain and death, not to get us to where God is (heaven), but rather to get God to where we are. His ultimate desire is oneness with us. That was Jesus' final prayer to the Father before His death..."that they may be one in us, just as I am in You and You are in me."

God made it happen, now we need to take advantage of it. Remember that you are one spirit with Him. Enjoy His presence everywhere you go. Talk to Him, listen to Him, get to know Him intimately. It's really not as hard as you might think. You don't have to earn it, and you can't screw it up. The elements are already in place. He's in you and promises to never leave, so set your mind to learn how to enjoy this incredible gift of intimacy with God.

It's not about us...but it is. Part 3: Self redefined

2008-06-03T23:39:00.007-05:00

I suppose, then, if you define self as the "flesh," then it's somewhat accurate to say "it's not about us," but please, please, please, in view of the price paid to rid you of that old identity, stop gaining your sense of self from the dead shell of your former life. Remember Who is now your Life, your All in All, and the One in whom you live, move and have your being. Knowing this, that your life is Him in you, there is no need to distinguish between yourself and the One who lives in you.

Again, as believers in Jesus, we are joined into one spirit with God. There is no place to deny self any longer except to recognize the finished work of the cross in regards to that old, sinful nature and to deny it power and place in our life and identity, and choose to walk in the new life of Spirit. The true self is the new creation, created, as Ephesians 4 says, "after the pattern of God, in true righteousness and holiness."

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I find that one of the toughest obstacles to teaching believers who they are is a fear of becoming self-centered, especially for those raised in church. After all, Jesus said to deny yourself, right? The truth is, however, that as we learn more about the new creation God made us to be, the need to look out for number one fades further and further into insignificance.

Sure, my flesh is still idiotically selfish, but that's not who I am anymore, and I don't have to live according to its pattern. Walking in the Spirit is key to all of this, and the spirit, joined with God's Spirit as one, (1 Cor 6:17) is completely convinced of its security, and therefore completely free of selfishness. When walking in the Spirit, good stuff just happens automatically, just as sin happens automatically when walking in the flesh.

Most Christians seem to define self as the flesh, the natural part of us, the one measured by behavior, evaluated on the basis of its obedience and conformity to the demands of Scripture. That is the self Jesus meant for us to deny--the old self. However, for a believer in Jesus to define self as flesh is to take a false identity, one that Jesus paid dearly to free us from.

Jesus’ statement in Luke 9:23 was not about discipline, but about death. He was speaking of the new covenant in His own blood that was to come, in which He would exchange His life for ours. The death He spoke of was His to experience in the physical realm, but ours to participate in by faith.

Our death by faith, however, is no less real. Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ," signifying the death of the old self, and, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me," making it unquestionably clear that participation in this death by faith is both radical and permanent—a literal exchange of life. The self most of us still cling to for our identity is in fact dead.

Taking up our cross daily is not about discipline, either, but about remembrance. Paul said in Romans 6 to "count" ourselves dead to sin. That word "count" is an accounting term that means to keep proper records so that you don't spend money you don't have. In other words, there's no money in your flesh account--it's dead and broke, a clue as to why it performs so poorly.

I suppose, then, if you define self as the "flesh," then it's somewhat accurate to say "it's not about us," but please, please, please, in view of the price paid to rid you of that old identity, stop gaining your sense of self from the dead shell of your former life. Remember Who is now your Life, your All in All, and the One in whom you live, move and have your being. Knowing this, that your life is Him in you, there is no need to distinguish between yourself and the One who lives in you.

Again, as believers in Jesus, we are joined into one spirit with God. There is no place to deny self any longer except to recognize the finished work of the cross in regards to that old, sinful nature and to deny it power and place in our life and identity, and choose to walk in the new life of Spirit. The true self is the new creation, created, as Ephesians 4 says, "after the pattern of God, in true righteousness and holiness."

The issue is not choosing God over self, but choosing the new self over the old. This is the high calling in Christ Jesus, to live in concert with God, breathing and moving in Him, and casting off the religious idea of separation from Him. Remember, you are a new creation, so don't tolerate terminology or teaching that causes you to see yourself as who you used to be.

It's Not About us...but it is. Part 2 The Cross

2008-05-31T12:09:00.003-05:00

"For God demonstrates His love for us in this: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

how can we say it’s not about us? Of course, selfishness is the opposite of the cross, and the archenemy of love, but what is that to us? Look at this gift given for you. Your selfishness will die with Jesus, and all that will live on is gratitude. The paradoxical truth is, you’ll never be done with selfishness until you finally accept the truth that as far as God is concerned, it is about you.

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It is a sad thing that an event as monumental and manifold in significance as the death of Christ has become so familiar as to be trivial, or even presumed understood. Therefore, I want to combat the former without participating in the latter. Look closely at the gift of the death of Jesus, but do not be fooled into thinking you will have ever looked enough.

Look again now. What is God saying through the torn flesh, cruel exposure, shame and pain of the cross? It would be trivial to try to contain it with a phrase like "I love you.” So don't try to hear what God is saying, rather, look at what He is doing.

God is demonstrating something. He is demonstrating with actions what cannot be expressed in words, or understood in ideas or concepts. The cross is a picture that reveals to the heart what is impossible to grasp with the intellect. It is a picture of God's love for us.

Look at it. The picture says a lot, and I don't presume here to exhaust it or even capture its essence. However, I will say, as one shouting from rooftops, what it proves. The cross proves at least this thing: that God is about mankind, and nothing else.

We are His obsession, His occupation, His center--not the center of His being--He is because He is. However, we are the center of His activity, His intention, His plans and purposes, His creation; and most obviously, as we stare at this picture of unthinkable investment, we are the center of His love.

The cross contains meaning so multi-faceted our minds may never grasp it with any certainty, but our hearts must grasp the evidence it gives us about God's love. This is proof that God's love is more than benevolence or pity for some found race of outcasts who somehow inspired His divine attention for a moment.

God's love for us (and forgive me for trying to represent it in words again) is passion for the very crown of His creation who, soiled and ruined by our own rebellion, were still found worthy to be purchased at the price of the All in All. Look at the picture. That priceless jewel hanging there is the representation not only of heaven's eternal riches, but, more poignantly, of the infinite, eternal value God placed on you.

How can we say it’s not about us? Of course, selfishness is the opposite of the cross, and the archenemy of love, but what is that to us? Look at this gift given for you. Your selfishness will die with Jesus, and all that will live on is gratitude. The paradoxical truth is, you’ll never be done with selfishness until you finally accept the truth that as far as God is concerned, it is about you.

It's Not About Us...but it is.

2008-05-22T23:12:00.005-05:00

We must not allow false humility to cause us to shrink back from our calling as light, salt, and glory. We must take our place as the conductor of the brilliance of God to the darkness of the world. We must see ourselves as more like God than like the lost world, and therefore fit ambassadors, citizens of heaven and not of earth.

Read More…

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” Ps 115:1

As a worship leader, I suppose I'm especially sensitive to the things worship leaders say and sing. It is in our worship that I hear the most confusion and ignorance. It is in the words to our songs and the axioms of our corporate prayers that I sense the greatest darkness in the body of Christ today.

The verse above is certainly true, but shamefully abused in today's Christian culture. There is a pervading attitude in the worship movement that rejects the glory of God in an attempt to preserve humility, but the humility it preserves is false and ungodly. Of course, the glory is to God. That is not in question. The question is how God receives glory. The scriptures say it is from, or through, us.

We are the temples of the living God, the dwelling place of the Almighty, the carriers of His glory. He said He created us for His glory. Why do we believe the lie that reduces that truth to nothing more than a statement of God's sovereignty, and miss the power of its pronouncement over us as the centerpiece of all creation and the final key to His plan for the ultimate revelation of His glory?

Jesus said it was our light shining that would glorify the Father in heaven, that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. He predicted that our miracles would be even greater than His own would, and that the very gates of Hell would not withstand our power. Then, in His prayer for us, He proudly announced to the Father, "the same glory you gave to me, I have given them."

What was the warning with which Paul warned every man? It was that they take heed to the ancient mystery finally revealed, which is "Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We are the hope...the only hope for God's glory in the earth. He has chosen that it will be through us, and He will not do it independently of us. We will bear, display, demonstrate, and distribute the Glory of God to the world before Jesus returns.

