Many Christians live in the continual struggle of desiring to be liked by others yet trying to not be a people pleaser.

Church people often say things like

“I dont care if anyone likes me.”  or “I dont care what people think about me.”

Yet they usually do not totally mean that. And most people really live like people’s opinions of them do really matter and influence them.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the balance of these 2 opinions.

Jesus says that we are to be loving and serving in a self-less way. Most of the time, if you are humble and loving and serving toward someone they are going to like you. That is why when the Bible lists the qualifications of elders it says “they are to be well thought of by outsiders.” Because they are to love and serve and lead in a selfless way.

Jesus also said that the world hated him so do not be surprised when it hates you. But He certainly never did anything wrong or treated anyone wrongly. So the only reason they hated him was because of His message.  Christians today should work toward that end. Live in such a way that people have nothing evil to say about you. In fact, the only thing they can say against you is that they disagree with your message. If people don’t like you, perhaps it has a lot more to do with you not being like Christ then it does solely your message.

To say that you dont care about what they think of you seems to say you don’t understand Christs calling on your life.

Here is where I’m getting some of this from.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (notice v.4 especially) “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

Prov. 3:4 says that we will find favor and good success in man’s sight. Check Luke 2:52, it says Jesus did that too.

I’m praying God will continue to give us the proper balance and understanding of what it means to live in such a way that God is pleased with us and people like us. I think it has lots to do with living like Jesus. Dead to self, loving and serving.

God has given me 2 sons – Joshua & Eli.

Sometimes late at night once they are sound asleep, I like to slip into their rooms quietly and just look at them. In that moment, I become overwhelmed with deep, deep inexpressible love for them. I cannot speak how heavy and real my love for my sons is. I love them.

Psalm 127 says that children “are like arrows in the hand of a warrior” because “he will not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”

Well, I’m not sure how I may be a warrior. And my boys are 26 months and 10 months which means they are not grown yet. But I desire for God to continue to give me a Christ honoring love for them. So that they may grow up to fear the Lord and follow Jesus. In 2 words, I have goals for my boys: fear and follow. 

If they fear & follow, they will be like arrows in my hand.

God, please be gracious and lead them to fear and follow you!

32 year old Aaron Berry passed away this past Friday. We had his funeral service today. His family chose a wonderful song to be played at the close of the service.

Here are the lyrics to Fernando Ortega’s song “Give me Jesus.”

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

The past few days have been heavy. Ministry can be heavy. My emotions have been very high and very low from one hour to the next and at times even from one minute to the next.

I went to the funeral home to visit the family of a beautiful 17 year old girl that just died tragically. I studied with great itensity along with 7 other men ‘the manly characteristic of love & understanding in the life of Jesus’. I got a call that a dear family in our church had rushed the mother to the hospital for possibly a stroke. I played my first basketball game in 3 years (and lost badly and played badly). I had two people near to me celebrate birthdays. I was delighted to see so many people working at church this week. I celebrated the birth of a friends baby boy. I praised God because another couple just found out they were expecting. I was informed my very close friends are about to lose one of their family members any day now. I got a call from a parent concerning a troubled kid. I am thrilled to have so many people desiring to go on the mission trip this summer. I spent time with Vale, JJ & Eli at the zoo. I am preaching at a sports banquet tonight. I am taking the fam for pancakes this morning. I got a call that someone very near to us died tragically yesterday.  The family is on my mind and heart.

My heart is heavy. In the past few days, I have rejoiced with those rejoicing and I have wept with those weeping.

 This life is NOT what its all about it.                  Jesus is!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8  

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful- for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Tim. 2:13

“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ-6XJzvBeU

This dunk by Lebron James 2 nights ago caught my attention. I don’t know if there is anyone else in the world that can do this type of thing. If you can, pause it at 37 seconds. Notice his head above rim, how far away he leapt from, and how low he brings the ball. Pretty incredible.

By the way, Lebron is changing his number from #23 to #6 because he feels Michael Jordan is the greatest ever. So do I!

 

This Easter, April 4, 2010, we will gather again on the front porch at 7:00 a.m. We will worship the Lord Jesus Christ  and celebrate His resurrection from the dead.

This is a picture of last year’s Easter Sunrise Service. The weather was beautiful and the sun was shining so brightly.

“See what a morning, gloriously bright!”

Tonight I was at a funeral home to see the family of a local 17 year old girl that just passed away.

Again…a 17 year old girl that died on Saturday.

NO ONE SAW THAT COMING! Her mom and dad did not see it coming. Her friends in school did not see it coming. Her teammates did not see it coming. Her grandparents did not see it coming. No one had any idea in the world that she was about to die.

IT WAS PROBABLY THE FURTHEST THING FROM THEIR MINDS. JUST LIKE YOU (OR YOUR LOVED ONE) DYING WAS PROBABLY THE FARTHEST THING FROM YOUR MIND TODAY.

“…yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  James 4:14
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”  Hebrews 9:27

Are you ready? You could stand before Jesus sooner than you think.

(I must say that I do not know of much else that speaks as loudly and mightily as seeing a beautiful 17 year old lying in a casket.)

This is a video that has been paired up with a great Andrew Peterson song. Please take time to listen and watch this. I can certainly identify.

The more I read the Bible, the more it becomes so incredibly clear that belonging to Jesus is an all-or-nothing deal. There is truly not a middle road. You are either His follower or you are not. And Jesus teaches us that at the judgement there will be many people disappointed that they were not the real thing.

1 Peter 1:21 “…so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Today there are many who have faith in Jesus. But there are fewer who hope in Him.

It seems we are fine to think that Jesus gets us to heaven and forgives our sins. But we are not so fine to put our hope in Him. We tend to hope in circumstances, relationships, medicines, jobs, money, etc. As soon as these things let us down we begin to lose it. We become ungodly when these things aren’t right. And then we make the excuses that “hey, no one is perfect.”

Well, can we get back to God’s word and promises? Can we begin to not only believe in Him but also Hope in Him?
He will not, no never, let us down.

Father, forgive us for hoping in other things. Give us mercy to believe and Hope in you.

Trip Lee is one of my favorite artists in the whole world. Check this video out.