Sunday...
A few thoughts from the EBC weekend celebrations (April 29-30, 2006) Philippians 3.4-7
So you've spent your whole life searching for satisfaction and joy. You've looked under the stones of self discovery. You've climbed the mountain of education. You've fought bravely to prove yourself worthy of respect. You've worked tirelessly to accomplish all you can in the time you've had. And now you find yourself, like the apostle Paul, standing in the middle of the road...covered in the dust of self-righteousness...eyes wide open and unable to see anything. Feels pretty empty doesn't it?
Well, there's really good news for you. God sent His son Jesus to provide the joy and satisfaction you've been searching for. Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life and have it to the fullest!" Yes, that is a future promise but it has a present fulfillment. The abundant life Jesus promises begins today.
Paul had spent his life searching for satisfaction in his family name, his education, his achievements, his work, his personal righteousness, and even his religion. Then one day as he was traveling to another city to persecute Christians, he met Jesus. The immediate result was harsh. His eyes were closed shut as he stood at a crossroads of personal accomplishment and total surrender. He was covered in the dust of trying to find of satisfaction on his own but his heart was opened to God. He had finally found what he'd been looking for. It was God - not the god of religion - the true God - the God who loved him and sent His son to purchase his heart.
In that moment, Paul voluntarily laid his heart down before God. He surrendered his past and all its accomplishments and traded it all in for a personal walk with God. How about you? Still believe that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow of your personal achievements? Still believe that you can fabricate your own joy? Still believe that you can find your happiness is a man or woman, a job, an education, a bank account, a family name, a promotion, possessions, the lottery, or anything else other than God. Sorry, there is no pot of gold.
God wants your heart. Will you give it to Him right now and find the joy and satisfaction you've been searching for? Have a thought? Click on comments below and add your thoughts to the journey....
Andy Stallings
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Every Christian's Battle....
Thoughts from a weekend with the Emmanuel family and Philippians 3.2-3
Sunday afternoon..... today is one of those "step all over my own toes" encounters. So often, I experience the raging battle between my own pride (which leaves me "in" and others "out") and the grace-abounding, level ground of the cross of Jesus Christ. It befuddles me why I/ we, as followers of Christ, are so prone to build insanely petty boundaries that make the road to the cross so difficult to travel. Yeah, it's a bit crazy to us that a group of people a couple of thousand years ago would actually exclude others because THEY had been circumcised and the others had not... somehow making the circumcision elite. (The whole purpose of circumcision was a covenant with God to increase His name and His character and His glory in the earth. NOT to exclude. Isn't it amazing how we botch the most beautiful things intended to bring God glory!!) So, circumcision is strange to us.... but, to them the thought that we would exclude b/c of dress code or version preference or musical style or political party is equally as baffling.
Every Christian battles this beast called pride. What God really wants is for His followers to NEVER forget the cross -- EVER! With chests pounded, pour out our gratitude for our debt paid in full. Honestly, this is a huge struggle. I am proud... to pound my chest in desperation means that I admit my need for God (a need that deeply exists, but in my self-reliance is often ignored). I want to be small... to decrease.... to long for the glory of God alone. It's a battle. A battle won by staking my life on the level, earth shaking, grace awakening, accepting ground of the cross of Christ. At that place, I boast in only one thing... Him..... His Glory..... I find satisfaction there.
The teaching this weekend ended with an alarming story..... a story about an amaing woman and an even more amazing Savior. John 4 tells of an encounter Christ had with a woman at the well.... I really don't think we will ever truly appreciate the boundaries that Christ removed in this moment. He talked with her.... shared life with her... extolled, perhaps, the greatest discourse on worship ever told. And, after her encounter and embrace of the grace found in Christ alone, sent her to tell the city. She is the most remarkable carrier of great news. Get this.... the whole city listened. The whole city came to mee t Christ. Maybe, what the city of Crestview... what every city in the world is looking for is a person who has been authentically changed by the grace of God in Christ. Maybe people are looking for someone who has no pride, zero desire to exclude, and abounds in one singular longing - to connect others to the amazing grace found in Christ. People have, far too often, met proud, excluding, arrogant people who claim to belong to Christ. We have to show them a person stunned by grace....... stunned. Then, we simply hold out this word of life and invite them to drink deeply in the life we have found. Just a few thoughts.... what do you think? Click on "comment" below and feel free to share commentary.....