How dare we stand cowering in the shade of our own malformed piety, fearing ourselves not worthy to move out into the glorious light that already shines from within us by God's perfect gift of righteousness? No, it is not about us, but it depends on us, and as long as we hold to our precious self-debasing, self-rejecting, self-excusing so-called humility, we will remain neutralized as carriers of God's glory.

Parenthetically, do not fear that word, "self" or confuse it with "flesh.” Self is no longer flesh for us. The new self is holy, complete, and ready. "If you walk in the Spirit, you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” Self is now Spirit, temple, new creature, holy, righteous, participant in the divine nature.

Know who you are and you will not be confused. You see yourself as flesh, and your religion makes sense to you, but when you see that you are new, these weak and elemental doctrines will fall from you like the pseudo-spiritual fluff that they are. You will be free.

We must not allow false humility to cause us to shrink back from our calling as light, salt, and glory. We must take our place as the conductor of the brilliance of God to the darkness of the world. We must see ourselves as more like God than like the lost world, and therefore fit ambassadors, citizens of heaven and not of earth.

We must accept the gift of God's glory in given to us in Jesus, as well as the reality that we ourselves have been made glorious (thank you, David Crowder...I think you get it.). No, God did not make us glorious to glorify ourselves, but that is the unbelieving man's conflict, not ours. Our issue is not to whom the glory will go, but how much of the glory we now share with Him we will display and distribute to the world. It's not about us...but it is.

Just Like Jesus-part 1

2008-05-19T22:31:00.003-05:00

What does it mean to be Christlike? To me, it's a rather silly term, so likely to be misunderstood as to be nearly meaningless. Almost no one who preaches Christ-likeness as a pursuit actually allows for the achievement of it, and those who do generally have reduced its meaning to matters of character only.

However, I believe not only is it possible to be like Jesus in every way, but it should be considered normal. John wrote that anyone who claimed to live in Jesus should walk exactly like Him. That's simple language. There's no room for interpretation--just like Jesus.

When you combine that statement with Jesus' prediction that anyone who believed in Him would do the same miracles He did and even bigger and better ones, the picture becomes clear--this is a standard of normality far above what most of us have heard. While it is clear, it also seems an impossible goal, and one from which I usually feel quite distant--just like Jesus

There's a lot to say on this subject, so it will take several posts to cover it. I will begin with this thought as a foundation: God has set a standard for us in Jesus that only Jesus in us can meet. I hear people talk about training for Christ-likeness, and I cringe at the terminology, because it makes it sound so humanly dependent.

The standard of life in Jesus is Jesus Himself...and more. Therefore, something supernatural, something super-human, something mystical or magical must occur in order for the standard to be met. Granted, renewing the mind plays a central role in that supernatural process, and that could be called a sort of training.

Nevertheless, let us not reduce the goal to a manageable one in order to try and reason a way to achieve it with human effort. To me, it's even more exciting to realize that all this is utterly insurmountable without divine interaction. The sheer impossibility of it is proof that another reality exists, and that this other reality is for me to experience now, on a daily basis, in the process of this earthly life.

God has set a standard for us in Jesus that only Jesus in us can meet. This should be normal: a supernatural, God-revealing life--Just like Jesus.

Christianity is an Eastern Religion

2008-05-18T22:11:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine was talking with a devout Muslim about the claims of Jesus. The man expressed that he had no need for my friend's "Western God." Primarily for the sake of argument, my friend said, "Christianity is not Western, it's Eastern!" Later, he began to realize he was on to something.

Food for thought tonight: truth is, as a westerner, you're at a disadvantage to understand Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and the rest. These men, like Moses and the prophets, came from cultures much more like what exists today in Iran, Turkey, Palestine, or Iraq than in the good ol' US of A.

Of course, understanding the Old Testament helps somewhat. My suspicion is, however, that most American or European Christians have understood the Hebrew culture revealed in the Old Testament with a severe western slant. Honestly, when I mentioned Moses, didn't you picture Charleton Heston?

Christianity is Eastern, and we need to take heed to that. I believe part of the necessary reformation of at least the American Church is the infusion of elements of eastern thought into the understanding and practice of the Bible. Please reserve judgment here. I am zealously opposed to goofiness. That is not what I mean.

I will give you one example, and I'd love to hear others. (shameless fishing for more comments!) The Jews did not study the scriptures in the analytical way we do. That is a western idea. The Jews memorized the scriptures, meditated on them, and did them. To them, that was study--to hide it in their hearts so that it would become reality in their lives.

Our methods of study are so analytical as to become critical. In other words, we tend to study to decide whether we believe what the scriptures say, or worse, to try and dismiss what they say. In our analytical approach, we also miss the precious intimacy of scripture, and the fact that primarily they reveal a person, rather than merely the answers to our questions.

What other western tendencies cloud our experience of Jesus? Hmmm...

New every day...

2008-05-15T23:15:00.002-05:00

On the outside, we're wasting, waning, failing, faltering, falling to bits and pieces if you will, but not so on the inside. Inwardly, we are renewed day by day.

I have a lot of opportunities to think about this these days. I'm definitely not a health-nut, not a bastion of self-control, so here in my forties, I'm having my share of struggles...outwardly. Sure, aches and pains, can wear on you mentally, too, but for the most part, I'm just doing better and better day after day, month after month, year after year...inwardly. I'm actually getting younger all the time.

My conviction is, so are you, whether you realize it or not. That's why Paul said the mind set on the outward reality of life is death. However, life and peace come to you when you set your mind on who you are on the inside, more specifically, on Jesus in you.

In the Old Testament, we found out His mercies were new every morning. Now that we're partakers of the divine nature, we find that we ourselves are new every morning. Just like Adam woke up in the garden one day a full grown man without a past, you and I wake up brand new every day.

I think, and my experience bears out, that the more we realize that, the better we feel, the clearer we think, and the less we ache and gripe and worry. So try to forget the gut, the knees, the condition or the circumstance, the guilt, regret or anger, the fear, worry or dread, and remember, not only is every day new, but inwardly, you also are new every day.

God Likes People

2008-05-13T12:38:00.003-05:00

Most people seem to live with the idea that it really all comes down to behavior with God. He’s primarily irritated by people, but one day He’ll fix us so we’ll be acceptable companions for Heaven. After all, eternity would be a long time to put up with people like us.

That’s not my Dad. My Dad likes me, a lot. How is it that we can let ourselves believe that God, whom we claim is infinitely wise would also be so stupid as to create and sacrifice His Son’s life for beings that annoy Him? That, however, is the general feeling most of us seem to have about God.

Consequently, if we’re honest, we don’t like Him either, and just let me say, if you don’t like God, you don’t know Him. Truth is, however, God does like us. Think about it: He made us in His own image. Fallen or not, there’s no way we could ever not be His favorite.

What a monumental thing it has been to realize God doesn’t just tolerate me out of some virtuous pity, but that He actually likes me. He celebrates who He made me to be, who I am in every aspect. He enjoys my company immensely. He doesn’t require that I say or do anything in particular, either. He just wants to hang out with me. God likes people.

If you believe that, you’ll like God. In case you haven’t had this self-realization, I’ll go ahead and give it to you: the people you like the most are generally the ones who like you the most. We love to be liked.

Internal-God Thinking

2008-05-12T00:11:00.002-05:00

I owe my good friend Danny a thanks for this term and for teaching me this concept. You may see a book by him on the subject before too long, but I at least want to give you my understanding of this simple and obvious, but often overlooked truth.

How much would our prayer change if we remembered that the God we pray to inhabits us? After all, we are His temples.

What would become of begging Him to change us if we recognized that in order to move into us, He had to completely re-make us? After all, He calls us new creations.

Could we pray, "Lord, come and fill our hearts today," if we truly believed that when we were joined to Him, our spirits became one with His? After all, Jesus prayed for it, and the Father listened.

What would happen to all the songs crying out for God's presence if we actually took stock of what it means to be the Temples of the Living God? After all, He said He'd never leave.

Why do we continue to see God as outside ourselves? After all, Jesus died to make a way for Him to come and live in us. Why do we keep pretending He's so far away? Are we just more comfortable with external-God thinking? I believe one of the greatest revelations we can have is often overlooked or forgotten or rejected. That is this: God lives in us.

