Not just a bunch of boys, sheep, old men and gifts.

Is it not interesting to note that it was Sheppard's and Wise Men that came to worship and glorify Christ at his birth? Why is this so interesting? Because these two groups were not of the Jewish faith. Perhaps maybe the Sheppard's were, however they were low on the Jewish social latter, seen as dirty and unclean. The Wise Men were those from the east... and were not from Israel, therefore they were not in the Jewish genealogy. 
So I stop and look at this, and as God has been encouraging me to look forward onto the cross this Christmas, I cannot help but see the amazing things He is telling and showing all those around through these two groups.
Through the Sheppard's God reveals that Jesus will work with and among those who are seen as outcasts, and that they will draw close to Him, seeing who He truly is being healed not only physically and mentally, but spiritually as well.
God reveals through the Wise Men that Jesus' words will touch those who are not Jewish, that He will impact the Gentile world too. This is very evident as His gospel was not only brought to Gentiles after His death and Resurrection but also during His life, seen especially by his works with the Roman soldiers prior to and at the cross.
So the few sheep herders and old men from the east were not just a coincidence at the "Christmas story" they plaid an important part for what God was, is, and will always do physically and spiritually.
And so I challenge you this Christmas to look deeper into the "Christmas Story" we know so well and seek to see what God has, and is trying to truly say to His creation! 

Merry Christmas everyone

I Am Tired of Christmas

It's Eve Christmas, the presents are out, the trees are dressed in lights and childhood memories, the craziness of last minute shopping (men) has begun, and the last minute changes of outfits for the Church service will be a common thing tonight.
But here's the thing, I am tired of Christmas. That's right you heard this Pastor kid, Theology student, Bible believing, breathing, living Christian. I. AM. TIRED. OF. CHRISTMAS.
Now before you get all mad at me and say that I am Satan hear me out on what I mean by this.
What I mean is that I find as Christians although we try are best to not get caught up in secularism, we then dive to far into the Nativity story.
As Christians to stray away from the world we turn to our cute little nativity season and Christmas pageants with the Sunday school kids sticking their hands down their pants and running around throwing the sheep at the three wise men (who I might add dawn their drawn on beard quiet proudly) but we forget that Christmas isn't really about little Baby Jesus at all.
Again I say "CHRISTMAS IS NOT REALLY ABOUT LITTLE BABY JESUS AT ALL" and please bear with me here... I do not condone heresy or Satan. So what is Christmas about then Nathan? Mr.JESUS ISN'T THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!?
This is what I mean, we focus on Baby Jesus so much that we forget about Adult Jesus. And then BOOM Easter and it is all about Adult Jesus and we forget about everything else... but once that's done good bye Adult Jesus...
The thing is Jesus is the same Jesus... he's the baby, and the adult. And I have been convicted lately (especially in the last week) to not read the traditional "Christmas story" but in my devotions (I have been working my way through the Gospels) I just happen to come to Mark 14... aka the the "Easter Story" the week of Christmas... Coincidence? I think not my dear Blog reader!
You see God has been saying to me, "Nathan today and tomorrow are not about Jesus being born... that's a minor thing, today and tomorrow, they are about what I am about to do in History at this point. This part of the story is merely the ending of the prologue, the preface, the overture, the final touch before the real story." You see God has been showing me that Christmas isn't about "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed", it's not about Sheppard or Wise men... NATHAN IT'S ABOUT THE CROSS! It's about the anticipation for the climaxation of all of creation! (Yes I know climaxation is not a word... but you gotta admit it sounds cool in that sentence!).
So here's the thing, I am tired of Christmas... I am tired that we have made Christmas about a baby and not a conquoring king... not about THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF ALL OF TIME AND HISTORY!
This Christmas join me in remembering not the baby, not the manager... but join me this Christmas in really remember CHRIST MASS (A REMEMBER OF CHRIST'S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS) join me in properly enjoying, rejoicing and celebrating Jesus and who He was, is and will forever be.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Self Labeled

I call myself a Christian. Does this mean I believe in a divine being who has created the earth and all of existence. Yes, but it is not the core of this claim or what it means to be self-labeled a "Christian". If I choose this name for my life, it means no matter what I do, He is above every person, every place, every decision, every job, every sport, every situation and circumstance. Being a Christian means I am choosing to surrender and offer over my sinful life so that His crucified forgiveness may replace my stained selfishness. Being a Christian does not simply mean I claim in my Facebook religious status that I "Love Jesus" or "Christian" but rather that my status of life is God designed. Yes I read my Bible, yes every Sunday I wake up and go to church... but is this the core of who I am as a Christian, simply knowing my way around the Bible, or putting on a tie every 7th day does not gain my salvation before Christ.
I call myself a Christian... why? Because I am willing to let God shape who I am... I am willing to be made fun of, looked down upon, called names, get ridiculed in, and outside of school. Being a Christian is not being a good person... being a good person is simply being a good person. Being a Christian is being less then self so the Christ might instill a selfless heart within you. Being Christian means willing to let God take you wherever, to who ever, through what ever, so that you may become a reflection of Him to this world. It means that when God says "go here", you go... it means when God says "STOP", you stop.
I call myself a Christian not because I believe in God, not because I read my Bible, not because I go to church, not because I live in a western world, not because I am a "good person", not because I go to church... but because I see each day that I am a sinner... that I will always be a sinner... I call myself a Christian because each day I come before the cross, on which a selfless, sinless, savior died... who took not just my stains and guilt, but yours and everyone... I call myself a Christian because I not only believe in the forgiveness given by Him but I live the forgiveness in thankfulness each and every breath I take.
Tell me... what do you call yourself?

Paris, Profile Pictures and Awareness

Now as all of you probably know this weekend Paris was brutally attacked by ISIS. And many of you by showing support of Paris have chosen to participate in the facebook profile picture change movement that brings a french flag "haze"to your profile picture. Over the past three days I have been appalled and angered by the posts I have been seeing on my newsfeed about those who have been participating (myself included) in this support of Paris movement. Many are posting articles and comments that speak against doing this, saying that why do we support Paris when there were other attacks on the world during the week.
Here is my complaint, why are we not supporting this profile picture movement more? Instead of posting against it look at what it is truly doing! By changing your profile picture to this "hazed" French flag you are not only bringing awareness to the fact that Paris was attacked, but awareness to the deeper issues that this is a problem. Do you realize that it took Pearl Harbor to happen before the USA stepped into WW2? Would you say the same things against anyone who showed support to America after that event? Because what happened in Paris this weekend is a similar modern day Pearl Harbor, in the sense that it is waking up people to the fact that ISIS and the evil that that is happening in this world today is real and is not just a "Middle Eastern Squabble" but a real thing that is effecting the world.
So I would argue for you to stop complaining and see that the people who are doing this Profile Picture change are being more responsible then you ever have been. They realize the deeper issues that are at hand, but you in your immaturity do not... rather you would seek to complain about something.
So I have changed my profile picture because I don't believe that it is simply for Paris, or that it will stop Terror in this world, but because I want people to be aware of the fact that this is a serious thing, that we need to start realizing that we are effected by everything. Our culture and society needs to stop tweeting, texting, snapping, and instagraming and start realizing there is more in this world then selfies, money, parties, and sex. That we need to be aware and stand up for this, not simply ignore or complain about it but actually do something to change it.

