Mike Yaconelli
If you haven't read his book "Messy Spirituality", you will want to after seeing this, I hope.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXERSvomVfA
Messy Bob
Monday, April 07, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Probably the most quoted and memorized verse in all of Christendom.
For most of my life I thought this verse was only about Jesus dying on the cross to give me eternal life because that's all I had ever heard taught.
As I was reading it the other day, the Holy Spirit ( a better teacher than all men put together) showed me the "hidden" meaning.
God loves me so-o-o-o-o much that He not only gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for me so my sins would be forgiven but He gave His Son Jesus to live "His life in me" (Hey! that would make a good name for a blog).
When scripture talks about receiving eternal life, that life is Jesus' life in us. Even for those who don't know this, it is still true of them.
1 John 5:11, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
1 John 1:2, "...and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ."
1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ .This is the true God and eternal life.
This is another confirmation of our death, burial, resurrection and ascension with Jesus.
Add to that my favourite verse Gal.2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (italics mine)
Talk about GOOD NEWS!!! I continually worship, praise and thank Him.
In Him and Him in me
Bob
Probably the most quoted and memorized verse in all of Christendom.
For most of my life I thought this verse was only about Jesus dying on the cross to give me eternal life because that's all I had ever heard taught.
As I was reading it the other day, the Holy Spirit ( a better teacher than all men put together) showed me the "hidden" meaning.
God loves me so-o-o-o-o much that He not only gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for me so my sins would be forgiven but He gave His Son Jesus to live "His life in me" (Hey! that would make a good name for a blog).
When scripture talks about receiving eternal life, that life is Jesus' life in us. Even for those who don't know this, it is still true of them.
1 John 5:11, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."
1 John 1:2, "...and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- ."
1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ .This is the true God and eternal life.
This is another confirmation of our death, burial, resurrection and ascension with Jesus.
Add to that my favourite verse Gal.2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (italics mine)
Talk about GOOD NEWS!!! I continually worship, praise and thank Him.
In Him and Him in me
Bob
Monday, March 03, 2008
The Person at the Well - John 4
I read an awesome blog that I thought you may want to read. You can read it if you click on "Ragamuffin Ramblings" on my "Recommended Blogs" (below left) and go to his Feb. 25/08, then click on "Just How Shocking is the Gospel" about 1/2way through the post.
Let me know what you think or let Steve know what you think.
In Him and Him in me
Bob
I read an awesome blog that I thought you may want to read. You can read it if you click on "Ragamuffin Ramblings" on my "Recommended Blogs" (below left) and go to his Feb. 25/08, then click on "Just How Shocking is the Gospel" about 1/2way through the post.
Let me know what you think or let Steve know what you think.
In Him and Him in me
Bob
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church
I found this article at crosswalk.com and thought I would share it
Michael Craven
Author, Speaker, Founding Director of the Center for Christ & Culture
This appears to be a growing sentiment among many younger Christians in America today. They love Jesus but they want little to do with His Church. It’s not that they don’t like the their local church or even other Christians—it’s that they don’t like how Christianity in America is frequently represented by many professing Evangelicals, which in their minds is often unloving, judgmental, arrogant, and hypocritical.This assertion finds support in the data revealed in Barna’s most recent research. For example, “four out of five young churchgoers say that Christianity is antihomosexual; half describe it as judgmental, too involved in politics, hypocritical, and confusing; one-third believe their faith is old-fashioned and out of touch with reality; and one-quarter of young Christians believe it is boring and insensitive to others.” (Kinnamon & Lyons, unChristian, Baker Books, 2007, pp.33-34)Those outside the Church hold increasingly negative views of Christians as well. Among young people (aged 16-29), roughly 49 percent hold an “extraordinarily negative” view of evangelical Christians and only 3 percent have a “good” impression! Kinnamon and Lyons summarize the problem well by pointing to the comments of one thirty-five year-old believer who says, ‘Christians have become political, judgmental, intolerant, weak, religious, angry, and without balance. Christianity has become a nice Sunday drive. Where is the living