Technique or Christ

I just got finished listening to Louie Giglio interviewing John Piper. Louie asked many questions, but one he asked intrigued me. "What advice would you give young pastors that you wish you had received 30 years ago?"

Piper's answer really made me think about my life. (Being a young pastor). He warned this young generation that we get too into technology than the Word. Another words, you can tell a lot about someone on Twitter for example. Some tweet for the purpose to glorify God and encourage others, but you easily recognize "holy" people tweeting for other reasons. It seems like so many people want the latest quote and latest great idea, more than the word of God.

So he continued by giving the advice to stop doing these "latest" secondary things, and dive into the Word so much that they truly do become secondary things.

I think a lot of us young people, have a heart to save the lost. But I also strongly see that so many of us are not using our energy the right way. We can tweet all day, and make interesting videos, but how is our prayer life? We can create a nice blog that will captivate the eye, but how long have we read the Word that day?

So many of us, and I included, have fallen into this trap of what I want to call a "holy distraction". Because these things are good and beneficial, but we are doing it in the wrong order. Technology should come after having 2 hours in the Word. Not technology first, because then we get too tired to read the word. So another words first things first.

The only thing that moves the world is the power of God. So let's acquire that power.

Good in Life

In today's society, we have blurred the image of what good is in life. I believe if you even ask a "good" Christian what a good life lived is, I believe most of them would answer it wrong. And myself included.

God has been working on my heart so much lately through guidance, scripture, and sermons. I have begun to open my eyes to the fact of what a good Christian life is. I used to believe it was: "To become a great preacher." "Run a big ministry" "Have someone write a book about me after I die". I am realizing first of all, that if I have those motives, those accomplishments will never be fulfilled. And secondly, a good life is living more and more like Christ. Everything we do in the Christian life is to become more and more like Him and less and less like the world. That is what Christianity brings. The second you are born again, God starts a process in our hearts to mold us through trials and blessings to become more like Him!

O how I wish I have learned this earlier, because I feel like so many times I do things for the ministry. Instead of doing things strictly to become more like Jesus. To bring glory to His name by being an example of Him to this lost and dying world. Our world needs Jesus, and it is sad that the only way people can find Him these days is by digging themselves into the word of God. And how many people do that right away? Hence our results as a world. I am not saying that reading the Bible is the wrong way to do it,, Its the BEST way and only way once you've become a believer. But not many people will wake up and think "maybe I should read about Jesus". They need to see it through people's actions first!!! Then they will pick up the book and read!

Tears of the Saints

I strongly encourage you to watch this video. I believe sometimes we need to be reminded on how much our world needs Christ! And about how many do not even know who Jesus is! Don't just have an opinion about this video, make an action. Make a difference to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth!!

Love

So lately I have seen a lot of posts about love. I have come to a conclusion that

people are OBSESSED with it. Well, at least with the thought of it. But as I meditate, I have come to the conclusion that the majority of people have no idea what love means. For example. How many times have you seen someone put on their facebook "I am so in love" but within the week I read "I hate my life. My heart is broken" etc. But yet people still chase it.

As I read through scriptures it says, "¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16. We only can fathom love through Jesus Christ! But people seem to want to skip that step. It also makes me weep that people in the church, chase after love through their significant other. We must realize that in order for God to align our lives up, our lives need to align with Him. We should love God more than anything else! Another words, we are putting the wagon before the horse, and it just is not working.

So pray that people realize God is love. Jesus is the Savior, and without Him everything else is absolutely absurd!!

TobyMac!

So last night I went to the Relient K, tobyMac "Winter Wonder Slam" concert. And it was amazing to say the LEAST. Relient K's lead singer was not there, due to his mom having heart problems. But they did good for what they had. But the real show was Toby Mac!

He is so cool that all he has to say his "Sup People" and the whole crowd freaks out! ha. It's hard to believe that he is the same age as my dad. It just does not make sense to me! The whole Diverse City band was jumping around the whole time. And the greatest part was how they did it all for the glory of God. Its amazing how we can praise God through the talent's he has blessed us with.

But what I got out of the night when it was all said and done, was that the Gathering should have this sort of vision. The vision of reaching soo many lost people for Christ. Loud, bumping, and God glorifying music really opens the heart's of this generation. And I quite frankly do not see why the Gathering could make that kind of impact. I do not see why God can't use talents from all over the globe to spur a revival for Christ!!!

My prayer is that God is glorifed through all I do. Through all of Heart Cry Church. And through all of the Heart Cry Gathering. And to the churches throughout the ends of the earth!

Let's start a revival!

The First Gathering!

Thank you for all of those who were apart of the experience!

We started it off with a twinkie contest! The first 3 people who ran up got the "privilege" to eat three twinkies each, and the fastest would win a Skillet CD. But what they did not know is that we filled one of them with mayonnaise! Paula Martin came out as Champion, but not without a few gags.

We then kicked off the countdown as the beach balls were being tossed around the building. The countdown even made people do the funky chicken!

Now it was time to rock! Our band jammed out songs giving praise to God!!! Guitar Solo's and really loud drums all pointed to Christ! It was a blast! Especially with the lights flashing everywhere.

Treasuring Him, a Youtube video(look it up), was played and it led into the sermon. It was "Don't Waste Your Life". How everything should be about Christ, and nothing else. It is God who gives us purpose and meaning. And when we become saved, we are new creature's that strive to glorify Him. And the Gospel was clearly preached!!

If you missed it, come the next time around!

And if you made it, make sure you bring a friend next time!

Suffer

A Christian is someone who shares the sufferings of God in the world.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

To believe that everyone in America that claims is a Christian, is living this suffering life for Christ is preposterous. God has always commanded us that we must suffer for Christ and share in His sufferings. But its been such a burden to me, that the only reason so many people are "Christian" is so they have a ticket to Heaven. God is worthy of our entire lives, and I believe He expects the believer to commit his/her life to Him.

Why are preachers today only making sure they have attendance in Church? Let's talk about how we must give it all to Christ. He demands everything!!! And why do we rely on just our preachers to give the Word? Christians need to make a stand for God's word, and living out ALL the Word. It is the only way for change to occur.

Please join me in prayer for our church to wake from the deep sleep and become sold out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.