True Humility

2008-05-10T00:29:00.003-05:00

As for humility, that's a word of which I'm afraid Christians have skewed the definition. It actually means to be pliable in God's hands, teachable, movable, and to put others first, not to think oneself in a lowly manner. In Philippians 2, Jesus' attitude of humility is not to think of others as better, but rather to place them at a higher priority than self, an example of true humility.

Jesus knew He was equal with God, and it did not interfere with His humility. Therefore, we do not need to see ourselves as lowly sinners in order to practice true humility. Actually, the opposite is true. The more I realize the extent to which God has endowed me with His righteousness, nature, and power, the more I am able to put others first, in light of the depth of care the Father has for me.

This may seem like a paradox, but only to the mind unfamiliar with spiritual truth. Death brings life, slavery brings freedom, losing means winning--these apparent paradoxes are philosophical pillars of our faith. The same is true with humility. Humility is power and greatness dispensed with love, grace, and selflessness.

You are Not a Sinner, Part Two

2008-05-09T23:48:00.003-05:00

There's nothing wrong with remembering the price that was paid. In fact, I think if you rightly assess the price paid for your sin, you'll see there can be none left out of that transaction, especially since that transaction resulted not only in Jesus' death, but yours.

What many believers miss in the phrase "Jesus died for my sins," is the truth that in order for your sins to die with Jesus, you had to die as well. Since we know the essence of Christianity is new life, how do we miss the need for prerequisite death? Someone had to die for you to be reborn, and it was the old sinner inside you.

Read More...

This summer, I went to Mexico on a mission trip. To make things smoother, I learned to speak just a little Espanol. It became a bit of a habit. I often think, "what's the Spanish word for that?" More often than I probably should, I actually say things in Spanish...not that well. I love Mexican food, and eat it as often as I can. I guess what I'm trying to say is...I am now a natural born Mexican Citizen.

That's ridiculous, isn't it? Participating occasionally in the language or culture of Mexico does not make me a Mexican. I'd have to be born there to say that. Well, it's just as ridiculous for a believer in Jesus to call himself a sinner. You might say, "I was born a sinner," and I'd have to answer, "No, you weren't...not the real you."

You see, even though all of us were born into sin, we no longer have a right to claim that title. We've been crucified and reborn, raised with Jesus in our inner person. That inner person, the hidden, new self, is our true identity. The one born into sin is no longer who we are. In fact, it's dead.

Paul goes into great detail in his letter to the Roman Christians to tell them that the person they were before they met Jesus had died, and that they had been resurrected with Jesus. The Romans, like us, were dealing with powerful cultural influences from their past lives every day, and Paul gave them an iron-clad legal case to prove that sin was not in charge anymore.

That legal case centered on one piece of evidence: the death of the old self. It's as if he's saying to them, "Look, I know the temptations are powerful, but you don't have to put up with it...that's not who you are anymore!" The early Christians were not in the habit of calling themselves sinners, or I'm certain He would have chided them for it. However, he did tell them very clearly to look at themselves as dead to sin.

How can someone dead to sin be a sinner? It's not possible. Therefore, Paul's instructions to the Romans are clear: calling yourself a sinner is not allowed. Why not? Isn't it good to be grateful for Jesus' death in our place? Didn't Paul call himself the worst of sinners?

As for Paul's statement in Timothy, it was past tense, and it's also a good lesson for us in gratitude. There's nothing wrong with remembering the price that was paid. In fact, I think if you rightly assess the price paid for your sin, you'll see there can be none left out of that transaction, especially since that transaction resulted not only in Jesus' death, but yours.

What many believers miss in the phrase "Jesus died for my sins," is the truth that in order for your sins to die with Jesus, you had to die as well. Since we know the essence of Christianity is new life, how do we miss the need for prerequisite death? Someone had to die for you to be reborn, and it was the old sinner inside you.

You are not a sinner. You may feel like one--sometimes I do, too. You may act like one on occasion--and so do I. You may remember what it was like to be one, but that does not change the fact that the sinner in you is dead. That's just not who you are anymore. As I said before, you've been changed...enjoy it.

You Are Not a Sinner

2008-05-09T10:26:00.003-05:00

A “sinner” is someone who habitually sins--as a lifestyle--with no ability to repent. A sinner is a slave to sin. The Greek word literally means "one not freed from sin." If that’s you, then you’re not a Christian at all. That’s why Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners.” Yes, we were all sinners. That’s past tense. The “were still” clearly indicates that there is a “not anymore.”

Why does the New Testament call us saints forty-five times and sinners maybe once? Salvation changed us from sinners to saints. If you call yourself a “sinner saved by grace,” here’s the truth of what you’re saying. “God’s grace is powerful enough to make me live forever in heaven, but it’s not powerful enough to change me here on earth.” If you believe that, you just don’t know anything about God’s grace.

Why I Write

2008-05-08T22:58:00.002-05:00

I am a writer, but not on the basis of training or skill or even natural ability. I'm a writer because I have to write. I tend to only write what burns in me and must be expressed. I write music as well, and though I have written out of the need for a certain type of song, the songs I feel strongly about are usually those that burst, or at least emerge, from somewhere in my life or heart.

Therefore, I write what I can't keep from writing. I may or may not know you, but I have an overwhelming desire to give you what God has, through some great teachers and friends, given to me. That great gift is simply a clear picture of our identity as believers in Jesus.

I lived as a Christian from childhood through my thirties in varying levels of frustration. (At seven, I was not terribly introspective.) I discovered grace in my twenties, and finally, in my early forties, I have discovered who I am. I don't know how I survived, but I know that largely, that's what I did.

My wife and I often say to each other how angry it makes us to think that we lived so long without a clear picture of our identity in Christ. "Why didn't someone tell me this before?" is the cry I hear over and over again as I teach these ideas to people. Well, I don't know why so few people have taught this over the last twenty or so years, but I'm teaching it now through writing.

That's why I write.

Why I Walk With Jesus

2008-05-06T22:55:00.004-05:00

I don't walk with Jesus because I determined His lifestyle was to my liking.

I don't worship Jesus because I believe He is Creator God and I must revere Him.

I don't serve Jesus because I am grateful for His sacrifice for me on the cross.

I don't love Jesus because of His long list of admirable attributes.

Jesus has captured my heart. Though I recognize on a daily basis that I do have a choice to turn away from Him, it seems less and less like any choice at all. What would I do...breathe some other air, walk in some strange light; borrow a personality, beliefs and ideas from TV or YouTube?

I walk with Jesus, worship Him, serve and love Him because that is who I am. He has, by His demonstrated character and manifest presence, revealed to me the substance of life. He defines me, and, by the way, the expression of my personality is ever more free and celebrated in Him. I have not lost myself in Him. I have found myself. I am, literally, in Him.

When Jesus asked His disciples if they would leave Him as did the fickle crowds, their response was, "Where would we go?" I get it now.

So What Do We Do?

2008-05-05T23:57:00.002-05:00

No, there is no human side to Christianity, but there’s a lot for us to do. He has not taken us out of the picture, but simply assured our success by fulfilling the covenants on our behalf and then joining Himself with us in Spirit.

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In the last entry, I made an assertion that there is "no human side" to Christianity. Well, that's true, but there's a danger in recognizing it: you may take on the philosophy that your goal in life now becomes to do nothing. In fact, the opposite is true. Since we can't screw it up, we should feel free to do more and more, but just not in a human way. We walk by the Spirit, not the flesh.

Now, compared to how I feel sometimes, I do believe real Christianity should feel like laziness. After all, Jesus said His assignments and workloads were easy and light. John said God's commandments are not burdensome. If we're really getting it, I firmly believe we should be having a good time all the time, and it should never feel like it's wearing us down. This Jesus guy put a high priority on peace and joy and rest. He frankly would've made a terrible conservative American Christian.

I want to stand as a proponent of peace, joy, and rest, but not of inactivity. Have you ever done something that physically exhausted you but you enjoyed it so much you didn't notice your utter fatigue until you laid down to sleep that night? I remember water skiing as a teenager for hours and hours until my arms burned and I could barely hold the rope or hoist myself back into the boat. I loved the speed, the challenge, and the rush of getting airborne so much that I would literally torture my body to get more.

To me, that's the picture of a healthy Christian. We should enjoy our lives so much that none of it seems like work, and I believe the secret to that is in knowing that God has already assured our success. God took the human element out of the way, not so that we would sit back and do nothing, but so that we would jump in with both feet, never fearing failure.

