Sometimes, I dispair

Sometimes I dispair. Sometimes, in my darkest moments, I fear that I am only a camera. My eyes are meant to record the moment. My ears are made to pick up the dialogue. I experience moments as an outside member. The only function I serve laying witness to others' happinesses. Sometimes I dispair.



- N

Two in the head

You know who is a terrible sinner? Me. I am a wretched and evil man who truly deserves to burn in Hell for all eternity. Why God loves me as much as he does is mystifying. I don't deserve love. I don't deserve mercy. I don't deserve grace. And yet I have been given these freely.

Why then, do I decide to not pursue a deeper relationship with God? Why am I striving to find contentment outside of the Father and find it in other people? Am I high?

I'll never be content if I rely on others for that feeling. Only God can bring this overarching peace, joy and fulfillment. So, why am I a right proper jackass? My pride is getting in the way and I need to assassinate the Self.


- N

September Came and Went

I did not blog once during September.

Oops.  I even have a Blogger APP for my iPhone, which means that theoretically I can post a blog anywhere there is Wi-Fi or 3G coverage.

Some quick catch up:

Small group is going good.  My small group guys include: Jackson, Leo, Nick Stever & Cortez.  Its a fun mix of older super solid Christians and young children of God.  There isn't enough time to ever cover all that my heart would have them know.  You know what, that's okay.
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I need prayer.

I suck.
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With life comes some amount of drama.  I find it best to live by basic Biblical principles and espouse the most important commandment: Love God with all your Heart, all your Mind and all your Soul.  Then Love your neighbor as yourself.  In this is the fulfillment of all the Law and the Prophets.
Generally, things don't go too shabby if I stick to this simple teaching.  However, life is messy.  People hurt each other throughout life and forgiveness is needed.  We have to be full of Grace as God is full of Grace.  We must be merciful as God is merciful.  We must be just as God is just.  We must BE love as God is love.  And none of this is possible through our own finite human capacity.  Only through the supernatural power of God can these things be possible.  Pray for God's supernatural Love.  Pray for God's supernatural Grace.  Pray for God's supernatural Mercy.  These things will lead to God's supernatural Peace.

-N

Christianity as Religion

These are just my two cents but:

Christianity IS a Religion.

*ahem*

Thank you

-N

Small group

Tonight was my first small group ever. I would say it was largely successful. We shared a bit about where we all came from and how God is real in our lives etc etc. So far my group is Leo, Jackson, Stephen, and Allen. These are sweet dudes. Please pray for them as they go thru this semester.

One thing I learned from tonight: God has his hands on these young men. It is terrifying and joyous at the same time.

Goals for the term:
Broad overview of Romans (hit the hilights)
The Lords Prayer (what is this? why is it important?)
The Lords Supper (same)
The Ten Commandments (same)
Baptism in H20 and on the Holy Spirit
Read "Something Beautiful for God" by Malcolm Muggerridge

Also, I need to purchase a Bible for Jackson.


- N

Meeting people is easy

This week has been busy. I missed Move-In weekend but made it to Monday's Splash Olympics. We met over 400+ students and in general had a pretty great time. I've met a couple of freshmen that are really sweet dudes, so please join me in praying for Adam, Dylan, Stephen, Jackson and Forrest.
Last night we crashed the Welcome Luau (which is where I met Jackson) and made some more contacts. I hung out with Forrest & Jackson. They're both from the Austin area. Had a nice time chilling out and enjoying the free food. Then we bailed and I took them to Coffee Waves (which was their idea... I swear).
Tonight we are having a guerilla meeting. By guerilla I mean thrown together at the last minute and with no budget. We are playing Ultimate Frisbee and cooking hot dogs in the atrium at the Surf&Jetty dorms. It goes down at 6pm tonight.

Off to my second day of classes

- N

First day back

After a long silence I am returned. Being in Montana for three months has cleansed my mind and renewed my spirit. I'm wholly excited for this semester and what God is bringing.

Full schedule today. If you are in the area stop by the Chi Alpha booth outside the Library. We will there until 3pm today and tomorrow.

Off to campus.


