Back to Business…

Published by
chris
at July 24, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Let’s get down to business.  It has been awhile since I have written, but believe me, we have been working.  The Rock just finished its yearly Honor Our Heroes, and wow, what a day!  Along with that though, church continues.  New ideas, new songs, new people, and most of all, new toys!!!

Today we used a new toy in worship.  It is called a sequencer. Basically it is keyboard(synthesizer) that can record and play back parts that I play.  One problem, we have to play our parts in perfect sync with the keyboard. Does that sound easy? Let me tell you, IT ISN’T!! Man, if we slow down, even in the slightest, it is like a train wreck. So, tonight was our train wreck.  We had our first rehearsal with the sequencer, and it took all of 12 measures before we were lost.  I mean, train wreck. we laughed, but Theresa, our drummer, got mad. Oh yeah, she recognized the challenge, and she wanted to win!  You see, it really is her that has to follow.  She follows the keyboard, we follow her.  I bought her some cool earbuds so that she could REALY hear the parts being played. But still, we were off.

Why am I telling you all this? It reminds me of God, and our relationship with Him. So much noise, so much clutter. We are out of sync, a lot. How do we stay in sync? We simplify. We quiet down. We get rid of clutter. We get good with God. In Isaiah, God says that the work of righteousness will be peace. God wishes for us to have peaceful lives, and quiet resting places. (Is.32:17-18).  If we want to hear the “part” that God is playing on the keyboard, we have to be quiet. Clear your schedule, forget about baseball. How can you hear God when you are listening to something else. Let’s all quiet down, and worship!!

Chris 

Happy Father’s Day y’all!! Sunday June 15, 2007

Published by
chris
at June 24, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

click for sermon

      Jesus’ dad was God.  My dad is Bob.  Jesus’ dad was the Father of Creation. My dad drives a pickup. Jesus’ dad parted the Sea. My dad built a porch. What has your dad done? Wow. The stories that Jesus must have told when he was hanging around the schoolyard with his buddies. One kid’s dad is a lawyer. One owns a restaurant. One kid’s dad plays proball. Jesus’ dad created every flying beast. “My dad knows Kobe Bryant!” My dad drives a Porshe!” My dad created the seasons!” ” My dad can cause it to rain!” No matter who we are, or what we do, we cannot compare. Anything we’ve accomplished, He opened all the doors. Jesus’ dad is so cool!! Boy, I wish my dad was like that. Wait a minute. God is the Father, isn’t He? Isn’t He my Father also? Sure, I have a dad on this Earth, and he is a great person. He is a hard worker, and lives a good life. But my Dad, my eternal dad, He drives a nice vehicle. Metaphor. He can build a house. HE is an allstar ball player. His golf game is impeccable. In fact, Tiger couldn’t be God’s caddy. God can will a hole in one. He thinks it, and it is done.

 God is Dad, let’s all brag!!!

Hey, It’s All or Nothing!!

Published by
chris
at May 27, 2008 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment

      Do you struggle? Does it seem like when you take a step forward, you fall two steps behind? Have you ever received a bonus check, then blew a tire? How about when you get ahead, and your washer dies? Ever wake up in the morning, and you have run out of coffee? HELP!!! When we keep a foot in the door, when our eyes are glancing back, when we hold on to the world, even in the slightest, we are in jeopardy of waking up with no coffee in the jar. Jesus is not a part time gig. We cannot punch out. we cannot say, I will wait until tomorrow. We say it, yes, but we can’t. Let’s look at scripture. Who was it that said, and I quote, “ No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”? I think it was Elvis! No, Gandhi! Donald Trump? The world? No, Jesus said it(Luke 9:62). I heard a story about a family that was warned that their city was going to be destroyed, and they were given the opportunity to escape in the night. But, they were also warned that all their friends would be destroyed, and they cannot look back with regret. Well, the wife looked back, and she was instantly turned into a pillar of salt. Ouch. Was this from Titanic? Star Wars? Fried Green Tomatoes? NO!! It is the story of Abraham and his saving Lot and his family from Sodom(Genesis 19). The Bible is very clear. When we say yes to God, it is all or nothing!!! Paul writes to the Romans(ch.12:2),”Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Two things, DO NOT be of this world, and show the PERFECT will of God. We are not to show a sort of good will of God. I am a good this or that, but I swear a lot, or I mistreat my spouse, or I believe something outside His word. Oh sure, the Bible says this, but I believe that…..Really? Imagine Jesus saying, “I know I said all will be saved through me, but sometimes, I change my mind.” Or, ” I know that I said I am that I Am, but, not really. It is better to believe that I am just one of many.” ARGH!! What He says, is. He is Lord of all, the living, the dead, the created, the yet to be created. He created. He destroys. Alpha, Omega. The chocolate, the milk. You cannot have chocolate milk without both. He is both. The idea, the plan.  Whether the world wants this or not, it is all or nothing…

