Finding a life raft in the sea of frustration

A few days ago I was watching a video of a successful worship ministry. It was really fantastic and full of life, passion and a strong anointing of God. Now, as a Worship and Creative Arts Pastor for 15 years,
I stand up and take notice when I see people pouring their hearts out and adoring their awesome God.

Unfortunately, I soon went from exaltation to minor depression (anyone else with an artsy personality?) as I saw elements of their ministry that were not in mine. Fortunately, this didn't last long as the Lord revealed to me a marvelous truth that brought renewed passion and a peace to my soul.

Psalm 139:13,14 is so beautiful it bears repeated meditation. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

We are crafted by God. We are His "workmanship". He has thought specifically about us and created us to be an amazing work of art. Then, if that wasn't enough, as a believer in Jesus Christ He has given us spiritual gifts. These things are supernatural and draw others to Jesus.

God desires for us to flourish in who He created us to be. To listen to His voice, then obey Him with all that we are. Not to worry or fret about what we can't do, but to be that person that He "knit together". We will see the beauty in life as we listen to Him and allow Jesus to bring harmony to our world and people are brought closer to Jesus.

So, I guess I'll continue to minister with all my might with the gifts He has already given me. To recognize and feed into the incredible people I work with whom He has also "fearfully and wonderfully" made.

Are you drowning in the sea of frustration? I think I've found a life raft for you.  His name is Jesus, and "His works are wonderful. I know that full well."


 

Hearing God

So I once again asked God how I could make a greater difference in the world. And, once again, His answer was short and sweet. John 14:21 says this, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me."

I really think I love Jesus, now. He changed my life 27 years ago from a depressed, going nowhere drug and alcohol abuser, to someone with real hope, real love and having my feet on solid ground. He made me think of someone other than myself. But this verse really challenged me.

Do I hear His voice all the time? Probably not. Will I always do what He says? I would hope so, but probably not. But I want to....badly. For if I have learned anything these past years, it is that He knows what's best for me and everyone around me.

So it comes back to this...once again. Listen to His voice and His commands and do what He says. This always means bringing people closer to Jesus. And that, my friends, is worth it all.

Christmas 101

As we are all preparing for our holiday season, I thought it would be a great time to remind you how to approach some of the challenges and joys you will encounter.

Remember, Christmas isn’t necessarily for you. It’s for how you can bless someone else. This will change your entire outlook on parties you don’t care to attend, gifts you don’t care to buy and presents you don’t really care for.

As Pastor Tim has reminded us, we are all prodigals come home. Being thankful to God for the people in our lives should be a given, if we only allow ourselves to speak and listen to God and meditate on His Word. You have more people to love around you than you can count.

You know, sometimes loving on our children at Christmas time is just automatic. As the song goes, “Christmas is for Children,” right? This year, why don’t you try something entirely different.  Make this Christmas the best holiday season your wife or husband has ever had. That doesn’t necessarily mean presents. Here’s a few ideas:

*Pay more attention to them. You’ll be amazed how far that goes!

*Turn off the football game or “Dancing with the Stars” and talk with your spouse. (You always have DVR!)

*Stop in your car for a moment before entering the house, and ask God to help you say something positive and encouraging.

*Ask and listen to what happened in his or her day.

*Do something unexpected. Like being really, really nice! (Dishes are easy once you get the hang of it!)

*How about an unexpected date?

Above all, love your family and love your friends. God loved you, right? That in and of itself is the most amazing thing of all!

Merry Christmas!

to be or not to be...successful!

What is success? Wow, what a fleeting thing that is. We measure it in so many different ways. If you're like me, I am constantly analyzing my life and it's effect on others, positively and negatively.

Because I don't have a six figure bank account, am I a failure? Does a wonderful family make me a success? If one of my children makes a poor choice, am I a failure? Or, if they make excellent choices, am I a success? Do thriving ministries get me to that category? Does good leadership make me an awesome person? Or poor leadership the opposite?

Well, as a Christian person, in order for me or anyone else to keep our sanity, there is really only one answer. It's found in several areas in the Bible, here's a few:

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."


John 15:5, 10 (The whole chapter, really) "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

v.10 "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

The answer is a question: Am I doing what God has asked me to do? Have I kept my heart soft before Him? Am I abiding in Him?

If you can say yes to these things, you are a tremendous success! Your potential is limitless! Though circumstances may have got you down, remember it's all part of the growth process. Just do what He (Christ) asks you to do. Just be sure to stop and listen......peace and clarity will come in His time. Your success has already taken place...in Him.