- N

Aaron Weiss | Horse Story | State Your Change

I love Aaron Weiss.  And yes that is John Foreman to his left.

-N

The Valley

The Semester if over.  Finally.  And I am relieved to be done.  Bloody Hell in America, I am wiped out.  Emotionally.  Physically.  Spiritually. 

This present unpleasantness perfectly illustrates the dry period. As I walk in my Christian Faith and as I walk with the Lord, sometimes I don't always hear his voice. Sometimes his voice isn't as crystal clear as other times. Sometimes I have to keep walking and moving and working. If I based my momentum on hearing his voice I'd spend a lot of time standing still. Stagnancy breeds bitterness.

For today I am in a valley. However, I know that as I walk in this valley The Lord is with me always. I know that no matter what he has not forsaken me and he will continue to love me completely. Tomorrow I may find myself on the Mountain top wrapped up in a experience with God. I don't live on the Mountain top. I live wherever he places me and a lot of the time that is in the valley. The valley is where the crops are planted, and the valley is where the workers are needed.

I could continue to live on the Mountain top... but what would I do there? Brew ale? The practical work of my Christian faith has to be acted out in the valley. the valley is where the crops are planted and the crops are ready for harvest.  A dry spell isn't always so bad.  If it were wet all the time nothing would ever grow.  There'd be too much rain. 

-N

Judgement

Luke 6:36-49

“Judge Not lest Ye be Judged.” Do you have any idea what that means?

“Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary. Nor does he condemn our “forming an opinion” of the conduct of others, for it is impossible “not” to form an opinion of conduct that we know to be evil. But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and a habit of “expressing” such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed. It rather refers to private judgment than “judicial,”” - Albert Barnes

“Judge not - any man without full, clear, certain knowledge, without absolute necessity, without tender love. - John Wesley”

So Christ is talking about what? Christ has two things He is emphasizing. Firstly, are you GOD? Having the right of judgment implies that we can tell the motivating factor behind a person's decision making process. We know what is in their hearts. How presumptuous of us.

1 Samuel 16:7 But Jehovah said to Samuel, Do not look on his face, nor on his height, because I have refused him. For He does not see as man sees. For man looks on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart.

Only God knows what is in our hearts. Therefore only God can judge us. However... this is tricky. Isn't it? You make judgments all the time about people. How many times have you automatically made a judgment on someone based on your very first impression? How many times have these judgments stayed with you? How have the colored the way you deal with these people? Do you treat them nicely? In a Christian manner? How does forming prejudices against someone show love?

When we judge on someone we are making a judgment on their character. We are judging all their works and deeds. They're works and deeds make them unworthy of Christ's love. Or, “They obviously aren't a Christian, just look at them!” So automatically we are putting our selves in the judgment seat of God. We can see their actions for what they truly are and thus, judge them as false. See why Christ has a problem with this?

Let's segue into works and faith. Judgment applies to this too. When we are judging someone's works we are judging the spiritual validity of these works. We are deciding if these works are from faith, or greed. So we are again taking a shot at someone's character. We aren't leaving any room for God's grace. Character comes from the things we do, out of faith and love. Not out of obligation. When we are motivated by love our works are just nice things. And they don't need a reason. Much like God's grace.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Remember what Christ says about looking at yourself first? What motivates you to do the things you do? Are you being nice to people because it is the Christian thing to do? Or are you acting out of some political expedience? Are you doing things because good things will be done to you in return. One-ups-manship. “I shall do things and they will be done to me in kind.” Is that acting out of love or selfish desire?

Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, according to which manner they also believed.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The things we do don't make us good. Only God is good, and only he can make us good. So when we judge someone by their works we are usurping Jehovah's authority. We ought not to judge a man by their actions only but by their character. The only person we should judge is ourselves. Do our actions reflect Christ? Does the love we share with others reflect the love Christ shared thru His grace? Is judging others an adequate way to spread the Gospel?

