FusionLife

This weekend I heard a great message from Mark 5 where Jesus heals the man with a legion of demons in him and cast the demons into a herd of swine and 2000 pigs plunge of a cliff into the lake and they drowned and I was so enthralled by the thought that I’m about to share here that while the message was great I spent more time focusing on this idea and seemed to have forgotten the purpose behind the whole message.

I get engulfed by the idea of counting the cost from time to time, especially when it comes to discipleship (or being a biblical follower of Jesus) and reaching the lost. Thinking about the account in Mark 5 brought it back into the front of my mind on Sunday. I think when we look at Mark 5 and see Jesus cast this group of demons into the pigs we merely glance at it and think the Jews weren’t allowed eat pork nor did they have a high very of swine so not much loss to have the herd drowned in the water. But someone owned the pigs and had to pay for them and probably would have sent them off to market, so for the farmer there was great cost in losing the pigs. I look online to see if I could find what a pig would have cost in the first century and couldn’t find anything so I’ll take some numbers I know and you wrap your mind around those. A kid in my last youth ministry would raise one pig for the county fair each year and this last year we went to fair to see it the night it was judged (pretty interesting actually) and then two nights later there was an auction for the animals at the fair and my friend’s pig went for over $1000. Now if you take the $1000 dollar figure and multiply it times the 2000 pigs you are talking about $2,000,000 dollars.

Jesus place a high value on the soul of the man with thousands of demons in him (to the tune of $2,000,000 dollars today). This man was now free from the bondage of demon possession and went on to further the Kingdom by telling anyone who would listen in the Decapolis on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.

How many times have we not counted the cost of reaching the lost and what they will do for the Kingdom? The price is way higher than we think or can even imagine?

What do you think?

To many times we’ve made Christianity about us the Christian and how the Bible applies to us and changes us (which it does) but in making that the focus of our journey we miss the true reason the bible applies to us and changes us: for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God because of what Jesus did on the cross. A while back I was listening to a Mark Driscoll sermon and he was talking about placing Jesus where He belongs and that is the exalted position at the right hand of God and every sermon, message, lesson, bible study, small group, etc. should always exalt Jesus in the end.

This last weekend it was kind of weird to hear this statement two different times (Tim Keller podcast and the message at church on Sunday) but I’m glad I did as it reminded me that it all points back to Jesus and so should we in everything we do.

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us.

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us.

He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible is a book about Jesus not me.

Last night I finished reading Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. After reading “In A Pit With A Lion” a couple of years back, and felt like a lot of others, that the book was speaking directly to me, I can say Wild Goose Chase is again one of those books that speaks directly to you as the Holy Spirit works through Mark’s words.

Wild Goose (An Geadh-Glas) the Celtic name for the Holy Spirit is a name that is full of both “imagery and implications”, as Mark says. If you have ever chased anything wild before or watched someone chase a wild animal you know it is not an easy task. As a young boy my Grandpa would take me to the auction in his town and as a part of the night they would have greased pig chases for the kids. I remember chasing and grabbing the pig just to have it squeeze through my fingers. I’ve never chased a goose before but I can imagine it’s not something you easily conquer. I’ve been chasing “The Wild Goose” for almost half my life now and to look back on the adventures He has lead me on could never have been planned with the human mind.

In Wild Goose Chase, Mark talks about the adventures God wants to send us on to further His Kingdom, but we let things get in the way of those adventures and cage to where we are. Mark works through six cages (responsibility, routine, assumptions, guilt, failure and fear) that keep us from God “writing His-story through your life” (and mine). Working with and along side of people everyday I’ve seen in my life and theirs these cages holding us back from allowing God to use us and change us. Unfortunately the church for the most part has tried to tame the Wild Goose and in doing taming us. In the book Mark shares Biblical accounts of the adventures that God sent His people on and stores of people both past and present who have like the Bible characters did not allow these cages to hold them back from God working through them. I really like how good of a job Mark does of weaving the points he is trying to get across and the stories that make the point jump out at you and resonate deep down in your soul. This is definitely a book everyone will receive encouragement from but if you have feel like you are trapped in one of these cages and seen your interaction with God wane this is a book for you as it was for me.

Here are some great quotes from the book:

We have a primal longing to be uncaged. And the cage opens when we recognize that Jesus didn’t die on the cross to keep us safe. Jesus died to make us dangerous.

Quoting C.T. Studd, “Some people want to live within the sounds of the church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” The church needs more Studds! And you can quote me on that.

Check out www.chasethegoose.com for a sample chapter, a download of Mark’s 10 Steps to Setting Life Goals or to buy the book in bulk. Wild Goose Chase is available in stores or at these places online starting today.

www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.borders.com
www.cbd.com
www.familychristian.com
www.parable.com

Also Mike Kupferer won the contest for the free copy of Wild Goose Chase, thanks to the people Multnomah for second copy to give a way and the opportunity to review the book.

Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson comes out August 19th and right here on FusionLife.org you can win a copy before you can find it in the store. I got a gracious opportunity from Random House Publishing to do a blog review of the book and they also gave me an extra copy to share with one lucky winner.

Summary:
Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” –from the introduction.