Are You a Christian? Am I a Christian? Is She a Christian? How About Him?

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
-Matthew 13:44-46

The other day in a late night/early morning chat with some friends the question, "How do we know if people are truly Christians?" came up. Honestly I know that we frequently ask this question looking at others, and sometimes even looking at ourselves. I think Jesus did a pretty good job at showing us how not only through His life but also through His words, especially the ones quoted above.
You see I fully believe and know that we know when someone is a truly a Christian when one two one thing happens;
Upon discovering the mystery and wonder of the Gospel, they go completely head long into it and eat up anything and everything they can about God, scripture and being His child. That they will spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically give everything away and up only to desire and seek Him better and more.
You see I think a lot of times we over think Christianity, we make lists and regulations, requirements and duties. This is why I know people shun the Christian faith because in our foolishness to seek Him better we have really done the opposite and counter acted the very words of Jesus.
I fully believe that in this we as the western Church have become a pharisaic faith. Now I am no it going to start bashing on the church, I love church, there is a reason why every Sunday I get up and go to it. But what I am saying here is this, Christianity is simply, but we make it hard, really really hard.
We look at someone and we say, "Okay so if you want to be a Christian you need to; Go to church every Sunday, make sure you or your kids also go to youth group on Friday, Bible reading must be a daily thing, prayer is important so make sure 15 minutes of your day is spent in it. Make sure you read books on faith, such as Francis Chan, C.S. Lewis, oh and listen to David Platt, he is really good. You can't swear, you can't drink, you need to be careful what you listen too, and what you watch, well just to play it safe, always listen to worship music, like Kari Jobe, Micheal W. Smith, and Hillsong, Hillsong is really good, also if you don't like David Crowder and you are a hipster you are clearly not a Christian Hipster (For the sake of being honest I actually can't stand David Crowder, personal preference). On Sundays you have to wear a tie if your a guy and do your hair if you are a girl, jeans.... jeans in the church are not aloud, hats as well, and anything that doesn't really look like you aren't going to a wedding or a funeral"... and so much more
You see what I mean though, you know what Jesus said about being a Christian?
Now this is me paraphrasing so I apologize for my Message like wording here,
"To be a Christian, really all it means is once you find me, you realize how fake everything else is, and how it will never please you like I fully do. So you drop it all and completely desire and follow me." Not "You need to do this, you can't do this."
Jesus Simply wants us to desire Him with our whole life, and as a result of that desire our life then doesn't need anything else, doesn't think of anything else, doesn't find full pleasure, full fulfillment, full completeness and full peace in anything else but Him.
So how will people know we are Christians, how will you know yourself that you are a Christian? Because nothing else satisfies but Him and that is so clear because we drop everything for Him. Our desire is so strong that no matter what happens in life we have a strange sense of peace, that sure our money might be in the negatives, the struggle might be real, we might have no friends, we might be bullied for what we believe in, and so on, but in all of that our faith, trust, reliance and passion for Him only continues to grow in it.
"They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love" for Him.

The Unforgivable Sin

"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come"
-Matthew 12:31&32


I once spoke at my church on forgiveness, after a member of the congregation approached me and said, "You said every sin is forgiven by God, but that isn't Biblical, a pastor once told me that there is a sin in the Bible that is unforgivable by God."
I told him to show me the chapter and verse of this said passage. He however never re-approached me on the matter. However, in my daily devotions I cam across the verse, as seen above, and here is my issue with it.
Now do not get me wrong I am not disagreeing with scripture at all, as a member in ministry and Biblical Studies I kind of can't disagree with scripture, even if I wanted to. No my issue with this passage is not the passage itself but rather the reader. You see the pastor that told this man that it said there was an unforgivable sin was slightly wrong and correct in the same instant with saying this. 
What aggravates me the most, especially being one in Ministry is when others, especially those in ministry leadership misquote the context of the scripture they are reading.
You see if you read this passage alone it makes sense that there is an unforgivable sin, however if you read the whole chapter that it is in, you see something completely different then just an unforgivable sin.
In this chapter Jesus is addressing the pharisees and their hypocrisy. He is talking about those who follow him and those who do not. And so when he says this statement about not forgiving it is said to mean that those who deny God are not forgiven.
There is a thing in Christian Doctrine called General Revelation, which basically means that everyone can and deep down knows God exists. As one who has a Christian world view I fully believe this doctrine to be true and Biblical. Jesus most likely did as well, so with that in mind; Jesus is saying here that anyone who knows God exists but chooses to live a life that says other wise, they are then living a lie, and thus living in sin. Seeing as God is a Holy God, meaning he is completely separated from sin, He cannot associate Himself with it. So those who choose this living lie cannot be associated with God, or rather cannot be forgiven, out of their own choosing!
But here's the thing though, all those who admit and live in His existence and presence are forgiven, in the sense that they follow Him and seek Him. So those who sin against the Son of Man, are those who are followers of Him, however they are still human and so still sin. Those who sin against the Holy Spirit are those who deny His calling to their life and choose their own path, or rather the preset path of sin.
So is sin forgivable before God according to this scripture? Yes and No... Yes because if you accept the cross and resurrection, if you believe in it, and lay down your choice of a self lead life, and choose that of a God centered, desiring and guided life you will be forgiven in, by, with and through Him. No because if you deny all that you choose a living lie, and so live in, with, through and by that lie. But it is never too late to realize the truth and follow Him. This is my prayer.
 

Too Ashamed or Scared to Tell

Its the feeling of being trapped. That's what it feels like, the fact that you see the key to the lock, you have it in your hand, but knowingly you stay. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel like you that's making you stay. That something else, someone else is controlling everything you do in that moment. and you sit there watching, helpless… after, after you realize that you have locked yourself back in the cage, back to what you hate. You feel alone in the cage, oh so alone, like no one else wants to be there, like no else understands, like everyone will judge you and think you are so stupid and so disgusting for staying their. You
feel dirty. You feel like you will never get out, soon you feel like you don’t deserve to leave the cage, that you should just belong there… that the outside doesn’t want you, that's why you stay. That’s why you can’t and won’t leave.
This is what it means to have a porn addiction.