The New Testament calls us co-laborers with God. That means that God wants us to hang out with Him and do with Him the things He most enjoys doing. Jesus said He only did what He saw His Father doing...it's like take-your-kid-to-work-day, except you don't just have to watch. You get to do it all, and He's right there with you making sure nothing goes wrong, and that it turns out to be a day you'll never forget.

The pressure is off! Personally, I thrive under certain types of pressure…the pressure of a musical performance, for instance. However, that's only because of my near insane level of confidence in that area. Something about standing in front of people gives me almost super-human ability to remember words, notes, and guitar chords, or at least make it appear as though I do...I suppose it's a gift. However, normal, everyday types of pressure like finances, deadlines, task lists, and the like, literally make me ill.

Pressure is bad...that is unless you have a near insane level of confidence to make the pressure just seem like fun. That's what Christianity is. In essence, Christianity is the continued incarnation of the Spirit of God in the earth through the church and individual believers. Do you think Jesus felt stressed or worried about His success in healing or performing miracles or teaching? No. He had confidence because He knew His source of power and His relationship to His Father.

Well, it's Christ in us--not the 8 lb, 6 oz Jesus, but the almighty Creator of the Universe in us. We can have confidence to an even greater level than even Jesus had. The New Testament teaches that we have an advantage over Jesus because Jesus Himself is now interceding for us at the right hand of the Father, so that we would do even greater things than He did. That's what Jesus said about us. I think that should give us a completely insane level of confidence.

That confidence, however, can only be accessed by the Spirit. When Paul said he could do anything, he was careful to qualify it with “through Christ,” meaning that he knew his humanness was not sufficient, but that he must act and do by the Spirit of Christ in him. Paul said in another place that as believers, we are one spirit with God, so that it’s not Him doing it instead of you, like some creepy possessing spirit, but it’s you doing it in Him or through Him.

No, there is no human side to Christianity, but there’s a lot for us to do. He has not taken us out of the picture, but simply assured our success by fulfilling the covenants on our behalf and then joining Himself with us in Spirit.

Why I Quit Christianity

2008-05-05T00:04:00.005-05:00

The best part, however, and the reason I'm not still an agnostic, is that now I know there is no human element in my relationship to God. My flesh can cause me trouble, but it can't change who I am or, more importantly, how my Dad feels about me. He made sure of that when He put Abraham to sleep all those years ago. He has removed the possibility for failure by removing the human element.

Now I know that Christianity is not some behavioral ultimatum, but a relationship of total commitment on God's part, and total surrender on my part. Now I believe in a different version of Christianity:

God-focus instead of self-focus

Loving Him instead of trying to please Him

Thankfulness instead of devotion

Internal God thinking instead of external God thinking

Christ in me instead of Christ-likeness

Walking in the Spirit instead of struggling to conform flesh to His image

Renewing the mind instead of trying to grow spiritually

and best of all...

Knowing Him and Walking with Him instead of living for Him

The Gift of Righteousness

2008-05-01T23:17:00.002-05:00

As I teach the concepts of spiritual identity, one of the greatest roadblocks I encounter is a reticence in many people to see themselves as righteous. This is particularly difficult for people who, like me, were raised in church. Most of us have been told so often how sinful we are that we feel very uncomfortable, almost blasphemous, affirming our righteousness in Christ.

In truth, however, though we may not be the quickest to accept it, we should ultimately gain the deepest understanding of it. Why? Because I believe the first prerequisite to an understanding of the gift of righteousness is a clear grasp of just how necessary that gift is.

To appreciate the gift, we need to know how much we need it, and those of us who have been called "sinners saved by grace" all our lives should certainly grasp our need for righteousness. The problem lies in what I believe is the second prerequisite: an understanding that by nature, the gift is completely independent of our performance.

We cannot change our own righteousness, not even for an instant. We can no more diminish our standing with God now than we could improve it before our conversion. Righteousness is a gift. Our role in it is simply to accept it and wear it. We can't damage it; all we can do is fail to enjoy its benefits.

Big Jesus

2008-04-30T00:02:00.004-05:00

To understand the gravity of our identity in Christ is first to understand the enormity of the One in whom that identity rests.

Consider the implications of the title, "Him who fills everything in every way."

Consider the implications of the title, "His fullness."

Fathom the depth of deity expressed in the phrase, "...all the fullness of the God-head in bodily form."

Fathom the depth of endowment expressed in the phrase, "And you are complete in Him..."

Few of us have a hard time seeing Jesus as big...almighty, majestic, all-consuming; but somehow we believe a different Jesus lives in us, so we short-change our own identity in Him.

To get a clear picture of ourselves, we must come to terms with the fact that it is this Jesus, this glorified, majestic, preexistent and almighty, all-consuming and all encompassing Jesus, in Whom we have our being, and Who has come to live in us.

References: Ephesians 1, Colossians 2

Feeling Righteous

2008-04-27T23:47:00.003-05:00

"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Righteousness is not a feeling we internalize like peace or joy. Righteousness is a reality we experience through relationship to the one from whose character it flows. No, it's not a feeling, but it sure feels good.

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Do you feel righteous? I seldom do, if ever. I know I'm righteous in Jesus. I know beyond any conscious doubt that nothing can ever diminish my standing before God. I know that I am in Jesus and that His righteousness is mine forever. However, do I feel righteous? No. In fact, if I felt righteous, I'd be very suspicious of that feeling.

I don't feel righteous, but there are many feelings associated with a realization of the gift God gave us in His righteousness. Primarily, when I catch a glimpse of that gift, I feel grateful. It's overwhelming to look at myself in the mirror and say, "I am the righteousness of God." At times, it also makes me feel a bit of fear to say something like that, but then again, not to say it would be to reject a very costly gift from God.

The best feeling, though, is peace. To know that I can't do anything to spoil my relationship with God literally saturates me with a sense of assurance. Saturates...that's the best word I can come up with. My good days, bad days, my celebrations and my battles, my ambitions, successes and failures, are all soaked in a sense that none of it can significantly increase or diminish me. I think the New Testament calls it an "anchor to the soul."

How to Grow Spiritually With a Spirit That Can't Grow

2008-04-26T22:45:00.003-05:00

This title is somewhat tongue in cheek. I'm poking fun at both myself for feeling the need to say things like "there's no such thing as spiritual growth," and at those who might get upset reading it. This entry is to help fill the gap between an imperfect term and a perfect experience.

We've called it spiritual growth for so long that we've begun to believe that somehow, at the moment of conversion, we received the baby Holy Spirit, the 8lb/6oz Jesus, and that we were responsible to feed and care for the little tyke until He grew to make us Christlike...wow! What a sad commentary on the teaching of both Biblical truth and logic.

As I wrote earlier, it's clear from scripture that as believers, we do not receive an immature or inadequate version of the Spirit of God, but the full, mature, glorified Spirit of Christ Himself. The ever-looming question, the pink elephant in the room, is this: If that is in me, why I act, feel, live, like this.

That's a good question. Why do so many Christians go through life not asking it? That's another subject. We, however, are asking it, and I think I have a good answer.

You act like that because you think like that. I do the things, good, bad, and indifferent, that I do, only because I have manufactured those actions in the factory of my mind. I'm overweight because ingrained in my way of thinking is the idea that real men eat...a lot...fast. I'm not blaming anyone. Whom would I prosecute to make me eat less? I realize, however, that these actions of mine will not change without a change in my way of thinking.

And that's the whole thing. Change the way you think. I've done it in other areas of life, and I'm certain I'll do it in my current area of struggle, too, once I change my way of thinking in that area. The trick is, just knowing something is right or wrong often doesn't change our behavior. Just knowing there are consequences is not always a deterrent to poor choices.

I believe that lasting change in our lives will take place only as a result of repaired self-identity. You may know getting high, self-medicating, self-mutilation, overeating, gossiping or lying are wrong, but until you just can't see yourself doing those things, you'll do them again. You may not always behave as you believe you should, but you'll always behave like who you believe you are.

See yourself the way God sees you. Change the way you think about yourself. Change your self-identity. That's the process. I believe you have it all right now. You have everything God has to give, right now, right where you sit. It's all available to you right now. He's held nothing back from you. Your spirit is full-grown because it’s His Spirit in you. All that's necessary is for you to act on it. The trick is, you'll have a hard time acting on what your mind can't conceive.

