Religion vs The Gospel

I find myself living my life according to what religion says I need to do and be and not what the Gospel says I am in Christ. In this chart from his book, Center Church, Tim Keller points out the main differences between Religion and the Gospel.

And The Survey Says...

Growing up, one of my most favorite game shows was The Family Feud. And no, not the one with Louie Anderson (of Splash fame) or John Hurley (from Home Improvement) or even the newly revamped version with Steve Harvey. I'm not even referring to when the show was hosted by Ray Combs. I'm talking old school Richard Dawson Feud! Now I realize that I was only seven when Dawson ended his run on The Feud, but he's the one I remember most and best.

What I loved so much about it was how it was a game solely based on popular opinion. So all you had to do is think like the majority and you could win easily! Ok, I didn't necessarily realize it at the time, because what seven-year-old thinks of how a game is awesome because it has no real correct answer and is completely left up to speculation of what a majority of random people think. But I believe that's what I liked so much about it...subconsciously that is.

However, the more I think about it now, the more I realize that is how many of us actually live out our lives. I look at my own heart and life and I see it so clearly now. It's like I'm living out a game of family feud. I'm clamoring to be the first to push the buzzer and shout out what the popular answer is to life's most important questions. Who I am, what I do, where I go, it's all about what other people, random people, even people who have no real concern or care for me, think or believe about who I should be, what I should do, or where I should go! And the worst thing is I trust in what the survey says.

Now in my "game"/life I'm not pitted against another family. It's more like a constant and continuous opening "face-off." And my opponent isn't another person, it's God. But here's the real issue. In a game like family feud, I'd beat God. Because the top five answers on the board about who I am, are from the world's survey and what the world says about me is...

5. He can't handle it.
4. He needs to try harder.
3. He needs more education.
2. He's a failure.
1. He's just not good enough.

And I'd get it right! Because I am more concerned with what the survey says than what God says! See when God looks at me He does His own survey. And through the blood-bought grace poured so lavishly upon my life by Jesus Christ, God sees a new creation. He slams His hand down on the buzzer and says...

5. He can do all things through Christ! (Philippians 4:13)
4. He doesn't need to earn His keep! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. His mind is being transformed and renewed. (Romans 12:2)
2. He has victory through my Son! (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
1. I am his and he is Mine...and that's good enough! (Romans 8:28-30)

God smashes the board of popular opinion, He makes foolish what we believe to be wise. But you know what? He doesn't lose a game of Family Feud, because He simply refuses to play it. This world and what it treasures is fleeting. Don't let others define who you are. Don't let this world tell you you're not good enough. Know your Heavenly Father. Trust and believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. Allow the grace that is ready to be poured out upon all who will believe cover you and make you new. Understand that "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) And above all...don't follow what the survey says!

The Reveal...

Today, my wife and I (and apparently an entourage of others) are going to pile into a tiny room. In this room, a nurse is going to rub some jelly stuff on my wife's belly and run a Star Trek tricorder over the area to tell us if we are having a boy or a girl.

I am well aware that God has a plan and a purpose and that no matter what, our hope and prayer is for a healthy, happy baby, no matter the gender. With that being said, I don't want to be out numbered in my own home, which I have been for the last year and a half since the birth of our first child, Zoey. Now don't get me wrong, I adore our bright-eyed, beautiful, sweet little girl and wouldn't trade my little princess for anything. It's just...three against one seems more ominous. You see if we have a boy, we even up the odds. And of course, it makes for perfect teams down the road (i.e., Boys vs Girls).

But all kidding aside, I am eager to find out what our next addition is going to be. Boy or girl, God is planning something amazing for our family. As a man with a speech impediment my fear has been, will my child have to grow up with the same issues and difficulties that I experienced growing up? And the more I think that the more God showers His grace on me and reminds me that I never walked this path alone and He wouldn't let my child walk it alone either. So I'm excited to find out the news and to see what God has in store for our new baby whatever.

But just as a precaution...from one who stutters on the "p" sound. I'm thinking of leaving out names like Penelope Piper Peavyhouse and Peter Pippin Peavyhouse for my sake...and theirs!

What I Think About On Easter...

"Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!"

It's hard to think of Easter without thinking of this amazing song of the season! Christ's atoning work on the cross has brought us life and this Wesleyan hymn captures it so perfectly.

"Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!"

What a cool way of saying...

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:5-11)

The story of Easter demonstrates God's love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) But we praise God the story didn't end there!

"Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!"

Not only did He die for our sins but He was raised conquering death completely. And our hope is not only in a cool story...if it were we would be most in need of pity. (1 Corinthians 15:13-19) But in fact we, through Christ's finished work on the cross, have been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5) Not only have our sins been forgiven, but we have been born again and we no longer live but it is Christ who lives in us. (Galatians 2:20)

Praise God for His abundant mercy and amazing grace that triumphs over sin, death, hell and the grave, and produces in us the righteousness of God so that we can stand called and commissioned to preach the gospel of reconciliation to all who will hear! (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)

My Life...Part of a Greater Story?

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This is a note I posted on my facebook page a few years ago, but it was a great reminder to me today and maybe you'll like it too. It also helps you get to know the stuttering pastor that I am!
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Psalm 139:13-18

Our small group had just finished Lesson 6 of The Truth Project. It was all about history, and knowing you are part of a greater story. God's greater story. So often in scripture God tells his people to REMEMBER! But why? We heard from Carl Marx stating, "A people without a heritage are easily persuaded." If the world can take the meaning and purpose out of the past, they can change the way we see the present and ultimately shape our future. According to Os Guinness, remembering the long road God has lead us down helps us find our purpose in Him, give Him our gratitude and follow Him in obedience. So I guess here is what I am asking...

Do you remember?

The Bible is not simply a good road map for life...IT IS GOD'S HISTORY BOOK!

Do you remember?

From Genesis to Revelation it is the story of God's grace and the redemption of man through the person and finished work of Jesus Christ!

DO YOU REMEMBER?

Well, this is why I decided to write this in the first place... I wanted to walk you down my road for a second and remind myself as I tell you about the great grace of my God, my Savior! So here is what I remember...

I was born on October 14, 1978. And from about the time I started forming cohesive sentences until today I have been blessed with a speech impediment. I stutter. You're probably asking yourself, "did he just say BLESSED!" And yes, I did.

I could look back on my past with anger and hatred toward God. I was made fun of by almost everyone, laughed at in class, scared to say anything to anyone for fear of the same. If I had reason to dismiss my past and say that God screwed it all up, I had the means to do it. But God in his infinite wisdom and amazing grace saw fit to show me this passage of His Word...

"Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether." - Psalm 139:4

Yes. I could look back and say, God screwed up! He made a mistake! The only problem with that statement is... It's a lie! I look back on my life and I see God's hand on me every single day. Holding me up, dusting me off, molding me and shaping me for something greater than I ever thought I was going to do. I know now that I am stronger than I would ever have been if it weren't for my past. I am humbled by this stammering tongue everyday. Especially when I think what I have to say is so important. And let me tell you, I have a tongue on me that can cut and it can cut deep. But God took away a lot of my ability to use it, so that I wouldn't use it! He knew I would if I could so He saved me from it.

But here is the greatest grace in all of this. He called me to be a worship leader, a public speaker and teacher and a pastor! Did you catch that! He called out the kid that couldn't put two words in front of another to preach and teach...WHY? To showcase His glory! To let the world see how awesome He truly is. But how is God's glory revealed in a stuttering pastor?!

BY GRACE. Grace upon grace upon grace. The thing is that when I lead worship and speak to groups about the greatness of God and share with them His Word, my stuttering just amazingly disappears for a season. For a brief moment, God opens my throat, rests my tongue and uses me to do things I could never do on my own. And in that moment, though all too brief a moment as it sometimes is, God's glory is revealed through my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

Oh that I would remember, remember, remember where God has brought me. And that this little, insignificant, lying, cheating, sinful man would never forget the grace that made him a part of a much greater story! All praise and glory be to the One who reigns on high forever and ever, my Savior, my Lord, Jesus Christ. And by His grace alone I stand!

Starting Again...Again!

Ok. So I'm not good at starting new things. Or in this case restarting them. I've had a blog before, after 2-weeks it kind of fell by the wayside. Let me be totally honest, I'm not good starting new things and I'm not good with keeping up with them once I have started either. At least where blogging is concerned. But I'm putting all that aside...again and trying my hand a second time in the world of blogdom! I will try to keep it as up-to-date as possible. Of course, no promises, but I'll try...again.

My prayer is that in the midst of all my weird and incoherent ramblings you begin to understand me, and in that, understand the source of everything I am about, my Savior, Jesus Christ. So here goes! I hope you enjoy this...again!