(RePost)

1. Get baptized by the craziest guy in town.
2. Say and do things that are guaranteed to make religious people want to kill you. Repeat again, and again, and again, and again, and again - don't stop unless forced.
3. Do amazing things for people and ask them to not tell anyone.
4. Hang out with the most despised, marginalized, looked down upon, and shunned people you can find.
5. When possible, forgive and restore people, even if they betrayed you.
6. Live in a way that provokes gossip.
7. Win the most grace competition.
8. Keep the party going.
9. Serve people (note: nose plugs may be required).
10. If you're sad cry.
11. Empower people to do the extraordinary.
12. Act like a rock star in a hotel temple.
13. Radically simplify theology.
14. Break human-made religious laws. Repeat consistently.
15. Prioritize the most important over the important.
16. Let women with "questionable" backgrounds pay your bills.

Is Jesus peripheral to your life or does He permeate your life? I am using these words advisedly, because I want to be precise in what I think is an important truth.

What is your goal in life? Think about it for a bit. Is your goal to get a good job, finish school, or simply have fun? Or do you seek to do God’s will in every aspect of your life? Do you only go to Church once or twice a year? What about your prayer life? Do you pray for others or yourself? Is Christ relevant in your life? In other words, does the fact that you have a relationship with Christ affect your life in any way? Think about what you spend your time on each day. How much time do you spend on a hobby, on sports, on TV, on video games, or on Facebook? Now compare that with the amount of time that you spend with God. Does it turn out that the amount of time you spend with God is relatively minor compared to other things in your life?

Dictonary.com defines peripheral as “concerned with relatively minor, irrelevant, or superficial aspects of the subject in question.”

If someone was to look at your life, would they say that Jesus is a relatively minor aspect of your life? Would they say that Jesus is irrelevant to your conduct and decisions?

Have you ever seen a diehard NASCAR fan? They will have stickers all over their cars like a NASCAR; they will watch all the races; they will have a Dale Earhart flag on their house, and they wear a Jeff Gordon jacket. What about a Raiders fan? They will paint their face, go to all the home games, and watch all the away games. They will buy silver and black cars and plaster a Raiders logo on the back windshield. How about a true Star Wars or Star Trek fan? They will dress up as that character, wait all night in line to see the next movie, buy all the collectable toys and trinkets, and maybe even speak Klingon.

You know the people I am talking about. Their fandom pervades and saturates every aspect of their lives. If there was a toilet seat cover with their favorite thing on it, they would buy it.

Dictonary.com defines permeate as “through every part of… to penetrate through… pervade; saturate.”

Is Jesus in every part of your life, or is Jesus more of just a Sunday thing?

Sidebar
One objection to my post might be that you do volunteer time or give money here or there. Those are for sure good things to do. However, ask yourself this, “Do I do these things for myself or to earn salvation or to get a pat on the back?” Or do you do them to bring glory to God?

I will admit that I don’t always volunteer to bring glory to God; often I want credit or praise for my deeds. I realize that I do that from time to time, and I also realize that I am wrong when I seek my own praise.

John Smulo, a friend of mine, gave me a copy of a recently released book titled, “The Cross Is Not Enough: Living as Witnesses to the Resurrection” written by his friends Ross Clifford and Philip Johnson. I have to admit that the title caught my attention, and I started reading it that day. I am not finished with the book yet, but it is so jam-packed with information that I had to write down some of my thoughts before I forgot them.

Premise of the book

The book starts with the following quote:

“If the Church had contemplated the Empty Tomb as much as the Cross of its Lord, its life would have been more exhilarating and its contribution to the world more positive than has been the case.” – George Beasley-Murray

My critical-thinking mind quickly asked the question “Is this true and if so, what are the implications?”