-N

Holy Spirit Power

Matthew 16:21-24 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. (22) And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. (24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 26:33-34 But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended. (34) Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Matthew 26:69-75 And Peter sat outside in the court. And a girl came to him, saying, You also were with Jesus of Galilee. (70) But he denied all before them, saying, I do not know what you say. (71) And when he had gone out into the porch, another saw him and said to those there, This one was also with Jesus of Nazareth. (72) And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. (73) And after a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you. (74) Then he began to curse and to swear, I do not know the man. And immediately the cock crowed. (75) And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, Who said to him, Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times. And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter is kind of a punk while Jesus is on Earth. He's like that noisy kid that really likes the teacher, but likes the sound of his own voice more. His biggest problem is he is boasting for the wrong reasons. In these instances he boasts of his strong conviction for Christ out of the need for himself. He has yet to crucify his desire and acquiesce his will to Christ. It isn't until he finally betrays Christ in the courtyard that he realizes how big of a fool he has been.

Then the Day of Pentecost happens. And all his bluster and all his pomp go the way of the dodo.

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:

Peter and those gathered in the upper room were now Baptized with FIRE.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

After this what do you think Peter, the coward, the braggart did? When the Jews decried the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as drunken revelry did Peter run and cower? No. This is what he did:

 Acts 2:14-36 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (15) For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. (16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17) And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (18) And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (19) And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: (20) The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (21) And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

 (22) Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: (23) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain :(24) Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (25) For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: (26) Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (27) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (28) Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (29) Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (30) Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (31) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (32) This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (33) Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (34) For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (35) Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Does this sound like the words of a little man? Would a coward in fear of his life for even KNOWING Jesus Christ stand up and say this? He even points out the people that had Christ KILLED. In full view of everyone in the temple. That's a dude with brass.

Later Peter is called to witness to the Gentiles. For a Jew this is huge. Jews and Gentiles did not get along. By the nature of their society the Jews were xenophobic. Business dealing with Gentiles was not deemed a reputable practice. They viewed the Roman occupation with great disdain and Roman citizens (who were of course Gentiles) were culturally treated with contempt. Many in the early church thought that Christ's message was only for the Jews and that Gentiles had to ritualistically convert to Judaism. All Christ wanted was for the word to be spread. The Gentiles wouldn't receive salvation thru adhering to the Laws of Moses first. They would receive salvation thru Grace.

Peter says the the Council at Jerusalem:

Acts 11:16-17 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit. (17) If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?

Once again the fire of power in Peter makes him of use to God. So... I ask you, are you spirit filled? Are you full of the power and fire of the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be? Without the power of the Holy Spirit this is what you will never have:

1 Corinthians 12:9-13 to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; (10) and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: (11) but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will. (12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. (13) For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

So what fuels your fire? Where is the fire inside you? Is it fueled by longing for Christ? Or is it fueled by wanting every little selfish piece of consumer garbage that you can hoarde away. Are you compelled to do work for the Kingdom and produce Fruit? Or would you rather look cool?

You don't need the Baptism to attain Heaven. But if you want to GROW-UP and be a MAN, or A WOMAN for God. If you really want to see things get down in this day and age when all around us society is collapsing in on itself in a fit of decadence and depravity, then GET IN THE ALTER. Right now, all around us a war is being waged. A war for the souls of mankind. And if you want to be a soldier in that war you are gonna need a great big gun. With great big bullets. The Holy Spirit IS that gun. And the gifts are its BULLETS. 

And this is by no means saying that the baptism comes ONLY thru speaking/praying in other tongues.  I could give a rip if you EVER pray/speak in tongues.  There are tons of other gifts out there and tongues is only one of those gifts (hint: Look up at the section from 1 Corinthians).  You can receive the baptism and never pray/speak in tongues.  Luther, Wesley, Spurgeon and Finney didn't pray/speak in tongues but I'll go to the mattresses with anyone that would say these men weren't filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit.*** 

Who do you want to be like? Peter before the Holy Spirit? He ran away like a little fool from a little girl. Or do you want to be Peter the Apostle? Going forth and baptizing those in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Being used for God. Signs and wonders don't just happen cause we sit around in church listening to the preacher and sending out good positive thoughts to the universe.