God, the Holy Spirit, and amazing Jesus, the love, the compassion, the holiness? This type of life, how I yearn for that.” Before you dismiss this criticism as overly simplistic or somehow lacking in credibility, humbly listen to what the next generation is actually saying. Love of Christ, love of one another and humility should compel us to try and understand why so many young people and Christians, in particular, feel the way they do. In my own frequent interactions with younger serious-minded Christians—many of whom invigorate me by their enthusiasm and zeal for Christ—I often find that they are very turned off and even angered by the watered-down, politicized, shallow, culturalized Christianity that has come to dominate American evangelicalism. According to Kinnamon and Lyons, “The Christian life looks so simplified and constricted that a new generation no longer recognizes it as a sophisticated, livable response to a complex word.” This younger generation of Christians is simply and rightfully frustrated by the fact that this very real condition serves to inhibit their efforts to share the love of Christ with others. In other words, contemporary American Christianity carries with it a lot of negative baggage. So much so that “they feel raising the ‘Christian flag’ would actually undermine their ability to connect with people and maintain credibility with them.” And so, they feel they must “distance themselves from the current ‘branding’ of Christianity.” (Kinnamon & Lyons) I can tell you from the perspective of one who spends a great deal of time engaged with those outside the faith; a significant portion of any conversation begins with me making apologies for the many misrepresentations of Christianity, the abuses suffered at the hands of misguided Christians, and correcting their many misconceptions—this—just so I can get to any meaningful dialogue. I can fully appreciate the need to “distance” one’s self from the mainstream “brand” of Christianity in order to earn any credibility with the person to whom I am speaking. This generation sees what many are only recently coming to realize; the Church is in a pathetic state of decadence and decay. It is, to a large degree, fragmented, watered-down, and retreating from cultural relevancy. Biblical and theological ignorance, cultural apathy, and social indifference are a plague upon the American Church and what passes for Christianity in many circles is often a mere shadow of historic orthodox Christianity or worse something altogether different. I recently spoke with a young man who is training to be a pastor. He was absolutely heartbroken and angry at the state of the Church. He laments the culturalized Christianity that surrounds him. He described the Christian culture where he lives as one in which “So many people live their lives avoiding hell instead of seeking the kingdom of God.” I think he makes an excellent point: for many American Christians; the purpose of their faith is ultimately bound up in going to heaven when they die. In the meantime the real world, the one into which Christ’s kingdom has come and is coming is ignored and the Christian’s purpose abandoned. We end up living for ourselves instead of for Christ. As I have said before, the gospel is more than just the personal plan of salvation; it is more accurately as the Lord himself said, the “good news” of the kingdom. The former has led to narrowly programmed evangelism; the latter fulfills the great commission by means of the two greatest commandments. What concerns me most is that this reaction among young evangelicals is fraught with peril as are all reactive movements. On the one hand they can, in an effort to accommodate the increasingly antagonistic culture, become so generous in their orthodoxy that they compromise the faith. On the other hand, they can become so angry toward the Church that they fall into an un-biblical ecclesiology that encourages revolution instead of reformation. Both movements are in place right now and their respective “leaders” are gaining converts. In either case, the results will no doubt be destructive. I believe the Lord is awakening many in this generation. They seek an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and they understand His lordship extends to every aspect of life and culture. I can’t tell you how often I encounter this positive spiritual theme and yet it is almost always accompanied by an equal frustration with the present Church. What is desperately needed is spiritual wisdom that can carefully guide this generation between these two extremes toward real and orthodox reformation. The younger generation can offer insight that can properly contextualize the full gospel in such a way that it is once again relevant and our generation can provide sound guidance that preserves and promotes a love for Christ’s Church and orthodox theology. We must be willing to listen to each other, to learn and work together being of one mind and one spirit. This we must do for the sake of the Church and the next generation. © 2008 by S. Michael Craven
I pray that Christians are listening.