Why is it such a taboo to talk about this struggle this issue? Why can people openly talk about eating disorders and drug addictions openly, but the minute you bring up this addiction, this struggle, everyone runs and hides. This is a topic the church is afraid to address. They are too busy pointing fingers at homosexuals and worried that Trudeau is the Antichrist to worry about the fact that the majority of people in the congregation have some sort of porn problem.
However we hide behind our ties and shirts and do not admit this issue, because it is “To personal” or “to sensitive” we are worried about everyone judging us. And if someone does ever say anything it is responded by shaking heads and shunning looks… but we will clap and cheer when someone comes up with a drug problem or an eating problem. I am not saying these are not real issues as well, if you are taking that from this you are completely missing the point. I am saying that the issue of porn addiction is an issue that needs to be dealt with and addressed regularly like anything else in the church today.
As a male Christian in this world I know how hard it is to a) try their best not to give in to the on coming avalanche of porn introducing possibilities and b) to come before my brothers and sister in Christ and admit this problem.
Now some of you who read this may be shaking your heads already, however hear me out. I am saying that this problem needs to be changed, to the point where it is not a regular problem that is shoved under the bed by so many in our church, (male and female a like). I am saying this as someone who has struggled for years with this issue and only recently has begun to keep it under control and before God.
I also say these things to tell those who are reading this out their that my friend, my brother, my sister, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Those are lies! Lies that have been fed to you until they become your truth, but YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Not just spiritually (because yes God is there with you) but also physically. Thousands of your brothers and sisters in Christ right now are going through the same thing. So I am here for you, I may not know you but I am praying for you, and I am here. I know how hard it is, I know those long nights you lay there battling the urge, and those thoughts of hatred towards yourself, and that voice that isolates you, making you think that “No one will ever understand”.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE, the lights have been turned on and so many are with you in the cage. So Brothers and Sisters, whether you yourself struggle with this issue, or know someone, let us bring this forward, let us make it so we can feel comfortable to come forward in a church, a small group, a youth group or just some good friends and say “I am addicted to porn, and I need help”. Does this struggle make you any less of a Christian? Not at all! Unfortunately we as humans have the tendency to make sins “stronger” then others…. but God only sees sin, so whether it’s that you struggle with homosexuality, drugs, alcohol, sex, lying, stealing, gossiping, or even porn… you are all sinful, but you are all also children of God!
So as one people under a merciful, a loving, but yet strong God, let us come and work together to seek Him! No matter the issue, the struggle, lie, or pain we have, carry or believe ourselves to be. Let the church truly be the house of God where everyone can come and confess to one another, whether it is this thing or that. Stop arguing over which denomination is right or wrong, stop posting on our news feed about how liberals are either the devil or the second coming! Open your eyes and see the issues infant of you, the issues that sit right in our very congregations, and open your eyes, ears, hearts and minds to them, letting God’s Holy Spirit work through in and with you.
Let us be the true Catholic (Universal) Church, whether universal in physicality, racially, spiritually, or sinfully. Let us not be afraid, but let us be joyful, hopeful, and free in Him.

Do I really Desire God? or am I just Crazy?

I delight in the Lord always... but do I give Him each day? Do I devout myself to Him always? Sadly I would have to admit that I not always have.
In a conversation with a good friend of mine I was told a true story about a two pastors, one was a Youth Pastor, and the other the Head Pastor. For the sake of flow we will call the Youth Pastor Steve, and the Head Pastor Rick.
Steve had been working at the church for a couple months, in these months he had been observing and talking with Rick. Which is completely understandable seeing as Rick was a bit of a mentor for him. Rick had been in Ministry for quite some time now and was very wise and serious about his job and faith. But Steve couldn't understand how Rick's life and faith were so perfectly intertwined and in-tune with each other. So he approached Rick and asked,
"How is you faith so solid? Please what is the secret"
Rick responded with a smile and said, "I just seek God."
Steve shrugged and moved on, but it kept eating away at him, Rick's response was not sufficient enough for him. One day Steve could not resist it, it was eating away at him to know what Rick's secret was.
He confronted Rick in his office, "Rick, what is your secret?! Please I want to know"
Rick replied, "Do you really want to know?"
"YES!"
Rick continued, "I watch little to no TV, and rarely use my phone other then calling, instead for my entertainment, I read through the New Testament every week, from beginning to end. I made this commitment ever since I started in ministry and have not wavered from it since."

Remember this is a true story. You see Steve saw something in Rick, something that truthfully I fully believe all Christians should have and want. Unfortunately so many Christians see no issue with not having it... What I am getting at is we have a God who has created the universe, who has named each star, who provides rain for the plants, who knows, can do, and sees all things. A God who loved His creation of man so much that He came and lived on top of a box and in the shape of a cloud for years, who came and sacrificed His own son for our sake. Here's the catch though... He has, is and does all these things, and we can't bother to spend time with Him each day.
Now we might look at this story and think "The whole New Testament in a whole week?! That is insane!" But is it really? I someone once told me that for devotions each morning they read 4 chapters of the Bible, 2 in the Old and 2 in the New Testament. Another person then turned around and said "That is crazy." I didn't take note of it, completely forgot about the comment until recently when I started taking my own devotional life more seriously... the comment of "That's crazy" well personally I think that comment is "Crazy!". When we read scripture we see verses like;
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2)

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." (Psalm 143:5)

And many more like this. So really, if I am going to call myself a Christian, someone who follows, loves and seeks the God of all things... an hour a day is the least amount of time asked for to be spent with Him!
Now hear me out when I say that if you truly are a Christian, you probably are out of a desire for God, and so really, truly if you desire Him, that hour will seem like nothing, you will begin to crave more, want more. I know people who spend up to five hours just in prayer and mediation on Scripture, why? Because they want to, the desire to, because they love the Lord their God with all their heart and all their understanding.
But oh yeah... your busy....
This has not been a Blog post out of judgement, but out of accountability for not only you brothers and sisters, but also for myself. I am as guilty of "I am busy" excuse as the next. 
God desires "Steadfast love" (Hosea 6:6) and how do we show that? Through sacrifice, desire, and a love for Him, and how is that shown? not only be showing others His grace and further His kingdom, but also by seeking His truth and knowledge through your personal, daily time with Him.
So look at your life... are you "To Busy" for Him? If so, if you truly love Him... what do you need to place upon the alter and sacrifice to draw close and spend more time with Him. God doesn't want "Busy", He wants "Here I am Lord, send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

A Letter To All The Daughters, Sisters, Wives, Girlfriends, Girls and Women.

Dear daughter, sister, wife, girlfriend, girl, woman,

May I be one of the few men in your life that apologizes for how you have been treated. I am sorry that you think to gain attention by someone you must wear that low top or those high shorts. I am sorry that we expect you to be eye candy when really we should be looking your eyes which are full of pain and hurt. I am sorry we give whistles, winks, looks and slaps that you outwardly respond with flirting back, but on the inside all you want is someone to truly just care for you.
I am sorry of the times we have scrolled through Instagram looking for a picture to double tap. I am sorry that we make you into an object to be used, looked at, played with and then thrown away when the next best “thing” comes our way. I am sorry for the times when we have asked for a picture, when we have simply talked to you so “words can be extended”.
I am sorry for all those late nights we have stayed up lusting over your pictures, your videos and your chat replies. I am sorry for the hurt, the abuse, the pain, and mistreatment. I am sorry that in pretending to be “your man” we have really just solidified the fact that we are a little boy.

You do not have to wear those clothes, say those things, send those pictures and make those videos to be loved, to be wanted, to be cared for. Unfortunately we have force fed you those lies to make you think it is truth, that in order to get our attention you need to do those things. When in reality you don’t need to be anyone you aren’t, do anything you feel uncomfortable with, or say anything that you know is empty.

