Believe

I hope you had a good Easter. More than that I hope you had a thoughtful Easter. We always harp that we don’t focus enough at Christmas time but at least we are engaged in Christmas. There is not the same hoop-la at Easter so it seems to come and go – fast!

I know I intended to sit and watch “The Passion” again this year, but with little kids and all the hectic things of life it didn’t get done. It was good to be able to sit and think about why we believe and what a difference it makes in our life when we “live into” that belief.

We look at people in scripture and history and see the differences it made in their life when they went from disbelief to belief. It is encouraging and even exciting to see what God does in other peoples life but what about yours? What difference has believing made in your life? Are you living into that belief or is it a separate part of who you are? What could living into your belief bring to your life?

Stop and think about your faith and belief.

What has it brought? What more could it bring?

Happy "post" Easter

Griff

Discipline of Celebration?or Celebration of Discipline?

It really is a wierd to have both words in a phrase.

As I sat and listened to Glen's message on Sunday I was struck by how much sense it really makes.

In one way we need to remember (discipline ourselves) to realize how much we have to celebrate in Christ. How HUGE a difference he makes in our life no matter what we are going through or what trial we are facing. His victory that we will celebrate this Sunday should bring perspective every day we live.

In another way all together, we need to see the celebration that comes out of being like Jesus, imitating who he is and how he lived through the power of his Spirit living within us. Glen made the statement "Celebration without regrets." Oh how close to home and how true that is for us. What else in life can bring such sweet celebration as leaning into and learning through his Spirit how to live more like him?

It's only through Jesus we can do that.

What does a life of true "regret-less" celebration look like for you? How are you trying to live into that? What celebration has "imitating" Jesus brought to your life?

Griff

Into the Wild of Simplicity

As I listened to Glen’s message on Sunday I couldn’t help but think about a movie my wife and I watched that week called, “Into the Wild”. We watched the movie because my wife and a friend had read the book and were fascinated by it. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch in the movie) abandons his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Some called him a hero and some called him a selfish idiot.

I was fascinated by this story because I saw that he was searching for something other than what the world, and in particular materialistic America, had to offer him. The story depicts him as disgusted by his parents pursuit of the American dream and how neglected he was because of their fierce pursuit of wealth.

I would recommend the movie for the sake of the message (be careful there is some nudity and language) and I’m sure my wife would recommend the book. I think the story is tragic because there are so many of us that know what he was looking for but couldn’t seem to find. Maybe it’s because many of us don’t live it out very well. He came across some Christians in his journey but they couldn’t or didn’t compel him to understand the beauty and freedom of a life TRULY GIVEN to God. This, I think, is the definition of what simplicity really is: To fully live for God. Anything else is what Glen described as duplicity.

How duplicitous are we, really? It is such a tough thing to measure. We of course need things and other relationships and pursuits in life to function. So, how do we know if we are living these things out in a way that honors a simple life lived for God or a duplicitous life that is really for our pursuits and we’ve allowed God to be a part? There is a HUGE difference in between the two.

I am glad we chose to discuss this spiritual practice of simplicity. I am convicted it is one we all need to practice more diligently. If we do, we will know what we are truly living for and be free of the things that ensnare us. These things subtly bring the bondage and complexity of duplicity to our lives. Within such bondage we can’t fully live for and experience God in our lives.

Your thoughts?

Griff

Weekend Service Prayer

Several of you have asked about the prayer we used this weekend. Here it is, I hope it moves you and convicts you in ways that encourage you to imitate Jesus.

-From A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie

Holy God, I grieve and lament before thee that I am still so prone to sin and so little inclined to obedience:
So much attached to the pleasure of sense, so negligent of things spiritual:
So prompt to gratify my body, so slow to nourish my soul:
So greedy for present delight, so indifferent to lasting blessedness:
So fond of idleness, so indisposed for labor:
So soon at play, so late at prayer:
So brisk in the service of self, so slack in the service of others:
So eager to get, so reluctant to give:
So lofty in my profession, so low in my practice:
So full of good intentions, so backward to fulfill them:
So severe with my neighbors, so indulgent with myself:
So eager to find fault, so resentful at being found fault with:
So little able for great tasks, so discontented with small ones;
So weak in adversity, so swollen and self-satisfied in prosperity:
So helpless apart form thee, and yet so little willing to be bound to thee.

