Live Brave

9/11

(The following is a speech planned for this morning at the memorial for 9/11 in Port Jefferson, NY)

Never has a date meant so much to me in all my life. They don't even sound like numbers. When 9 and 11 are said together the meaning is drastically changed. 

This morning we need to give thanks to the people who responded, gave their time, efforts, emotional and mental health, and, for some fallen heroes, their lives.

There are 2 acts of the American people I miss about the days after 9/11. The first is how the churches were packed out in search of God and in serach of community. I miss the times when people woke up and longed for more than just the normal parts of their day because it was no longer normal to remain at home. 

The second act of the American people I miss is the American flags that were hung at seemingly every household at every street after that terrible event 10 years ago. Americans got together and shouted loud that they believed that with God and with each other, we would never be shaken to the point that we would lose our liberty and constitution. We will always remain free.

A moment of silence does the people who gave their lives no justice. As a matter of fact, the only response is a lifetime of action. 

For the brave people who stood up to their captures; for the brave men and women who instead of running from the flames, ran into them; and for the brave Americans who even now give their lives for the freedom of the American people, Jesus' words ring true: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

We can honor the brave men and women of 9/11 with our lips all we want, but if we do not honor them with our lives, living just as bravely as they did, we will do an eternal injustice.

Remember today to pray for the families of the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks.

I want to close with Psalm 121:

"I lift up my eyes to the hills.
   From where does my help come?
²My help comes from the LORD,
   who made heaven and earth.

 ³He will not let your foot be moved;
   he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴Behold, he who keeps Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵The LORD is your keeper;
   the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶The sun shall not strike you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 ⁷The LORD will keep you from all evil;
   he will keep your life.
⁸The LORD will keep
   your going out and your coming in
   from this time forth and forevermore."

In response to the brave Americans, honor the USA with your words and with your deeds. In response to the many courageous lives lived before us, remember it is our duty and privilege to live brave.

Pick up the Phone!

I cannot begin to explain what these 4 words have done to my life. I am one of those guys who cannot stand the phone. I hate having a leash. Even texting bothers me... most of the time while I'm not even doing anything!

I'm kinda old school that way I guess. I love face-to-face convos, not Facebook-to-Facebook chats... but I am seeing and hearing God change my mind.

On more than one occasion in the past few months I have simply picked up the phone and said, "hello" - and boom! Life change. God does something crazy.

A few months ago I led somebody to Christ within 5 minutes of picking up the phone (and you KNOW that wasn't me at work)!

Just last week our children's ministry director picked up the phone and saved somebody's life.

I know we are all getting more and more anti-social in person just as much as we get more and more social through the Internet and texting, but I really feel like listening to somebody is one of the greatest gifts you can give somebody.

(To the Christians reading now): As the church, we really need to step in and soak in our culture. Listen to what people are saying, not create a bubble. And when the time comes when that phone call is nervously made by the person who needs you to listen: PICK UP THE PHONE!

My professor in college Ron Walborn said on many occasions, "90% of ministry is showing up."

Show up.

Tattoos

Since the message I preached on Father's Day about Jesus and religion (the first in a 3-part series entitled "Sick of Religion") I have had many people already ask me about the issue I brought up about tattoos, the theology behind it, and my own testimony regarding it. 

I never addressed my tattoos before in a sermon or message prior to this past Father's Day. The third Preview Service of Arise on Father's Day actually marked the first time I preached in a public setting without long sleeves on. I usually did that out of respect, but thought it was hypocritical of me to cover something up that I am proud of at the risk of offending somebody.

The fact is, I have actually had MORE chances to share my faith with others BECAUSE of the tattoos I have. I made it clear in the message that Jesus did not tell me to go and do this, nor do I think it is for everybody. But what is clear is that there is no place in the Bible that adamantly says that people will go to hell if they have tattoos. The Bible actually doesn't even say that Christians should not get them. Let me explain.