For most of us, it takes time for our minds to conceive all that God re-created us to be. I realized at some point in my life that on some level I'd begun to see myself as nothing. It's taken a few years for me to change that thinking, and it may take a few more to complete the process. I do believe maturity is possible, though. Paul implied to the Ephesians that in not too much time, they could all reach the same level as Jesus. Yeah, look it up. 4:13...It's one of those "W…W...W...What the heck did that just say?" verses.

I'm so deeply different from the person I was five years ago when this journey of discovering who I am began, or at least restarted. I am so much more secure, confident, steady, and peaceful than I was. Yes, I've "grown," but it's crucial to know that God hasn't given me anything I didn't already have.

I've succeeded in lasting life-change largely because I realized I didn't have to ask for...and therefore earn...anything. It's all already there. Character qualities, spiritual fruit and gifts, miracle powers, are just clothes in my closet I can put on and wear. I just have to be able to see myself in them, so I need to change my self-identity.

Nothing wrong with being practical, here. Some of our issues are just habits that we need to replace with other habits. Don't just try to quit; replace that bad thing with something good. Experience is a great teacher. Once you see that you can do it, you have much more confidence to continue. Nevertheless, I believe this also comes down to identity. Seeing yourself as someone with the ability to improve is beginning to see yourself as God sees you. I think that's all walking in the Spirit is...walking around with the mindset that within your spirit is everything you need.

Most importantly, though, seeing yourself as someone who has everything you need means seeing Jesus in you. I have a suspicion that's why God designed it to work this way. He's really out for relationship with us. He works everything out so that we constantly need to focus our attention on Him and get to know Him more intimately.

That's also the best part for us. Coming to know Him in a genuine, palpable relationship is more satisfying than I had ever imagined it could be. Seeing Him as the God who gives everything, all of Himself to me has been like the removal of a veil not only to see myself more as He sees me, but also to see Him more as He is.

Therefore, the key to growing spiritually even though spiritual growth is impossible, is to realize that spiritual growth is impossible...then you'll really experience spiritual growth...that isn't actually spiritual growth at all.

What I mean to say is, we don't need our spirits to get bigger or stronger or better, we need to get our minds around the fact of Who it is Whose Spirit now lives within us. Then we're on our way.

References: Philippians 2,3,4, Galatians 5, Ephesians 1,4, Colossians 1, Romans 6,8, 1 Peter 2

You Have it All!

2008-04-25T23:35:00.004-05:00

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Eph 1:3

The truth is, God emptied heaven into you. Think about it...what is there that isn't in Jesus? Well, Jesus, the All in All, is in you. You have it all. The journey, I believe, is in learning to enjoy the blessings and use the tools He's given you as you come to know the One who is the Gift and the Giver.

Ever hear of the Blank Slate theory of human development? It basically stated that each person begins life with nothing...a blank slate. Then, through training, influence, environment, the personality is formed from scratch. Well, that theory turned out to be wrong; no surprise to anyone who's ever raised a child...we're definitely not born blank. God makes people unique from the beginning.

The Blank Slate theory turned out to be bad science, but I think somehow it stuck in the Christian mindset. I know growing up that I had the idea that when I became a Christian, God just wiped my slate clean. Well, that's not necessarily a bad picture of forgiveness, but it's a terrible picture of the life God gives to the believer.

I had this idea that any strength, any character, any spiritual wherewithal or godliness I might gain would have to be added to me, either through Bible study, tribulation, or, perhaps, a zap by the Holy Spirit once in a while. Well, those things have their place, but what a sad way to see myself! No wonder I found Christianity frustrating and miserable!

What the New Testament teaches is that we were not wiped clean, but reborn and re-created. That's much more than a blank slate. In fact, Paul said that at the moment we believed in Jesus, God gave us every spiritual blessing that exists in the realm of heaven. Then, Peter said that we had been given everything we need to live this life and to live like God in this world.

My favorite is in Romans 8. Paul basically said, and I paraphrase, "Hey, God gave you His only Son...what else is there? What else could you possibly need? And after a gift like that, what would God withhold from you? I think He's proved where His heart is."

I truly practice a new version of Christianity now...well, actually, I think it's nearer the original version. I never ask God to give me anything...never. I realize I have it all. I pray a lot more than I ever did before when it was always asking for stuff, but now I do a lot of thanking and praising and just talking to my Dad (God, that is). I actually listen now, and, yes, He talks a lot, too.

The truth is, God emptied heaven into you. Think about it...what is there that isn't in Jesus? Well, Jesus, the All in All, is in you. You have it all. The journey, I believe, is in learning to enjoy the blessings and use the tools He's given you as you come to know the One who is the Gift and the Giver.

References: Romans 6,8, Galatians 2, 2 Corinthians 5, Ephesians 1,4, 2 Peter 1

No Such Thing as Spiritual Growth

2008-04-23T23:14:00.004-05:00

"He who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17

Spiritual growth is something we all feel like we experience, but it's not literally what's happening. What's happening is the renewing of the mind. I think maturity is just having our minds so set on what God says that we just can't listen to any other way of thinking. Mature believers just don't get tossed around as much. They don't have bigger spirits or better spirits or stronger spirits. They simply have their minds more consistently in harmony with the Spirit of God joined as one with their spirits within them.

How's that for a title that grabs you by the religion? No such thing as spiritual growth? I know, some of you are thinking..."I knew this guy was a heretic...now I have my proof!" Well, read on and you'll see I'm just saying what the New Testament says.

Actually, I'm straightening out a misnomer that I guess the discipleship movement gave birth to in the early twentieth century. The idea of spiritual growth comes from the encouragement the apostles gave early believers to grow to maturity in their faith. In a very general sense, it means to gain consistency, and experience in ministry.

The issue isn't that this process not called "spiritual growth" in the Bible, though it's not...correct me if I'm wrong. The issue is that the term creates a very substantial misunderstanding. You see, the New Testament teaches that our spirit and God's Spirit have become one Spirit within us. We are also taught that our inner man has been re-born and re-created in Christ.

Those three truths do not leave room for a growing, changing, improving spirit. Those ideas demand that we see our spirit as constant. After all, God's Spirit is constant. God doesn't get weak or tired; doesn't get hungry if we don't feed Him, and God's Spirit could never be immature. Therefore, God's Spirit cannot grow, and since we are one in spirit with Him, neither can ours.

These misunderstandings are what I call "doctrines of applied experience." We take something we have experienced and search the Bible for a verse that will explain it, and then decide that must be the truth of the matter.

Case in point: we feel less spiritual the days we don't read our Bible, so we assume that's because our spirit must be weak due to a lack of spiritual food. Makes sense, no? No. The truth is, we feel less spiritual the days we don't read our Bible simply because our minds are not set on the Spirit, but on the flesh, and Paul told the Romans they'd be walking dead if they did that.

We see a new believer change rapidly and we assume it's because his spirit is growing. However, God doesn't grow. We didn't get the eight pound six ounce Jesus when we were born again. We got the mature, risen, glorified King of Kings, like the one in Revelation, and if our spirits are one with Him, how can that spirit get any stronger or more mature?

More importantly, when we go through something tough, we come out on the other side feeling spiritually stronger, and we assume it's because our spirit actually grew because the trial gave it exercise. Makes sense, no? No. The fact is that God's Spirit within you became much more real to you because every day of that difficult situation forced you to set your mind on Him, to look to Him, to walk in intimate communication with Him; and when you do that, you feel the strength of God.

This brings us to why this is such an important point. When you're going through that trial, you need to know that every moment, no matter how you feel, no matter how weak you are---He is strong. If you never read your Bible, He's still the same. When you are weak, you are strong. The power, grace, love, joy, peace and wisdom you need already reside in the unchanging Spirit of God within you. When life is hard, you need to know that.

Additionally, you need to know that when you fail, when you fall, when you just get lazy or depressed...He doesn't. He doesn't change, so your spirit is always as strong as it ever was. You don't have to go through a restoration process or build yourself back up. You may need to re-train your mind to stop thinking stupid thoughts and start focusing on God, but your spirit is not affected one single bit...ever. God never changes. God never changes. God never changes.