O merciful heart of God, grant me yet again thy forgiveness. Hear my sorrowful tale and in thy great mercy blot it out from the book of thy remembrance. Give me faith so to lay hold of thine own holiness and so to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ my Savior that, resting on his merits rather than on my own, I may more and more become conformed to his likeness, my will becoming one with his in obedience to thine. All this I ask for his holy name’s sake. Amen.

Keep leaning into Jesus,

Griff

Constant Connection & Transformation

Is prayer really constant connection with God? Is prayer like being able to text God? Can I carry a piece of glass and remember to be in communication with God?

This might be a really different way to think about prayer but maybe that’s exactly what we need. We are talking about the need to “Imitate” Jesus in order to experience the transformation we so desperately long for. What about you? How transformed have you been in your journey with God? I’d like to make a bet. I bet you, the transformation was tied to times spent in prayer. Am I right? If you can’t say you’ve experienced any real transformation I’d also bet you’ve never taken prayer seriously as a way of “constant connection” with God. Am I right?

It’s really not that I am that smart. (I know I don’t have to convince you of this.) I think it’s a simple thing that we fail to live into. Jesus and the followers of Jesus in scripture were SERIOUS pray-ers. God showed up and did some pretty huge, miraculous, transformational things. Prayer that calls out to God and asks for His will to happen by people with open and surrendered hearts is a crazy thing. Go ahead. I DARE YOU! Start constant connection and ask for His will. When you get an idea of what that is, pray like mad for it in faith and then stand back and be amazed at what He does.

Any one have a story they’d like to share. I prayed once for six months that God would humble me. (I know that was stupid, but not really.) He answered it for 18 months with 3 tough blows to my ego and identity. That set me up for 18 months of peace and prosperity to be followed by another 2 years of extreme humbling and difficulty. Now again, I am experiencing some great peace. God, you can stop answering that prayer at least for now. The cool thing is the greatest transformation in my life came in those difficult and humbling times. Okay, enough about me.

Let’s hear your constant connection transformation stories.

Silence Revisited

Several of you have asked about the text on the video during our "Silence and Solitude Experiment" a couple weeks ago. Go ahead and use this as a time of silence and let me know what happens. Shhh...

Why is silence so hard to deal with?

183 million people are regularly exposed to noise levels labeled as excessive by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Do you have a cell phone? A pager? Voice-mail?

Do you have a cell phone with voice-mail and e-mail?

Do you have a TV? More than 1 TV?

Do you have a radio on all day? On at work, in the car, at home?

Is there such a thing as visual noise?

Do you wish there were more billboards along the roads you drive?

Do we have enough strip malls yet?

Do you feel like God is distant?

Do you wish God’s voice would be louder in your life?

Is there a connection between the amount of noise in our lives and our inability to hear God?

SUV’s and minivans now come with separate CD and DVD systems for the backseats.

You can buy wired clothing now. Coats and jackets equipped with cell phones and MP3 players.

Try this.

Make yourself comfortable in your chair and begin breathing slowly as you read.

Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, “Be silent, Oh Israel, and listen!” _Deuteronomy 27:9

Search your hearts and be silent. _Pslams 4:4

But the Lord is in His holy temple: Let all the earth be silent before Him.
_Habakkuk 2:20

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
_Jesus in Matthew 11

If I am not still, and if I don’t listen, how is Jesus going to give me rest?

Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking about your difficult, confusing situations as you have spent in silence, listening to what God might have to say?

Why is talking so much easier than listening?

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. _Luke 5:16

These were regular disciplines Jesus had. Silence. Solitude.

When was the last time you were in a solitary place?

What is it about silence that is so difficult?

Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and keep moving than to stop, be silent and listen?

How much noise do I voluntarily subject myself to?

Does my schedule, my time, my life look like that of a person who wants to hear God’s voice?

Maybe the healing and guidance we desperately need is not going to come from one more meeting or therapy session or sermon or self-help book but from simply listening for the voice of God.

Do you really believe that God’s voice is more interesting than the voices around you?

Is it possible that you have been searching for God in the winds, the earthquakes, and fires and He is waiting to speak to you in the silence? Silence.

Quiet: A Love / Hate Relationship

I used to really hate to sit in silence, to be alone. I don’t think it was fear as much as it just wasn’t my nature. I don’t hate it anymore because I now understand its benefits and its power. I still don’t ever look forward to it. I always love it though when it’s over. Not because it’s over, but because it’s always good.