So be yourself, not what we say you are, not what the world demands you to be, not what you mind thinks you must do, be you.

So let me be on of the few MEN out there to say I am sorry for so much, and I know those words will not make up for everything. But I am making a stand, beside you… I am saying that it is time to grow up… that we need to be MEN in order to let you be the WOMEN YOU ARE.

Sincerely
-Nathan Huff

Broken Lenses on Two Very Different Things

Who are we to judge? Is God not the judge of all... however due to the misconception and misguided perception of the difference between Judgement and Accountability, the church has become a place to fear and not a place to love.
For the sake of seeking a Holy God we have abandoned furthering the kingdom of God for legalism. To tell the truth I am tired of it, I am tired of the fact that people when walking into a church building feel the need to hide their sin rather then confess it, not only to God but to their brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you have ears to hear, and eyes to see, truly I tell you... The people of God are not perfect. We may live with the lie, and tell our testimonies like we WERE ONCE SINNERS. But this is not true, we are sinners, you see grace in its definition is "The Attribute of God whereby He shows His goodness to those who deserve punishment". Here's an idea, or rather a truth... If we are perpetually washed in the Grace of God... does that not mean that we still technically deserve punishment? Because grace is "God's goodness to those WHO DESERVE PUNISHMENT"... doesn't the lyrics in the song go "If Grace is an ocean we're all drowning". SO WE ARE STILL SINNERS! WHY BECAUSE WE NEED GRACE! WHY BECAUSE WE STILL DESERVE PUNISHMENT.

So here's the thing, why then if this is true, if we believe this in the very core of our faith, do we go to church, pick up our Bible's and walk out of our house thinking we are better then everyone, that everyone needs us to tell them what they are doing wrong and what they should be doing right? Now hear me out, I am not saying that we should let everyone go on their merry way of living in sin, it may sound like I am saying that. But this is what I am saying. There if a difference between Judgement and Accountability.
Judgement (in the human sense of the word) is the act of looking down you nose at someone thinking you are higher then them and telling them everything they are doing wrong to make them lower then
yourself.  
Accountability is the act of coming along side someone and putting your arm around them and saying "Hey lets work through this together, I can kind of understand because I have gone through some crap in my life too".
You see the difference? Now here's the thing, I bet you anything that you didn't see accountability as that! That you had a marred view of what accountability is.
If we understand this then things begin to change. People begin to feel comfortable around us. they begin to see us as someone they can come to and talk with, that instead of shaking their head and finger at all their flaws, issues, problems and faults, they can come and have someone who will help them walk through these things, bringing them to Christ.
So look at your life... are you a judgement pro-claimer, an accountability helper, and are you willing to seek accountability yourself? are you willing to admit to God and to others you are not perfect, and will never be without God continually working in your life?

Hello My Name is Nathan and I am an Addict....

"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." 
James 5:13-20 


Hello my name is Nathan and I am an addict... of what you may ask? Of sin. 
Sin is the issue in my life, does it matter what sin? Not really, if it did the I wouldn't have enough space on this block to write them. So my addiction is not ______ (please write on line), rather my addiction is just sin, all of it.
It knocks on my door when I wake up, it pushes me to go this way or that way, calling me to look, to do, to think. I have lived my life a slave to it for years, it has haunted me my entire life. It's hard not to give in, not to step over the line and let it have the power.
For a lot of my life I was addicted to sin, I was addicted to the rush, the buzz it gave me for those few moments I enjoyed it. But after... after I sat there, stood their, laid there, like waking up with a hangover it hurt. I felt guilty, dirty, I was disgusted by who I had become because of it. But time and time again I would go back to it, like a drug it called for me to get a quick fix, here there any where. I had become reliant upon it, upon sin.
Then the lies came, the lies of feeling alone, of being alone. "No one will understand, no one will like me, everyone will hate me, judge me, emotionally spit on me". So we put on our smiling masks... we move through life ignoring, neglecting, and denying the fact that we have an addiction. But soon it starts to get in the way, the cravings, the wanting, it begins to not simply happen in the time where we can hide from everyone else who will see it, it invades, unwanted, uninvited, and we are unprepared. It begins to control our thoughts, our actions, our words, our very life.
So we try to hide it even more, but it gets even worse. We know we need to let people in to help, but what if they don't understand? what if they judge me, what if... what if... what if. Those famous two words Satan wields like a giant sword, waving it in our face. So we just fall deeper into the hole.
But here's the thing. WE DON'T HAVE TO. James tells us, in summary, we can tell our brothers and sisters in faith, and should tell them about our addiction to sin, that through doing that we begin to help each other, working together to the goal, the prize, the one who will fill that desire we are trying so hard to please.
So my name is Nathan and I am an addict, are you?

Thanks Giving in the Hardest Times

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds," 
-James 1:2 

The leaves are turning, the masks and costumes have invaded our stores, and the anxiety, stress and panic of midterms are upon us. My friend's I think it is safe to conclude that Thanksgiving indeed is here. 
Now you might be thinking why I have chosen the verse I did to start this blog post. Here's the thing, I know that we as Christians have been deceived into not believing this verse. Wait... what did he just say?! That as Christians we have been lied to, mislead and misguided to not believe this piece of scripture? Yep that's what I have said. 
You see so many times I have come across Christians who are stuck, who refuse to move, who start turning away and not trusting God, and why? In most cases it has to do with this verse. It is the fact that many people when first coming to faith, and even years into their faith, do not take into account the fact that as Christians we do not belong in this world, we belong to the kingdom of God. And unfortunately this world doesn't really like that. In fact Satan absolutely detests fact that you belong to God. So he throws everything he can at you to make you fall, or trip, or look the other way, or completely leave the whole Christ following life altogether. 
Many Christian's out there when coming across a troubled situation, or unfortunate life circumstances, whether physical, spiritual or mental, tend to blame God for it. The words "forgotten, unloved, not caring, left, and cruel" become common in our vocabulary when coming the topic of faith or God pops up. We sit there and complain and cry, when in reality all we need to do is look at scripture and see that it says; "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). 
Note the use of the word "ALL", am I saying that everything will be easy when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and decide to live a life devoted to Him? Not at all, rather I am saying that no matter what situation, circumstance or place you find yourself in God can and will use it if you let Him. 
So next time you find yourself in that part of life and faith, rather then frowning and asking "why" rather I challenge you to look to God and say, "Thank-you", why? Because if you do I guarantee you that in trust God, in pointing yourself to Him, He will use that situation, circumstance or moment to shape who you are in Him, to help you grow a deeper understand, trust and faith in your eternal father. 
So Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and remember "Give praise with the Thankful heart", whether it seems like it should be thankful or not!  

Love? or Light Switch?

