A Transforming Perspective

We have to stop reading the Bible as a collection of stories about amazing or not so amazing people of God! The Bible is one story and the main character is God. If you have ever read the Bible from cover to cover (and I highly recommend it) you will see that the stories are not isolated. They all intertwine and many times, unless you know what happened earlier in the book, you will not be able to get the full meaning of a passage you are reading. Most importantly we have to recognize that God is the center of the story and all creation is used to proclaim his glory, even people.

I was reading in 1 Kings 3: 5-14 yesterday and had an interesting revelation. This is the beginning of Solomon’s reign as king over Israel. God says to him “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Instead of asking for money or fame, Solomon asks for a wise and discerning heart. God is so pleased with Solomon’s request that he decides to not only give him wisdom that will never be rivaled but he also gave him riches and fame beyond any king who ever lived. This all sounds great until in verse 14 God says “and if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” This phrase is what you call foreshadowing. As it turns out Solomon did not obey all the commands and statues of God, but was lead astray by multiple women.

Now here’s what makes that story hard to read. Solomon’s downfall is no surprise to God. He knew it was coming and yet he still lavishes all this wisdom, wealth and fame on Solomon knowing also that those very things will become stumbling blocks for him. Why would God do that? It seems like God is setting Solomon up for failure.

There actually is no “seems” about it, he most certainly is setting Solomon up. I don’t know about you but that doesn’t sit well with me. Why? You see, I was looking at Solomon as the main character of the story. I was more focused on what he was trying to accomplish and where he was trying to go than I was God. If Solomon is the main character then he is the protagonist or hero and anyone who fights against him or plots against him is the antagonist. In this perspective the one who is ultimately plotting against Solomon is God, so He, in our minds is now the antagonist or bad guy. No body likes the bad guy.

Now let’s look at it as if God were the main character or hero of this story. He just lavished his son with wisdom, wealth and fame with the only condition being obedience. What does Solomon do? He continues to disobey God and fight against him for what he wants and each day plots ways to do it again. Solomon becomes the antagonist or enemy of God, but don’t miss what God does here.

Even though he knew Solomon would be His antagonist, He still blessed him with all that he asked for and more. Even though Solomon became God’s enemy, God used him by raising him up as proof for future generations that having all the money, fame and in Solomon’s case women (700 wives and 300 concubines) you could ever want, will never be enough to satisfy that emptiness inside. Only God is enough. Solomon learned this and in his repentance was privileged to be used by God to write Proverbs and the book of Ecclesiastes in which, with all his wealth and fame, he writes:

"Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (Ecc. 2:11)

Solomon, the apparently main character of this story in the Bible, is revealed as merely a tool used by the true main character, God, to proclaim His own power, authority and glory. As you read through the Bible and come in contact with these famous characters, begin to train yourself to ask, “what am I learning about God, the hero of the Bible, through this persons life?” If you do this I promise you it will transform your relationship with God.

God’s story is not finished. We are in the middle of it right now. Are we any different than Solomon to God? Are you not a possible tool God can use to prove his glory to the world? Do you want to be?

You Might be a Consumer Christian if…

1. You talk more about being a member at your church (club) than being a member of the Body of Christ.

2. You worry more about your “church” walls and who is coming in them than about being the Church outside the walls.

3. The time between your prayers is seven days.

4. You come every Sunday but never serve.

5. Are constantly “checking out” churches

6. You leave a body of believers because you never got anything out of the message.

7. You get upset if the service goes long.

8. You don’t like having kids in the service because then you can’t GET anything out of it.

9. You believe the purpose Of Church is to fill you up for the week.

10. If you invite people in you sphere to Church but not to your home.

11. You complain that there are not enough programs.

12. You feel it’s the churches “job” to feed you.

13. Don’t come to Church on a Sunday the Senior Pastor isn’t preaching.

14. The only time your child hears about God is from his small group teacher on Sunday mornings.

15. After Church you spend more time talking about the volume of the music than you do the message.

16. You consider it a sin to cancel a church service.

17. You complain about the Children’s Ministry curriculum, but don’t have a curriculum that you do with them at home.

18. You the definition of Worship is Singing in Church.


Other Thoughts about Consumerism in the Church:

Many people ask for more “meat” from their Church like it was a Wendy’s and when the church obliges, they take a bite and realize that chewing takes a lot more work than sucking milk from a bottle and they give up.
Some after this go back up to the “customer service counter” and complain that this is the wrong “meat” because they can’t eat it all in one sitting on Sunday and they realize the only way they can finish it is take it home and take bites of it throughout the week but they don’t have time for that.
Others, upon finding the meat a challenge, take a bite and stuff the remainder of the uneaten sandwich back in the bag and pretend like they have eaten it so that the others in the restaurant (church) would not look down on them. But when the manager (church staff) comes and asks how was the “meat” we worked so hard to provide, you say something like, “I couldn’t eat it. It was too salty, or too filling or it is too expensive, or I don’t think I have time to eat.

Some ask for more “meat” (resources) and when the “Wendy’s” (church) provides it they are turned off by the price and don’t take the meat. The manager sees this and realizing that they are starving and will die without the food, hands it to them for free. They take it and smile but as they walk away they realize that it was not the price that turned them off, but the cost.


Our time with God either at home or at a church building is not about us it’s about God!

Church Signs and Other Crap...

I used to watch the show Glee and one of my favorite quotes came from the Cheerleading Coach Sue Sylvester, “I’m going to the DMV today to tell them that I will no longer be carrying ID. Why? Because people should know who I am.”

Why do churches need signs for their buildings? If we were really being the Ambassadors for Christ to the world as we are called to in 1 Corinthians 5 then people would just know who we are.

My Church currently doesn’t have a sign on the corner where we reside and I constantly hear grumbles that we really need one because this will help us grow. Grow what?

When I think of big signs, I think of consumer advertising. When I think of advertising I think of competition because advertising is not just to pull you in for their product but also to pull you away from a like product they believe is inferior. Ie: McDonalds and Burger King.

My Church is literally across the street from two other Churches. If we were to put a big sign out front I wonder what the community would think our advertising purpose is? My fear is that they believe for one reason or another that all these churches, because they all had Easter services yesterday, worship the same God, ergo they are on the same team. Because of this belief their response to a new sign may be the absolute opposite of what people who are pushing for the sign, want.

I think the community will see this “advertising” as our church calling them away from the other churches to a better product. Nobody likes watch couples fight at a party. They need to keep that mess in the privacy of their own home! Unfortunately, The Churches mess has been out on the streets in the public eye for centuries and I truly believe it is one of the main reasons people want nothing to do with us, and definitely don’t want to come to our homes (Church Buildings) They have enough drama in their lives why would they want to get in the middle of ours.

I am not saying that our church’s motivation for a physical sign is to draw people away from other churches, but seeing that some churches still feel “called by God” to a piece of land right across the street from another church keeps me from denying it!

How did God advertise for his Church? Transforming power and undeniable truth! In Acts chapter 2 The first Christians (even though they were not called this yet) were given the gift of the Holy Spirit, people saw God’s power through the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4) ,that were interpreted by the people in the crowd, (Acts 2:8) and were amazed and in wonder. (Acts 2:12) Then they heard the message of Christ preached with boldness (Acts 2:14-35) In response to God’s power and truth they ran into God’s arms by the thousands (Acts 2:41) God used and continues to use his PEOPLE as the advertisement! WE are the “sign” for God. (1 Cor. 5:20)

So, for those of you who are upset with me because you think a physical sign with a jumbo screen that ticks through Bible verses and shows "The Passion of the Christ" everyday during rush hour, is the answer for church “growth”, perhaps your time and people's money would be better spent if you were to step back and first evaluate if people are running to YOUR "sign".

The Freedom Dance

I love this video! After my last post I think I needed to share this lighter thought.

Everytime I see this video I think of Christ. He entered his ministry saying and doing things that many considered crazy. They watched him in unbelief with critical eyes wondering if he was in his right mind. They giggled and pointed. Some even engaged him in conversation, pretending to respect him when deep down they only wanted to bring focus to his errors, but he was unfazed. He seemed to dance to the beat of a different drummer but his dance was so free. FREE from fear and anxiety. FREE from the feeling of unworthiness. FREE from the trappings of what is acceptable in society.