It’s often good for different reasons.

Sometimes it’s just because I was quiet and thoughtful.

Sometimes it’s because I accomplished something that was a healthy balance to my normal pace.

Sometimes I hear the voice of God. I see something clearly for the first time. I recognize something about myself. Sometimes it’s something good. Sometimes it’s something ugly that I see needs to change. The cool part is when I am quiet and that happens, I’m already with the One whose help I need. So I ask and know that I am heard.

You may hate being quiet and alone but you ought to give it a try. If you have, tell me what happened.

I know there are those out there that actually REALLY look forward to being quiet and alone. I wonder what happens in that time for you.

Griff

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - The Word in the Heart

A friend sent me this quote. I think it is a great followup to this weekend.

"I do not treasure God's promise in my understanding but in my heart. It is not to be analyzed by my intellect, but to be pondered in my heart... Therefore, it is never sufficient simply to have read God's Word. It must penetrate deep within us, dwell in us, like the Holy of Holies in the Sanctuary, so that we do not sin in thought, word or deed." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

So how is it going with our attempts to imitate Jesus (the word in the flesh)? Anything hitting home? Please share for our mutual encouragement that God does speak through His Word.

Griff

One more thought...

As a closing thought to this heaven series, let's read another C.S. Lewis quote.

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most about the next. It is since Christians have laregly ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

What will you do with your new understanding?

Griff

One More Question…

One question that we didn’t get to this last weekend was as follows:

How do the things we learn here on earth translate when we enter heaven? Will our knowledge transcend from this life to the next? Do things like technology have a place in heaven?

Again a very thought provoking question. So here are some thoughts.
Since learning is such a huge part of our enjoyment in this life, why wouldn’t it translate into heaven? We have seen that there is a sense of continuity from this life to eternity. Why not the things we have learned in this life, especially when they have to do with the talents and gifts God has given us to honor him?

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly as though you were working for your real master and not merely for humans. You know that your real master will give you an inheritance as your reward. It is Christ, your real master, whom you are serving.” Why wouldn’t the things we have and learned and worked at in this life cease to be honoring to God in heaven?

Like Adam and Eve were given dominion in the garden, scripture ways we will also “reign with God” in heaven. (Rev. 5:10 – one of many examples). In many ways ruling over something means bringing order and structure. Technology and many other things could be involved with that. Why not, especially if they bring glory to God?

Just think about what technology in heaven could look like. If our brains are working at 100% (they say we only use 10% of their capacity now) in conjunction with other brilliant people without any jealousy or rivalry, no competition or secrets; it could be amazing. Wow! The wonders of this world could look like preschool projects in comparison.

Chew on that. What do you think? (I think the Sci-Fi geeks like me love this stuff. Any one want to bring up space travel in heaven? I dare you!)

Griff

Check out this site : http://www.edibek.com/2007/03/13/dubai/

The Weight/Wait Of It All

I listened today as Glen very clearly presented the offer that God has made to us.

I thought about the excuses that many of us make to avoid the issue. Who are we fooling?

Check out 2 Peter 3:9-10 - The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

It’s all been done for us! Romans 6:22-23 - But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Why do people hesitate? What was the concern that held you back, that might still hold you back?

Let’s discuss it. Some concerns are very legitimate, so put yours (old or present) out there. Maybe it will help someone else.

Griff

Who will we be most excited to see in Heaven?

I don’t know if you were there for the service this last weekend, but I was struck by the “Gladiator” video clip that was followed up with the Eric Clapton song “Tears in Heaven”. All kinds of thoughts of friends and family were running though my head. I was ready to listen to what Glen had to say.

I think we would all agree that knowing our loved ones and having some sort of continuum from this life to the next was very encouraging and comforting. BUT, let me ask a question. How do you think those relationships will change in light of God’s very presence and the primacy of our relationship to him in heaven? Most of us would admit that here, on this fallen earth, we have the relationships wrongly switched. Our family can take priority over our relationship with God; maybe not in word, but often times in our thoughts and time allocation. So when we stand in the very presence of God, how might that change our connections or concerns with our loved ones in this world?

I have a feeling that our perspective is pretty skewed here on this earth. Think about this in light of who we really are (God’s creation and children) and the reality that we will be in God's very presence in heaven.