Do you want to truly worship? OK, look at all the pieces of your life. Look in the kitchen, the living room, the closets. Grab your broom and sweep out the cobwebs. Open the shades, and let the light in. Put away the toys. Be honest with God. There is no leeway. Sure, there is grace, and we can trip, or skip a step, slip on a banana. But there is a big difference between slipping, and blatantly going against the grain. Real worship is reading the Word, and doing it. So, let’s worship today!!!

Chris

May 18, 2007 It’s Not What You Have, It’s What You Do With It….

Published by
chris
at May 21, 2008 in May. 2 Comments

Hey kids, it has been a while since I have written, so I have a lot to say. Man, I could go on forever. I could tell you everything that has happened the last month or so. I could go on and on about how my truck is running bad, my family is going through financial challenges, we cannot afford oil, the roof is leaking, the ceiling in our bedroom is ruined, our debt is growing, my job is less than exciting, I am under-achieving, yada yada yada….Oh, and did I tell you about my neighbors. They have brand new cars, they just got a new furnace, this, and that, and yeah, the other. Man, their grass is green!!! Then, I am reminded about a story in The Bible. Two men go into the temple to pray. The first guy says, “God, thank you,  I got it all! I am Holy, I tithe, I serve, I am soo good!!” The second dude just bows his head in shame, and says, “Forgive me Lord, I am a sinner.” Most people would say this is an exhortation on exalting ones self. True, that isn’t good. God doesn’t need to hear how good we are. He knows. I see something different. Here it is. The pious man, he has been there. He has been educated. He knows the words. He knows the routine. The sinner, he doesn’t have what it takes to sound pious. When we pray, we need to say what we need to say. It’s not what you got, it’s what you do with it. Are you educated? Do you know how to romance the vibe? Can you lead prayer like Martin Luther? Are you an artist in prayer? God doesn’t want it. Here is what he wants: ”Lord, forgive me.” Or, “Thank you God.” Maybe just talk. It’s not the talk, it is the walk. Again, it’s not the talk, it is the walk. The sinner had nothing but honesty. It was enough for Heaven….

Let’s worship with honesty this week. If we are psyched, worship loud. If we are ashamed, come to the alter, repent. Be humble. Live the day. Walk the walk….Let’s worship together.

Chris

Sunday April 20, 2008 Sharing My Faith

Published by
chris
at April 22, 2008 in April. 1 Comment

Click for Sermon      

    Today Pastor Eric spoke about getting into a habit of sharing our faith, to our friends, at the workplace, wherever we go, whatever we do. Yes, what a witness we can be. I work at a synagogue. I am around jewish people all the time. For those of you who do not know, Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Oh, they certainly believe in the coming of a Messiah, but not Jesus. Obsticle. Must be careful. Don’t want to offend the hundreds of jews that I associate with. so, I just don’t talk about my faith. Wrongo! Quite the opposite. I talk about it all the time. I love to talk about it. I tell people that I am a worship teamer, that I work at my church, that I am called to serve Jesus. But, most of all, I love to ask them questions. I ask why, why not, when, how, etc… I love the traditions, the language, the families. I worked at their Passover Seder, and served coffee. I embraced their tradition. They invited me in. It was really quite touching.  Jesus celebrated the Seder. Jesus read from the Torah. Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech ha’olam, Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe. I can just hear Jesus reciting these words. Neato. I hear these words every Saturday as I work the Sabbath. yet, there is always occasion to talk about Jesus. Do I push my beliefs? NO. Do I hide my beliefs? NO!! First, I show my faith through love and service. Second, I have an answer ready to go. I read the Word so that I may be able to give a defence for my faith. Third, I genuoinly show concern for those around me. Let’s BE. Let’s live. Let’s BE alive, in the Lord, and show our faith..then let’s sing, together!!!

Chris