Galatians 6.14
Mark
Thoughts from a weekend with the Emmanuel family and Philippians 3.2-3
Sunday afternoon..... today is one of those "step all over my own toes" encounters. So often, I experience the raging battle between my own pride (which leaves me "in" and others "out") and the grace-abounding, level ground of the cross of Jesus Christ. It befuddles me why I/ we, as followers of Christ, are so prone to build insanely petty boundaries that make the road to the cross so difficult to travel. Yeah, it's a bit crazy to us that a group of people a couple of thousand years ago would actually exclude others because THEY had been circumcised and the others had not... somehow making the circumcision elite. (The whole purpose of circumcision was a covenant with God to increase His name and His character and His glory in the earth. NOT to exclude. Isn't it amazing how we botch the most beautiful things intended to bring God glory!!) So, circumcision is strange to us.... but, to them the thought that we would exclude b/c of dress code or version preference or musical style or political party is equally as baffling.
Every Christian battles this beast called pride. What God really wants is for His followers to NEVER forget the cross -- EVER! With chests pounded, pour out our gratitude for our debt paid in full. Honestly, this is a huge struggle. I am proud... to pound my chest in desperation means that I admit my need for God (a need that deeply exists, but in my self-reliance is often ignored). I want to be small... to decrease.... to long for the glory of God alone. It's a battle. A battle won by staking my life on the level, earth shaking, grace awakening, accepting ground of the cross of Christ. At that place, I boast in only one thing... Him..... His Glory..... I find satisfaction there.
The teaching this weekend ended with an alarming story..... a story about an amaing woman and an even more amazing Savior. John 4 tells of an encounter Christ had with a woman at the well.... I really don't think we will ever truly appreciate the boundaries that Christ removed in this moment. He talked with her.... shared life with her... extolled, perhaps, the greatest discourse on worship ever told. And, after her encounter and embrace of the grace found in Christ alone, sent her to tell the city. She is the most remarkable carrier of great news. Get this.... the whole city listened. The whole city came to mee t Christ. Maybe, what the city of Crestview... what every city in the world is looking for is a person who has been authentically changed by the grace of God in Christ. Maybe people are looking for someone who has no pride, zero desire to exclude, and abounds in one singular longing - to connect others to the amazing grace found in Christ. People have, far too often, met proud, excluding, arrogant people who claim to belong to Christ. We have to show them a person stunned by grace....... stunned. Then, we simply hold out this word of life and invite them to drink deeply in the life we have found. Just a few thoughts.... what do you think? Click on "comment" below and feel free to share commentary.....
Galatians 6.14
Mark
Sunday, April 16, 2006
A Defining Walk.....
Defining Moments (2)
Wow! Pondering Easter weekend is quite the daunting task. Good Friday was amazing, challenging, intense, and painful. The experience offered at Emmanuel was provocative.... from my own personal sense of denial to my culpability in the death of Christ (driving a piece of art attached to my name to the cross makes the cross far less distant, far more personal, and my accountability far more real) to the reality that life is a vapor, a mist, sand falling through my fingers, to a longing to lay my blindfold aside and recognize the majesty, passion, freedom, and consuming joy found in the cross and the empty tomb! I am asking God to continually open the eyes of my heart to His death/my freedom and His life/my hope! Thank you, God for the privilege of 'celebrating' Good Friday. Thank you God, for an wonderful worship leader in Carrie who gave incredible energy to provide such a rich experience in Christ. From the heart of Emmanuel, we are thankful that Carrie leads us toward Christ!
Last night and this morning, we began with spine-tingling words.... It's Friday, but Sunday is a-coming! When we launched into "Arise", I honestly think we should have crowd surfed the empty coffin. We should have passed the coffin as a physical reminder of the spiritual reality of Easter Sunday. Death, where is your victory... Death, where is your sting. It is swallowed up in the victory of Christ as He exploded from the grave! To join with the body at EBC, and sing of the worth of our God in Christ.... Wow! I really was lost in Him as we sang Crown Him with many crowns and reacted , with hearts burning, to the worth of the lamb of God. We echoed the song of heaven... Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive glory, honor, power and dominion forever. Amen!
