Be careful where you lead!

Casting Crowns Slow Fade
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

For Pastors and churches Facebook and Social Media present a huge new frontier. It is both exciting and frightening. Imagine that now you have a voice to so many believers and non-believers who would never have heard your message. You are just one like/share away from reaching the masses. It is that easy. You can make recommendations, give a sermon, share scripture, or even invite others to church all in a few little clicks.

However, so many churches and pastors have spoken out against Facebook. Some have gone so far as to call it the tool of the devil. Facebook has been compared to the air conditioner in some ways. If you are confused by this comparison let me give you some history. Back in the day when everyone finished dinner it was too hot to sit in the house so they sat on the front porch. On porch swings and at tables. People talked to their neighbors and knew the people living next store. When air conditioners were invented it became unnecessary to go out of the hot house to find relief and the social network of front porch living was broken. Some believe that face to face real communication will be broken by the superficial relationships formed on Facebook. Hebrews 10: 25 ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The bible it would seem warns us not to give up on meeting together to encourage each other!

I am on the fence with this issue. on the one hand the bible instructs us to evangelize and share God's word! Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, What better way to spread his world than on a network so large that almost everyone on earth with a computer belongs to it right? It would be if Facebook were that simple, but people will say the darnedest things as they sit behind their computer screens. Cyber bullying is a real issue that now happens in schools across the country. Work places have now become drama filled due to the Facebook frenzy. Even churches cannot say they haven't been effected. Social media has allowed people to share their criticisms of everything from restaurants, teachers, department stores, to churches and pastors! With no end to the positive and negative criticism it becomes a balancing act for all! If you are friends with people from work you worry about what they see on your facebook. Some of us do things in our free time that we aren't proud of and Facebook has exposed us to the world!

Now don't get me wrong I am not decided on my stance; I am just the bearer of the news. Facebook can also be a tool for good. When you need a prayer, a hug, or a little pick me up from friends just log on and update your status. In an instant you have reached 10-50 people depending on the number of friends you have. The larger your friend base the greater the impact of your message. Want to share a bible verse post it on Facebook. If there is a need for service churches can easily call on hundreds of people to serve. No more phone trees or email lists simply post it on your page and ask others to share. Like wildfire you can spread a message! In terms of evangelism and the gospel that is pretty awesome.

For pastors though Facebook has another ugly side. You see as a pastor whether it is right or wrong you are held to a different standard. I know my own pastor has preached that he thinks all Christians should hold themselves to the standard that they hold their pastor to. Matthew 7: 1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you I certainly do not want to be judged in the unfair manner that I sometimes judge others. On the other hand if you are a public figure: a pastor, a teacher, a politician you have to realize that you will be judged. It doesn't make it right, or even fair. If you are a pastor and you post something on Facebook you have to realize that people who may not know your character could make a judgement based on that one comment. Your comments might be taken out of context and used against you. In addition with so many Christians who are not strong in their faith you tread a precarious line. One right step and you can draw them to Jesus forever, but one misplaced misconstrued comment may turn them away. For some people reading your comment on Facebook may be the closest they ever come to setting foot in a church.

I was so sad to hear of how Christians from one church used Facebook to judge each other. They gossiped about each other and their pastor. Proverbs 20: 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. It turned many inside their church against each other. It turned some against their pastor. They had trusted him, but in the end a few misplaced words split the whole congregation and it all started out as a simple comment on Facebook. The only will served in this was the devils and in the end many a Christian was hurt. Pastors must tread lightly for Facebook has no body language. There are no facial expressions, and even things meant in love may be taken out of context. Additionally Facebook communication cannot take the place of real life face to face interaction. It is too easy to like something or leave a short comment, but whether celebrating or mourning it is in our human nature to need someone to lean on. You can't really lean on a computer screen!

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away People never crumble in a day

Skubula

Watch this, I dare you!


Once upon a time I was different. I didn't quite get it. I knew all the bible stories and a fair bit of scripture. I went to church every Sunday, and I sure thought that made me something. I was full of pride because I thought I knew who God was. Key word thought! Mathew 20-16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

The thing is truly knowing God shook everything I believed! I was so much like a Pharisee. I followed all the rules and found such comfort in the tradition. I knew that my church with its ancient roots and beautiful traditions was the best. I looked down on all those Weirdos with their strange beliefs! Romans 12: 2 And do not be 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.I must have read that verse a million times, but it wasn't until I really took it in and understood that I became changed! I realized that if I wanted to be a follower of God I had to let go of the things of this world. I might even have to let go of my religion if it were keeping me from God!

On Easter and Christmas I looked down on all those who were not there every Sunday! How could they sit there just twice a year they were so much lowlier than us holy people who showed up every Sunday! We were the truly faithful. Once again I was like the Pharisees wondering about these sinners in my perfect church. However, when we look to scripture we find that Jesus addressed exactly this. Luke 5: 30-32 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Imagine that Jesus didn't go to those who were sitting in church every Sunday and say hey guys you are doing awesome! I just want to sit and tell you how awesome you are. Instead he went to tax collectors and sinners. He didn't even take them to church he went to where they were. The Pharisees found this insulting. If that weren't insulting enough to those followers of the law he started to rebuke them. He called them hypocrites. He told them that their interpretation of the law was not good enough. He called them to mercy and kindness. Matthew 23: 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. ¹⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. And for this alone they grew to hate him! They hated him so much that they had him seized, scourged, crowned in thorns, and crucified. Because he told them that the law would not save them. This thought scared them; it shook them to their core. I tell you just as he did the law will not save you. Your traditions will not save you.

