A Twitter friend of mine, Grant Jenkins wrote this:

In the denomination I grew up in, salvation wasn’t presented as by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8) in Christ ALONE, but rather it was sold as a proverbial “get out of hell, free” card.  The salvation I grew up understanding and embracing wasn’t based on the cross, but rather on my ability to follow the formula, be good enough and adhere to enough rules that I would be acceptable to God which, from my experience, resulted in a whole lot of arrogance, self-righteousness and spiritual pride. THAT’S certainly not going to be a popular statement, but it is my story, nonetheless.

How did you find faith? Were you scared into it to escape from Hell or did you see the love in Christ by grace through faith?

Check out his blog at An Idol Heart

I’ve been leading worship at Xtreme Ministries for almost 2 years now. I have had two occasions in my time as being a full-fledged Worship Leader at a church that has made me cry weep. Both occasions came when a member of the worship team left church. I tend to be a crybaby at times anyway like crying five different times while watching Titanic, crying during a song on the radio that just happens to hit at the right time,  crying every time my dad tells me he loves me. I can be a crybaby.

But very few times do I weep. I wept when I left my last church Lifesong Family. I wept when my best friend left the worship team there. I wept during a play called Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames. I’ve wept. Now there are two occasions at Xtreme where I have wept over similar experience; a member of the worship team that I have had the privilege to lead and worship with, to encourage and  exhort leaving the church. These are people who I have fought with over music ideas and loved through hard times in their life.

Unfortunately one person left on bad terms through anger with me and the other is deploying overseas to fight for my freedom and serve his country!

It’s hard to know that someone who you have spent much time with worshiping together leaves under misunderstandings and that no matter what you say, you cannot change their thoughts of who you are. They don’t trust you and they are very argumentative of you. The very mention of your name puts a sour taste in their mouth. I don’t like that. It hurts to know that only God can change their heart and you can’t. That is why I weep.

It’s good to know that one of your members is leaving to be a fighter of freedom. Something I never did and am ashamed to know boys are going over seas to fight for my country that I never did myself. The courage and honor they have for their fellow countrymen to offer up their own lives to keep a great country great is humbling! That is why I weep.

Both instances I have embraced. I have learned how not to treat someone and how to love. I have stepped into the trenches of life with those I lead in ministry and helped where I could, gave advice when called upon (even in the wee hours of the night), and loved through that hard times as well as good. We have built relationships that to me can never be torn down. Even those who have walked from me hoping my life turns out in shambles. These folks will never know even if I were to tell them the impact they have had on my life. That is why I weep.

I weep over pain, happiness, struggle, love, laughing, shouting; over the relationships that have been built. Some stand stronger than others. But true relationships cannot be broken by a word or deed. Where true love exists, it’s a three chord strand, and is not easily broken. Watching these people move on has made me weep.

1 Chronicles 15:16-24 (New International Version)

¹⁶ David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berekiah; and from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; ¹⁸ and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

¹⁹ The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals; ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah were to play the lyres according to alamoth , ²¹ and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel and Azaziah were to play the harps, directing according to sheminith . ²² Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.

²³ Berekiah and Elkanah were to be doorkeepers for the ark. ²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be doorkeepers for the ark.

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Every piece of a musical ensemble is important. Like each color in a painting is important. Learn you instrument. Learn it well. Use it to worship God. Use it to worship him well. For He inhabits our praise and is pleased by our sacrifice!

Is there a right way or a wrong way to worship God? Does it matter to God how you worship Him? Is it totally up to you how you worship God? Does God have a say in how He is worshiped? These are questions that bounce around in my mind. Not that I’m wondering if I’m worshiping God correctly, but am I allowing Him to determine how I should worship Him?

If we look back at the Old Testament we can see a few examples of how God was not pleased with how someone worshiped Him.

• Had Moses not intervened, God would have destroyed the entire nation of Israel when they worshiped the LORD through the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-14). As it was, 3,000 died that day (verse 28).
• Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, were destroyed by God when they offered fire that had not been prescribed (Leviticus 10:1-2).
• Saul’s impatience, as he waited for Samuel, led him to offer the burnt offering on the altar (which was specifically to be done by the priests). As a result, his kingdom was taken from him (1 Samuel 13:8-14).
• A festive procession of Israelites, convened by King David to escort the Ark of God to Jerusalem, quickly turned solemn as God struck Uzzah (a Kohathite) dead; for he had laid his hand upon the Ark (2 Samuel 6:1-9; cf. Numbers 4:15).
• Cain offered a grain offering and God was not pleased with his sacrifice of worship. We are not told of the instructions that God gave Cain and Abel concerning their offerings but we are included in the evaluation of the offerings. Gen. 4:3-16
• Throughout the Psalms the Bible tells us to shout (Psalm 132:16), clap (Psalm47:1) , sing (Psalm 47:6), dance (Psalm 149:3), and play music (Psalm 150) as an act of worship.