In the Father
Bob
I found this article at crosswalk.com and thought I would share it
Michael Craven
Author, Speaker, Founding Director of the Center for Christ & Culture
This appears to be a growing sentiment among many younger Christians in America today. They love Jesus but they want little to do with His Church. It’s not that they don’t like the their local church or even other Christians—it’s that they don’t like how Christianity in America is frequently represented by many professing Evangelicals, which in their minds is often unloving, judgmental, arrogant, and hypocritical.This assertion finds support in the data revealed in Barna’s most recent research. For example, “four out of five young churchgoers say that Christianity is antihomosexual; half describe it as judgmental, too involved in politics, hypocritical, and confusing; one-third believe their faith is old-fashioned and out of touch with reality; and one-quarter of young Christians believe it is boring and insensitive to others.” (Kinnamon & Lyons, unChristian, Baker Books, 2007, pp.33-34)Those outside the Church hold increasingly negative views of Christians as well. Among young people (aged 16-29), roughly 49 percent hold an “extraordinarily negative” view of evangelical Christians and only 3 percent have a “good” impression! Kinnamon and Lyons summarize the problem well by pointing to the comments of one thirty-five year-old believer who says, ‘Christians have become political, judgmental, intolerant, weak, religious, angry, and without balance. Christianity has become a nice Sunday drive. Where is the living God, the Holy Spirit, and amazing Jesus, the love, the compassion, the holiness? This type of life, how I yearn for that.” Before you dismiss this criticism as overly simplistic or somehow lacking in credibility, humbly listen to what the next generation is actually saying. Love of Christ, love of one another and humility should compel us to try and understand why so many young people and Christians, in particular, feel the way they do. In my own frequent interactions with younger serious-minded Christians—many of whom invigorate me by their enthusiasm and zeal for Christ—I often find that they are very turned off and even angered by the watered-down, politicized, shallow, culturalized Christianity that has come to dominate American evangelicalism. According to Kinnamon and Lyons, “The Christian life looks so simplified and constricted that a new generation no longer recognizes it as a sophisticated, livable response to a complex word.” This younger generation of Christians is simply and rightfully frustrated by the fact that this very real condition serves to inhibit their efforts to share the love of Christ with others. In other words, contemporary American Christianity carries with it a lot of negative baggage. So much so that “they feel raising the ‘Christian flag’ would actually undermine their ability to connect with people and maintain credibility with them.” And so, they feel they must “distance themselves from the current ‘branding’ of Christianity.” (Kinnamon & Lyons) I can tell you from the perspective of one who spends a great deal of time engaged with those outside the faith; a significant portion of any conversation begins with me making apologies for the many misrepresentations of Christianity, the abuses suffered at the hands of misguided Christians, and correcting their many misconceptions—this—just so I can get to any meaningful dialogue. I can fully appreciate the need to “distance” one’s self from the mainstream “brand” of Christianity in order to earn any credibility with the person to whom I am speaking. This generation sees what many are only recently coming to realize; the Church is in a pathetic state of decadence and decay. It is, to a large degree, fragmented, watered-down, and retreating from cultural relevancy. Biblical and theological ignorance, cultural apathy, and social indifference are a plague upon the American Church and what passes for Christianity in many circles is often a mere shadow of historic orthodox Christianity or worse something altogether different. I recently spoke with a young man who is training to be a pastor. He was absolutely heartbroken and angry at the state of the Church. He laments the culturalized Christianity that surrounds him. He described the Christian culture where he lives as one in which “So many people live their lives avoiding hell instead of seeking the kingdom of God.” I think he makes an excellent point: for many American Christians; the purpose of their faith is ultimately bound up in going to heaven when they die. In the meantime the real world, the one into which Christ’s kingdom has come and is coming is ignored and the Christian’s purpose abandoned. We end up living for ourselves instead of for Christ. As I have said before, the gospel is more than just the personal plan of salvation; it is more accurately as the Lord himself said, the “good news” of the kingdom. The former has led to narrowly programmed evangelism; the latter fulfills the great commission by means of the two greatest commandments. What concerns me most is that this reaction among young evangelicals is fraught with peril as are all reactive movements. On the one hand they can, in an effort to accommodate the increasingly antagonistic culture, become so generous in their orthodoxy that they compromise the faith. On the other hand, they can become so angry toward the Church that they fall into an un-biblical ecclesiology that encourages revolution instead of reformation. Both movements are in place right now and their respective “leaders” are gaining converts. In either case, the results will no doubt be destructive. I believe the Lord is awakening many in this generation. They seek an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ and they understand His lordship extends to every aspect of life and culture. I can’t tell you how often I encounter this positive spiritual theme and yet it is almost always accompanied by an equal frustration with the present Church. What is desperately needed is spiritual wisdom that can carefully guide this generation between these two extremes toward real and orthodox reformation. The younger generation can offer insight that can properly contextualize the full gospel in such a way that it is once again relevant and our generation can provide sound guidance that preserves and promotes a love for Christ’s Church and orthodox theology. We must be willing to listen to each other, to learn and work together being of one mind and one spirit. This we must do for the sake of the Church and the next generation. © 2008 by S. Michael Craven
I pray that Christians are listening.