And after a while of intense observation a few brave souls decided to throw caution to the wind and Join Him in his FREE dance. Other watched and noted how easy it was to join in the dance because there was no set choreograph or rules about motion, only freedom of expression based on the talent for dance that you possessed. This dance inspired so much boldness and so much joy in the participants that soon crowds of people came from everywhere to join in because they had to know if this dance was as freeing as it looked.

1 Corinthians 1:18 says" For the word of the cross is folly those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Much like the scene in this video. Not everyone wanted to join. Some still sat and scoffed because it was stupid to them. But for those in the mob, the dance was epic joy.

Do you know the dance? Or did you join the mob because everyone around you was jumping in, but instead of tapping into the freedom the master displayed you merely watched him very closely and mimicked his every move hoping that in doing so he and those around you would believe you were part of the mob? Problem is that that dance in not for them. it's for those in the outside and they can tell if you are faking it.

As we prepare ourselves to enter into the life, death and resurrection of Christ this weekend. I don't want us to miss that through Christ we are FREE to now dance in the presence of the God without shame. This freedom dance is a gift to us, not to be used entertainment for us in front of our bathroom mirrors, but instead as an invitation to others who are desperate to dance freely. But if no one who watched you outside the mob sees you dancing this dance again or if when asked to dance again you refuse because your are embarrassed, then you are only affirming the sitting scoffers original thought; that this master dancer possessed no freeing power at all, only a sadistic propensity for foolishness.

30 reasons people don’t believe what you say about Christ

I woke up this morning at 3:00 and couldn’t go back to sleep. I was really grieving the state of the Church in America. This is some of what came into my head.

30 reasons people don’t believe what you say about Christ


1. You pick and choose what you want to believe from the Bible. Oh, and surprise the portions you don’t believe just happen to be condemning the choices you are making in life.

2. You talk about having a covenant relationship with God and yet don’t believe maintaining your covenant relationship with you spouse is important.

3. You are still angry about a disagreement with another part of the Body of Christ from 500 years ago and yet you can’t even explain why.

4. You suffer from shame. That feeling you get when you bow your head to pray in the middle of a crowded restaurant Or that feeling you get when someone talks badly about your God and you say nothing. That is shame. No one wants to be on a team that is ashamed of itself.

5. With your lips you say “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” as long as it’s safe.

6. Instead of praying for boldness and strength you pray for relief.

7. You talk badly about the other Church across the street. You don’t talk to anyone from the Church across the street. You don’t know that you live next door to a person from the Church across the street

8. You go to Lunch after church and make a scene when the waiter brings you the wrong side item and then you don’t tip.

9. You don’t take care of your health.

10. You scream at your child from the stands during his T-Ball game.

11. You look just a busy as everyone else.

12. You don’t talk to your neighbors.

13. You don’t hang out with anyone who doesn’t look or believe like you.

14. You judge those who don’t have Christ but don’t say a word to those who do.

15. You don’t say anything about you faith to anyone. (Must not be that life changing)

16. Your life doesn’t seem to be changing

17. You have a Jesus fish on your car and yet pull up next to a person who cut you off and yell profanities through the window at them.

18. The only time during the week people hear you say the name of God is when it is followed by Damn.

19. You are just a drunk as they are.

20. You talk badly about your spouse in public.

21. You complain about watching your kids.

22. You check out and comment on every pretty woman that walks by (This is for both girls and boys)

23. You are critical

24. You are crass

25. You are mean

26. You have no remorse

27. You show no mercy

28. You show no grace

29. You offer no forgiveness

30. You look at this list and believe I am talking about someone other than you.



31 Signs You May Not Be a Christian

See above

2 Corinthians 13:5. 2 Peter 1:5-9. You can’t look up these verses because you have no idea where you Bible is.

Today I talked to a very dangerous man.

Today I talked to a very dangerous man.