Food for thought and fodder,
Griff

Let's Get Physical... in Heaven of course.

We will forever enjoy the perfected goodness of this life, without the curse or effect of sin, and do so in the indescribable and unfathomable presence of our loving God.

So what part of that statement was most surprising to you? What kind of thoughts or insight would you add to that?

> The first part we discussed was, “We will forever enjoy the perfected goodness of this life”. We basically said that in some bodily form (1 Cor. 15:20-24, 35-58) we would experience the New Heaven and New Earth in ways that are far beyond our experiences here.
Also check out some of these references to Jesus in his “resurrected body.” Luke 24:13-53, John 20:11-30, 21:1-23 Any thoughts on how our resurrected bodies might be different?

> The second was, “without the curse or effect of sin,” Just think about the fact that most likely only Adam and Eve alone experienced this earth without the curse of sin. In what ways might the lack of the curse effect us and the new earth?

> Thirdly we tried to get our minds around what the full presence of our loving God might be like. To be honest, it’s kind of scary to me even though I know through Christ there is no need to fear. Scripture tell us his radiant presence will be all the light we need in heaven! Whoa! What thoughts come to you mind when thinking about being in His presence?

Don’t forget it’s not too late to throw a heaven question into the teaching team hat. Email me at gray@xroadschurch.org. Or, you can just post them on the blog for all to see.

I’ll be checking in this week. Just a personal note, my family finally moved down this weekend, YEAH! So for the most part we will be here all the time now. We’ll have to move our belongings at the end of the month but it is great to just be here.

Thanks,
Griff

Hope of Heaven???

So how much time do we spend thinking about heaven? (How many times a week do you really ponder it?)

What do we really know about heaven? (Are there really pearly gates and a cloud nine? Do we become angels?)

Missy did a great job opening up this issue that I think we would all agree is pretty important, but that we don’t seem to talk much about. If you are a believer in Christ, you at least hope you are going to heaven, but you may not know what that really entails or if you are sure you’ve even made it in.

Missy shared that for much of her life she has thought heaven was probably pretty boring but better than eternal punishment and separation from God. Does that resonate with anyone? Is it really just singing and clouds for eternity?

So what are your thoughts and visions about what heaven is going to be like? Describe your thoughts to us.

Did you realize there is a “Present Heaven” but that there will also be a “New Heaven & New Earth”?

Most importantly out of this study might be the question, “How does a better understanding and ‘HOPE’ of heaven affect the way we live today?”


If you have a specific question you would like the teaching team to address on our Q & A weekend email me at: gray@xroadschurch.org

I’m looking forward to some interesting dialogue!


Griff

Now What?

Okay, we've re-thought what Christmas is all about. We have been challenged to spend less for us, so that we can invest in "heavenly things." So how do we "GIVE MORE?"



Glen spoke a lot this week about the foundational reality that Christmas, by it's very meaning and nature, is relational. It was all about God providing relationship with Him again through the gift of his Son. By giving us His Son we can know more about who God is. We got to see Him in the flesh. Now we have a much clearer understanding of who God is for the sake of relationship with Him.



So a couple questions I want to ask:

1. How do you give a "relational gift?" One thing we have done in our family, especially on Mother's, Father's, and Valentine's days are to give "With You" coupons. They say things like, "Redeem for One Night Out with Dad" or, "Good for a 10 minute back rub." How have you found ways to give of your self relationally?



2. Does it still look like or feel like a cop out? If you give someone a relational gift are you afraid they are going to think you are cheap? I guess the other question is, "Do you care at this point what they think or are you willing to break the materialistic mold and just do it because you feel like it's right?



Bring it! What do you think?



Griff

Ooouuch!?

I think I stepped on some toes today including mine. It’s tough for us anytime we challenge the status quo. For our culture the status quo is to spend A LOT at Christmas time. I think the original motive was and is still good but somehow we have become like a runaway train out of control. I wonder how it went from giving simple, meaningful and many times needed gifts to people you love in the spirit of sharing and generosity to an excessive and materialistic stuff exchange with people you love but who already have most everything they need and want? (Sorry, that’s got to be a run on sentence).

In case you weren’t there we read a story from Little House on the Prairie about the incredible excitement over a few simple things like a cake, candy, a cup and a penny. I don’t know if we can ever get back there. We just don’t live in that place. But, other people do.