God doesn't care about your image and neither do I. What God cares about is what is in your heart. Are you going to be a man/woman of God? Or are you gonna be a jive suckah? Is your heart burning with a fire for His will? Or is it burning with a useless self serving desire for “ME. ME. ME.” ???

Matthew 16:24-27 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? (27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.

Or maybe you do burn for God, but you are feeling defeated all the time. You feel that you just can't seem to make it. Or maybe your fire desperately needs to be stoked. Come down and pray. Brothers and sisters in your moments of weakness seek God.  The baptism isn't a one and done thing.  The Holy Spirit renews and refills your soul and mind daily.  

If you are feeling tired, burned up, burned out and generally weary, come before the Father.  He shall pour out his Holy Spirit and refill you.  All you have to do is ask. 

-N

*** I pray in tongues.  I'm a Pentecostal, at some point I'd have to declare my theological leanings.  So sue me.   

Follow Hard

Psalms 63:1-11 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; I will seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, as in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (2) so I have seen You in the holy place, seeing Your power and Your glory. (3) Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. (4) So I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips, (6) when I remember You on my bed and think of You in the night watches. (7) Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. (8) My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me. (9) But those who seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the depths of the earth. (10) They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a serving for jackals. (11) But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.


Peter James and John. The three disciples we can immediately think about and say “They were with Christ a lot.” They were with Christ at the Mount of Olives. They were with Christ at the Transfiguration. They were the only disciples allowed inside the synagogue ruler's house when Christ resurrected his daughter. So why were they more special than the other nine? Did Jesus love them more? No. Did they love Jesus more than the other disciples? Hard to prove, but I can say this for a certainty, They followed Jesus more closely. They were the ones that followed hard after Jesus. And that is why they were chosen out amongst the Twelve.


Psalms 42:1-2  As the hart pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God. (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?


Peter James and John were like the deer, or hart, that longs for water. That is why they were selected out of the Twelve. They had great zeal. Sometimes this made them look like idiots. Such as the time Peter would pompously boast about how he would never betray Jesus. And then he ran in terror from a little girl (Luke 22:33; John 18:17). Or when James and John wanted to call down thunder and fire on a Samaritan village. Or when James and John and their mommy wanted to know who would sit at the right hand of Christ (Matthew 20:21; Mark 10:37).


However, when they were given wisdom and power by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost that zeal was put to good use. Peter eloquently spoke against the Pharisees and would be first out amongst the Gentiles spreading the good news. James would be one of the first martyrs for Christ by being beheaded. And for the Jews to behead James meant he really had to have done something that got their attention. James finally drank of Christ's cup. John, of course would be the last apostle standing and would have the Second Coming of Christ shown to him on the isle of Patmos. Finally, their zeal would pay off.


John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.


Like Peter, James and John we too ought to follow hard after Christ. Our seeking comes because God first sought us. (John 6:44). The seeking is a by product of God's intentions for our lives. He wants us badly and so first He came for us. What a wonderful Lord. What other religion has a deity that would do such a thing?


But why should we follow hard after God? What will it benefit us? Surely in the day and age of enlightenment and prosperity such antiquated notions are beyond the human sphere. We live in the Post-Atomic Age. Our science has done things the likes of which were only dreamt of during the first Great Enlightenment of the 19th Century. As Nietzsche said “God is dead, and we have killed him.” Why in the age of the iPod and Wii and Playstation 3 would we ever want a relationship with an invisible God? I can't touch Him. I can't manipulate His control interface so that He only plays the songs that I want to hear. So what's the point?


Philippians 3:8-10 But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ (9) and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith, (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;


Paul writes that there is nothing better than to know Jesus. That knowing Him is greater than anything of this world. He equates everything else as “dung.” You know, cow pooh. Its like the idea of choosing gold over dung. Which is valuable on the world market? Can you buy commodities of dung? Is dung a tradeable resource that one ought to invest in?


A life lived without the saving grace of God and without the knowledge of Christ Jesus is a life lived in a dung heap. Better for us to have never been born than to never turn to the arms of Christ. When you die your possessions do not die with you. You cannot take your iPod to the afterlife. There are no Wii games in Heaven, as awesome as that would be. The “excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord” is more valuable than silver or gold. If God paves Heaven in gold what value do you suppose he placed on it?