The Bible says in Leviticus 19:28 that none from the nation of Israel should mark their bodies for the dead, nor shall they have tattoos. In those days, pagans would cut themselves, take the burned ashes of their relatives, and in a weird way of worship, rub the ashes into the cuts so that when it healed they would have a "tattoo" of their relative. It was more than a memorial. It was an act of pagan worship to the dead. A tattoo was noticeable. That kind of worship marked a person for what they believed and who they served. God was calling His chosen people, the people of Israel, to not worship in such a way, and to set themselves apart from that.

Further proof that this was a law for the Israelites concerning their being "set apart" in that specific time, for that specific people, is the verse RIGHT BEFORE IT: Leviticus 19:27 - "You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard." This was yet another way to be set apart, to be holy for God during that time. 

I have no problem with people saying that the Bible says we cannot have tattoos, as long as they also have never trimmed their sideburns or beards. They would also have to sacrifice a long list of animals per year (Leviticus 3), remember to not work from sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night (Leviticus 19:30 - no working at all on Saturdays!), and not eat any pork chops or bacon (Leviticus 11:1-8). 

We have to remember that these laws were cultural and distinct to the Israelite nation. I know many churches that will use this argument to tell people that tattoos are forbidden, but fail to comment on shaving beards, working on Saturday, and eating pork (or lobster for that matter). True, Jesus declared all things clean to eat to Peter during his prayer time (Acts 11:5-9), but what of the other cultural laws? Are we not going to discuss what was meant for the Jewish nation and what is meant for us? It seems we like to pick and choose our theology. But God sent people to BE the church. He also had people WRITE DOWN this important stuff in a book and compile it together. When we look at these things, we must be careful before we tell others what is right and wrong. The real message is God's love.

What stands out in the Bible is repetitive phrases. Nowhere else does the Bible teach on tattoos in a negative light. In fact, there are 2 places where tattoos are mentioned in somewhat of a positive light. The first being found in the prophetic chapter of Isaiah 44:1-5 where God says He will pour out His Spirit, and some will react by singing, praying, and writing the Name of the Lord on their hands. This verbiage wasn't meant to be taken as if somebody had a Bic pen and was writing God's Name down. This phrase was meant to be understood on a more permanent level - what we might call a tattoo.

The second place it comes up again is in Revelation (a book I am scared of because interpreting what it means seems so improbable). It is here: Revelation 19:11-16. In this part of the prophecy (a story John is telling that alludes to Jesus' return) Jesus enters on a white horse. He comes down looking pretty fresh. It mentions what He looks like and how He is described. He has eyes of fire. He is wearing a robe dipped in blood. On that robe, and written on His thigh (where some would say this is a tattoo - but that is not 100% clear) is "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords".

I am not saying tattoos are meant to be a necessity or a command from God to actually go out and get now. Not at all! What I am saying is that if you have tattoos, or you are thinking about getting a tattoo, pray about it first. But do not let somebody tell you that you will be hell-bound for such an act. It is simply not true. I know plenty of Christians who love Jesus who have tattoos.

To close, I was asked then why I have tattoos and what they mean to me. Basically, tattoos are a way for me to remember things about myself. I am a forgetful person. I forget what God has done for me. Sometimes I let my situation overpower my foundation, which is Christ. These pieces of art are reminders of who I am and who God says I am. I could go into detail on all of them, but I will not right now. In general, all of my tattoos give me a remembrance of who I am and where I come from. They remind me of Christ, and what He did for me. I have a few blatantly Christian tattoos, and I have some that need explaining, but they are all oriented in my faith, the story of my life, and the remembrance of Christ who is in control. 

To listen to the sermon from Father's Day, go HERE.

Francis Chan is Chiming In...

I saw this video a few weeks ago and it really affected me in that as pastors, church leaders, and representatives of Christ, we need to study and think long and hard about what we are saying about some "religious" issues. Check the video out. He has amazing points as to what churches all around the globe do when they create doctrine. His new book seems to be a rebuttal on Rob Bell's ideas and maybe even all of our religiosity. 