I think its hard any time you go against the flow of what most of our culture does. I don’t think we want to be weird or seem like joy killers. Isn't that the point though? We want there to be more joy that has somehow seemed to escaped us in all the wrapping and ribbon and plastic. What kind of response did you have to the message this weekend? Did it spark an idea in you? Did you feel like I was way off base? Weigh in and tell us what you think God wants us to do with this whole “spend less to invest more” mentality.

Griff

Seeing Christmas from the "Other Side"

It struck me this weekend to think about just sinful my life has been. We don't like to think about it but that reality is always lurking in our subconscious. We have become very good at avoiding it. We just think about something else or look for someone that is a worse sinner (like there is such a thing) than us and that somehow makes us feel better.

It's kind of weird to think about our sinfulness when talking about Christmas. It doesn't seem to fit "the season." It's even stranger to think about a baby being born to die; for me. How is it right for a baby to be given to remedy that deeply shameful part of who I am? I guess it's not right, it's love.

I know it's not a good thing to focus too much on our sin. After all, because of Jesus, it no longer has any part in our identity. The bible calls us saints more than sinners. However, I do think it is good to consider how deep our sin can go and just what God did for us in giving us a Savior Child. If we lived out of that gratitude it would probably change much of the way we lived. What do you think that would look like? Just think how our lives, lived from this deep gratitude, might touch a watching world.

Your thoughts?

Griff's Thoughts on Christmas

Another Christmas season is upon us. For many of us, it really is a special time of year that is unique to any other. I know my wife turns into a kid at heart and loves all the great stuff that makes up the Christmas season. One of our favorite things to do every year is go to a Christmas tree farm, pick out a live tree and cut it down ourselves. One of the farms we have found has free hot chocolate and live reindeer! Does it get any better than that? (I guess maybe free tress?) There are all kinds of great traditions and memories that many of us love to revel in through this season and it’s always sad to us when it’s over.

Even though we love Christmas as much as we always have, it’s interesting that we have gone through some changes in how we choose to celebrate Christmas. In the last couple years we have gone through some steps to simplify and focus the way we celebrate. Some of our attempts have been better and more meaningful than others but all in all it has been a good exercise this think through how we go about celebrating the birth of Christ.

In our upcoming series we are going to ask you to “Re-Think Christmas.” Maybe that is a new thought for some of you. Maybe for others it isn’t new at all. What are your thoughts about the way we have come “as Americans” to celebrate Christmas? How have you already, in years past, begun to “Re-Think Christmas?”

Staying Married

In January my (Lynn Buckles) parents will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary. They have taught me a lot about faithfulness, perseverance, and commitment. Three years ago my dad had a major stroke and last year was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My mom has been his primary care taker and that has not been easy. The phrase “for better or for worse” takes on new meaning as I watch her care for him without any expectation that he can reciprocate. In his message on staying married Glen said “staying married is about commitment and dogged determination to fight for the marriage, not each other. It is finishing what you started. The success doesn’t rely on everybody’s being compatible or happy or a champ in the sack. The people who stay married are the people who won’t consider divorce.”

Those are great words to live by and I am thankful my parents have been a good model of that to me as I continually learn to faithfully love my wife, Janene (27 years)!

Think about this question: How secure would it make you feel to know that your partner was committed to you no matter what?

NO Debt Whatsoever

Some of my fondest memories come from when I was growing up. Two of the greatest influences in my life were my grandad and my grandmother. They lived on a little farm in Ensor, KY (never heard of it have you?) where they had their own garden, grew tobacco, and raised a small amount of cattle. It seemed so simple to me. I'm sure there were a lot of struggles, but as a kid, I just wasn't aware of many of them.

One of the best things I learned from them was the discipline of saving money. They built their own house with the help of neighbors and family, paid for their cars with cash, and had absolutely NO debt whatsoever. I understand that times are different now, but I learned a lot from them and how they managed their time and money.

This weekend we will look at the subject of thriftiness. What would our grandparents say about the way that we handle money - credit card debt, student loans, wants vs. needs, instant gratification, home equity lines of credit? If you get a chance, read Matthew 6:25-34 and Proverbs 22:7. If there is some financial wisdom that you remember from your grandparents or an example of their thriftiness, talk about it in the comment section.