Here are a few quick quotes to sum up their thesis:

“This book will argue, however, that the church needs to step away from the smaller pieces of the puzzle and take time to recognize and focus upon Christianity’s lynchpin.”[20]

“We intend to demonstrate in this book how the micro-pictures – morality, repentance, discipleship, apologetics, mission – although valid, only have full meaning when they have the resurrection as their fountainhead.”[21]

“We are not calling just for a refocus on the resurrection; we are calling for an understanding of the resurrection as the lynchpin of Christianity.”[35]

After reading the first chapter, I quickly realized my bias toward their view. My walk with God took a dramatic change in 1992 when I, too, realized that Christianity is more than the forgiveness of the Cross. I realized that He came to give us a new life; just as He was raised, we too shall be raised. However, it is more than a future hope. He also comes to fill our lives now. Some call this the neglected half of the Gospel. I think this book would pair nicely with books by Ian Thomas, Bob George and Steve McVey.

Symbols and focus

One of the interesting points they bring up is how to tell if people focus more on the cross or the resurrection by the symbols used in church, music and other things. I then wondered, if the resurrection was central to my faith, wouldn’t I lean more toward music and symbols that reflect the resurrection? A quick impromptu experiment might shed some light on this. If the resurrection was central to my belief, the songs I listen to should focus more on the resurrection.

I listen to my music on my iPod, I rate my favorite music, and iTunes counts the number of times I listen to a song. So, I opened up iTunes to see what my most-listened-to favorite songs were. Based on the authors’ premise, I found some interesting and predictable results. According to my non-scientific, impromptu experiment, my music listening habits are in line with a resurrection central mindset.

My number-one-listened-to song was Blessed Redeemer by Casting Crowns. With lyrics like “Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree” it definitely seems like the focus is on the cross. However, looking at my other top listened-to songs with lyrics like:

“Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed, the victory is won He is risen from the dead, and I will rise when, He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain, I will rise on eagles' wings, before my God fall on my knees, and rise I will rise.” - I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

“You called and you shouted, broke through my deafness, now I’m breathing in, and breathing out, I’m alive again!” - Alive Again by Matt Meher

“He rose & conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave” “We're singing for the glory of the risen King” - Mighty to Save

And the most obvious song:

“Christ is risen from the dead, trampling over death by death, come awake come awake, come and rise up from the grave, Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with Him again, come awake come awake, come and rise up from the grave” - Christ Is Risen by Matt Maher

Apologetics

The book does cover the resurrection from an apologetic approach as well. Given their premise, it is obvious that their apologetic approach is to focus on the resurrection. They do have some innovative ways of engaging with culture and non-believers and this flows into their apologetic approach.

As for a defense of the resurrection, they summarize Gary Habermas’ ‘’commonly agreed facts” approach and N. T. Wright’s “six essential detail” approach. In addition, they address four of the top questions raised about the resurrection.

Also, their contextualizing approach to apologetics is also covered but not to a great degree.

Recommendation

I highly recommend this book for its fresh view on the resurrection. I think for many people it will be a fresh approach with deep insights.

When we think about our Redeemer do we see Him as our Savior who gets us into heaven or do we see Him as the one who takes what is broken and uses it for ultimate good? Intellectually I have always agreed that it is more than a ticket to heaven but practically I did not know how that worked out in my own life. Recently at a men's retreat I get a fresh and vivid look out how Jesus does more than redeem me, He redeems my past. When Paul's tells us the God causes all things to work out for good for us (Rom 8:28) does he really mean it? I have things in my past, skeletons in the closet, which I thought were better of left buried in the past and forgotten. However, our Savoir wants to redeem those past events, mistakes, pains and our current troubles. He wants to turn them into good. God can use those incidents for good, redeeming the broken and using it for a good purpose that ultimately shows His glory.

We are not the only people on the planet who have had to deal with those same issues. People struggle with them all the time. The question is will we allow God to use our struggles to help others? If we allow Him to use our past failings to draw people to Him, He takes a bad situation and redeems it for good. If we sit back ignore or pretend everything is ok He can't redeem those situations.

