The Unlikely Question

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence. ⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Luke 24:39-49

So today I was reading in Luke as part of our University of the Holy Spirit and something really intrigued me about this passage that quite honestly, made me burst into laughter. Read the verses above and see if you catch it.

Jesus was murdered, buried, and rose. Angels appeared to two women, Jesus shows himself to two disciples, and then he appears to other disciples. Jesus tells them to touch his hands and feet if they do not believe that He is the true risen Messiah. Then in verse 41 the last thing I would have imagined happened. They are all looking at Jesus and they are amazed and shocked at the fact that Jesus Christ was standing in front of them. SO what does Jesus say in this pivotal point in the story....He asks for Food. He asks them if they have anything to eat!!!!!!

I envision Jesus sitting eating the fish and nonchalantly saying, "I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." And as he is picking through the fish he is letting them be astounded by who he is, as Christ just sits there and tell them, "I TOLD YOU SO!" And then he puts down the plate, looks them in the eyes, and reveals to them a wonderful truth.

"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

What an awesome story about Christ and the promise that we have in him. For me, I am like the disciples, I am so in awe of God sometimes and I tell myself, " I CANT BELIEVE THAT JUST HAPPENED," and Christ is sitting there telling me, " I told you so, didnt I?"

Believe that Christ can move mountains in your life, heal broken relationships, provide for you when all hope seems lost, and I promise you, Christ will tell you, " I told you so!" Be amazed at God this week!!!!

The Cost

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Luke 14:28-30

What is the cost of being a disciple of Christ? I have met many people who have come to a relationship with Christ and through crazy events have not counted the cost of being a disciple. They came to Christ on a feeling or a whim and yet did not realize the severity of the commitment it takes to follow God. To follow God, we must deny and run away from the things and re-prioritize our lives so that God is in everything. Like it says in Colossians, "Christ is in all and through him all things hold together."

In the following weeks I want to paint you an image of an excel spreadsheet. On this sheet is a cost list and on this cost list is the price of being a disciple. What I have found is that many people have committed something to Christ buy havent looked seriously at the commitment or the cost that it takes to be a follower of Christ. My hope is that you will be encouraged to new heights to follow Christ and live in his joy and his peace.

Fantasia's song "Im doin me," is a good song. It is catchy, the lyrics are well thought out, and the premise of the song is a women who gets taken advantage of and she is now going to start living for herself. While I agree that there is a point if you are in a harmful relationship you need to think about yourself, this idea of Im doin me has sunk into other aspect of our culture. It has created a more self-centered atmosphere. There are a few more rap songs that talk about "im doin me" and it is all about money, fame, and women. This is something that God clearly talks about. In Phil. 2, the writer talks about how we should have the same attitude of Christ. We are in humility to be servants to one another, putting others interests before our own. Again, i think Fantasia's song is good and in her situation may be appropriate.... but looking into the future....has this begun a slef-centered cutlure ? or has it always been self centered? now im just rambling...

New Year's Resolution

I want less freedom....I'm reading John Macarthur's new book Slave and it has made an impact on how I view my relationship with God. I want less freedom and want more of God's will in my life...that is all I will say for now!!!!

Simplicity of Youth Ministry....

This is a portion of a book in works about the Simplicity of Youth Ministry....

I remember visiting two different churches when I was in college, before landing at the church where I would land myself for the remaining years of college. The first was a very large church with all the doo-dads and watchamacallits you would need in a church. Their youth ministry was “thriving” with a few hundred students, major youth events, an ipad giveaway every month, and awesome worship segments. I remember sitting about the 15^th row back feeling overwhelmed, but it wasn’t because of the light show with worship (because that is an act of worship) but because of the atmosphere that presented itself. The other church I went to was a very small church with a congregation of about 200 and their youth ministry could all fit in my car. (That’s about 10, they did all fit in my car….don’t suggest it.) I remember sitting in a children’s room with the students wondering to myself what were the “added values” in the youth ministry? Both churches although opposite in size, had the same problem. They weren’t practicing simplicity.

Before I go on, please don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying that large youth groups that have light shows, ipad giveaways, or Xbox 360’s in every corner are not practicing simplicity. I have seen both large and small youth groups practice simplicity well, and have seen both large and small youth groups fail in this area of simplicity. Simplicity is not an absence of events or cool stuff, but on the other hand, is the fullness of contentment. If you look at successful youth ministries, not measured by size but by life change, you will find that each ministry have two things: a welcoming atmosphere and something called “added values.”

You have to understand that youth ministry is anything but simple, and if you have spent more than an hour with students, you already understand that. You’ve got tough students, tough parents, retreats, campus visits, youth group nights, small groups, volunteers, pastors, all wanting something from and expect from you a thriving youth ministry. Ministry is anything but simple. However, it is simplicity that could be our greatest asset for reaching students and developing them as followers of Christ. As mentioned before, simplicity is not the absence of something, it is the fullness of contentment. It is a heart attitude. And if the heart beat is strong within a youth ministry, you can expect it to grow and see life change, if it is FULLY dependent on either atmosphere or added values alone, then the heart beat will be weak and barely survive.

So I am sitting in class....(Don't follow my example students by being on the computer in class!)....and I was thinking.....was Spock smarter than Kirk or was Kirk smarter than Spock???? Let me know what you think!

Christ is Central

What is central in your life? Money? Friends? God? Family? School?

Matthew 6:24 talks about where our allegiance lies. Does Is it God? or is it Money? Does it lie with the one which the world hangs on his very thought and very breathe? Or does it lie with the very thing that will get you to turn your back on the very God who designed you and crafted your very soul?

The point Matthew is getting at is are you willing to swear allegiance to God and serve Him faithfully? The call to serve Christ is not for the faint hearted but for those who desperately want him.

Will you join me in serving Him? I hope you do! Love you!

Jon