 

Eat, Sleep, Repeat. (Special Guest Blogger: Sean O'Leary)

I love music.  I love the way you can pick songs to synchronize with your mood and bring your life to a perfect harmony for those four minutes.  I love the way music flows through life, and how it can be seen in every different situation.  I love how it inspires, consoles, and humbles those who listen.  I love how music has a personality, and can fit perfectly with that of the listener.  I love music.  

Anyone who knows me knows that this is true about me:  most of the time I will have my ipod playing in my ear.  Occasionally I will play my music for all to hear, although sometimes that doesn't imply enjoyment.  Music is a big part of my life and a big part of what fuels me, so when God uses music to burn a fire in my heart, I rejoice.  One of the bands I have been big into lately is Copeland, and if you haven't heard of them I strongly urge you to check them out.  The album I have been listening to for the past few days is titled "Eat, Sleep, Repeat.", hence the title of this note.  This is the second time I have been inspired by God to use music as my tool for his work, and both times it had nothing to do with the actual music.  However, it still fuels my passion. 

The album title describes the lives of many, many Christians I know.  Moreover, it describes the lives of millions of people in general.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  It is a viscous cycle that wastes the lives of those caught inside its lure.  Yes, this cycle has such a lure to it, as boring as it sounds.  Too many people have no urgency to leave their comfort zone, and when this is the case... Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Sound luring now?  Maybe even familiar?  

Stepping out of your comfort zone is an essential part of making an impact for Christ.  And I am not talking about the occasional mission's trip, or stepping up for the annual family prayer at Thanksgiving dinner.  Stepping out of your comfort zone has to be a part of your everyday life.  Doing what God tells you to do is the only way you can grow in faith, and if he is not asking you to step out of your comfort zone than we need to have a little chat because i think you may be worshipping the wrong god.  Stepping out of your comfort zone can be as simple as holding the door open for someone with a smile, wishing them a good day with an extra little "God Bless."  Of course this has to be done in an audible tone and without ducking for cover afterwards.

Another thing that disturbs me is when people do good deeds, but are so disgruntled about it.  If you are going to give someone an attitude at the door like they are wasting your time since your holding it for them, please just don't bother, you are doing more harm than good.  This is obviously an exaggeration because anybody getting pissed about holding the door for someone has far more problems than i can cover in one note.  Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men."  If you were holding the door open for Jesus himself I'm sure a smile would be plastered on your face, with a Christian flag waving in your free hand as you absolutely BELT "Holy is the Lord."  

Too many Christians are caught in this cycle.. Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  The astounding thing is that they believe they are doing God's work.  I cannot count how many times I have heard someone say something like "That person needs Jesus,"  and then continued on with their day.  WHAT??!!!??  How much more cut and dry can "Talk the talk but not walk the walk" get?  You are caught in a cycle that has you believing you are living brave for Christ, but this is an illusion as you are a coward.  John 4:35 is meant for this generation of Christians who are not only stuck in this cyccle, but content with it... Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat.  "WAKE UP!!! LOOK AROUND!! The fields are already ripe for the harvest!  The harvesters are paid good wages and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life!  What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!"  

If you are stuck in this cycle you need to wake up.  You need to wake up and start listening to God, because he is calling you to reap what he has sown.  God doesn't call people to an average life.  Wake up.  Eat, Sleep, Repeat... It is as boring as it sounds.  And I don't know if you've heard, but God doesn't do boring.

Sean O'Leary is a freelance writer, blogger, church planter, missionary, student at Manhattan College for aeronautic space engineering, and an absolute beast of an athlete. He is usually seen on his campus handing out free donuts.

Lenny's Testimony

I had the extreme honor of attending my buddy Lenny's testimony at Church at the Movies in Mastic this past Sunday. It is amazing to see growth right before your eyes. This man impresses me every time we talk, and his class and respect are only outdone by his humility.

Lenny and I have done a lot together in the short time we've been friends. We've played a show, been on a road trip, hiked a mountain, drank a few beers, camped, shot guns, played video games, watched movies and/or sports... you name it - the guy is full of fun! He has not been a believer in Christ for too long, but his testimony is powerful and worth listening to. I LOVE SEEING THIS STUFF HAPPEN!