But what about the New Testament and what it says how we should worship God. The answer could be found in Romans.

Ro 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

I think there is a better verse(s) that might sum it up.

John 4:23 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth? What it means is when we come to God falsely and utter words and songs from our lips, and gestures from our bodies and thoughts that are not on Him but on other matters then we are not in spirit nor truth? Our attitude in worship is of equal importance to our action. Time and again, God rebuked the attitude of His people Israel through the prophets. They made many sacrifices and prayers, kept the new moons, Sabbaths, and assemblies, yet their observation of these things were “…a trouble…” to the LORD, causing Him to “…weary…” (Isaiah 1:11-20). Though they continued in all these which were commanded by God, their hearts were not pure. They lived in sin. Their presence at the Temple was nothing more than a trampling of that which was holy, and their sacrifices were futile.

In Matthew 15, the Pharisees came to Jesus with an accusation that His disciples did not do according to the tradition of the elders (verse 2). In response, Jesus revealed that the Pharisees, by their traditions, were in fact nullifying the word of God (verses 3-6). And thus, He concluded of them, “Hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (verses 7-9).

Where’s you heart when you worship? Is it on what you want or what God wants from you. Are you willing to bow on your knees before him or raise your hands before Him regardless of how silly you look in front of family and friends. Are you willing to shout so loud the whole church hears you. To worship God in Spirit and Truth means to have your heart fully submitted to the one who desires worship and sets the parameters of worship.

If it is done in spirit and truth, then is must line up with God’s word. Is your worship biblical? Does what you consider your sacrifice of worship line up with scripture? You have to answer that for yourself but remember God knows your heart. In order to worship in spirit and truth, it must be spiritually of God and truthfully from God. For God is Spirit (John 4:24) and Truth (John 14:6)!

Now is the time football fans are gearing up to watch a little pigskin and hard-hitting. Fans are pulling out their jerseys and buying tickets to head to their team’s “Mecca”. It’s a full on fan fair for the latter part of the year to see their favorite team take on team rivalries.

But there’s another rivalry being forsaken. Another arena where the two teams fighting is abandoned. This place is church. In the Greek it’s called “ekklesia” meaning the assembly.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (New International Version)

¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

There’s so much in these verses but I want to focus on v24 and v25. How do we stimulate one another to love and good deeds and encourage one another? The answer is by using our spiritual gifts.

1 Peter 4:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Romans 12:4-6 (New International Version)

⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

So what are some spiritual gifts? Here’s a few.

Romans 12: exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching, wisdom

1 Corinthians 12: administration, apostle, discernment, faith, healing, helps, tongues

Ephesians: evangelism, pastor

Now let me get on my soap box and do a little preaching for a moment. If we are the body and every part has its function, how can the body function properly with missing parts? Doesn’t the leg need the knee to bend, or the hand need the fingers to pick things up? Maybe your thinking, “I have nothing to offer. I’m like an appendix.” Leave it to me to disagree with you. If you didn’t have anything to offer, then you would have no purpose.

You have a purpose!

Peter says each one should use the gift given to them. This means everyone has a gift and it should be used. You embody one of the gifts, if not more mentioned above. You may not realize it yet because you have not appropriated it yet. But you have one… or more.

Maybe you think you have the gift of exhortation (encouragement), giving, or helps, those gifts that most people think are small in the grand scheme of things. I would “encourage” you to think again. Try thinking back to when one of these “small” gifts served you.

Maybe you were having a bad day and someone spoke encouragement. Maybe you thought you couldn’t accomplish something and someone helped you. These “small” gifts turn into “huge” gifts when utilized to turn your world upside down. You made it through something you thought would be the death of you.

Let me twist the knife in your chest now. Is it worth forsaking (Hebrews 10:25) the assembly (church), forsaking your gifts, and forsaking possible life changing moments for 60 minutes of football? The next time your team is playing an early game and you decide to miss church to catch the kickoff, consider how you are abandoning the needs of the body for a football game. A life changing moment is eternal. A 60 minute football game… well it’s over in 60 minutes (of play)!

Love… ahhh. So much to that very small word with a huge ole meaning. I have no plans to define it. It means so much to so many people and to box it up is wrongfully devastating.

I was thinking today, how can someone who doesn’t know God begin to Love Him. I mean really? Do we honestly expect someone to say a prayer and get up and say I love you God? When was the last time you loved something you didn’t experience.

I love my car. Why? Because I saw and it and drove it.

I love this pie. Why? Because it makes my taste buds do flips and twirls.

I love my wife/husband. Why? Because he/she treats me well (or sadly looks hawt).

I love this song. Why? Cause it sounds awesome and puts me in a mood I like.