Its like asphalt. And asphalt isn't spendable on this plane of existence either.


-Nick


*emphasis added by the author

SALT 2009-2010

Here is my video Testimony about SALT Conference 2009-2010.  Video by Big Phil

Humility. Strength. Power.

Deuteronomy 31:23 “Adonai also commissioned Y’hoshua [Joshua] the son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and full of courage; for you are to bring the people of Isra’el into the land about which I swore to them; and I will be with you.”” (CJB)


Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)


God has a blessing, a purpose and a cause for your life. In God’s plans are the seeds of greatness. It may not be “Greatness” according to man’s estimate but it is Greatness by God’s knowing. Every place He would take you requires a step of boldness. God wants you to be bold. God wants you to be strong.’


However, God first wants you to be humble.


Proverbs 15:33 “The discipline of wisdom is fear of Adonai, so before being honored, a person must be humble.” (CJB)


Numbers 12:3 “Now Moses was a humble man…”


Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”


Psalms 37:11 “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”


Meekness means having a humble heart. A humble heart pleases the Lord. Boldness and strength are valued when going about God’s work: Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”


We also know that God grants us this power thru his Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes oh you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


He wants first a humble heart. God needs a humble heart. Then He will embolden this heart and give it strength to carry out His work. Your blessing will find its fulfillment, however, none of this is possible without humility. Humble yourself as Joshua, David and Moses did and He will make you strong and bold. Humility is the first step toward power.


1 Peter 5:5-7
(5) “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”


2 Chronicles 7:13-14
(13) “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, (14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”


But what is humbleness? What is humility?


“Humility, the place of entire dependence upon God, is from the very nature of things the first duty and the highest virtue of His creatures… [It] is simply the sense of entire nothingness that comes when we see how truly God is everything. When the creature realizes that this is a place or honor, and consents to be the vessel in which the life and glory of God are to work and manifest themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as creature and yielding to God His place.” - Andrew Murray, “Humility: the Journey Toward Holiness”


“If you are looking for an example of humility, look at the cross.” -Thomas Aquinas


Philippians 2:5-9
(5) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
(7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
(8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”


Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NASB)


Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”


I would therefore say our ultimate example of humility would be Jesus. He didn’t come as a King conquering with the sword. He came as a servant offering his life, his blood and his body. He was bruised, beaten and broken so that we might have eternal life.


John 18:36-37
(36) “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
(37) “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””


Matthew 25:31-46
(31) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
(34) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36) I need clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
(37) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? (38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
(40) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
(41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty an you gave me nothing to drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
(44) “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
(45) “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
(46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, and the righteous to eternal life.”


John 13:3-17
(3) “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; (4) so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. (5) After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
(6) He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” (7) Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
(8) “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.”
(9) “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
(10) Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” (11) For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. (12) When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. (13) ”You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. (14) Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (15) I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (16) I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than the one who sent him. (17) Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”


Christ showed us humility: as the true King, as a servant and as a sacrifice. When you stick your “Self” on the tree you give up yourself to God. Total surrender comes thru the cross. Let us continually rely on God for all our needs. Let us continually find our nothingness in His awesome completeness. We must be nothing so that God can be everything. We must pour out our selves so that God can pour in His Holy Spirit.


-Nick

A quick Prayer

I am getting weary.
“Waiting on the Lord,” has turned into “Waiting on the Dentist.”
Lord, I need a refreshing and a reminder.
I need a refreshing of your Spirit, but first I need a reminder of your Grace.
Above all I must repent.
I am a wicked and low-down sinner.
I am undeserving of your love and grace.
Yet, you give it anyway.
Thank you Father.
Teach me to hate what you hate.
Teach me to loathe sin.
Teach me to love what you love.
Teach me to love others.
Especially my Enemies.
Lord I love you.


Amen


-N

Taking a break for a bit while I focus on Mid-terms.  Thankfully, Spring Break is almost upon us.  Shall attempt a reading marathon during the break.  Projected books:

Jesus Rediscovered by Malcolm Muggeridge
Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis (finish off)
The God They Never Knew by George Otis Jr.