Here is the video I shot on my crappy camera, unedited.

Praise Jesus.

 

Always Going Home

I'm sitting here in Carlisle, PA, waiting for traffic to pass and having a bite to eat. I am coming home from my trip to South Carolina, where I got to first stop in DC (actually Alexandria, VA - AWESOME town) on the way to chill with my man Dan Frank, head down to South Cackalackie to meet my new friend Curt Hanna (and stay with his family), and get ROCKED by God at the Perry Noble Coaching Network at NewSpring Church. I also got to see my sister on the way back up in Lynchburg, VA. I am so blessed!

But now all I can think about is home. I am heading home and I can't wait to see my wife. I can't wait to see my children. I can't wait to see my friends. I can't wait to see our church and watch what Jesus is going to do with it.

But as I sit here, I realize I am ALWAYS heading home. No matter where I am or am going, I always have a homesickness with meeting Jesus. This is not a suicidal thought or any kind of masochistic lifestyle that I've chosen, but I am one day going to "die in faith" as Hebrews says it, and I get to go HOME. To live is Christ, to die is gain. Why? Because we get to meet Jesus! We get to go home!

No matter what I'm doing, I truly am homesick, and that is why we (people who follow Christ) live the way we live. We truly believe this is not all there is. We are called to love God and others while on earth, and then we go home.

I am so excited to continue this journey home. Please join me.

Oh My Goodness!

I feel that all of my teaching comes from my kids lately, but that makes the most sense considering we probably learn just as much from them as they do from us.

Recently Roary spent a weekend with my mom, her "Gamma" as she calls her. Now this is in no way trying to call my mother out on her mouth, because mine is way worse and I cannot believe I have not been copied too often yet, but my mom has a way of saying, "Oh, my God" a lot. This is a phrase we are teaching Roary not to say, but after the weekend she picked up saying "Oh, my God!"

Our alternative for months has been, "No Roary, say, 'Oh my goodness!'" After this weekend it actually took a few days for us to get her to say it. We were RELIGIOUS about it. Every time she said "Oh, my God," we would correct her with "Oh my goodness." 

Finally she began to say "Oh my goodness" again when she was surprised instead. We did it! Our job was complete. But we are idiots.

We did not take into account that Roary did not understand the theological idea of not taking God's Name in vain. Instead, she thought we were yelling at her for using a bad word. So a few days later, my mother's friend came over and Roary had sneezed. My mom's friend said, "God bless you."

What Roary did next is absolutely key to our understanding of people who hate the church. She said, "No, you say 'Goodness bless you.'" 

At first, we all laughed. But in minutes I was contemplating my failure as a parent and having to rework my ENTIRE strategy of discipline. I led my daughter to believe "God" was a bad word. She didn't think anything of it except that she should not say "God". What an absolute tragedy. What an absolute failure.

And hear this church: If we treat people who do not believe in this manner, WE WILL LOSE THEM FOREVER! One of my mentors Ron Walborn calls this the "Battle for Behavior". If we win the "Battle for Behavior" we turn people into clones (and hypocrites). We also in turn lose the "Battle for the Heart."

We cannot go to lost people and just teach them to "act" saved. We have to win their HEART for Jesus, and let JESUS change their heart, which will one day change their way of behaving. We have to let the lost act lost - why? BECAUSE THEY ARE LOST! 

The Battle for the Heart is entirely more important. I am not sure how I will teach my daughter better, but just getting her to act a certain way is not working. It is failing. And the church is doing the same thing. We, as the church, need to find a better way of communicating God's love, because telling them they need to not have sex, drink, do drugs, or read Harry Potter is NOT WORKING!!!

Our mission for teaching needs to be focused on Jesus' love, not others' behavior. Any thoughts are of course appreciated.

Live Brave.

"If"

Here is an awesome idea: don't run your life by "if". 

For years, I ran my life, my family, my ministry, and my relationships with this disgusting word. 