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind"
-Matthew 22:37

So this verse popped up on my phone today, and it made me think, "As Christians do we fully fulfill this commandment?"
But really, do we? I think as Christians we read this verse and just put our Bible down, walk out of church, or leave the small group think that it was an nice verse and that is it. In James it says that we should not become like a man who looks at a mirror, ans when walking away forgets what he looks like (James 1:24). But we are so guilty of this, especially when it comes to "Loving the Lord with all our heart and mind".
You see what that means is complete surrender to Him. How many of us are guilty of saying we will follow Jesus to the cross, but yet not giving all to Him? We begin to hold onto things, the famous word "But" begins to become a beginner for a lot of our vocabulary with God. Loving Him means giving into Him, not holding onto anything but His hand. God can't lead us through life if we are dragging everything behind us.
As a follower, believer, and lover of YHWH God I suffer from this challenge to. For years I have dragged stuff behind me, with one hand "Lifted in surrender" like the praise song says, but one hand behind me dragging all the junk of my life along. God doesn't want my junk, He wants me.
This is called conviction, fortunately it is a regular thing. For me it comes each day, especially with being a guy in a secular world. I am a guy who has dragged a lot of stuff behind me, a lot of stuff that is not loving of or for Him. Whether it be actions, looks, wants, thoughts, words, you see loving God isn't just in a church, with reading my Bible, or spending time in prayer, loving Him is a full action and commitment of my life! Every breath we take should be in love of and for Him!
So I ask this, do you fully "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind" with every step, breath, thought, word, click, look, action. Or is it temporary, turned off and on... God isn't a light switch, or a TV flicker... He is the sun of the day and the moon of the night, always shinning, always there.
Who is your lover?

The First Marriage

The first marriage was done at a bedside, knees bent, head bowed, hands folded. The vow's were made "Jesus, forgive me, enter my heart". But where they fully understood? Unfortunately an adulterous relationship within the marriage began, not with another individual but with self. Age 12 and the vows and marriage were barley a memory, fully giving into the act of idolatry. The image played mind games and hand games. Unknowingly. Age to age, past to past, time went so fast, until STOP.
"Be my child" the vows were renewed at the words of "Okay". So all was dropped and made whole again, but yet the adultery continued, now knowing the wrong, knowing that this idolatry was braking the very marriage, life was built on. STOP. STOP. STOP. but yet it continued.
Silence became a good friend, the conversations of hush and shush, laughing at jokes, but yet knowing they were about you, behind it all. These vows once to precious were so hard to keep. She would say "Leave, leave and we will run away each night" truthfully sometimes morning.
Year after year, age after age, the act was upon each page. UNTIL STOP. Put down the phone, put down the video, put down the hand and read. Read.
The Spirit filled it, began to move like the days of old where the men and women spoke of a second coming, foretold. Age by age the sin was wiped away, but yet remnants still stay, a look, a glance. It still is dishonoring that vow.
The ring is shaped in a cross, the vow is told each moment, each breath, each day. This is my story, this is the truth, am I ashamed of the adultery and idolatry, sure, but without the act I could not stand here today and say, "your not alone, its okay", So lets work on it together, lets get back to the vows, recommit and try to quit. This is my story, this is who I am. But who He is, that is greater, that consumes me, and hopefully as we work together, whether it be in person, or prayer, or by letter, it would become your entirety as well. 
The flowers are made, the engagement has happened, He waits at the alter...

Like Achan, Like Anger

"But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it...But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan... took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel"
-Joshua 6:18, 7:1

Israel goes into the Promise land and takes down Jericho in the name of the LORD. They are told that after all of it must be given to the LORD, however as you can see this doesn't happen. Achan, takes some stuff for himself. When I was reading this passage I thought it interesting that the disobedience of one happens to bring God's anger upon all.
This made me think, what about us? As the body of Christ are we not to keep in check, are we not to keep each other accountable and if one has fallen and hid it, the whole body suffers. You see to follow Christ, means to give all to Him, to nail all upon the cross. If one thing of the old remains, it begins to fester and spread like a small splinter that grows infected.
So the question now is, are you Achan? are you hindering which should be devoted to God under you "carpet"? If so, brothers and sisters you are doing more harm then you realize, you are not only hindering the spiritual growth of yourself, but you are then stunting the growth of the whole body of Christ

He has gone before me

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before."
-Joshua 3:3-4

I read this the other day in my devotions. I found it really really interesting. The Israelites found themselves before two barriers, first the Jordon river, a body of water before them and the promised land of God. Secondly a walled city named Jericho stood behind the Jordon river. The Israelites were tired, their leader Moses who had lead them out of Egypt and across the dessert had just recently died. Joshua, who Moses mentored now is called by YHWH God to step up as their leader.
Tired, scared, anxious, unprepared, and uneducated, Joshua thinks, "What am I going to do?!" God says something interesting He says this, "Take the box that my presence dwells upon, tell the men who I have chosen to lead you guys in worship of me to walk with it into the river. But don't go to near it, because if you go a head of it, you wont know where to go. Mainly because you have never been here before, but seeing as I am the Lord God, creator of all I know my way around. So follow me as I lead you guys through this river and this land."
And so Joshua makes it happen. Joshua doesn't think "But it's to hard"... he simply just does it, trusting whole completely in the fact that God has already gone before him and His people. Now is this easy? NOT AT ALL. You see Joshua first has to get up in front of everyone and say "Well we are going to simply walk through the river then see what happens after." What lies ahead of the Israelites is a long, hard, bloody, trusting journey, one that will be difficult, that will be terrifying, will be unknown, will be completely done in trust.
So here's the thing, where are you right now? are you in the sandals of the Israelites? looking at the Jordon river and wall of Jericho saying "Well we are screwed." Are you like Joshua, someone God is calling to step up and do something? Are you listening, trusting in the fact that God has gone before you and is with you? That He has your back? And do you know that although it will be hard, difficult, at some points terrifying, that all of it will be worth it? Because ultimately you will grow deeper, stride longer, and become stronger in Him then you ever did in the past?
Are you an Israelite
? or are you a Joshua? 

Rahab's and YHWH

Joshua 2:9-10 
"and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath." 

Interesting enough sometimes we don't realize the impact we or even God has had on others. You see Rahab here in Joshua 2 was not an Isrealite, really was not even close to one, she was a prostitute in Jericho, a city that just in a couple days would be pieces of rubble. But yet here we see something really cool. 
First she says to the Isrealite spies that she has heard of God's power, and the great things He has done to protect them. She speaks in detail as well, not just "Oh yeah your god protected you". Nope, she gives specific events and situations.  She also does something that peaked my Theology student eye as well, she says "LORD", which in the original text was used as a substitution for the name YHWH. Now YHWH was a holy name, a name said out of honour and respect for God. Why do you think an adulterous, pagan woman would say it that way? well the next part reveals why. 
Rehab then proceeds to claim her belief and trust in the one true God, YHWH. She who is not of the "chosen people" testifies right there and then that God is true and she believes in Him. 
THIS IS MIND BLOWING PEOPLE! 
Now what does the Spirit have for us in this inspired text, if you have ears to hear and eyes to see; 
We may not ever know the people we touch through God's power, we may never see them, talk to them, or recognize them. But right here we see that God can reach anybody, no matter how far, no matter from what background, no matter how lost they may seem. 
So here's the question, who can He reach through you and are you letting Him do so?