Spiritual growth is something we all feel like we experience, but it's not literally what's happening. What's happening is the renewing of the mind. I think maturity is just having our minds so set on what God says that we just can't listen to any other way of thinking. Mature believers just don't get tossed around as much. They don't have bigger spirits or better spirits or stronger spirits. They simply have their minds more consistently in harmony with the Spirit of God joined as one with their spirits within them.

References: 1 Corinthians 6, John 1, 3, 2 Corinthians 3,5,12, Ephesians 1, 4, Romans 4,5,6,7,8,12 Galatians 2, 5, Hebrews 12, 1 John 4

Righteousness...a Reclaimed Relationship

2008-04-22T10:11:00.004-05:00

Righteousness sounds so dry. As exciting as it is to read in Easton’s Bible Dictionary that I am “entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Rom. 5:1-10),” it still sounds rather judicial. But it’s not. I believe righteousness is mostly about relationship.

Actually, at least by one sense of its definition, righteousness is relationship. To be righteous means to be "right" with God, or in perfect standing with Him…in other words, to have a perfect relationship with Him.

An incredible thought: to have the righteousness of Jesus means to have the same perfect relationship with God that Jesus has. Can anything compare to that relationship? Can there be any love more satisfying and sure than the love between God the Father and His Son, Jesus? Can there be any more intimate friendship, any more open communication, any greater acceptance, any more certain approval? This describes the believer’s relationship with God…Selah.

I believe this view of righteousness is a good look into the heart of God. He paid the price of the cross, not out of pity to rescue sinners, but out of love to gain children and friends. His desire wasn't to clean up someone's mess because He felt sorry for them; it was to reclaim the broken relationship with His most prized creation, the only one in His own image.

John said God is love. That means God is relationship, and often it seems that relationship is what His plan and His ways boil down to. Righteousness means we have the same judicial standing with God as Jesus; but more importantly, it means we have the same relationship.

Righteousness...a Question of Divine Competency

2008-04-21T15:27:00.004-05:00

2 Corinthians 5:21--"For God made Him who had no sin to become sin on our behalf, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God."

I believe that when we doubt our own righteousness, we need to remember who it is who claims to have made us righteous, and by what agency He claims to have done it.

The greatest source of peace in my life is the constantly deepening understanding of the fact that my standing with God has nothing to do with my performance, my ability, my behavior, my feelings, or my character. My standing with God, my righteousness is simply a question of Divine Competency. Paul asks in Romans, if God is the one who justifies you, (makes you righteous), who can condemn you?"

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If God were to set out to manufacture a fast car...how fast would it be? If God were to build a building with the intent of making it strong...how strong would it be? Would God's car ever lose a race? Would His building be vulnerable to any force, natural or otherwise? Of course, anyone with any traditional idea of God, any cursory understanding of scripture would answer an emphatic "no."

Surely, no force could compete with the competency, creativity or resourcefulness of God. Certainly no span of time, force of destruction, or human design could hope to diminish by a single iota the quality or strength inherent in the work of God Himself. God's ability is infinite, and therefore incomparable and immutable. And yet, when it comes to Righteousness, our thinking is different.

In the cross, resurrection, and outpouring, God set out to re-create the spirit of man in true righteousness and holiness, says Paul in Corinthians and Ephesians, Colossians, Romans, and say other Biblical writers as well. Please don't be confused by the wording of the scripture at the top of the page, namely the words "might become." This is a past-tense statement for the person with faith in Christ. A grammar lesson may be warranted in a later entry.

In my estimation, however, any question about whether we are made righteous at the moment of salvation or are continually "righteousness-ized" throughout life stems from a much more basic and consequential question...the competency of God. Does God have the ability to make you righteous? You must ask yourself if you believe He does. You know you do not have that ability, don't you? If not, just live a little longer and the question will be settled for you...or try asking your wife or your parents or your teenage kids...they'll tell you.

If you doubt that you as a believer you are now righteous, made righteous by faith in Jesus alone, and kept righteous by the power of His righteous blood sprinkled on the eternal mercy seat in heaven for you, consider the previous question and the following one. Since God is certainly able to make and keep you righteous, perhaps you doubt that the cross of Jesus and the life-blood He shed are sufficient agents to accomplish this.

I know these are not things we consciously doubt. I almost feel like I'm insulting my readers by asking these questions, but they are question I ask myself often. I believe that when we doubt our own righteousness, we need to remember who it is who claims to have made us righteous, and by what agency He claims to have done it.

Our enemy is called a liar and an accuser for good reason. He has been disarmed, stripped of all his military might, and is left with one power alone, the power to lie. Therefore, he spends his efforts on lies and accusations, and the two are often one. He loves to make us question our own standing with God. After all, that's the most precious thing he lost.

The greatest source of peace in my life is the constantly deepening understanding of the fact that my standing with God has nothing to do with my performance, my ability, my behavior, my feelings, or my character. My standing with God, my righteousness is simply a question of Divine Competency. Paul asks in Romans, if God is the one who justifies you, (makes you righteous), who can condemn you?"

Righteousness Part One

2008-04-18T23:38:00.004-05:00

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

I believe in original thought. I try to do my own thinking and quote sparsely. Most of this entry, however, is not original. Righteousness is a huge part of our identity as believers. I have a lot to say about that, but before you hear from me, you should at least have the opportunity to look at what one great scholar had to say about it. It's technical, theological, but it's short, and very, very powerful. So for those who will read and absorb, great reward awaits.

The following is reprinted from Easton's Bible Dictionary. By the way, Easton’s is public domain and available on the Web, so check it out when you have a question about anything in the Bible. When you look up “Righteousness” in Easton’s, you’ll find a note that just says “See Justification” and here’s what you’ll find when you look there.

“Justification - a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Rom. 5:1-10).

It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:6-8).

The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 3:25, 26; 4:20, 22; Phil. 3:8-11; Gal. 2:16).

The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Rom. 6:2-7. Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6).” (Emphasis mine)

Lots to think about here...

One Ancestor

2008-04-16T14:33:00.004-05:00

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. " 1 John 3:1 NIV

That is an enormous truth. Coupled with Paul's instructions to never look at anyone, including ourselves, from a natural point of view again, but to see ourselves according to the spirit, it means our ancestry has been exchanged. The simple truth of the matter is that we only have one ancestor--God. Anything negative you got from your parents doesn't count anymore.

Forget that you have your aunt Sarah's temper, or your grandmother's impatient nature, or your grandfather's and father's propensity to addiction, or your mother's susceptibility to depression. The truth is, their genetics no longer apply to you. The only genetic code controlling you now is the spiritual one you received from God.

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Do you like being compared to your parents? For a long time, I hated being compared to my Dad...now I consider it a compliment. He was a great man who gave me some tremendous gifts. Some of the things I cherish most in my character and my ways of looking at life came from him.

To be honest, though, I suppose some of my greatest weaknesses came from him, too. That's just a part of the deal, I guess. I'll pass on the best and worst of myself to my kids as well, and so will you. That's because we're in an imperfect world, living imperfect lives; and parents make people, fortunately and unfortunately, very much like themselves.

However, in the truest sense, those of us who believe in Jesus have escaped that cycle of imperfection. Think about it: we are children of God. John said that we've been re-fathered from above, and that the genetic code of God has been implanted in us. Peter said that we now share in "the divine nature." We are literally the genetic offspring of God in our spiritual selves, the truest part of who we are.

That is an enormous truth. Coupled with Paul's instructions to never look at anyone, including ourselves, from a natural point of view again, but to see ourselves according to the spirit, it means our ancestry has been exchanged. The simple truth of the matter is that we only have one ancestor--God. Anything negative you got from your parents doesn't count anymore.

Forget that you have your aunt Sarah's temper, or your grandmother's impatient nature, or your grandfather's and father's propensity to addiction, or your mother's susceptibility to depression. The truth is, their genetics no longer apply to you. The only genetic code controlling you now is the spiritual one you received from God.

God the Father is your only ancestor, and remember this: God can make things that have the ability to fail, malfunction, break down, or that are prone to sin. He can make things not completely like Himself. But He didn't just make you, He Fathered you. You have His genetic code. You have inherited His character and way of looking at life, His goodness and power and love--it's just part of the deal. Parents make people just like themselves.

References: John 1, John 3, 1 John 3, 1 Peter 2, 2 Corinthians 5, Romans 8

Renewing the Sub-conscious Mind

2008-04-15T22:34:00.000-05:00

"...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind..." Eph 4:23

Our meditation needs to center on who we are in Christ. Why? Identity is a function of the sub-conscious. We may not always behave like we believe we should, but we will always behave like who we truly believe we are. That applies positively and negatively. When it comes down to it, we act like who we believe we are...good or bad.

