Who is Jesus?

For the most part it seems that most people, Christians included, do not fully understand who Jesus is. Many Churches and Christians portray Jesus as some weak and unloving individual. I am truly convinced that if we could understand just how much Jesus loves us we would act and live differently. Not that we would live more "holier" but we would live in freedom and excitement that Jesus is the God who loves unconditionally; we would worship out of pure joy and love for our Creator and not fear. 

One church in particular did a spoof on how they picture the world sees Jesus. Here it is...

How do you see Jesus? Is this video an accurate portrayal of the God you serve? If so, then I'm afraid you don't know the Jesus I know and am getting to know better.

honest confessions/ramblings of a preacher.

It's May 22, and I'm sitting in Starbucks pondering the church I work at and serve Jesus in. For you that don't know, I work in a small church (around 100 average worship attendance). I know that shocks some of you, or maybe not, but to some extent I like that we're small. However I don't believe for one minute that we're going to stay that size, and I hope we don't.  

My heart is abnormally heavy for my East Nashville community this morning. Maybe it's because I actually believe there's a hell and people will die and go there; maybe it's because I'm selfish and wish I had a larger church; maybe it's because I feel that to not consistently have a heavy heart means that I'm not a "good" pastor or Christian; maybe it's because in my heart I really love people despite being hurt over and over by them; or maybe it's because I enjoy and long to see smiles and hear laughter.

As a pastor, the questions that I have to constantly ask myself are:  Do I trust Jesus enough to speak truth when it's not popular? Am I willing to sacrifice myself in the pulpit for causes I may not deem important, but Jesus does? Am I acting as a servant leader or an egotistical leader? If love wins, am I loving? Can I get over myself for the good of the church? How can I lovingly tell people to get over themselves for the good of the church? 

My prayer this morning: Jesus, please fill all the churches in my community with people not agendas. May the truth of your Gospel be spoken, so those people are filled with hopes and dreams, in a time when that's seemingly nonexistent. May we fall at Your feet and worship You in ways that don't make sense at the heartfelt knowledge that You alone will never leave us, nor forsake us, and that in the end You have the last word and are victorious. Great is Your love that's poured out for us; Servant King you've rescued us, and You've bought us at a price that no one or thing could outbid. Thank you for seeing us as someone worth Your life. May we seek to serve You and make You famous, because You lived Your life to transform us and give us hope to face the day. In Christ Name I ask these things, Amen.

nine ways God speaks

I'm supposed to be studying my sermon for tomorrow's Mother's Day service, but I can't put down the book Nine Ways God Always Speaks, by my friend Jennifer Schuchmann and her friend Mark Herringshaw. Seriously, this book is a must read! I can't seem to get off my couch and stop reading this book. Although I'm not ready to write my review on it yet, I can tell you that this book is tackling the questions and thought processes that I have always asked and wondered about God in how He converses with us. 

I mean, at the heart of our faith we all want to understand God more fully, or at least understand how we can discern God's voice, right? The problem seems to be for so many of us that we feel awkward because we don't know if we've actually heard from God or what it would even sound like if God did speak to us, so we choose to keep all possible conversations with God on the hush hush! However, Scripture says that God's children WILL KNOW His voice when they hear it. As a Christian I believe what the Scriptures tell me, but is it possible to hear from God in the meantime through friends, signs, nature, etc. while we wait on the more obvious audible word from God? 

If you've been wanting to hear from God for the first, second, third, or hundredth time, this book is ridiculously entertaining and life altering as it points the reader to various directions for him/her to explore hearing from God. I can't wait to finish the book and let you know my thoughts on the finished product. In the meantime, I want to hear from you... Does God speak to you? If so, then what does He say or has He said? If not do you want to hear from God? 

Wednesday of next week (after church) I'll randomly pick a winner from your responses and send you a free copy of the book! Make sure you leave a way for me to get in touch... Can't wait to hear your God stories!!!