I love Justin Bieber. Why? No there is no answer for that. Your just messed up!!!!!

We that have experienced the love and justness and mercy and discipline and kindness and fire of God love Him. We know Him. But what about those that don’t know Him.

Question: How can they experience God and begin to love Him?

Answer: Through us that do know Him.

Is that not what we are called to do. To love God and others. By loving others as God loves us, they see God loving them and they in turn will find that loving God is good. This is what we need to do. This is what we should desire to do. In order to reach those who have not experienced God, let them experience Him through us, that they may to desire to experience the one who authored love.

If this is old news, how come we can’t get it right?!?!?!?!? When did we find it safe to move from this premise?

• Two vehicles pass side by side and automatically wave at one another.
• 5 minute trip to Wal-Mart turns into two hours, especially after church
• Small get together turns into a town celebration
• Everyone’s kin
• A Day of hauling hay or cutting tobacco is a day of community gatherings
• Neighbors are like family. Go next door and get some milk.

I could go on. Because I love that life. It’s different. The beauty of it is people know you. The problem with it is people know you. In the video above, the name of the song is “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.” Maybe you’ve heard of it. Brad Paisley made it popular but it was originally written by Darrell Scott.

Right now I’m writing a book called When Dogs Howl and it’s all about the country life. I’m at peace when I’m in the country. It’s so relaxing. It’s almost like the country calls my name. So I really enjoy when I get to sit down and write a little in it. Being in the city where there is literally no respect for your neighbor, traffic is immeasurably painful, people don’t care for others and life is running 1,000 miles an hour, life can be demanding and highly stressful. And this is a town where most people call small at 130,000 people. I come from a town of 13,000 and my wife comes from a town of 300.

Small town life. It’s worth it. It takes life, slows it down and allows you to enjoy the air you breath and the people you love and the God you worship. One day, small town, we will meet again. Then, I will never leave small town alive!

10 Fun Facts About “Back To The Future”

I don’t watch too much tv anymore. Hollywood, it seems to me, doesn’t care about family anymore. Single teens are their audience and sex is their selling point. Respect for the family has been lost in this country. Movies about kids upstanding their parents and glorifying premarital affairs… well… I don’t really care for it.

Call me old school but I dig old westerns and family shows like the 80′s had; The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Silver Spoons, Growing Pains. I’m not saying these were holy and righteous shows but compared to today’s entertainment… wow!

On the link above there is one fun fact that kinda blew me away. I wish Hollywood producers and directors still thought this way today, but I guess it doesn’t sell movies.

Fun Fact #3-Originally, the time machine was a refrigerator, but director Robert Zemeckis worried kids would accidentally lock themselves in refrigerators after seeing the movie.

Robert actually thought things through on how his movie would encourage or influence kids to do things that might hurt them. (I haven’t looked into other movies he has done). So where is the integrity of movie makers and TV shows today?

I expect everyone of them to read my blog and change their ways and we’ll have a Hollywood of respectful actors and actresses, producers and directors. (A boy can dream can’t he?)

It’s not easy running a church. It’s not easy being in leadership. What is easy is messing up. The beauty of the mess ups is gaining experience.  Just the other day I had the opportunity to set down with a friend that asked me for my advice. This guy is about 20 years my senior and I felt humbled yet excited that he would allow me into his life enough to listen and give advice.

What he didn’t know is I had gone through something similar to what he is going through just a few years ago and had learned and gained much wisdom on how to handle it if I ever experienced it again.

I have another friend that we have gone through many things. Things I don’t want to tell but we’ve laughed together, cried together, yelled at each other, prayed together, worshiped together, and played music together. He even housed me when I got kicked out of my parents house and led me to Christ when I was ready, not when he was. He is a friend. A great friend. Through our life together, I have seen a lot in ministry and done some things right, but I’ve done many things wrong. So I’ve learned quite a bit. But I haven’t arrived, don’t get me wrong.

So you may be asking where exactly am I going with this. I’ll tell ya. Let’s look at some scripture.

James 1:2^-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Notice James said to consider it pure joy when you face trials. Why? I think it’s a simple answer that’s hard to carry out. But we have a problem with looking at life in the now rather than looking at life in the will be. Meaning, we get upset cause life is dealing us a bad hand rather than looking to what it might teach us and we can use to help others when they are going through similar situations.

By developing perseverance notice James tells us that once it’s finished in us we will be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Have you ever met someone who’s supposed to be an adult but still acts like a child arguing over petty things and throwing temper tantrums. Yeah, they didn’t persevere. So they are not mature and complete. Sad!

Do you want to be treated like an adult. Do you want to be respected for your thoughts. Try considering it pure joy when you go through trials. For your sake and others around us, so that you may be found mature and complete lacking nothing.