Jesus Paid it All

This is a hymn that has been in my head for quite a while now.  I hope you enjoy it.

1. I hear the Savior say,
   “Thy strength indeed is small;
   Child of weakness, watch and pray,
   Find in Me thine all in all.”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus paid it all,
     All to Him I owe;
     Sin had left a crimson stain,
     He washed it white as snow.
2. For nothing good have I
   Whereby Thy grace to claim;
   I’ll wash my garments white
   In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
3. And now complete in Him,
   My robe, His righteousness,
   Close sheltered ’neath His side,
   I am divinely blest.
4. Lord, now indeed I find
   Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
   Can change the leper’s spots
   And melt the heart of stone.
5. When from my dying bed
   My ransomed soul shall rise,
   “Jesus died my soul to save,”
   Shall rend the vaulted skies.
6. And when before the throne
   I stand in Him complete,
   I’ll lay my trophies down,
   All down at Jesus’ feet.

Silly Things

On Wednesday we have youth group at church.  I love going to youth group, it re-energizes me for the week just being around the kids.  It also re-energizes me because I get challenged in my faith.

Tonight one of the things we talked about was how silly the things we care about are when compared to God.

I began to think about sports. I love sports, maybe too much.  I love to watch sports, play sports, talk about sports, research sports.  My job is even focused on sports much of the time.  But sports are silly if you really think about them.

Monday night I watched the NCAA championship even though it was an awful game to watch.  I have watched pretty intently for the entire month of the tournament, but when you really think about it basketball is silly.  I have spent much of my life obsessing over 10 guys running around, bouncing a ball and trying to throw it through a ring.  When these guys are really good at it, people say "You're national champions."  Do the champs really get anything (other than the coaches)?  No.  I mean it is kind of silly, but I will study the game, shout out loud when somebody dunks it, and talk about Monday night's game for a solid week.  I mean, how silly is that?

Or think about this.  I love Cubs baseball.  I listen to Pat Hughes on the radio, I watch Len and Bob talk about it on TV and when I can I go to a game.  When I go to a game I spend serious coin to do so (or I should say my parents do most of the time).  The process of going to a game cost up to or at least a hundred dollars when you start to add it all up, and that's if you get cheap seats.  I mean the ticket, the hotel, the gas, the food at the game, the Cubs shirt... I mean I invest a lot into what is really silly.  I invest all that to watch grown men play a kids' game.

I'm not saying don't do things or have stuff.  What I'm saying is realize that all these silly things don't compare to God.

I invest all this money to see the Cubs but when the collection plate for those in need around us is passed I'll give a couple bucks.  I'll cheer loudly when two teams I could care less about are playing basketball, but I'll shut up when God wants me to say a word for Him. I mean, I should flip-flop my life.  I should cheer loudly for our awesome God and give generously to His children, all while reading the box score once a week on a Sunday for all my sports.

God is great.  Everything else is really just silly.  Now act like that's true today.

If You Ain't Gettin' Blocked...

So I got some feedback on the last post from someone anonymous and I'd like to thank you to that person.  This person seemed a little upset at my last post and I'll admit that it wasn't my best.  But, thank you Anonymous for your feedback.

Matthew 5:11-12- "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Now, what Anonymous wrote is probably not real persecution or a real insult if you ask most of the world, but I want to thank him/her anyway.  Jesus says that anytime we face insults we get a reward in heaven.  So, I hope to pile up more rewards.

Also, I remember my high school football coach (sorry to  those who hear me use this all the time).  Coach Mac would say, "If you ain't gettin' blocked you're going the wrong way" (actually he hardly ever said "ain't" but it sounds better that way).  If a defensive lineman isn't getting blocked he should be shouting "Screen, Screen!" to his teammates because he is going the wrong way if he keeps running to the backfield.  If a linebacker goes left and isn't getting blocked, it's because the play is going right most likely.

So, if you ain't getting blocked as a Christian you are probably going the wrong way.  Satan doesn't mess with Christians heading oposite of the play side of action.

Thank you anonymous.  You are a road sign that says, "Right Way.  Continue Running".

Finally, Anonymous, and maybe I'm wrong, but it's nice to know this blog isn't being read by just a bunch of Christians.  I love writing to my brothers and sisters, but I really hope that the Holy Spirit uses this blog to convict and transform those who don't yet know Jesus.

