The Father Heart of God

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be with a father during a 7 hour time period while his son was missing. His 7 year old boy had run off from school because he was afraid he was going to get in trouble because he was in a fight. For 7 hours the police, the family, teachers, and friends searched for this young boy. We searched a 4 mile radius with the school at the center. The whole time he was only 2 blocks from the school hiding in bushes. When he saw the police, he was afraid he was in trouble.

The part I will never forget has to do with the dad. His passion. His frantic search. His love for his son. It rubbed off on me. I wanted him found as well. I thought of my son. How would I respond?

In the New Testament, Jesus talks of people who are far from him as "Lost." To some this term may be offensive. With some it resonates deeply. For me, I remember times when I've been far from God and I know I was lost. I was in need of hope, peace, and purpose. Even now after a 25 year relationship with God, there are times I resonate deeply with this term "Lost."

There are times in my life when I turn to other things to bring me hope, peace, and purpose. I know I should be looking to God for these things. When I've messed things up, my first reaction is to hide. Like the 7 year old. Many times in my life I've sat outside the Principal's office waiting for the hammer to fall. Or under my bed hiding from Dad because I knew I was going to get it. Sometimes it's not that we are "lost" but that we are trying to hide. As if we can hide from God.

My friend just wanted to hug and love his hiding son. We can't hide from God. He's not waiting to punish us but to embrace us. Run to Him today. No need to hide. He knows us better than we know ourselves. If only the 7 year old boy would have made himself know he would have been embraced and not punished. Dad was only waiting to love him. After 7 hours, he was found. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as Dad and son were reunited.

Needs of the Human Heart

This morning we had the opportunity to hear from Paul Schumann our life group pastor who has years of pastoring and counseling experience under his belt. One of the key components that Paul shared was the condition of our heart. For many years I can admit I generally assumed that at their core people were generally good people. I made the assumption that when people did bad things it was because of some event in their lives that made them angry or frustrated.

Deep down I wasn't really concerned with others and how good they were but I was really concerned about myself. I wanted to believe that at my core I was a good person. Of course I wanted to believe that because the evidence in my life would not have suggested I was a good person. In fact I was selfish, focused on my own pleasure and my own good the grand majority of the them time. Do you spend time thinking about where your heart is? What are the deepest desires of your heart? Do your desires reflect a heart that longs for the things of God or do they long for the things of this world?

Once I realized that my heart was basically bad it made me realize more and more how much I needed Jesus Christ as my savior. It's really not easy for people to accept that reality. Most of us want to believe that we can pick ourselves up, work our way out of things and the world tells us that we can self help our way out of just about anything. Where are you at. Are you furiously working your way out of sin? Doing your best to do good works and help others?

Keep following the blog as we approach Easter Sunday and the message that comes with Jesus Christ.

Bryan

Jesus is for Losers

This week I spoke out of Galatians 6:11-18. The major piece we looked at was boasting only in the cross. I remember in the 90's when the Steve Taylor song "Jesus is for Losers" song was popular. Not really popular I guess. Just among Christian cynics who listen to this master of satirical rock ballads. Here's a few words from this great song. Just as I am
I am stiff-necked and proud
Jesus is for losers
Why do I still play to the crowd?

Just as I am
Pass the compass, please
Jesus is for losers
I'm off about a hundred degrees

Just as I am
I am needy and dry
Jesus is for losers
The self-made need not apply

They don't grade here on the curve
We both know what we deserve

Just as you are
Just a wretch like me
Jesus is for losers
Grace from the blood of a tree

Just as we are
At a total loss
Jesus is for losers
Broken at the foot of the cross

So relevant for those of us who are religious. This week's message was about how we've really got nothing to boast about. All our religious efforts are empty. In Mark 10:15 Jesus says; Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. ”When we come to Jesus, we've got nothing to offer. We come empty handed like a child. This is the offense of the cross. I'm a helpless looser. Only "grace from the blood of a tree" can save me. I don't get credit for church attendance. I don't get credit for all my good deeds. I love to reflect on the cross as Easter approaches. The songs about the cross will be all over my ipod. This year my favorite one is an old one "The Wonderful Cross" (Chris Tomlin's rendition). Good news that I can't earn my relationship or good standing with God because I agree that I'm a looser and would surely mess that up too.

Community on the Rise

This past Sunday Matt preached for from Galatians 6:1-10 and I am excited this happened at the same time we are starting to form more and more life groups. Paul calls us to live life together and he knows that in doing so we are going to have problems and we will continue to struggle with and deal with sin. First, we have to restore our brother and sisters in sin to God. I love the idea of restoration to restore something means that at some point what existed was good and worth restoring. To believe this is to believe that God's creation is worth restoring, in fact God has call us as a church and as His people to play a part in the restoration of His people. That is why we give and participate in social justice in our community. Ultimately we want to restore people lives back to Jesus Christ and it's only through Him are our lives transformed in amazing ways. How have you been participating in restoration? Are you involved in a group of people who can help restore you into fellowship with God? I pray this week that as you work and play that you take the opportunity to help restore someone or something closer to God. Share your story with us.

Bryan

Cruel Tensions

This past Sunday we preached through Galatians 5:16-26 where Paul really stresses the importance of pressing into the person of Jesus Christ. This can be an uncomfortable place for those of us who want to have a plan to a better life or at least know how it is I can behave so that God loves me but that really is what religion will do to us. What Jesus wants from us is to realize that He loves us, that He will grow us, that He is what we really need in our lives. Hopefully this week as you go to work and spend time in prayer, reading your Bible etc... you can find ways to love Jesus.

I really didn't hit on vs. 26 which reminds us not to become conceited or envy one another. Paul really understands the way people tend to operate. People will start to feel as though they've arrived at some sort of awesome place of enlightenment or some great place where they know God better than someone else but if we review what it is we become the more we press into Christ we know that it doesn't include pride. In fact the more you press into God the more humility it builds within you. Many scholars have pointed out that in the writtings of Paul you can see this trend begin to happen. Paul in his early writings refers to himself as the least of the apostles which seems humble but puts him above lots of people. Later in his writings he refers to himself as the least of Christians understanding how great God's love for us is. In one of his last letters before his death Paul refers to himself as the greatest of sinners. As he grows closer to God his humility grows and his appreciation for the grace of God. That is what should be growing in us.

I pray that this week you will continue to grow in your love for Jesus Christ.

Bryan Axtman