The good news, the amazing news is, that the truth of our identity in Christ is strong, positive, and completely independent of our feelings, behaviors, habits, character flaws, addictions, patterns, and personalities. At a level even deeper than our sub-conscious minds, we are joined with Christ. We need to meditate on what He is in us, and in that, see ourselves for what He made us to be, then we begin to alter our sense of identity.

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A few years ago, I discovered one of my all-time favorite books. It's by Malcom Gladwell and it's called "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking." It's not a Christian book at all, but it has tons of implications for anyone trying to exercise any level of self-control, and that should include Christians.

In the book, Gladwell, through research and anecdotal evidence, makes a very compelling case for the idea that one's behavior is very often completely outside the realm of conscious control. Over and over, people express the desire and belief in doing one thing, but when given the opportunity, do just the opposite. Why? Gladwell says, and I agree, that the hidden control center is the sub-conscious mind.

I believe there are times we honestly have no immediate control over our actions. I have observed children, adults, teens, and myself making choices completely antithetical to all held beliefs and even intentions. Many of these choices are among the most consequential in life: choices of relationship, morality, prejudice. It appears, and research shows, that the place in our mind that makes those choices is not automatically controlled or even influenced by the place in our mind where our beliefs and values and plans lie.

The conclusion is that our behavior is often completely independent of our values and beliefs. If this is so, how can we keep from flying off the handle, spending too much at the mall, dating the wrong kind of person, going too far, over eating, over drinking, judging someone by their appearance, judging anyone at all, gossiping, being jealous, oh my goodness...the list!

How do we effectively control ourselves? Paul wrote to the Romans, who had lots of cultural issues, lots of improper behaviors and attitudes ingrained in them from childhood, that they should allow themselves to be changed from the inside out by the renewing of their minds. He said that was the secret to not falling into the patterns and lifestyles so prevalent around them.

But is he just instructing us to change our beliefs, to renew our conscious mind? Obviously not. We've got to get at the sub-conscious somehow if we're going to control these gut-level, reflexive choices and behaviors. In another place, Paul instructs us to be renewed in "the spirit of our minds." One version calls it the "attitude" of our mind. These scriptures are referring to the sub-conscious mind, or what you might call our foundational thinking, our "way of thinking."

Why does the abused woman keep marrying abusers? Why does the rehabilitated crack addict move back in next door to the crack house? Why do young men and women with eating disorders look at their emaciated bodies in the mirror and see fat? These are phenomena that seem to emanate from this foundational thinking, beyond reason or belief.

If we are to truly experience self-control, to line up our behavior with our beliefs, we must find a way to change not just our beliefs, but our foundational thinking. We must renew our sub-conscious minds.

The writer of Hebrews compares God's words to a double edged sword and says that it "pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit." So God's word is uniquely formulated to reach to the depths of our thinking, beyond our feelings and even our gut responses. God's word is the key to renewing our subconscious minds.

But I believe there's another crucial element. Our meditation needs to center on who we are in Christ. Why? Identity is a function of the sub-conscious. In fact, I believe it's the most foundational of all foundational thinking. It shapes all our other "ways of thinking," our gut reactions, our reflex feelings, our outlook on life. We may not always behave like we believe we should, but we will always behave like who we truly believe we are. That applies positively and negatively. When it comes down to it, we act like who we believe we are...good or bad.

Altering our sense of identity will renew the mind in its deepest places. The truth of our identity in Christ is strong, positive, and completely independent of our feelings, behaviors, habits, character flaws, addictions, patterns, and personalities. In our spirits, at a level even deeper than our sub-conscious minds, we are joined with Christ. We need to meditate on what He is in us, and in that, see ourselves for what He made us to be, then we begin to alter our sense of identity.

A word of encouragement: it may take time. However, I have seen behaviors in my own life I never thought I'd see; and it wasn't because I said "I've got to start (or stop) doing this!" It was because, as I began to see myself differently, I just happened to do the right thing in the moment, just like I'd done the wrong thing before. It appears that at least pockets of my sub-conscious mind are being renewed.

References: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 6, Hebrews 4, Joshua 1, Psalm 1, Eph 4

You Are a Spirit

2008-04-15T10:24:00.000-05:00

"However , you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit , if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ , he does not belong to Him." Romans 8:9 NASB

The truest, deepest part of you, the center of your being, is your spirit, and here's the amazing news about that part of you. Paul wrote in another place "...he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him." Your spirit has been inseparably joined with God's Spirit inside you.

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I couldn't even bear to post this opening entry with its natural title, "Finding the real you." I can't think of very many things that sound more shallow and cliché. But despite the fact that the twisted self-centeredness of our culture has cheapened these words, the concept they refer to is perhaps the most important lesson a person can learn. How do you find "the real you?"

Paul wrote, "...but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Christ dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." Note the use of the words, "you are." The idea of being in the flesh or in the spirit in Christian culture has come to refer to someone's state of mind or attitude, and that's an important thing. But if you try to superimpose that use of the phrase onto your reading of this passage, you'll miss its meaning.

This isn't about attitude, it's about identity. "You are" not in the flesh, but "you are" in the Spirit. Your true self is found, not in the natural, physical, emotional or rational, but in the spiritual. He's saying that if you want to know who you really are, live truly, honestly, openly in this life, it's going to be a spiritual endeavor, not a physical one. If you want to access genuineness in yourself, you have to look deeper than what you see.

In fact, perhaps the most important thing to note is that he says "Spirit" not "soul." Many of us have the mistaken idea that the "real you" is the one no one else knows about, the person you are alone in your room at night, the one with all the secret dreams and fears, regret and shame. I'm thrilled to tell you that the real you is much deeper than even that. That person, as deeply hidden as many of us keep it, is no more the real you than your hair or your fingernails. That is your soul--your mind, will and emotions; and though it may be secret and hidden, it's still undeniably natural.

The truest, deepest part of you, the center of your being, is your spirit, and here's the amazing news about that part of you. Paul wrote in another place "...he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him." Your spirit has been inseparably joined with God's Spirit inside you. We are one with Him. Joined to Him in love. Re-created in Him. The real you is deeper than flesh, deeper than soul, deeper than your appearance or your hidden self. The real you is found in perfect union with God in the center of your being, your spirit.

References: Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 6

Identity by Relationship

2008-04-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

"Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." Hebrews 2:11 NIV

As we learn to look at ourselves accurately, as God sees us, one of the greatest mirrors we can look in is the mirror of relationship. We are literally the offspring of God. Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters...proudly, not with shame or regret, and God calls you His son or daughter. There's an identity to be proud of!

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All of us have been called those names; some make us proud, others not so much. I was always referred to as "Perry's son" or, in school, "Perri Lynn's little brother." Both mostly irritated me. I wanted to be known as myself, not as someone's son or brother...especially not someone's little brother.

As I got older, my dad's friends at church would just call me Perry instead of Phil, and frankly, I didn't mind so much. I had begun to realize what a compliment it was to be confused for someone as loved and admired as my father. I'd begun to realize the benefits of identity by relationship.

As we learn to look at ourselves accurately, as God sees us, one of the greatest mirrors we can look in is the mirror of relationship. We are literally the offspring of God. Jesus said that seeing the kingdom of God requires spiritual birth, and in that spiritual birth, we become God's children. One Biblical translator says that we've been "re-Fathered from above."

One of my favorite statements in scripture is this: "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters...proudly, not with shame or regret, and God calls you His son or daughter. There's an identity to be proud of!

References: John 1, John 3, Hebrews 2

Who...or What?

2008-04-15T10:20:00.000-05:00

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh , and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit ." John 3:6 NASB

The identity of the believer is more than a name, more than a legal endowment. Rather, it is a radical, comprehensive change of constitution. That just means we've been completely re-made, and not of the same stuff, either. In the beginning of John's Gospel, he says that those who believe in Jesus would become children of God, born not of flesh, but of God. Then a few chapters later, he quotes Jesus as saying that those born of the Spirit (or of God) actually become spirit beings.