Image, Jesus, and New York

"For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." 
-Matthew 25:42-45 

Do any of you follow "Humans of New York" on facebook? I do, I like the different people that he shows and shares. Sometimes I will read it if it looks really interesting, but every once in awhile I am angered by the people who he shares with us. Angered by their hypocrisy, their arrogance their ignorance, their cruelty. Today this was posted;

"People of New York" picture to caption

"I don't have anything personally against homeless people. But I try to avoid getting into conversations with them. Because I may be walking later with one of my influential friends, and the homeless person may come up to me and start acting like we're friends. And how's that going to look? You've got to choose who you're seen with. It's a matter of optics." 

One of the things I really love about Jesus is that 
 He didn't care about His image. Really all He cared about was showing the truth of God to others. Jesus hung out with the socially "unclean" a lot of the time. Not to be "edgy" or for "social justice", Jesus did it to show the people who believed they followed YHWH God that they really were missing the point. That God wished all to hear the truth, that not just the Jews were to be chosen, but rather the Jews were to be the example to the world so they could follow. 
So here's the thing, and I am guilty of it too, the next time you look at some one and think "how's that going to look?" if I go over and talk to them... ask yourself "How's God going to look at me right now?" If you are a follower of Christ you are called to be the witness of Him to this world (2 Cor. 5:20). 
Are you a food feeder? a coat giver? a prison visitor? or are you an image seeker? 
 

 

Logs, Specks, Hypocrits, and the LGBT

 ^"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Mathew 7:3-5 

So this morning I was scrolling down my facebook wall and I come across an article posted by one of my friends that says "9 Companies you should avoid if you support Gay Rights". And I thought to myself "wow that's kind of rude", now before you get all flustered and smash you finger down on your mouse our pad button in anger... hear me out, if you have ears to hear and eyes to see! 
Truly I tell you friends, that am I the only one that sees something wrong with this? That the very community that preaches to us that we should love them, that we should accept them, that we should not condemn them for their marriages, their parades, they life choice... is doing those very things to others who don't? Truthfully I find it kind of funny. 
Now am I  homophobic for say this, technically no, I have no hatred or fear towards others who choose that life style. I just find it kind of hypocritical that those who choose this life style find that they have the right to point fingers at my life choices as a Christian when in reality I have looked at them with open arms. 
Now for my brothers and sisters in Christ let me explain what I mean by that. You see am I saying that I condone Homosexual relationships, or that choice in lifestyle. No I am not, in my Christian world view I believe that it is a sin before YHWH God, however I also believe that lying, stealing, lust, gossip, sleeping in on Sundays, drinking, and running red lights are too before YHWH God. So what I mean by "I have looked at them with open arms" is this, that rather then both them and us pointing fingers at each other, we as followers of Christ should first like Jesus said "Take the log out of our own eye" we should realize that we are as guilty as they are before our creator and king. Then we should come along side them and reveal this truth to them. Just like we come along the addict who cries for help, or the man who is so deep in his lustful sin he doesn't know what to do. 
I am tired of the hypocrisy on both sides, the LGBT community hating on us, yet preaching for us to be loving and accepting, and then my brothers and sisters in Christ hating on the LGBT community for their life choice, and preaching that God forgives all. 
Who are we to judge who is worse, and who is better? Jesus came as a spiritual doctor (Mark 2:17), to heal the sick, and show the healthy how to do so as well. We are God's patients, and His nurses, rather then pointing a finger realize that we are in the same boat as they are, so lets all work together to like Paul says "put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." 

Who + Where + What = Christ?

Today I read this:
"For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." 

Who are you? What are you? Where are you? 
The other day I walked into a room where a couple of people (Who were followers of Christ) playing a certain game that involves certain topics and themes that are not very appropriate. As soon as I saw this I turned around an left. However after sitting for a while wrestling with God (as so many of us do so many times) I let the Spirit win and walked back to the room. 
I interrupted their game telling them that what I was about to say was something that they could take or leave but I know needed to be said. In summary I asked them to ask themselves "in what way does this honour Christ, bringing about the furthering of His kingdom" 
You see we live in a world that has no line, no white or black, we live in a world that tells us if we do live in a white or black we are wrong, we are judgmental, bigoted, hateful, homophobic, and bible thumpers. And unfortunately Christians are starting to believe this and make their lifestyle gray as well. Saying "oh but it is just fun, its not harming anyone. I'll just sit here, I wont say anything"... 
May I be so bold to say that if you call yourself a Christian you unfortunately have verbally agreed to live a life that has blacks and whites but no greys. Now I don't mean we should be legalistic, Jesus called the religious leaders out on doing that, but rather we should ask ourselves in all things we do "How is this honouring Christ, is it honouring Christ". 
You see Paul says here in this passage that if we let things slide we begin to just let everything in. David in 2 Samuel 11 didn't wake up that morning saying "hey I am going to have sex out of marriage with a married woman then kill her husband to cover it up today" (spoilers Uriah dies, so does Davids first son from Bethsheba...). NO! David woke up that morning saying "Hey I don't want to go to battle, I am going to nap instead", he let it slide, he made his faith that was black and white become gray. 
Scripture calls us in Hebrews 12:2 to "set our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith", when Peter walks on water in Matthew 14 he does it by setting his eyes on Jesus, the moment he takes them off Him he sinks... what happened their in the physical is what happens to us in the spiritual. 
So who are you? where are you? what are you? and is Christ glorified by it!?

Who is God? A reflection on Psalm 46

Psalm 46:10 says
"Be still and know that I am God"

One of my biggest pet-peeves and especially as a Theology major and student at University is when people pick and choose verses. And this is why, because truthfully I believe these kind of verse are chosen and stuck on shirts, mugs, wall decals, fb walls, twitter tweets, etc, to inspire you to further your reading, to turn to the scripture and read it all. But that's not what it becomes, it becomes a "nice" mug to stick in your cupboard, a t-shirt to through in your closet, or a post to get scrolled past.
The Spirit is inspiring the Psalmist in Psalm 46 to say something, when I hear or see or read this verse I am compelled to see the rest of the chapter. I ask myself, "Why does the Psalmist want me to be still and know God in this specific writing? why here, when then, why now?"
Look at the Pslam, it is about how YHWH God is a refuge (vs.1), how He is present (vs.1), a mountain mover (vs.2), a king (vs.4), a helper (vs.5), He is always present (vs.7), a fortress (vs.7&11), and warrior (vs.8&9). After all this the Spirit then says "Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in all the earth! The LORD (YHWH) of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress"
So I challenge you to do this, we are called to this. To stop and reflect on who God is, who He is in our issues, our struggles, our problems, our anxiety, our worries, our good times, our exciting times, our scary times, our stressful times, our disappointing times, our sad times, our depressing times. And who is He? YHWH, refuge, present, mountain mover, king, helper, fortress, and warrior. Be still and know who I am!