In the Father
Bob
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
No Time
I finally realized why I have no time to write a blog. Duh!
I am reading and commenting on other people's blogs. As I go to one blogspot, I see a link to another and then 5 links on that site and then 10 links on those sites then 200,000,000 links from there .
The beautiful part of it all is the sheer number of us who believe. You are not alone. I have been around the world today and Jesus is building His Church.
You don't have to follow many links to find someone whose story is much like your own. God is working in many lives in many places.
Be encouraged in the fact that you are where God wants you, regardless of what man may say.
Throughout history God has always kept alive a remnant of (what I call) real believers. There have never been a lot of them at one time, but in these last days the numbers are exponentially growing. I also believe the Internet will be used greatly by God to reach people that would be otherwise unreachable. Soooooooooo - keep on blogging, you never know who God will have read it or how it will affect those who do read it.
Something else that just came to me (to write) is the fact that because each one of us is in Christ and He is in us, we are all one. That is nothing new but when you understand that in your spirit, it is a tremendous thing that God has accomplished. Praise Him and thank Him.
I thank Him for each one of you that is part of me.
Bob
I finally realized why I have no time to write a blog. Duh!
I am reading and commenting on other people's blogs. As I go to one blogspot, I see a link to another and then 5 links on that site and then 10 links on those sites then 200,000,000 links from there .
The beautiful part of it all is the sheer number of us who believe. You are not alone. I have been around the world today and Jesus is building His Church.
You don't have to follow many links to find someone whose story is much like your own. God is working in many lives in many places.
Be encouraged in the fact that you are where God wants you, regardless of what man may say.
Throughout history God has always kept alive a remnant of (what I call) real believers. There have never been a lot of them at one time, but in these last days the numbers are exponentially growing. I also believe the Internet will be used greatly by God to reach people that would be otherwise unreachable. Soooooooooo - keep on blogging, you never know who God will have read it or how it will affect those who do read it.
Something else that just came to me (to write) is the fact that because each one of us is in Christ and He is in us, we are all one. That is nothing new but when you understand that in your spirit, it is a tremendous thing that God has accomplished. Praise Him and thank Him.
I thank Him for each one of you that is part of me.
Bob
Friday, February 15, 2008
FIRST TIME EVER
This is the first time in my life I have ever been able to keep my New Year's resolution (see last post). You're probably thinking it was easy. DO NOTHING. Try it some time and you'll see it's not as easy as it sounds. The idea was that I would do nothing external that was in and of myself. The Spirit has prompted me to start on my blog again. I'm not sure how much time I'll have but if He wants me to blog, I guess He'll make the time and fashion the words.
Well, I just ran out of time, BUT I'll be back.
This is the first time in my life I have ever been able to keep my New Year's resolution (see last post). You're probably thinking it was easy. DO NOTHING. Try it some time and you'll see it's not as easy as it sounds. The idea was that I would do nothing external that was in and of myself. The Spirit has prompted me to start on my blog again. I'm not sure how much time I'll have but if He wants me to blog, I guess He'll make the time and fashion the words.
Well, I just ran out of time, BUT I'll be back.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
New Year's Resolutions ?
Here's mine: NOTHING but One thing
John 3:27 (King James Version)
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
John 5:19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 5:30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 8:28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
John 9:33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing..
Acts 20:24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Romans 7:18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
1 Corinthians 2:2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 4:4 (King James Version)
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Ephesians 5:11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Philippians 2:7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
1 Timothy 4:7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Luke 10:38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
John 6:28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
John 6:29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Get the picture?
Have a blessed New Year.
Bob
Here's mine: NOTHING but One thing
John 3:27 (King James Version)
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
John 5:19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 5:30By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 8:28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
John 9:33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
John 15:5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing..
Acts 20:24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
Romans 7:18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
1 Corinthians 2:2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
1 Corinthians 4:4 (King James Version)
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13:2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Ephesians 5:11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Philippians 2:7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
1 Timothy 4:7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Luke 10:38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
John 6:28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
John 6:29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
Get the picture?
Have a blessed New Year.
Bob
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