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I know it's my fault, and I know if I'd invest the time and energy, I might be able to put a dent in the problem, but my dog, Biscuit, a sort-of Terrier-Chihuahua mix, thinks she's a person. I wondered why she never wanted to sleep in her dog bed, why she obsessively hangs around the kitchen during the daily lunch-making pandemonium, looking up as if to say, "No mustard on my sandwich, please..." and why she refuses to stay in the back yard for more than about fifteen minutes, but instead crawls through one of her escape tunnels and walks all the way around to the front door to scratch...or rather, knock, to be let in.

However, looking at her now, curled up on the couch instead of in her bed, it hits me...she thinks she's one of us. It's not that she's an unintelligent or rebellious dog; it's that she's just unaware that she is a dog at all. She's not being stubborn when she hesitates to get into her bed at night, she's just confused. Somehow, I should probably figure out a way to teach Biscuit who...or more accurately, what, she is.

That's also one of the greatest barriers I find in teaching people who they are in Christ. When many people hear that they are righteous, holy, powerful, perfect, complete, etc., they bristle with discomfort, and often object, "That's really not me!" Understandable, but we must see that our identity is not subject to feeling, understanding, or behavior, but that it exists at the most basic level...the level of substance; not just who we are, but what we are.

The identity of the believer is more than a name, more than a legal endowment. Rather, it is a radical, comprehensive change of constitution. That just means we've been completely re-made, and not of the same stuff, either. In the beginning of John's Gospel, he says that those who believe in Jesus would become children of God, born not of flesh, but of God. Then a few chapters later, he quotes Jesus as saying that those born of the Spirit (or of God) actually become spirit beings.

Now please don't get goofy here. We still have bodies and minds, and they're very important...our bodies are how we demonstrate the power of the Spirit, how we love each other, and how we connect to the world around us. In addition, our minds are how we experience both God and this life. However, our minds and bodies are natural. Everyone born of men has those things, but what we have become in the new birth is something fundamentally different.

We have been remade of a new substance, God's Spirit, also called the life of God and the divine nature in scripture. Moreover, it's important to reiterate that God's Spirit is not just something we've been "given." Rather, we've literally been born of the Spirit. When you're born of a dog, you are a dog; born of a cat, a cat; born of a caribou, a caribou; (I just like the word caribou, don't you?) born of the Spirit of God...the implications are huge. You are a spirit, and not just any spirit. Once again, 1 Corinthians 6:17 says that he who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Without that understanding, seeing yourself as God sees you will be very difficult. Before you can see yourself for who you are, you must first know what you are.

References: 2 Corinthians 5, John 1, John 3, 1 Corinthians 6

The Right Mirror

2008-04-15T10:15:00.000-05:00

"For we are His workmanship , created in Christ Jesus for good works , which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Eph 2:10 NASB

The potter and the clay, shepherd and sheep, master and servant are all beautiful metaphors, but they are not for you. If you use those images as a picture of your relationship to God, you're getting a very distorted image. You are not God's clay, sheep, or servant. You are His masterpiece, His saint and His son.

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All mirrors are not created equal. Some are more accurate than others are. As a kid, I loved the bent and twisted mirrors at the fair that made you look two feet tall or like your neck was eight feet long. That was one thing no one ever got tired of. Why didn't they sell those as household toys? It may have significantly postponed the video game revolution. Anyway, I loved playing with those distorted images of myself then, now it just makes me seasick...pathetic.

Did you know there are two mirrors in the Bible? Most of us know them as the Old and New Testaments. Actually, they're two covenants, or contracts between God and His people. Both are inspired and useful. However, if you want to know who you are, you have to be careful not to look into the wrong mirror.

Paul made a point in one of His letters to Timothy to encourage him to study the scriptures so that he could correctly handle the word of truth. One version uses the phrase, "rightly dividing the word of truth." The truth is, scripture needs to be divided so that each part is used for its intended purpose. Some of what is written in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, does not apply to believers. Without going into too much detail, just take the book of Job for example. Quoting verses from that book can be dangerous, since much of it is simply the human analysis of Job's situation, which God comes back to personally refute. Imagine that! If you don't know how to divide the truth, you might quote a Bible verse that God says isn't true!

Well, it's not that uncommon. There are several metaphors of relationship to God in the Old Testament. The potter and the clay, shepherd and sheep, master and servant are all beautiful metaphors, but they are not for you. If you use those images as a picture of your relationship to God, you're getting a very distorted image. You are not God's clay, sheep, or servant. You are His masterpiece, His saint and His son. How many songs we sing, how many sermons we hear that tell us we are less than what we are. God help us.

At times it may seem like a minor issue, but please remember what it is that separates the Old from the New in Scripture---the cross of Jesus. Ultimate punishment placed on Infinite Innocence is the dividing line and the price paid to bring us across that line was the very life of God. How can we think it a small thing to choose to stay in the bondage from which He died to rescue us? Was it a bad thing to be clay, sheep, or servant before the cross? No, it was the best that was available on earth. However, it is bondage compared to what is available to us now. The entire book of Hebrews was written to make that single point.

So look into the right mirror. Read the Old Testament, but always through the lens of the cross, and spend your time in the New Testament. Don't settle for a distorted image. God gave Paul, Peter, John and the other New Testament writers the full revelation of who He made us to be. Read what they wrote. Meditate on it. Gaze into it like a mirror and learn to know deeply who you are. I believe it is then and only then, that you will begin to live like the masterpiece, the saint, and the son (or daughter) that you are.

References: Job 38, John 1, Galatians 3, Colossians 1, Ephesians 1, Romans 1, Eph 2

The Most Important Thing

2008-04-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Rom 8:29 NIV

The purpose of the incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, and the outpouring was not to get you to heaven. God's intention was to invade earth, not just once, but millions of times over. Paul wrote it in Romans 8:29--the firstborn among many brothers. On the cross, Jesus was finishing something for sure, but more importantly, or at least more urgently for now, He was beginning something. He was the first; we are the many. God wants to invade your world through you just like He invaded the Roman empire through Jesus. He was the first; we are the many.

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I recently had the opportunity say some “last words” to a group of people I was saying goodbye to. What do you say last? I hadn't planned what to say, but I think in the moment, what I said was satisfying. I actually think I said the most important thing I could say to them.

My passion in life is to help believers in Jesus discover who they are. I've been struck with the depth of the change that took place in guys like Peter, John, and Paul in the New Testament, and how dramatic was their expectation of what our experience should be. These guys experienced something truly supernatural, and if you read what they wrote, you must conclude either that they were crazy, that they were being metaphorical, or that they expected us to experience something at least as overwhelming as they did.

They wrote about things like sharing in the divine nature, being new creations, being the righteousness of God, being crucified with Jesus and living now by His life in them. To them, faith in Jesus was radical. To them, faith in Jesus changed them at their core. They literally experienced a new birth, became different beings. Seeing this, I have begun to understand faith as something fundamentally different from the "Christianity" I grew up believing in.

Christianity has to be completely re-defined for most of us in order for us to step into the stream of faith begun with John, Peter, Paul and the others. We have to realize at some point that we really don't get it on a very basic level. This, by the way, is my secret plot to take over the world. I want to infiltrate every denomination, every group, every theological camp, every limb, vein, and capillary of the Body of Christ with this Idea: Jesus didn't die to get you to where He is; He died to get Himself to where you are.

The purpose of the incarnation, the cross, the resurrection, and the outpouring was not to get you to heaven. God's intention was to invade earth, not just once, but millions of times over. Paul wrote it in Romans 8:29--the firstborn among many brothers. On the cross, Jesus was finishing something for sure, but more importantly, or at least more urgently for now, He was beginning something. He was the first; we are the many. God wants to invade your world in the person of (fill in your name here) just as He invaded Jerusalem through Jesus. He was the first; we are the many.

That is the most important thing I can tell you. Forget everything and start with that. Get up tomorrow and say to yourself, "Jesus was first...I'm next." No, you don't have to die for the sins of the world; your death wouldn't pay for even one of your own sins. However, to follow Him as your rabbi means simply to do what He did in His life.

You can't follow Him in death; to presume that is heresy. However, He Himself said you would follow Him in life. He said in John 14:12 that you would do the same things He did and more. Get up tomorrow and say it to yourself. Forget everything you think you know about "living for Jesus." Start with this single thought. "He was first, I'm next."

Then, you'll be so messed up you won't be able to get through the day without finding out more about what He made you to be. Then we're on our way.