Wells, Stones, Jesus, and LGBT

So I suspect that the majority of you in the last few days have has your facebook newsfeeds, twitter walls, and instagram walls flooded with Transgender posts. And I am not ashamed to say I may be joining that list of spamming posts right now.
Here's the thing I am a Christian, I believe in God as the one true God, therefore I believe in His son, who was God in flesh walking on this earth. I also believe in the power of His Spirit, which moves and works through the church and His people, which it has since the moment of existence (Genesis 1:2b). And because of that I believe in the truth of His scripture and word, The Bible.
By this point you might be thinking "Great buddy here is now going to go into a rant about how the Bible says that LGBT people are sinners and deserve to burn in hell..." well hear me out when I say no... and yes... because the fact is, we all are sinners and deserve to burn in hell... every last one of us, including my internship-pastor butt as well!
But don't stop hearing me out, for if you have ears to hear and eyes to see listen and see this!
Many argue that although SOME Christians condemn the world for its sin Jesus came preaching a message of love. I would agree with caution on that statement. Many use examples like Mary Magdalene (who was believed to be a prostitute), the Woman at the well (John 4:1-43), or the case of the adulterous woman (John 8:8-11). Now I am not arguing the truth to these scriptures, that by these we can see that Jesus did in fact bring a ministry of love. However many just quote a summery of the script. And the Intern-Pastor and Theology student I am, I suggest in any case where a summery of scripture is given... LOOK UP THE ORIGINAL TEXT IN THE BIBLE.
Because look in verses 16-18 of John 4 Jesus does however call the woman out on her actions, and in verse 11 of John 8 Jesus tells the woman to "Go and sin no more". So with this knowledge now I would say, Yes Jesus preaches a message of love... but love comes with a price, or rather a sacrifice, time and time again we see this theme, this theme of "Denying yourself and following me (Jesus)" (Matt. 16:24).
Know we must also understand that although the LGBT community does not particularly act in what a Christian might see suitable, they still are humans as well. With that we must tread lightly as well, for like I said before although we two (as in Christians, and anyone and everyone else) are sinners and therefore as sinners deserve to go to hell, we must understand that through Christ's blood and sacrifice are redeemed, and therefore forgiven by our sins (Heb.  9:22, Rom. 5:8) it comes at a price!
Jesus says to the woman "Get up and sin no more" and He says in Matthew 16:24 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." with this we must understand that these two statements, both said by Jesus are one in the same. This harks back to what I said in my first Sermon Thought post "GO" here is the link if you are interested in seeing a parallel  to these verse in the OT.  http://studentinternpastor.blogspot.ca/2015/05/sermon-thought.html . 
So we must understand that if we call ourselves Christian we must stand up for what is right, however we must also realize and be humbled by the fact that we too are redeemed by the same blood of Christ. 
Do I condone the actions that have filled the news lately with the LGBT community, well no, however do I therefore condone the FEW Christians with very loud mouths who condemn these actions... no. Rather I stand by Jesus and am humbled by the fact that, I am a sinner, therefore "I can do all things through Him (Jesus) who strengthens me" - Philipp. 4:13.... meaning I am nothing without Christ. So in conclusion I therefore must adhere to the same standard that Jesus gave to the adulterous woman and the woman at the well... as well as you.... that we should "Get up and sin no more" and therefore we should Come after Him, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, and with that we are then defined by Him. Paul puts it like this in his letter to the Philippians "To live is Christ, to die is gain" (P.1:21). 
So here is my challenge rather then getting mad, writing very long Facebook posts, or congratulating this. Maybe if you call yourself a Christian (Christ one) you should take the challenge Jesus gives to us, and to everyone else "To get up, follow Him, deny ourselves, pick up our cross, follow Him and sin no more, for our life is His, and if we are condemned for this action, if this choice ultimately leads us to our death, then we are welcomed in Heaven." 
Sin no more.... share the love of Jesus, but realize is comes at a cost. 
   

The Small Things

    Have you ever seen anything under a microscope? I remember in high
    As I sit here in my living room with nothing better to do then simply let my mind wonder I am brought to the thought of little things. You see more often then not I find that it is in the little things that God reveals trivial and important theological thoughts and revelations. But He does so in the most simplistic fashions and manners.
    You see it was through a promise that He set the plan for Him to come down to us in flesh and save us from our sin. And it was through simplistic stories that He revealed to us eternal life. These are but two ways God has shown huge things through a little simplistic way, don’t even get me started on little objects he uses… a stone, a stick, a tree, a sheep. Or little people, physically and in status, a Shepard boy, 12 no bodies, a crazy man, a carpenter, a scared girl, a short tax collector.
    God tends to use these little ways, things, and people to reveal to us huge and life changing lessons, thoughts and revelations. When I think about it, it really shows His power! Time and time again He says He will use the lost, the forgotten, the outcast, and the weak to populate His kingdom.
    And so here is my challenge for this Sermon thought: Stop looking for the big things, stop trying to be the big people. Be who God has made you to be, and let Him reveal that to you and reveal Himself to you through the smallest things, the neglected things, the forgotten things. For although we might not see it, He will show us to have faith as large as a mustard seed.
school taking samples of water from a near by creek and running back to the science class to see it under the lenses. I was amazing when I put my eye up to it and saw all these little things floating in a single drop of water.

Torn, Chiseled and Healed

I sat there and realized... wow this verse... it's so true.
Have you ever just read something either from a book or the Bible and been taken aback with how true, how honest and how relevant it is? About two months ago I was working my way through the book of Hosea, first of if you have never read it, DO SO! Second off if you have, go back to it and READ IT!
And so I was working my way through this book and I came to this verse in chapter 6; "Come let us return to the Lord, for He has torn us, so that He might heal us" (H.6:1a)... I sat there and realized... wow this verse... it's so true!
To be completely honest with you my life has been insane that past 3 months, some stuff went down that caused me to go under a lot of pressure and stress. However after reading this verse I have begun to stop myself when I begin to over think and say "You know what, God has to tare me down, so that He can heal me in His image."
You see I came to the point where I started to realize that almost all things I had used as support systems in the past... were being "torn" away. And in their place God stood read to begin His health care system.
One of my favorite videos of all time is a short done by Skit Guys, I believe it is called "Chiseled" or something a long that lines. It shows a man who begins to talk about God and how he works, another man enters the frame who is "God" and he begins to chisel away this guys definition of himself, what he believes to be good and bad. Leaving him to realize that what is left... is what God defines, what God originally made.
You see right now might seem like a crappy time, like everyone and everything has abandoned you, you might be feeling alone, stressed, frustrated, nervous, anxious. You head is probably filled with a billion million things that cause you to lie there not being about to sleep at night.
But here's the catch.. and its a big one! God knows everything you are going through this moment... Sure it is hard to understand that, half the time I don't really get it myself. But I challenge you to stop, take a breath, maybe go for a walk, I tend to take my car for a ride and blast music for an hour. But by then end if you look back and think of Hosea 6:1a I bet you will feel a bit more at peace. Sure everything might still be falling apart around you, but you know that even though He tears... He does so to heal. Muscle needs to tear first before it can be strong.
 And so I say proudly, I am torn to be healed.

