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!