Tick Tock Goes The Clock

If you are anything of a Doctor Who fan, you understand just what is being said and what the Doctor is talking about. Time is something all of us have and is something we can never get back. When your time is up and life is over, nothing you do can stop it. I remember when I was younger and always wishing I was older, 16 so I could drive, 18 so I could buy smokes (not a good idea to start smoking), 21 so I could drink legally (you may want to pass that by also). Well now at 40, I want it all back, not really, I wouldn’t want to ever have to go through dating again, hated all the drama that came with that, but I do sometimes wish that I would have done some things differently!

I would have liked to spend more time focused on school and less on the party. I would like to have made lifelong friends who would have had my best interest, instead of trying to impress all those who didn’t care a lick about me. I would like to have waited until I was married with the whole sex thing and most importantly have given my life to Christ earlier.  These are all things that I would like to have done, but the truth is that my testimony would be half of what it is if I hadn’t had experienced all that I did. Would I have the same impact on people, probably not, my story would not be the same and neither would I?

We may be counting down our days here on Earth, but we need not worry, if our hope is in Christ, we are promised eternal life. So all the wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff need not be the focus of our lives, instead of trying to get back what’s lost and counting the seconds that are left, try making the greatest impact on those around you, so you too can hear those prized words spoke by Jesus, ” Well done good and faithful servant”.

Looking for love in all the wrong places

At some point in your life you have set through the song “looking for love in all the wrong places”. Or even better heard the joke ” Do you know why cowboys always have poop in their mustache? The answer is in the title! OK, I know some people won’t continue reading this, that’s OK, this isn’t for them!  I heard that joke when I was about 15 and low and behold it was in a Cheech and Chong movie! Now I probably lost a few more with the announcing I watched Cheech and Chong movies, its cool, move along! So what does this song/ joke have to do with my blog? Well since the two of you left reading are wanting an answer, I will tell you.

From the time we are born we start looking for significance and value in who we are. Many of us (me included) look for our character based on how others feel about us. Most of the time we ask or seek praise by who we associate with, the clothes we wear and when the time is right, the car we drive. Many of us get caught in the trap of people pleasing, letting others dictate what we believe and why. We all struggle with bullies, if you or someone else is dictating the emotions, hairstyle, or beliefs of someone else, you are a bully! I threw hairstyle in there due to just about every person that cuts my hair tries to do something else they like with it, I LOVE my hair and may not have many days left with it ( according to my wife)!

Who are you pleasing, maybe a friend, someone who you want to notice you or maybe even your parents ( students, I am in no way telling you to disrespect your parents, but have a talk with them and be truthful if you are in this predicament, your parents want whats best, I know, I am one). We all are trying to find out who we are and what it is that defines us, but the unfortunate part is that we may not figure this out until we are well into our thirties and start experiencing this with our own children. Reading this blog will not change your life, but I do know one way to redefine yourself now, its coming to know that Jesus is the only one who will not bully into change, life change will come through shaping and walking the path that glorifies all he did for each of us.

We all look for love in the wrong places, but the wrongs in our past can hold on to us  and much like a gargoyle sitting upon skyscraper for centuries, those things will be with us and will haunt us, but Jesus can wipe all these bad decisions away! Its not going to be easy, you will always have people who will taunt you for believing in an unseen God( I know, I will get it from a few friends for this blog), but you push on, praying for them, and building new relationships that will strengthen your faith. Your walk with God could be the life changing moment for many whom you never talk to, but many will observe your faith and may come to know the Risen Christ because of it!

Romans10:13

Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.”

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse

Hit me with your best shot

I have learned a hard lesson in the world of cycling and it goes like this, just because you ride a bike doesn’t make us friends! In the past few weeks I have also been learning this same lesson in the world of Church! Just because you know Jesus, this doesn’t make us friends. BOO! I call fail, on my part and every other Christian out there that thinks they are better than a fellow believer. Even more I call out Pastors who think that they are untouchable or better than another pastor. Shame on all of us who are pastors who think they can treat someone like they don’t matter or aren’t worth talking with, due to difference of denomination or size of church or popularity.

If we as the leaders of the church, are going to truly lead the church and reach a broken world, we better think of each other as equals. Paul spent a good bit of his time in chains reaching those far from God, not behind the pulpit masquerading and preaching on what we should do, just to leave the building and stiff the waitress at lunch. How dare we as leaders not make time to get together and pray, even more not reach out to each other for accountability. We speak of grace face to face, but spit words of deceit and damnation behind each others backs. We as leaders of the church need to surrender all we think we hold, our families, our congregation and their tithes, and our popularity race and meet Jesus where we left Him. The foundations of the church are not built upon greed and selfish gain, but love and mercy, remember,  Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment.  The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”Matt 22:34-40

We are the church, we should be united, knowing Jesus makes us brothers and sisters, we will not always see eye to eye on everything, but when those who are lost and broken look to the church, they should see a family united and strong and they should desire to belong.

Punk Rock to Church Planter

I still listen to punk, almost daily! I love the sound, I love the nonconforming message that comes from the punk rock, it’s probably the biggest reason I became a Christian and ultimately a church planter. Yea you read that right, punk rock led me to Jesus! I used to think that Christianity was all about conforming, putting on a suit and tie and going to church, telling people how, if they don’t turn, they will burn! Well did I ever get a wake-up call! Jesus may not have used Knox gelatin or super glue and an iron for his mohawk, but that guy was punk before Iggy.

As a follower of Jesus, we are called to not conform, not to be of the world. I was doing this already, I just replaced the drugs with Jesus and found myself in an upward spiral, instead of the steady downward spiral. I didn’t change anything else, God did that for me over time. I have experienced life on a whole new level, in fact, I have been able to share my life story with other punks and watched them become so much more than rebellious teens, they have become an organized voice. As a so-called punk, I wanted to be heard and seen, as a Christian I serve those who are unheard and unseen by the world!