A study in Romans

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— Romans 3:25

A footnote to that verse found in a study book says this; appeasement or satisfaction; Christ's death satisfied the offended holiness of God.

Man, that hit me like a ton of bricks. Have you ever offended someone when you had no idea of just harsh the consequences of your actions were? I've grown up in church, and so I guess I've always had this underlying knowledge of Jesus' blood covering my sins. Have you ever really taken seriously the sin in your life and really come to terms with the fact that you deserve death. The bible says no one is righteous, no not one (Psalm 14). We read in Romans the seriousness that the punishment for sin is death. The sins committed day in and day out are an offense to God, he hates sin. And yet how many times have we let him down?

I had to spend a few minutes in prayer and just repent and ask for God's forgiveness. I have been reminded of just how much we NEED Jesus. Without the blood shed on the cross we have no pardon, no redemption. Our sins are totally forgiven, the debt has been paid in full. Thank you Jesus.

Can't wait for this next part in the study in Romans where Paul shifts gears and talks about God's love, his open arms ready to receive those who come.

Fuchsia Lamps

I swear, I find myself in the oddest of situations. I'll probably become a comedian one way and tell this story......

So I took Dad shopping (just had heart surgery can't drive himself anywhere) and he wanted a reading lamp from our local Walmart. They had it in their usual silver color for $12; but our family are cheapskates, Dad didn't mind taking the college dorm colored ones available in Orange an Fuchsia. They only had 2 Orange, which we bought earlier today. So we later find out one doesn't work. So my Dad insists I take it back tonight and pick up two new ones (he now wants three, one in his room, and one on either side of our couch so no matter where he is, he has light so he can read.)

I made the return, and go to pick up the now Fuchsia lamps and as I am checking out the cashier poses the question, "so.........are you buying these for yourself?" I'm explaining the whole story to the cashier of how my Dad who just had heart surgery and can't drive wanted more lights, and this all that they, your silver ones that you carry year-round are $12, and my Dad wanted to only pay $9, and didn't mind having the bright Orange ones you might find in a college dorm room.

The funniest part is I'm using my Dad's credit cart, and it's not signed, so she asks for my ID and I further explain my Dad can't drive; and she's like, "with you telling me that whole story, it's too weird not to believe he sent you to use his card." So this is just one story of the weird situations I find myself in while trying to help my parents out.......

Speaking of which, my Dad and I get to spend more time together as I'm taking him to church tomorrow! Yay!! I really do love my Dad; but he is not always the most appreciative person in the world. So I'll be glad after I take care of him, and take him home, I can go and do what I love doing the most in this world; and that's hanging out with students and ministering to them, and using my gifts and abilities in tech to make them more able to worship.

Thought I'd never see this

I've been at my job for almost 6 years, and I've never seen this before. This kind of thing is the reason I work in Harford County. I would expect this in Cecil County.... Some guy drove his lawn tractor to the store today. I didn't get a picture, wish I had. It was hilarious. I'll share this pic from a friend's Facebook.

Consider it pure joy

You know, I started this post with some of the stories of what's been going on in my life over the past 2 months. I've got to be honest, I appreciate the concern of so many people, but I'm sick of talking about it. Trying to use all the fine medical terms, trying to make people think this is something that's easy and makes sense. Quite honestly, this whole ordeal doesn't make sense. I read the passage in the book of James that says to "Consider it purse joy whenever you face trials of many kinds." It's a part of scripture I should be familiar with, growing up in the church I've heard it many times. But right now it just makes me want to punch the writer in their mouth, and I'm not usually the violent type.

Consider it pure joy? My Dad lost his job, a job he worked incredibly hard at, and spending long hours just to keep the bills paid and to work on paying off credit card debt. Then we find out he needed to have bypass surgery. I can't help by feel through the circumstances of events, I was so close to loosing him. He has never been the easiest to get along with, he's always the first to let us know if he's upset about something. And yet he's my Dad. I get angry with him periodically knowing all while I will end up forgiving him. I am the apple of his eye, he captures my heart, and my affection for him grows more and more.

Consider it pure joy? Life has been so hard lately. I was standing in church one Sunday just a few weeks ago and we began to sing "His Love Endures Forever"; and you get to the chorus where it says, "forever you are faithful, forever you are strong..." Never has is been harder for me to sing those words. Really God, you are always faithful, and strong? You are always in control?

It's easy for someone who's grown up in the church to understand how God works from a theological, and educational standpoint. You understand God in your head. You have that knowledge inside of you. It's something totally different to realize it in your heart; and to lean on Jesus. Deep down I want to get to the point where I can just lay everything down for God, and live in reckless abandon for Him. I so want to be able to release by burden, my pain, and this unsurmountable uncertainty I feel. Uncertain about my life, where it's headed, what lies in store for my future. Will I find a career I'm happy with, will I find a wife, the woman of my dreams, and grow a family that obeys Jesus, will I live out my commitment to be a kingdom worker?