It is one thing to know about God and another to be a Truly Devoted Follower of Christ. You can know the bible stories and even acknowledge that you believe that God exists and not have the message. You can prescribe to one religion or another but no matter how tightly you cling to it that will not save you. If your religion is a boat in the Ocean and God is the Sea; would you cling to your religion or your faith in him. Surely the sea can crush your little boat! "Religion is man's NORMAL attempt to reach God, ". "Religion leads to Pride and Despair!"Quoted from Craig Groeschel's message 4/24/2011 Christ is the way, the only way! Knowing about him won't save you, but knowing him will transform your life! Philippians 3: 8-9 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Notice the emphasis I have added to this verse. Rubbish is translated from the word skubala, a Greek word that translated literally to English means Shit. Its time to stop searching for the SKUBULA, and look to Christ. Christ is not one religion or another. He is not a denomination or a faith. He is not a tradition or a rule. Christ is the Savior. When you find Christ he will transform you too.

Its time to be weird in your faith!

A MOTHER AND HER SON....

As I think of the Crucifixion and Resurrection or our Lord Jesus; I find myself pondering his mother. John 19: 25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

I can picture her standing there at the cross. Watching her baby in pain. It must have been torture for her. Knowing he would die for sins he had not committed must have been so hard. For me the pain of this mother as she watches her child is heart wrenching. To truly understand Jesus's sacrifice you must see him not only as one without sin, but also as a son whose mother watched. As a man whose friends deserted him.

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend? They say something to you that is upsetting or insulting. It catches you completely off guard and makes you feel truly betrayed. It is truly like a knife in the back. Our friends inflict the deepest wounds. These wounds are so much harder to forgive. Yet Jesus knew this was coming he even predicted it. Luke 22: 21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. He knew what was coming, he knew who would betray him, and yet he did not become angry. He did not fight it because he knew it was the only way. He surrendered himself to the punishment for our sins. Luke 23: 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”And they divided His garments and cast lots. He forgave them before it was done. In excruciating pain, having been betrayed, watching the sorrow of his friends and mother, on a cross for the crimes he did not commit he forgave them all. He forgives all!

Steven Curtis Chapman

He was pierced for our transgressions
He was crushed for our sins
The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him
And by His wounds, by His wounds we are healed

We are healed by Your sacrifice
And the life that You gave
We are healed for You paid the price
By Your grace we are saved
We are saved

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

I AM A JESUS FREAK

Toby Mac Jesus Freak

What will people think
When they hear that Im a jesus freak
What will people do when they find that its true
I dont really care if they label me a jesus freak
There aint no disguising the truth

First of all you need to read Weird by Craig Groeschel. If for no other reason than this man wrote a book for you. Designed to help you in your life, and yes it is selling tons of copies, but did you know he makes no profit on the book. He has donated back every penny! Now that is weird right? God gave him the message that you needed to hear and not only did he write it, but he is giving back every penny made from sales!

Now back to my thoughts on being Weird. I think it is time to tell my kids that the Easter bunny is a fun tradition, but not real! I think it is time to spend Easter looking only at the real meaning not Easter baskets. Easter has become another Christmas, Halloween, or other overly commercialized holiday. Speaking of overly commercialized holidays, Christmas is too much. What if we said enough to it and really concentrated on what it is all about? Do we really need a Christmas tree? How about the stockings and stuff? How much of it is just because that is what normal people do? I don't want to be normal. Think of all the money you could save, what would you spend it on? Wouldn't it be better to make a big donation to the church instead! That way God could use your gift to better the world!

Matthew 7: 13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

It is time to get off the wide road. I don't know exactly where the narrow road leads , but the ultimate destination is worth any detour along the way! We all know where we want to go, but are you really on the road to getting there. If you could be called normal something might be wrong. Remember when our parents said if Johnny and Susie jumped off a bridge would you do it too? I would shrug my shoulders at them, but in my head I was thinking"maybe." Why not if everybody else is doing it? That herd mentality is what allowed Hitler to do the horrible things he did. Nobody else is going to stand up for you. God made you to fight his battles. You are his hands and feet. If you are so busy being like everyone else then you may be too busy for the work he has for you to do.


I have a hard time with this being different business. I want to be like everyone else. I want to achieve the things they achieve and live a life much like the Jones. However we all know that the Jones are broke! They are in debt up to their elbows and can't see the way out. The Jones did not guard their finances in a biblical manner. Do you really want to be like that? Do you want to raise your children with those values? What about being weird with our time and energy. Normal is working hard, but hardly ever having any time for what matters. Normal is stressed out from all the activities our kids are enrolled in. Normal is racing from one event to another wishing we had time to breath. REMEMBER last time I blogged I asked you if God was the main course in your meal? Normal is not putting God first.