Fool's Gold

I read a book about a boy who was 12 years old and temporarily died in an auto accident, then was in a coma. During his time in a coma he went to heaven and spent time with Jesus. When he awoke, he knew a lot of scripture and lots of simple messages from Jesus and what He wants for our lives. The book is entitled, "A Message from God" by Retha Mcpherson. (Mother)

The one thing I want to share about this book is that it focuses so wonderfully on God's desire that we have a relationship with Him, and that is the only way we will have true joy in our lives. We fill our world up with little pleasures that give us temporary good feelings. If we think this will make us happy and joyful people, then we are in for a big letdown. It really is only Fool's Gold.

It's like the lady who is stressed out by work and goes shopping to buy things she doesn't need, only to get a brief shopper's high and let down the moment she gets home. Or the man who watches sports constantly to get his mind off the fact that his marriage is falling apart and he's not the person he wishes he was.

This world can be full of heartache. We were never meant to try to live it on our own.The real Gold is found surrendering our will and lives to the Lord, and accepting the fact that He has all things we need in this life. He is our source. He is the answer. If you want to know the real "Secret", that's what it is.

Jesus said in the book of John that "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." Abiding in Him means to live your life according to His will, what He wants, and "enjoying God."

Oh...so much more to say...but I know He's calling your name for true riches and not...."Fools' Gold".

Roger

The great chasm

I have been on a renewed journey in recent weeks, all beginning when my wife showed me a video of a woman experiencing a miracle by God that saw her son come back from a coma. I do a lot of media advertising as part of my job as Worship and Creative Arts Pastor at Bethel Church in Medford, Or, and during my viewing, I found myself silently mocking the production of the reenactment, and linking the testimony along with it.

I was immediately convicted of my arrogance, and realized somehow I had allowed life's experiences to "jade" my outlook on God's miracles and those who would testify of them.

Since that moment, and my subsequent repentance to Christ, God has given me a renewed hunger to see and experience His Spirit at work in my life and others. I'm not trying to be weird or strange, I just love God with all my heart as He has done so much for me, and know the possibilities with Him are endless.

In John 11:39, 40 Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead (One of His most incredible miracles!), and asked those at the tomb to "Remove the Stone". He then said to Martha, who had been giving Him the obvious information that Lazarus would be stinking after 4 days, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"

He then proceeds to raise Lazarus from the grave. Wow.

The key is..."If you believe", then you will see God's glory. Actual belief and faith in God is a step forward from where we are. It says, "I don't care what people think or say, I am believing what God says." That is where we begin to experience the reality of Christ and what He is willing to do in and through us.

The difference between casual agreement with the Bible and the things of God, and actively pursuing Him, is like a huge chasm, because God does something supernatural when we get serious with Him. He takes us from a natural place where we only see with earthly vision, to seeing everything clearly from His viewpoint. That's when life really begins. And something else automatically happens when we have an encounter with God....Sweet, uninhibited worship.

Tripping the light fantastic!

Hey...welcome to my blog! You probably have questions about the title, so, to satisfy your curiosity, here's my thought process with it. To "trip the light fantastic" is "to dance nimbly or lightly, or to move in a pattern to musical accompaniment." As we all go through this journey called life, it is an absolute adventure, and this phrase, for me, captures the excitement, mystery, heartache and joys of this amazing opportunity that God has given to us. It speaks of unknown adventures, approached with curiosity, hope, creativity and an expectancy to see God invade our world. It's an exciting life with God at the helm!

I will be speaking to you about worship to God, and my thoughts on a closer relationship with Him. I'm a creative guy, so I tend to look at things from that viewpoint. God is awesome, and He has made us to be creative individuals, each with our own twists and turns. Because of Him there is no limit to what we can accomplish, to His glory.

There is a scripture in the bible in Romans 8:28 "For we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose." As we get to know Him better though the Word of God (Bible), prayer, faith and obedience to Him, we begin to see Him working in,through and around us. God will open our eyes to the circumstances, chance meetings and strange coincidences that we encounter which all bring Him glory. As we pray with faith and seek His face, He will cause "all things to work together for good". Life becomes absolutely exciting as we see the Holy Spirit orchestrating life before our very eyes.

So...when we come together for a worship service or home study, we are so filled with His goodness, love for others and filled with an expectancy to experience Him more and more, that our worship times become electric and full of passion! This is the life we've all been looking for...a life full of hope and expectation!