In any case, I'm going to take the advice I would give someone else who feels this way; never give up. One of my favorite passages in scripture is John 6. A challenge to anyone wrestling with their unbelief. Verse 60 says, "On hearing it, many of his disciples said, 'This is a hard teaching, Who can accept it?'" Skip to verse 66 which reads; "from this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." In the next verse, Jesus asked the Twelve, "you don't want to leave to?" I love Peter's response in verse 68-69;"Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God"

So challenging. When the going gets tough, or when you encounter teaching that is hard to accept, like James 1:2, are you going to just give up? Or will be grounded like Peter and say to the Lord, "where else could I go? You are the Holy One!" I don't know where this journey of life will take me; but my earnest prayer is that I stay grounded in what is true. I want to know in my heart that Jesus is the Holy One. I want to know in my heart that he's all I need.

"cause I need you Jesus,

to come to my rescue.

Where else could I go?

There's no other name

by which I am saved.

You've captured me with Grace,

I will follow you."

Salvation

Just thinking over some stuff in our Christian circles, want to set the record straight. Make sure we understand what we're about. Let me know what you think..

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. Acts 16:29-31

Several months back at a student ministries events, one of the other leaders posed the question, "how do you become a Christian?" Some said you have to go to church, some said read the bible. Some said you need to volunteer at church. All good things, essential things to be an active part of Christ's body (the Church).

But just in those two verses is proof that the idea of having to do something in order to be good enough for God is absolutely not correct. Like what it said at Mountain a lot, "all that thinking about Religion where you have to do this, or do that that, we realize it just a bunch of doo-doo"

How am I saved? By grace, God loves you enough he brought his Son into the world to die for our sins. Through faith, we place our trust in Jesus. Not something we've done, not by doing good works, or doing good things, so that way no one can boast. "I'm a better Christian than you, look what I offered to the Lord." No, the ground at the foot of the cross is level. Everyone who shows up there is equally broken in our sin, and just as sinful and wretched as the person standing next to us and redemption is only brought through Christ's sacrifice.

Do we really believe what our Bibles tell us, or is our faith, instead of being built on the rock of our salvation, is built by a bunch of do-do?

Take a minute this week and read over Ephesians 2, see what it is to be made alive in Christ. A good look at just what people are.

Don't Leave...

Don't Leave...

a note for graduating seniors

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:66-69

Especially if you're a senior this year, you've no doubt already made a ton of decisions in the last 12 months, I want to encourage that you take of the most utter seriousness one more decision. Do not leave the church of Jesus. Do not turn your back on the Lord. You need the church now more than ever, as you enter this time in your life where the church has probably the least amount of attenders.

If you're going to spend next fall on a college campus, one of the very first things you should do is locate the campus ministry. Some ministries are harder to find than others depending on the campus. You need to locate a good, bible-teaching church where you can grow in your faith.

If you're going to spend time near home, seek ways to get plugged into other people your age. Mountain has a great Young Adult Ministry with small groups meeting weekly, and many large group gatherings throughout the year.

In either case, you need to make a decision. Some of you will be like the early followers of Jesus and turn your backs on him. The same tongue you used last Sunday singing, "You are stronger, sin is broken, you have saved me" you'll use that same tongue to no longer have any regard for Christ. Some of you will choose to continue to follow Christ and say with Simon Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

In any case, you're adults now, and it's a choice YOU will have to make for yourselves.

This is a time where many adults in your life are giving big congratulations and encouragement to you. I probably won't be there this Sunday night, even if I am able to make it I wouldn't have the guts to get up in front of people and say this. But if I'm going to say that I care about students, then I want to leave you with these words, because it is of such great importance that you get this.

You're graduating from high school, you're graduating out of Fuel, many of you will be leaving home, but don't graduate out of Jesus. Don't leave...

How He Loves Us

This is a song that's been pulling on my heart strings lately. It's pretty simple. The chorus repeats in perfect harmony "oh how he loves us so, oh how he loves us."

And I can't get over the poetic beauty of the two choruses. Remembering the verse in the Bible which reads, "God is a jealous God."

These exact lyrics I copied and pasted off a website which couldn't provide the names of the writers of this song, but it's popularity arose from the David Crowder Band. So thanks to the David Crowder Band for giving this song to the world. Oh if only everyone could believe so passionatly how much God loves them...

How He Loves Us

He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions

eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way…