Check of the Wild Goose Chase website or if you don’t win you can pre order the book at
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.borders.com
www.cbd.com
www.familychristian.com
www.parable.com

How to win:
Leave a comment here on this post about a time God sent you on a wild goose chase or adventure. God has sent me on my share of wild adventures and I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world and I’m sure I’m not alone. So come and share your store.

Contest Rules:
* Entries must be posted no later than 12:00am (midnight) August 13.
* The winning entry will be announced here at FusionLife.org on August 14.
* One winner will be chosen by a sole expert judge who can not be bribed (my wife!)
* The book will be shipped via USPS Priority mail to U.S. or military mailing addresses only.

Mark Driscoll is one of my favorite young Christian leaders. While I’m not Reformed in my theology, I think he has a lot to offer Christian leaders, especially us young ones. While on a trip to the sunshine state (Florida) Mark sat down with J.I. Packer and asked him about theological issues young Christian leaders need to be focused on.

Here are Mark’s notes from his blog and my comments are in italics:

1. Regeneration — He said that the doctrine of regeneration has not been fully appreciated by many who do not understand that to be born again with a new heart and new nature means that we have at our deepest level a new identity and new passionate desires for God’s Word and ways. He commended to all young Christian leaders a thorough study on the doctrine of regeneration.
   
   I agree with this. To many times Christians are left to think that showing up or even going a step further and putting some cash in the coffer equals biblical Christianity. I’ve had my chops busted by well intentioned church people when I’ve talked about the negative sides of American Christianity, but I’ll take the heat when it comes to calling those who claim and call themselves Christ-followers to living as the Bible calls us to live. Regeneration is simply allowing the Holy Spirit to begin a work inside us that make us more like Christ (ie., Fruits of the Spirit, Clothed with Christ, good trees bare good fruit). Regeneration occurs when we focus on God through hearing and reading His word, praying, and other Spiritual Disciplines. We (young Christian leaders) no matter our position in the church need to do more living by example and showing what a changed life looks like and how to allow the Holy Spirit to begin this work and teach more on the call for those who follow Jesus to pick up their cross daily and actual follow what He teaches.
   
   

2. God-Centered Theology — He said that theology today is rife with man-centered thinking so that the glory of God in all things is not the essence of what is taught to be faithfully Christian. The result, he explained, is that even Christians often live their lives for the supreme purpose of their perceived happiness, feelings, and satisfaction. Yet, biblical Christianity differs from the other religions of the world in that the desires and purposes of God override ours; we are not the number one priority, but rather God is.
   
   I’ve allowed myself to fall into the trap of living for myself and forgetting that we live for and solely to glorify God. Again we young leaders need to be living by example a life that glorify God and works to bring the about the Kingdom of God taught by Jesus. Teaching through scripture in stead of purely topical when bring about a more God-Centered Theology to your congregation as you teach the whole Bible.
   
   

3. Godliness Begins at Home — This point was both surprising and refreshing. I was expecting only weighty and complicated theological admonition from such a theological giant. However, his wise counsel on this point is well needed. Packer said that most Christians do not take seriously the biblical teaching that true Christian living begins first at home with one’s spouse, children, and grandchildren. Therefore, he implored young Christian leaders to begin their quest for maturity and holiness at home in relationship with their family.
   
   I strongly agree with this. A lot of factors can get in the way of leading your family like personal pride, misplaced priorities, lack of understand from those who oversee you, etc. No matter the factors you are faced with you must realize your calling is to your family first then your ministry (1 Timothy 3:4). If to make it work put your family on your calendar and schedule family time. Take care of wife and your children and your work as a leader will be easier as you lead by example those the Lord has placed under your teaching and oversight.
   
   

4. Trinity — Packer stated that the fullness of the doctrine of the Trinity is not completely appreciated as it should be. The result, he said, is that some Christians have only a deep understanding of Jesus or the Holy Spirit so that they are guilty of what he called “Jesus-olatry” or “Holy Spirit-olatry” rather than a full love and worshipful appreciation of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.
   
   I think God revealed Himself to us in three different ways and should be studied and understood best we can from scripture. As young leaders we should add to our knowledge base so we can pull out ways the Trinity works or reveals to us in different ways as we’ve seen in scripture.
   
   

What about you, what are some theological issues you think young Christian leaders should be focusing on?

I heard about this new site that takes the words off your blog and makes a mash up of the words you use the most. Maybe a helpful tool to see what you’re really spending all your time blogging about. Check it out Wordle.

Here’s mine.

HT Chris

This morning at the church we’re attending I heard a message that really hit home with me. I’ve been accused of being ahead of my time and to forward thinking. So to hear some encouragement about seeing beyond the here and now. The message was based on Numbers 13 & 14 and the 12 Spies trip into Canaan and their and the people’s reaction to what lie ahead of them.

The introduction to the message was “Vision is the ability to see God’s presence, to perceive God’s power and to focus on God’s plan in spite of obstacles.” He went on from here to say that “Christians with vision are endangered species”. I completely have to agree with him to many times I see Christians and especially church leaders cannot see more than the next Sunday in front of them let alone 2 years, 5 years and 10 years ahead them.