Practically, it was sweet to see hundreds in all three encounters/ gatherings this weekend... Easter allowed more people than at any other time in our churches history, to experience the lifer altering message of grace found in Christ.... spiritually, eternity willl reflect the results of the defining moment at the crossroads of Easter, life, friendships, and Christ's invitation to Himself. Lives were changed at Emmanuel this weekend. Defining moments occured. Life is sweet.
Maybe a singular takeaway (there were quite a few) from the journey with with Cleo and Sam (we made up Sam's name : ) ... I live far too often in the seen. However, God is with me.... He lives in me. For all that will read this blog and have embraced Him as Savior, He travels the road - not just with you, but In you. I truly want to recognize Him. To live in a wildly mad love relationship with Christ. To feel my heart burn, not for the trivial, but for Him and His eternal values, purposes, and ways. I really want to ask Him to continue to open my eyes to Him. I found it pretty interesting that v.32 said, we enjoyed our conversation with Him and He opened the scriptures to us (Luke 24.13-end)......Could it be pretty simple. Passion is developed.... clarity of sight is developed as I talk with Him throughout the day and as He talks with me through His truth.... His Word.... His life.
Easter with the Emmanuel family was......AWESOME! (Yes, Opie, I think awesome fits!) I thank my God for such an amazing family..... friends who share the road with me in purposeful, passionate pursuit of Christ. Thanks!
Hey, what was your takeaway from Easter? Click on comments below and write away.
Happy Easter. It WAS Friday, but Sunday came!! Oh Yeah!!!
Mark
Defining Moments (2)
Wow! Pondering Easter weekend is quite the daunting task. Good Friday was amazing, challenging, intense, and painful. The experience offered at Emmanuel was provocative.... from my own personal sense of denial to my culpability in the death of Christ (driving a piece of art attached to my name to the cross makes the cross far less distant, far more personal, and my accountability far more real) to the reality that life is a vapor, a mist, sand falling through my fingers, to a longing to lay my blindfold aside and recognize the majesty, passion, freedom, and consuming joy found in the cross and the empty tomb! I am asking God to continually open the eyes of my heart to His death/my freedom and His life/my hope! Thank you, God for the privilege of 'celebrating' Good Friday. Thank you God, for an wonderful worship leader in Carrie who gave incredible energy to provide such a rich experience in Christ. From the heart of Emmanuel, we are thankful that Carrie leads us toward Christ!
Last night and this morning, we began with spine-tingling words.... It's Friday, but Sunday is a-coming! When we launched into "Arise", I honestly think we should have crowd surfed the empty coffin. We should have passed the coffin as a physical reminder of the spiritual reality of Easter Sunday. Death, where is your victory... Death, where is your sting. It is swallowed up in the victory of Christ as He exploded from the grave! To join with the body at EBC, and sing of the worth of our God in Christ.... Wow! I really was lost in Him as we sang Crown Him with many crowns and reacted , with hearts burning, to the worth of the lamb of God. We echoed the song of heaven... Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive glory, honor, power and dominion forever. Amen!
Practically, it was sweet to see hundreds in all three encounters/ gatherings this weekend... Easter allowed more people than at any other time in our churches history, to experience the lifer altering message of grace found in Christ.... spiritually, eternity willl reflect the results of the defining moment at the crossroads of Easter, life, friendships, and Christ's invitation to Himself. Lives were changed at Emmanuel this weekend. Defining moments occured. Life is sweet.
Maybe a singular takeaway (there were quite a few) from the journey with with Cleo and Sam (we made up Sam's name : ) ... I live far too often in the seen. However, God is with me.... He lives in me. For all that will read this blog and have embraced Him as Savior, He travels the road - not just with you, but In you. I truly want to recognize Him. To live in a wildly mad love relationship with Christ. To feel my heart burn, not for the trivial, but for Him and His eternal values, purposes, and ways. I really want to ask Him to continue to open my eyes to Him. I found it pretty interesting that v.32 said, we enjoyed our conversation with Him and He opened the scriptures to us (Luke 24.13-end)......Could it be pretty simple. Passion is developed.... clarity of sight is developed as I talk with Him throughout the day and as He talks with me through His truth.... His Word.... His life.
Easter with the Emmanuel family was......AWESOME! (Yes, Opie, I think awesome fits!) I thank my God for such an amazing family..... friends who share the road with me in purposeful, passionate pursuit of Christ. Thanks!