Seems a fairly easy goal don't you think?

-Nick

Greetings

Matt 28:8-9
"So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
"And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him"

I'm suddenly struck by this passages great beauty.  In Jesus' "Greetings!" lies a larger subtext. He isn't just saying "Hi" or "Hello."  It carries the weight of his love. Like a father greets his most beloved child. Here Christ's words jump with a great joy. I cannot wait to see Jesus and hear him issue me this same "Greetings!" I continually feel God's Love all around in this time of our physical separation. We have the promise of one day seeing him in his full glory and wonder so that we too will be full of fear and great joy, worshiping him as our Lord and King.

-N

Friends of Paralysis

Mark 2:1-12
Luke 5:17-26
Matt 9:2-8

Consider the paralyzed man's friends. They couldn't get inside to see Jesus because of the great multitudes. Instead of giving up they scaled the house and ripped open the roof to lower their friend to Jesus. We Christians are the friends and the world is the paralyzed man. Would we use every means necessary to bring our friends to Christ?  We can't save them but we can show them our Lord. Are we so bold to climb a house and dismantle a roof in order to present Christ?  Or are we cowards?

-N

Holiness

I Peter 1:13-2:25

What is holiness? Holiness is doing that which pleases God. If we really desire to do what God wants, and if we really desire the Kingdom of God then holiness ought to be important. Being holy means more than just not doing this or that:

"I don't smoke, I don't get drunk, I don't do drugs, I don't sleep with my boy/girlfriend."

Well, good for me. Do I get a cookie? I'm not supposed to smoke or get drunk, or do drugs, or fornicate. That's all well and good. I know lots of heathens that don't do that stuff. They aren't holy, not by God's reckoning anyhow. Holiness goes beyond what we aren't doing and into what we are doing. Why do I do the things I do and who do I do them for?

Holy from Greek word Haggios meaning

Set apart to God

who's we are

Set apart for God

To use us as He wishes

Who are we? Who is using us? And what is He using us for?

We are holy when we acquiesce to God's will, when we realize that we are His children, and when we obey His commands. We don't have to DO any special task or great quest to be Holy. The second we become His child we are holy. We are made holy by Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection. By trusting in this salvation we are holy. By obeying His commands and allowing ourselves to be used by God we are Holy.

First we become holy when we become God's children. Then, God says “Come, Follow me.” Finally we trust Him as we follow. As we follow Christ we will so fill ourselves with God, and His will that we will reflect God to all mankind

-N

A Previous Lament about the "Self"

Sometimes I'm so sick of my “Self” I could scream. Why do I carry around my old sins like badges of honor? Who cares that I once was an alcoholic? Or that I slept around before I received salvation? I haven't been those things in so long its like talking about a different person. And yet here I lie, carrying around my old sinful baggage. When I was washed clean by the blood of the Lamb all my sins went away. I'm a new creation, I'm a brand new man. All sins are washed away I'm born again. So, then by that logic I should have ceased to be a drunkard and a whore. And yet...

In some small way I feel as though I am calling God a liar and not trusting in His gifts. In a way I am hedging my bets against the afterlife that I intellectually believe, but sometimes cannot emotional comprehend. Why should God care about an insignificant speck such as myself? What's so great about me that Jesus came and died for all my sins forever and ever and ever and ever...? There I go again, tripping up on the same old trap. Self. Its like an odd place in the concrete that catches my foot and causes me to stumble. I hit it each time with my lead-off foot and take a header into the cement. Maybe I bruise up my knee or skin up my hands, it all depends on how hard and fast I was stepping. Self. That self important voice in the back of my head clamoring for a moment to make its case. Its constant call for an audience is a cacophony that is sometimes hard to ignore. I am never filled with self loathing as I am when I give into my “Self.” 

“Daily you must crucify...” Crucifixion is long, and crucifixion is painful. I must daily stake my “self' onto that tree and curse it dead. I must make a conscience effort to join that which I know to be true in my head with that which I know to be true in my heart. I must never take my eyes off the Cross or risk wandering lost in the wilderness.