Thank you Anonymous and know that I'm praying for you.  And brothers and sisters rejoice and be glad when you are insulted today.

The Great Saga

I am blogging every day during Lent this year.  I'm doing this instead of abstaining from something during Lent.  So far it has been a great process.  I've felt closer to God and more in tune to His voice during this Lent.

So, I want to encourage you to add some discipline to your life this Lent even though we are halfway through Lent.  Maybe, you could add some prayer time or Bible reading.  Perhaps, you could add family time or some sort of service.  I don't know what God wants you to do, but maybe you would benefit from observing Lent in this way this year.

Also, this Lent I'm part of an awesome production called, "The Great Saga: an Easter Passion Mime."  This is a great show and I encourage you to attend.  The show is very worshipful and is in Cedar Falls and Waverly.  It is at Nazareth Lutheran in C.F. at 6:45 on Wednesday the 13th.  Then, it is at Grace Baptist in Waverly at 7:00 on Friday the 15th, Sunday the 17th and Thursday the 21st.  Finally, it will be the Good Friday service at 7:00 at Heartland Vineyard Church in C.F.

I encourage you to attend this or another passion play or watch "The Passion of the Christ" (I've only seen that once when it was in the theatre.  I'm not sure I want to watch it again.).  Do something this Easter season to remind yourself of how much God loves you.

Think about God's amazing love and sacrifice for you today.

Line-dancing, Paul and Timothy

So last night I got to go line-dancing.  It was a lot of fun, even though I was awful at it, and I got to think a little about Paul and Timothy while doing it.  I know what you're thinking, "How does line-dancing make you think about Paul and Timothy?" or "You are a messed up, dude."

Yes, it is a little messed up, I guess, to think about Paul and Timothy while line-dancing but recently God has spoken very clearly to me more often.  I suppose I'll credit my Lent challenge for that.

Anywho, back to line-dancing, Paul and Timothy.

The other day my little brother wrote a short blog about how every man needs a Paul and every Paul needs a Timothy.  This is the basics of discipleship.

Well, as I was line-dancing I found a Paul named Curt.  No, we didn't talk about Jesus at all, but Saturday night Curt was my Paul.  As I attempted to line-dance I watched every move Curt made.  I swiveled my head as we did our turns so I could watch Curt dance.  You see, Curt was the best dancer out on the floor and when you line-dance you should watch the one who knows what they are doing.  When I was able to watch Curt I was able to somewhat line-dance... somewhat.

We need to take line-dancing lessons in our walk with Christ.  Find a Paul to watch.  Pauls are Christians that are further along in their run toward Jesus than you.  These people need to be watched and studied.  Of course they are not the ultimate example, Jesus is, but they can help you visualize what it really looks like to run the Christian race.

I have so many Pauls in my life and I am thankful for them, even if they don't know I'm watching them.  I also am very aware that I may be someone else's Paul without knowing it and that makes me very careful not to lead unknown Timothys astray.

So remember that every person needs a Paul and every Paul needs a Timothy.  Line-dance for Jesus on your run today.

Jesus Pooped

I've been thinking a lot about the incarnation of Jesus.  This is such an amazing miracle that Jesus would choose to become like us.

Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.  That is amazing, but let's not forget that Jesus humbled Himself to be like us.  When Jesus was a baby, He was helpless.  When Jesus was learning carpentry from Joseph, He probably hit His hand with the hammer.  When Jesus walked, He got blisters.   When Jesus needed to go, He pooped.  Jesus became like us.

Remember, that Jesus was forever.  He was there at creation.  He is God, yet He chose humility.

When Jesus became one of us it was like a parent getting on His child's level to scoop up the child and say, "I love you."  Jesus bent over to our level and said, "I love you," unlike anyone ever.  And when we die He scoops us up and carries us in His arms back inside His house.

Think about the beautiful incarnation of our Lord today.

Matthew 21:23-32

Please read this section of Matthew 21.

Verses 28-31 "What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'  'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

'Which of the two did what his father wanted?'

'The first,' they answered."

God honors service not lip service.

Be doers not talkers.  Talking is only good if accompanied by action.

You might remember this quote from dc Talk's "Jesus Freak" CD- "The single greatest cause of atheism in our world is believers that profess Jesus with their mouths yet deny them by their lifestyle."

Phony people suck.  Don't be a phony person.  Do God's will, don't just talk about it today.