In order to be a person with vision you must posses three things:
-Awareness, the ability to see
-Attitude, the faith to believe
-Action, the courage to do

Only a minority will see things as God does, and that vision almost always goes against the flow.
-The majority see the problem, people with vision see potential (Numbers 13:1, 17-20, 27-20)
This is what separates the people God calls to be leaders of His church and that people in our faith communities need to follow those leaders and trust they follow God.
- The majority exaggerates difficulties, people with vision magnify God (Numbers 13:31-33)
We in the church doubt I’ve always wondered where the verse “to Him who can do immeasurably more” or “nothing is impossible with God”. Why even show up on Sunday if you don’t trust God to do great things around you?
-The majority listen to critics, people with vision listen to God’s word (Numbers 14:1)
Why do we listen to critics? Why do we allow people to gossip and spread negativity around the people?
-The majority glorify the past, people with vision point to the future. (Numbers 14:2-4)
Their is a lot of good that comes from our past, and those in the past have word extremely hard to get us where we are but we forget they did what they did to help us grow in our faith and we have a commitment to do the same for future generations.
-The majority is fear based, people with vision are faith based. (Numbers 14:5-9)
It saddens me to see all the fear good church people allow to get in the way of following God where He is leading. It irritates me to see people in the church use fear as a tactic to stop the forward movement of their local church let alone the whole kingdom.
-The majority see obstacles, people with vision see God (Numbers 14:10-11)
God is visible we just have to know where to look (Matthew 25:31-40) and getting on board with the things God is already blessing or blazing trails scriptures calls to blaze is seeing God and just following.

The Difference Vision Will Make-
-With problems in my life
-Power in the church
-People in my path
-Potential in my path

Lack of vision is plaguing the American church as we’ve become more like the Israelites that wanted to go back to Egypt in stead of forging ahead to the next great adventure God is calling us to. A story that was used as an illustration this morning really fits the current state of a lot church’s and church leaders. “About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway? Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.”

Italics above are my opinions and thoughts based on the point being made

Bob Hyatt linked to this article about Mark Driscoll on Wittenburgdoor.com and I want to share so thoughts from it.

I have to admit that I really respect Mark, though I don’t agree with him theologically. Mark’s leadership and desire to teach both the people in his gatherings and leaders the masculine side of Christianity that gets dismissed by almost all of America Christianity is inspiring and the kind of leader I want to follow. A while back I listened to one of the Acts 29 Bootcamp podcasts about men in leadership and that’s where my respect for Mark began. He his total on target for calling men to stand up and be the leaders God called us to be. In the Wittenburg Door article he doesn’t really delineate from that and this great moment in church conference history Mark invites five guys from the audience up, puts his hands behind his back and tells them to take a punch at him in the chin. No one takes him up even though he promises not to hit them back and after they leave the stage he precedes to hit himself five times and the goes on with his talk. This is great stuff, when has a leader ever been so brave as to do something like this.

Here is a list of articles from Mark Dricoll’s - The Resurgence website
Where Have All the Fathers Gone? Pastoral Strategies to Bring Men Back to God’s Household
Profiling Christian Masculinity
The Banned Church Planting Video
The Whole Section on Men Issues

So, what do you think of the article and Mark Driscoll?

Today as we left the church my daughter is going to VBS this summer one of the volunteers told us that there was a t-shirt and CD of the worship music (legal of course) for her in another building and on the way home we popped in the CD and she started to sing along to these new songs.

Then it happened… I had an idea! Maybe you have had the same problem I have had in the past and that is finding good Children’s Church Worship Material on CD and/ or DVD. For the most part there isn’t a lot of quality CM worship stuff that I’ve found but VBS is a big seller of Christian publishing houses and so tons of resources are put into the programs, including the music. What if every summer you bought the music form the VBS (if you are still doing one) your church is doing and then went online and looked for other good VBS programs and bought the music CD and DVD (many of the programs have DVD with the music and words already put together in a video). If you got 2 or 3 CD’s think of how many new quality songs you would have and if you are technically handy could rip the DVD’s individual songs off and make your own play lists.

If you do this already or have a way to tweak this leave a comment and continue on the conversation.

How many times do we blow through time with a friend, spouse, or your children? I’ve begun to realize that I’ve blown through these times without internalizing what is being said or happening. As I sit and listen to preaching ministers, comics and story tellers they use a lot life experiences (both good and bad) to connect with the audience and connect the point of their message.

How about you do you take time to internalize what’s going on around you or just blow through life like it doesn’t matter? Take sometime after reading this post and leave a short comment of some story that happened in your life.

I’ll go first.

I’ve been rereading “They Smell Like Sheep” by Lynn Anderson and one of the chapters is about mentoring. The author talks about how one of the ways mentoring happens is through being the example. As I finished up the chapter and walked out into the living room my daughter was coming out of the bath in her towel and took it of and started to run through the house. Then my son came out in his towel dropped it and started to follow her running around. We all long for some example to follow. The best way we can mentor and build up Christians and leaders is by taking them with us, inviting them over for dinner, or to just watch the game. Let them experience life with you and without even noticing it mentoring and life change with occur.