When Christ came to die for us he came as the infinite God made flesh. He felt every pain we ever felt, was tempted by every sin we could possibly endure and died in the worst way imagined by man. He lived as us so that he could die for us. In the moment when he died all sins from the beginning of time to the end of time were held under that divine and beautiful sacrifice. No more would man have to go through long and specific tasks to achieve holiness. Now man could achieve holiness through a simple act of contrite obedience. And when he died on that cross and I believed and loved and trusted him for it I ceased to be a drunkard and a whore. This is a lovely and beautiful gift. 

The moment you trust in this gift and love him for it is the moment you are to give up your old “Self” and begin staking that loud obnoxious waste on the tree. You are no longer a Drunk, an Addict, a Liar, a Cheat, a Murderer, a Whore, a Thief. You are washed clean. Throw your old self to the executioner.

You ever wonder why we don't see Old Testament signs and wonders any more? Back in the Old Testament God spoke audibly and with regularity to His people. He also intervened in a very clear and powerful way. When God brought Israel into Canaan all they had to do was cross the Jordan and TAKE THE LAND OF BLESSING. Blessings aren't just going to happen because we want one. Blessings aren't going to happen because we recite some stupid mantra or a special prayer or a collage. Israel didn't receive the blessing of the promised land by sitting in Moab counting sheep. Joshua and Caleb lead them into war and they laid claim to their blessing. God wants to Bless you. Its true. Just don't expect it whilst you sit on your butt. Every battle that Israel won wasn't because of some military accident, or invention, or force of arms. It was because the Power and Majesty of Adonai Elohim (The Eternal Creator) was as real and plain as the hand in front of their face. It was because Adonai El-Shaddai (The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People) was their God and Master.

And He Still is. He is “I Am.” “I am that I am.” He is not dead, he is not made of stone or wood. He is not some fat fool garishly adorning the Chinese restaurants of America. He is not a bearded despot calling out for the genocide of nations in his heathen name. He is not a polyphonic deception of gods demanding impossible laws and self mutilating sacrifice. He is not the fictitious ramblings of a New York con artist. He is not the misrepresentation from centuries of an Italian theocratic dictatorship.

When Jesus left us he said “Greater works than all these we would do in his name.” The Holy Spirit that descended on the upper room wasn't just a gift for those times. If you believe that I have one outcry for you “WAKE UP AND SEE THE LOST!!! PEOPLE ARE IN PERIL OF EMMINENT DEATH!!!” Powers and principalities are waging a war for our souls right this very minute. The war between Heaven and Hell is very real. Demons and Angels do exist and they fight for you. Demons and evil spirits are being sent to oppress you and make you blind to the truth. They are empowering our SELF so that we will remain blind. Is it nothing to us hat this very instance people are dying who have NEVER HEARD of Christ Jesus? We have the power in our very grasp to undo the eons long bondage on this Earth.

“Since only the white light of Calvary's power can dissipate the black whoring of Hell, the only people who can change bleak circumstances and reverse the tide of encroaching evil wherever it rises are those who pray in Jesus' Name.” Jack Hayford

Why haven't we seen an outpouring of Biblical proportions yet in America? In Texas? In Sweeny? In this very building? 

We keep tripping up over our “Selves” and forgetting the promise and the purpose. IF we would crucify our “Self” and silence the voice of selfishness. IF we would instead listen for the voice of God. IF we would take the time “PEACE. BE STILL!” and wait in the presence of God. IF we would make His will our priority. IF we would stop despising ourselves because of our past. IF we would remember Who it is we serve and Why it is we serve Him. IF we really knew what 'serving Him' really meant.

Sometimes I am so sick of my “Self” I could puke. The Drunk and the Whore is long dead. The promise and blessing of God is just beginning. I am blind to reality because I am so self obsessed I can't go to the fountain and drink deep the water that gives life. I am so busy trying to make up for what I could have done whilst I was busy satisfying my libido that I am unconscious to what I can do right this bloody minute. I haven't fully staked my “Self” on that cross if I am still carrying around my old sin baggage. God forgave me long ago. Stake “Self” on the cross. Cross the Jordan. Go into the blessing. 

-N