Here is the thing; if you choose to be weird people will notice. They will call you weird. They will look at you differently. They may even dislike you because of it. The thing is..................................what they think really isn't important. It is what God thinks right? So stop living for what the world tells you is important and start living for what the bible tells you is important!

John 15:18-20 Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…"

More from Toby Mac's song:
There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this JESUS freak

People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger

I count you friend and you can count on me..........

This week is proving to be stressful already, but amidst the stress of the past two weeks I have come to realize what amazing friends I have. Some of you live a long way off. You call me and send me messages to brighten my day. You tell me you believe in me and you help me to do things I didn't know I could do.

Eclesiastes 4: 9-10Two are better than one,Because they have a good reward for their labor.10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.But woe to him who is alone when he falls,For he has no one to help him up.

God had blessed me abundantly. Even in times of trial I always have friends and family to turn to. I have an amazing husband who is my shelter in the storm. I know that God has given me these people to guide me and strengthen me. I have faced many things in life, but I have never stood alone. You never have to be alone. I know so many people who feel alone in the world, but you don't have to live life alone. God never intended for us to live alone.
Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

God wants you to gather with friends. He wants you to pray together. To share in each other's sadness and joys! God intended for us to live in this manner. We wills strengthen each other and grow together. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. So thank you this week to all my wonderful friends who sharpen me and uplift me. You guide me with your advice and your prayers strengthen me. I am so grateful that God led me to you.

Side Dish, Dessert, or Main Course

If you buy one book this year I encourage you to purchase Weird by Craig Groeschel. Not only is this book an easy and entertaining read, but also with a foundation in biblical teaching it is a message to many of us are missing. I am not going to summarize the book for you, because I don’t want to ruin it for you. This Sunday as I was listening to the presented message two points stood out to me.

Matthew 22: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”³⁷ Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. Jesus said the greatest and first commandment is simply to love God more than we love anything else in our lives. I want you to think about Dinner. What do you spend the most time eating? Which part of the meal is the largest? What part is the best? Which part could you leave out? Now let me give you my answers. I spend the most time eating the main course. It is the largest part of my meal. I enjoy Dessert the most. I could leave out the side dish which is usually veggies of some kind.

A meal is an analogy for my life. Dessert is the part I save for last and enjoy the most. The main course is where I spend the most of my time. The side dish is all the things I feel that I have to do, but may not enjoy doing. So the question that needs to be asked is how does God fit into this? Is he the main course, the best part, or a piece that you feel obligated to add to your busy life. If God is the main course he is the center of all things. If he is the dessert he is the truly joyful part. If he is a side dish your relationship with him is not what it should be. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

Now I love dessert, but man cannot live on dessert alone. If I eat only chocolate I will have a lot of energy that lasts a very short amount of time and then I will be cranky and tired the rest of the time. The main course can be rich and fulfilling. There is nothing like your favorite food to brighten your day. It is filling, fulfilling, you feel energized and restored after eating it. The bible says: Luke 4:4But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” The word of God will be your main course. John 6: 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst If you come to him in hunger God will satisfy the longing of your soul.

So here is the hard part. I know what the main course should be. I know what comes first, but am I doing what I need to? Am I fulfilling the purpose of my life or am I living with only dessert or a side dish. God can’t come second. God cannot be a side dish. If Sunday is the one time you worship God and you don’t think about him for the rest of the week then you are living a side dish kind of life. If at the end of a long day you meditate about God for a few minutes and feel uplifted and rejuvenated for a bit you are using him as dessert. If God is the center of your life, and you would give it all up to serve him better then you have found the main course.

Going back to the book I recommended. Where I come from normal people don’t give up everything to become missionaries of God. Normal people don’t go to church more than one time a week. Normal people would rather be watching tv than praying. Where I come from people use the Lord’s name in vain, they say things like God hasn’t done anything for me so why should I do anything for him, and they turn away. Where I come from normal people live lives that are empty, and that is terrible. I don’t want to be empty. I don’t want to live with just chocolate and veggies. I need the main course. Normal doesn’t work.

What if the key to happiness is just stop trying to be like everyone else. Can’t you see how unhappy everyone else is? If we look to the word of God we find people who were happy in the most unlikely circumstances. Daniel found peace in a lion’s den. Paul worshiped and praised God in prison. Noah survived the flood on an ark full of animals. If you step outside of what is ordinary and do weird things in the name of God you will be rewarded. The only way to do this is to get on with the main course. If we put God first and never look back he will change us in ways we never imagined! Don’t be complacent, take a step back, look around you, and if you don’t like what you see its time for a change!

Jeremy Camp sings a powerful song with just this message:

Have you been walking on a surface that’s uncertain
Have you helped yourself to everything that’s empty
You can’t live,
This way too long,
There’s more than this,
More than this

Have you been standing on your own feet too long
Have you been looking for a place where you belong
You can rest,
You will find rest

[CHORUS]
Let this old life crumble,
Let it fade,
Let this new life offered be your saving grace,
Let this old life crumble let it fade,
Let it fade

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades
It will be gone,
Forever gone
It will be gone,
It will be gone