Every year I emcee a Robotics competition in Downtown Dallas. Now as a Christian I am always careful to go into any performance situation prepared to be used by God, because I usually expect to find myself in conversations with those who are outside the Church. Today though, I found myself having a very frightening discussion with a gentleman who calls himself a Christian.

Our conversation began with him saying “I think we will all be surprised at who all is in heaven when we get there.” A point on which we agreed because I had a pastor once that would say “the biggest surprise in heaven is whose there, whose not there and that you are there” which I always keep in mind when I start to feel to good about myself.

Unfortunately, the point this man was trying to make from his statement was that he believed that people had a chance after they died to accept Christ. Now, if this was a non-Christian I would have nodded my head and said “hmmm…that is an interesting idea, what religion is that?” but seeing how this was a guy who called himself a Christian I said, “Where in the Bible does it say that?” he replied, “The parable of the Landowner” (This is a parable that Jesus told that can be found in Matt. 20.) He then began to tell me the main points of the parable, how the Landowner hired some guys in the morning to work his vineyard and then hired some more guys in the afternoon but then he said, “And remember the last guys he hired? They didn’t work at all and they still got paid the same!” Right then I stopped him and let him know that he was mistaken because the last group did indeed work but it was only for an hour or so.

The parable is describing the grace of God that is given equally to those who come to the faith late in life. This parable, along with the account of the criminal on the cross that trusts in Christ, implies that even on a persons death bed they came be saved but it in no way gives the impression that people can accept Christ after they have died. The man continued on with his claims and I told him that I was willing to consider his point if he could find me some scripture to back it up. “It’s not in the Bible,” he said, “But I personally believe it.” “When it comes to the topic of salvation I don’t care what you personally believe I want to see it in the Bible!” I said, but the man had nothing to show me. I would like to say that was his only false claim for the day but I would be lying. The fact is that I had to correct many of his claims about God, but unlike him, I did so strictly using scripture as opposed to my opinions.

Here is what I want you to catch: Our Biblical literacy and our intimate knowledge of the scriptures is our only defense against the false teachings that are confidently parading around in sheep’s (Christians) clothing. If I was not familiar with that parable and many other books of the Bible today I could have easily been lead astray by this man. In fact, our conversation was being witnessed by some other Christians and during the day I had to go to each of them and show them scripture that destroyed his claims because I didn’t want them to go away with any part of the falseness being presented.

The Bible tells us in 2 Cor. 11 that there will be false prophets among us that will teach a different Jesus than the one proclaimed in the scriptures, but if we don’t know the scriptures then we will not be able to recognized the falsehood. The Bible is called our sword for a reason. It is a weapon. And in the hands of one who knows how to use it can be a great defense against the lies of the devil.

I began this post saying “I talked to a dangerous man.” Do you know why this man was so dangerous? Because he is the worship pastor at a church in Dallas that has over 2,000 people, all of which look to him for spiritual leadership. Get into your Bible’s people for the “pulpit” is not always the safest place.

This one goes out to all my perfectionists out there

I got this following list from my amazing counselor Roy Austin. He's the man!

The Curse of perfectionism
or
"When doing your best is the worst you can do"

1. When you base your sense of worth and self-esteem on your performance

2. When your best is imposed upon you, and your driving emotion is fear

3. When you don't count the cost of doing your best, and then later resent the price you had to pay to achieve it

4. When your "best" is only a vague concept rather than a specific, measurable outcome

5. When your best is required in too many tasks

6. When you become defensive or feel like a failure at those times when you don't do your best

7. When you can't enjoy having done you best because you discount it with, "But I should have done even better."

The Blessing of Excellence
or
"The Best Way Possible to Do Your Best"

1. When your self-esteem is not determined by your performance

2. When you have willingly chosen or accepted your goals, and you basic driving emotion is desire

3. When you have carefully evaluated what your "best" requires and are willing to pay the price without resentment

4. When your "best" is a clearly defined and measurable outcome or behavior

5. When you limit your "excellence" goals to those you can realistically achieve. Do not attempt the best in everything

6. When you learn and grow from those times when your performance is less than your best

7. When you allow yourself to take pleasure in your performance, and let it motivate your toward new goals.