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.