Kenny Luck, the guest speaker at the men's retreat said, "no risk without loss, no loss without pain and no pain without purpose." It is the hard and narrow road. People may wonder why I would want to drudge up past. Especially mistakes or painful memories that most people think are better left deep and forgotten. This is a valid question. With mistakes and memories come the emotions that are tide to them. Avoid the pain, right? Our Redeemer will redeem those situations. Our Redeemer will see us through the loss and the pain and will ultimately show us the purpose. I would like to think my mistakes have a purpose other than my failure.

Opening ourselves up like this is a big risk. Are we willing to take the risk? Do we trust our Redeemer? Yes it is a leap of faith. I am ready to jump, hesitant but ready.

 

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." - John 3:3-8 (NIV)

 

Parenting is such a hard job. I have to admit that being a parent sounds like a good idea until the weight of the responsibility kicks in. I was thinking the other day about how the apple does not fall far from the tree and that reminded me of far too many examples in my life. I could not help but pray that God would protect my children from my mistakes and shortcomings. I want the best for them and often feel I don't do enough. Of course, some parents do too much and that ends up bad for the children too.

I was in the car driving near Washington DC when on heard a statement on the radio that got me thinking. The statement was, 'You won't be at Peace if you are in rebellion against God.' That statement is one thing but it got me thinking does it also mean that if you don't have peace you are in rebellion against God and if you have peace you are not in rebellion against God?  

For those of you that are not Christian

Hey you get a day off or spring break. Maybe you have to work but little gets done. Plus, tomorrow is Saturday, so Friday is good. Or you may go out for drinks and get sloshed. However, Good Friday represents the sacrifice of love for you by the Creator of the Universe. I don't know if you noticed or have compared Christianity with any other religion. (Not that I would call Christianity a religion.) In no other religion do you have the supreme being sacrifice him or herself for you! All other religions consist of you working toward goodness, heaven, nirvana etc...

What is Palm Sunday all about anyway? Many know it is the beginning of the holy week (passion week) but not the significance of what happened on the 10th of Nisan.

“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household." - NASB (Ex 12:3)

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord" - NASB (Lk 19:38 & Ps 118:26)

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” - NASB (Mt 21:4-5,Is 62:11; Zech 9:9)

"Amazing love, How can it be, That You, my King, would die for me?" - Chris Tomlin, 'Amazing Love'

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” - NASB (Lk 19:41-44)

Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. - NASB (Zec 14:3-4)

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” - NASB (Re 19:11-16)

And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. - NASB (Zec 14:9)

This statement may be a surprise for most people. Christianity is not about you. That's right Christianity is not about you. Heck it's not about me either. I am not saying that God does not love you. He does love you individually. However the bad things that happen in your life are not always about you. Our ego, the thing that is responsible for most of the sin in our lives, does not want to hear that. We selfishly assume that if something bad happens in our lives it is about us. It might be, and it might not be about you. If you think it should be about you, that is your selfishness talking. 

Is the Christianity we have today what it was 2000 years ago? The barnacles of time have changed how we view Christianity. I have wanted to discuss this topic for some time now. I am just getting to the point where I am getting around to it.

"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” St. Augustine

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." NASB Galatians 5:1

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” NLT John 3:16-21

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus." ISV Romans 8:1

I was on FaceBook the other day trying to group my friends into some type of logical order. While I trying to figure out an easy way to group them, by the way the controls in FaceBook for grouping friends needs help, I can across Dave’s profile and under religious views, he has “Jesus has set me free from religion”.

 

I wonder, how many times in my life, I have missed an opportunity to do something good. I can remember times when an opportunity has presented itself and I remember rationalizing why I should not help or get involved. I think that I have become very adept at rationalizing why I should not help or get involved. I wish God would take my excuses away. I can remember at the time thinking I should have helped. Should of… I remember it happening all too often. I think I have become too comfortable with non-involvement.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

 

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." - DC Talk "What if I Stumble?"

"I despise my own behavior; this only serves to confirm my suspicions that I am still a man in need of a Savior." DC Talk "In The light"