I was having a conversation with my good buddy Lenny, and he said something that stirred up my heart (what I would call the Holy Spirit speaking). He was talking about the context of small groups and about him co-leading one. He said that if people signed up he would go along with it.

Now he had said something very legitimate. There was no reason for me to be upset with what he said, especially because the leaders of America, businesses, and churches all around have been sneaking in this lazy form of dissolved hope. I told him, not because I was putting him down, but because I LIVED that very lie, that using "if" is another way of saying, "somebody else needs to step up."

We say things like, "If the economy was better" or "If I had a better job" or "If my husband/wife/family was more supportive" or "If I get this promotion" or "If people show up" or "If things go according to plan" or "If my pastor wasn't such a big..." (you get the idea).

The fact is that when we use "if" instead of "even if" or "when", we put God in a position that He needs to move without us giving any sort of real commitment. We tell God He needs to jump first or we aren't going to jump at all.

Let me propose this. Next time you want to qualify or prohibit something awesome in your life relying on the "if" that you place on it, go ahead and replace the word "if" with "even if it doesn't work out" or "when this happens." I don't mean a false sense of hope, because there are things that we need to be dependent on Jesus and other people for. But try this:

"When I get that promotion I will be able to afford to move, and even if I don't, I will do everything in my power to improve my situation." You can still move forward when the world is against you. You will need to rely on God for many things, but that does not mean you cannot change and grow in the meantime.

Is this a self-sufficient, self-help message? No. We need Jesus. We need other people. We do need certain circumstances to happen for things to go our way. But when we use "if" I really believe we give up before it even starts. We need to have the courage to step out in faith and DO what we were called to do, not make excuses as to why it isn't going to work.

Sorry for getting all Joel Osteen on you. But we can afford to be positive every once in a while! Trust in God. Listen to what He says - then DO IT!

Radical Obedience

So I am getting completely ROCKED by this book "Radical" - subtitle: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Drem - by David Platt. He is kind of saying what everybody already knows about Jesus and Christianity but is too afraid to take the steps of discomfort, inconvenience, sacrifice, unpopularity, and courage. I just wanted to share an excerpt and comment on it for today's blog.

"I find it interesting that one of the most common questions asked today among Christians is 'What is God's will for my life?' Many Christians have almost assumed the attitude that they would obey God if He would just show them what He wanted them to do. In the middle of a Christian culture asking, 'How do I find God's will for my life?' I bring good news. His will is not lost. With 1.4 million Bedouins in Algeria who have never heard the Gospel, it makes little sense for us to sit here asking, 'What do you want me to do, God?' The answer is clear. The will of God is for you and me to give our lives urgently and recklessly to making the Gospel and the glory of God known among all peoples, particularly those who have never even heard of Jesus. The question, therefore, is not 'Can we find God's will?' The question is, 'Will we obey God's will?'"

Wow.

Now he is not saying that we all need to move into a country that is remote at a whim. Nor is he saying that we all are called to being missionaries in Algeria or other places where we can be killed on the spot just for showing up. But for some, that is the call. And for all, the call is to spread the Gospel wherever you are or wherever you are going. There are plenty of people in America who need Jesus. We need to obey God's will. There are plenty of people in your neighborhood who are going to hell and nobody ever cared enough to share Jesus with them. We need to follow God's call. And of course there are plenty of people in other countries who have never even heard the name Jesus, and there are some even reading this post that are called to do that. Wherever you are, if you are a believer in Christ, it is your duty to preach the Gospel so that people can hear the Gospel. There is only one name under heaven in which we are saved (Acts 4:11-12), and His Name is Jesus! There is no other option!

Let me let David Platt close this one out with another quote that is challenging me and I think should challenge you:

"If we conclude that people can get to heaven apart from faith in Christ, then this would mean there is something else they can do to get to heaven. Such a conclusion would not only undercut the [truth we see in Romans]; it would also be tantamount to saying to Jesus, 'Thank you for what you did on the cross, but we could have gotten to God another way.'"

To purchase a copy of "Radical" you can go HERE.