Intentional, but not crazy, about maintaining our focus (12/21/10)

It is easy to lose sight of the fact that we are called to lead people to redemption and not lead culture to redemption.  I am appalled at what I see on tv and movies as even commercials have inappropriate words and the content of almost every program points away from what I believe God intended the world to be.  I have come to the realization, however, that changing the flood of culture may be a lost cause (perhaps that's blasphemy, I'm open to that).  As I read the Bible it seems that one day evil is going to overrun the earth before the Lord redeems His followers and eventually reclaims creation, so if these are the last days, then perhaps that is what I am seeing take place.

I do know that it is easier to rail against "culture" and "society" than it is to share the gospel with an individual or lead a family devotion, and that that is where we are really losing the battle if it is being lost.

I am reminded of all of this as I see the all out blitz of holiday adds painting the vivid picture of "the holiday season" as a time to give and receive gifts.  Giving and receiving gifts is a wonderful tradition, but we have to guard against the forces of culture influencing our thinking and making Christmas only about that.  It is elementary, but how much time and energy do we spend on shopping verses how much we spend on worshipping and remembering Jesus.  That is not to say that it is all about a math formula which condemns you if it there are 10 parts shopping to 1 part worship, but it is a question of our hearts.  What percentage of our hearts are consumed by the various forces pulling at them?

Please find time this week to read the Christmas story with your family, and to mention Jesus as often as possible in the midst of everything that you are doing.

Also, please be sure to post something on Twitter or Facebook for Share the Bible day.  This is a campaign sponsored by youversion.com which offers free Bible apps for every mobile device, and will help us point people to the Bible on Christmas Day.  Click here for more information http://www.youversion.com/share-the-bible/

Share the Bible Day on December 25

Obviously (at least I hope), I am a big advocate of reading the Bible.  I believe that the Bible is the Word of God which He inspired to be written for us.  It contains the answers to all of our problems, and lights the way to everything that is going to bring us joy and make us whole.

I believe just reading the Bible is therapeutic, and you can gain wisdom for specific situations, peace in your heart and mind, and grow spiritually just from reading it regularly.  The Bible can also be used like an aspirin for acute problems if you read it in the face of specific pain or needs.

I hope that everyone with a Twitter account or Facebook will help spread the word about Share the Bible day December 25 sponsored by YouVersion.com.  YouVersion.com is a site associated with LifeChurch.TV which offers free Bible apps for any mobile device (Blackberry, Android, PC, iPhone, etc).  The app is really top quality and enables users to read the Bible anywhere, removing one of the barriers to regular Bible reading.  So Tweet or post a FB status update on Christmas Day telling everyone about YouVersion and why you love reading the Bible!

December is here!

Yesterday was our first snow day with school closed, so I cancelled my appointments and spent the day alternating between playing with the kids and reading.  It was good to spend time with the kids, and to spend time with Timothy Keller's Counterfeit Gods, which is, so far, a tremendous book. The snow also affected us Sunday, and many of our FCC family were absent. 

The message Sunday was entitled The Journey: Part 1: Lift Your Eyes, and in a nutshell it had to do with the heart of exploration that called the wise men to search for Jesus in Matthew chapter 2:1-12.  It is amazing to think that they were so observant to the sky that one star appearing could motivate them to make such a long and costly journey.  We are reminded to "lift our eyes" from the routine of our daily life and see that God is working in plan in us and through us.  We should check ourselves to be sure that we are as observant to "the still small voice" as the wise men were to the sky.

The long, costly journey of the wise men was for the sole purpose of worshipping.  They followed the star to Jesus, offered their gifts, and then they returned home.  There was no hupla or party, just worship.  How often do we worship?  What does our worship look like?  Does our worship truely reflect the awesomeness of God and the amazing number of things that He has done in our lives (James 1:17)?

If you would like a PDF of the message notes, let me know, and I'll email you a copy. jlowe@faithcommunitywv.org