Faithful Failures in our own Following

I sat down last night at my desk, like I do almost every night, opened my Bible and read this;
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

As my eyes continued to read the rest of the verses my mind however was still stuck on those two verses. I began to ask myself, do others see me as a steward or God, or to a more understandable ear, a mail man in a sense? Do others see me that way? and in that am I faithful to how I am seen, or how I should be seen.

I would argue that many, including myself, do not do so well in this category of following Christ. We may say we follow Christ, we may seem like we follow Christ, however we know deep down that there is something between us and Christ. Whatever that may be. Whether something that is very black and white, or something that has become very gray to our inward eyes. But nonetheless we know that it is a hindrance to our full relationship with Christ, and thus in turn with those we come in contact too.

But here's the thing, many of us, once again including myself, do not do anything to get rid of this hindrance between us and Christ. This is where verse two comes in act. You see verse one states that we are followers, and thus "mail men" of faith, that is we deliver the package of Christ, we represent the package of Christ and we help others find the package of Christ. However, verse two states that even though you claim to be a follower of Christ, even though others view you as a follower of Christ, when it comes down to it... are you faithful to Christ?

You see for many of us we where the "Church clothes". We try our best to read the Bible, and to be honest it slips every now and then, we put on our shirts and shoes on Sunday and sing the songs, lift our hands and take nice little neat notes from the sermon (mine occasionally have doodles in the margins). But the thing is, do we actually understand what we are doing? Do we actually understand the songs we are singing, the notes we are taking... the commitment we have made a covenant with?

I would argue, and take note I am in this as well, that we do not understand... that we simply dawn the church clothes because it is convenient at a certain time in a certain place. But here in 1 Corinthians Paul kind of slaps us in the face. He states that if we are to call ourselves followers of Christ we need to do so by being faithful to the commitment we have made.

So I ask you this... have you ever actually stopped and asked yourself... "What does it mean to follow Christ?" and not all that dumb surface junk you have known since day one. Rather have you searched, dug, have you gotten yourself messy in the true meaning of being not only a Christian but rather a Christ one?

Ask yourself, who am I?
 

Rain out the window...

Have you ever just stopped? just stopped to listen... not really to anything either. Rather just pressed pause on your "busy" life, closed your eyes, and just let the silence cover you like a big thick blanket.

I am sitting here at my desk, my window is open... and I sit in silence... nothing but the outside as my soundtrack. I here a drip drip of light rain for a couple minutes, then suddenly a down pour. Its interesting that in these moments, the moments where I cannot sleep, the moments where I am left alone with just me and my thoughts, these are the moments where He tends to speak the loudest. In the moments that I am not really looking or asking for Him to.

Isn't that how it is though? He never really shows up when we go in search of Him, rather we show up when He goes in search of us. We tend to be like Elijah on the mountain top, searching for God in everything and anything (1 Kings 19:9-18)... but instead God comes when we least expect it, when we are like Samuel, when we lie there, not really knowing (1 Samuel 3:1-21).

It is these times, when God comes in search of us really, that He reveals so much. I was just reading 1 Corinthians 2, and in it is says that those who follow the Lord are given the Spirit of the Lord, and through that He reveals all things. When God shows us, He reveals some of the deepest, most forgotten things. Sometimes it can be the simplest thing too. I find that it is in these times that I find myself not on a mountain top in my life... but rather in a long valley, a place of lost guidance. Interesting enough 90% of the time I don't even realize that is where I am. But when I stop... when I press pause and listen, not for anything, not too anything... just listen... things begin to click.

so stop...

Nevertheless

My love cannot compare to that of His
but he call’s me to His throne
so that I can show others the mystery of the unrolled stone
so that others can receive His spirits promised kiss

I confess
sometimes I screw up
sometimes I interrupt
only to cause an unnecessary mess

But He calls me anyway
He calls me in my time of need
so that even with my confusion, my sin, through him others are freed
even though I am stretched and begin to fray

Into the dessert I go
into the valley I will prophesy
even when I seem lost and cry
I can trust in Him, for like the Sunday school song says “The Bible, tells me so”

From Genesis 12 with Abram
He commands us to walk in trust
from the three that stood firm, even though to flames they were thrust
their faith did not waver
but rather they would seek His favor

And now we come to the end of this story
to the peek of it all
to the point where Adam was redeemed from his fall
this is what He has shown to you and me

4 stories, 4 authors, 4 perspectives yet one truth
one who came
who was slain
who knew the pain that was about to come
but still he lifted up himself to His fathers will, he did not run

we are left with this, I will go no further then this
can you hear the call?
will that phone inside you ring,
will you come to it even though the news might sting?
will you have the trust
to completely be thrust
into what you do not know
but the question starts here for all….
WILL YOU GO OR WILL YOU STALL?

Bad Bill of Health

I find it interesting that every time I go to the Doctors, they look at what is wrong and try their best to see what they can do to help me heal. Why do I say I find that interesting? Because as Christians we are kind of like spiritual doctors really... in Mark 2:17 Jesus says this, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He calls himself a doctor, and if we are to follow in His foot steps then we become doctors in a way to.
However am I the only one who has realized that as doctor's of the soul we do a crappy job? Keeping in the doctor tone we do this;
Imagine you went into the doctor's, lets say you have a really nasty cut that is possible infected. You sit down with the Doctor, they look at it for a couple minutes. They look at you and with frustration on their face begin to tell you everything you did to get this cut infected, they tell you that you have dirt in it, that bacteria is building up, all that stuff. But they never tell you one thing... how to fix it, how to change your habits to make the cut properly heal. After what seems like hours of this doctor lecturing you, he send you on your way.
Well couple days pass, but nothing seems to change, your cut is still there... it still hurts, and still has all the symptoms of an infection, so you schedule another appointment.
You go in, you sit down, this time the doctor bursts in, his face is red and he frowns at you. He begins to yell at you, saying "How could you do this to yourself! Because of this infection you might die from blood poisoning or something!" He slams the door, leaving you in the room alone and by yourself and your gross, probably pussy and stinging cut. But one things remains, you still don't know how to get your cut to properly heal. You do however know everything you did wrong, or could have done wrong, oh and that you probably will die know from some sort of blood poisoning or something.
You see as Christians we approach those who we label "sinners" and we on average start to yell at them, telling them every little "sin" they have committed to get them to the point they are at now. But most of the time I have noticed that we never show them, or tell them how they can change.
John 3:16 is a favorite among all Christians, but many just stop at that. They don't continue to read, the next verse is so crucial to completely understand the verse before;   
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." 
Jesus came to heal the sick, to show them that they not only need to change, but how to change. Sometimes we need to stop, and look at ourselves, admit that these people who we call "sinners" well that's us too before God... before Jesus. So next time instead of yelling at someone or evening thinking that their as sinner, in your church, at your workplace, in your class, on your bus, walking on the street. Stop and say, to yourself, hey I am not so great either, but I do know that Jesus is a pretty good Doctor. 
So let me say, Here's my doctor's number, He comes highly recommended....