Hey, what was your takeaway from Easter? Click on comments below and write away.
Happy Easter. It WAS Friday, but Sunday came!! Oh Yeah!!!
Mark
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Christian Hedonism..... Really?
If joy equals satisfaction and true satisfaction is found only in Christ, then we must find our deepest satisfaction in Christ alone and joy is the natural byproduct. John Piper writes a pretty interesting book about joy.... the Christian life.... the chief end of man...... The subtitle of the book is 'confessions of a Christian hedonist'. Hedonism = pursuit of pleasure.... true pleasure is found in Christ. Christians unapologetically drink deeply in Christ in pursuit of true, lasting, passionate pleasure. Christians are the ultimate hedonists in that we know that pleasure is Christ. We arrange the entirety of our lives our finding our pleasure.... our fullness.... our definition in Him! Our pursuit is to worship God for no other reason than the pleasure found IN HIM! ... Not His gifts... Not what we gain.... IN HIM.... Not me.... Him. I am small, He is huge. The deepest and most enduring joy is found in God and only in Him. Not from God, but in God.
I find that I muddle around pursuing trinkets and small things, when God is inviting me to be consumed for that which is ultimate - Him.... pleasure in Him. I want to go there. I want to plumb the depths. I want, with all my heart, to genuinely find my deepest satisfaction in Him. Then, I spend a day drinking from every well, but His tasteful, eternal, filling water. (I wish it were only a day... days... weeks!) If the joy of the Lord... the joy IN the Lord is strength, then I want to be strong. To live courageously. To live out confessions of a Christian hedonist. To, without apology, find I am satiated in Christ. I am asking Him to make all other water bitter. I want His living water. I want joy... not happiness.... not something trite.... I want to be satisfied!
I read some pretty cool words..... to be truly satisfied is to begin NOW..... This is the day I have...even more, this is the moment I have to savor. So, I think I will quit typing... forget yesterday and not worry about tomorrow. I think I will live in this moment - satisfied. I am In Christ. My joy is IN HIM. There is nothing in my future that it 'out there' that will finally bring me joy. I receive joy right now... I am satisfied in Him. Dont't seize moments, Seize God! I think I like the idea of being a Christian hedonist - seeking the only true satisfaction. What do you think?
Mark
If joy equals satisfaction and true satisfaction is found only in Christ, then we must find our deepest satisfaction in Christ alone and joy is the natural byproduct. John Piper writes a pretty interesting book about joy.... the Christian life.... the chief end of man...... The subtitle of the book is 'confessions of a Christian hedonist'. Hedonism = pursuit of pleasure.... true pleasure is found in Christ. Christians unapologetically drink deeply in Christ in pursuit of true, lasting, passionate pleasure. Christians are the ultimate hedonists in that we know that pleasure is Christ. We arrange the entirety of our lives our finding our pleasure.... our fullness.... our definition in Him! Our pursuit is to worship God for no other reason than the pleasure found IN HIM! ... Not His gifts... Not what we gain.... IN HIM.... Not me.... Him. I am small, He is huge. The deepest and most enduring joy is found in God and only in Him. Not from God, but in God.
I find that I muddle around pursuing trinkets and small things, when God is inviting me to be consumed for that which is ultimate - Him.... pleasure in Him. I want to go there. I want to plumb the depths. I want, with all my heart, to genuinely find my deepest satisfaction in Him. Then, I spend a day drinking from every well, but His tasteful, eternal, filling water. (I wish it were only a day... days... weeks!) If the joy of the Lord... the joy IN the Lord is strength, then I want to be strong. To live courageously. To live out confessions of a Christian hedonist. To, without apology, find I am satiated in Christ. I am asking Him to make all other water bitter. I want His living water. I want joy... not happiness.... not something trite.... I want to be satisfied!
I read some pretty cool words..... to be truly satisfied is to begin NOW..... This is the day I have...even more, this is the moment I have to savor. So, I think I will quit typing... forget yesterday and not worry about tomorrow. I think I will live in this moment - satisfied. I am In Christ. My joy is IN HIM. There is nothing in my future that it 'out there' that will finally bring me joy. I receive joy right now... I am satisfied in Him. Dont't seize moments, Seize God! I think I like the idea of being a Christian hedonist - seeking the only true satisfaction. What do you think?
Mark
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