Spiritual Disciplines

Marathon Runners. Photo via Flickr:[Steven Johnson]

I have recently read a comment from theologian Elton Trueblood. Trueblood says in his excerpt Leadership, vol. 10, no. 3:
"We have not advanced very far in our spiritual lives if we have not encountered the basic paradox of freedom... that we are most free when we are bound. But not just any way of being bound will suffice; what matters is the character of our binding. The one who would be an athlete, but who is unwilling to discipline his body by regular exercise and abstinence, is not free to excel on the field or the track. His failure to train rigorously denies him the freedom to run with the desired speed and endurance. With one concerted voice, the giants of the devotional life apply the same principal to the whole of life: Discipline is the price of freedom."
In his book Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life Donald S. Whitney writes that the ultimate goal of the spiritual disciplines is godliness, or to be more like Christ.
Most people will never follow the disciplines of Christ, which non-exhaustively includes daily time in the word, prayer, journaling, and scripture memorization. Though these people may have accepted Christ as their savior, many of them will never know what it means to follow Him. Until the fundamentals of Christianity are learned, the spiritual growth of the believer is put on pause.
It frightens me to think how many of our church leaders, who are active today, actually spend time in the word every single day, or set time apart to communicate with the Lord in prayer. What most of us do not realize is there is no following Christ without complete submission to Him in every area of a believer's life. Take a moment and take a deep breath. Take a deeper breath and make sure you suck in enough oxygen to last you the next week or so. ....... .. Yeah. No. You cannot do that. Our bodies are not made that way. We have to continuously breathe in the air so we continuously have enough oxygen to survive. A relationship with Christ is the same way. We cannot go to church once a week, or year, and have that hold us over. We cannot read the Bible once every few days and hope that the message holds us over. We most certainly cannot just pray when we feel like it. No, just like we must continuously breathe to survive we must also follow the disciplines of God every day so our spirits may survive as well.
This is what it means to follow Christ. If you are wondering how to go about being disciplined then just begin to read the Word every day. Click here for a Bible reading plan. Then, find someone to take the journey with you, hold you accountable, and push you to success. Read the word. Know the word. Pray.
With Love for all.
-Joshua

The Resurrection of Christ

Photo via Flickr:[Martijn Braat]

Today is Easter Sunday. This means that churches all across America will have a spike in their attendance only rivaled by the Christmas service. Churches are filled with those who just want to feel like they have "done their yearly part." However, if we chose to listen to the message being preached across the world today then church attendance would not have spikes. The church as a body would continuously be bringing in new believers, training them, and then sending them out into the world. Jesus does not want us to just do enough, but instead He calls people who are following Him to give everything and to lay down their lives.
Most people doing their part in attending Easter service are not even close to being ready to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is a continuous choice. Christ asks His followers to die daily, which is a continuous choice. We must realize what the gift of Christ's death and bodily resurrection means for us. Christ lived the life that we should have lived and then died the death that we should have died so that the wages of our sin would be paid. Not even death could hold Him. In Christ's resurrection he annihilated the last strong  holds that sin could ever keep over us, death and the grave. Jesus died so that if we choose to follow Him we can again be rejoined with the Father fulfilling our purpose in His plan. Nevertheless, His gift is not one to accept and walk away.
To accept Jesus gift comes with the choice to follow Him. Like Jesus' sacrifice is a payment that keeps on paying, our choice to follow Jesus is a choice that has to be made every day.
Instead of lying choose Jesus in that moment. Instead of cheating choose Jesus in that moment. Instead of lusting choose Jesus. Instead of unrighteous anger. Instead of laziness. Instead of just doing your part. Instead of hate. Instead of jealousy. Instead of ungratefulness. Instead of malice. Instead of you. Choose Jesus.
Christ died so that all those who choose Him can live. In your stead Jesus died for your sanctification. Instead of choosing to ignore him and seek yourself, choose Jesus.
With love for all. Happy Easter.
-Joshua
 

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Watch Fifty Shades of Grey

It thoroughly saddens me that we are at the point in our world where blogs such as this are necessary. Last weekend the movie "50 Shades of Grey" was strategically released in theatres across America. On Valentine's day you could not go more than a few feet without hearing someone talk about how they could not wait to watch the movie, or to take their significant other to see it. Some fellow Christians who I respect very much were among these people, and it breaks my heart to think that the people I love are subjecting themselves to such a film. You may have been someone who went to see this movie. I have not. I have merely researched it as best I could to hopefully receive insight as to why individuals have such a desire to see it. I have come up with a collective list of five reasons why I think that no Christian should subject themselves to the content of this film.

1. Good luck not Lusting! - The book is literally based on sex. The film has basically only prevented the exposure of genitals. Throughout the film (According to IMDB parental guide) there is continuous exposure of nude butts and breasts, and many times where the thrusting and moaning of the characters is visible for all to see and hear. God clearly asks us to guard our hearts and eyes, and tells us that Satan is like a lion on the prowl. Why would you open his jaws and jump in?
2. This does not help your relationship - Couples have been marketed for this film like no other. Many couples are looking forward to a film that might spice up their sex lives. Just like pornography, the film creates unrealistic expectations from yourself and your partner. That is without even mentioning all of the sadism and masochism, which only teaches two things. The first is that if women put up with the violence it will change, and that men can be as violent as they want with women and they will love it. God created sex for a very specific purpose, and when we twist that purpose we are telling God that our way is better.
3. It's porn - Ladies, please do not excuse yourself by saying that erotica is any different, and the same goes for the men. You would not want your significant other to be involved in porn, and this is no different. The book did not have pictures, but your mind is enough. The movie does not expose genitals, BUT YOU SEE EVERYTHING ELSE. You have basically started yourself on a path of soft core porn, and it is only so long until that is not enough.
4. Desensitization to sex - God made sex to be between a married man and woman. It is a personal, worshipful, and intimate thing. No one invited you to watch. The more we subject ourselves to this type of sin the more we excuse ourselves from it. The movie doesn't even have a plot.....go watch the Spongebob Movie. At least it has a plot.  
5. It is messing with your heart and confusing love - Love is a beautiful thing. Love cannot be found in any part of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Love is not sex. Love is a choice, and it is a choice to put someone else before yourself. It is not using them as your own personal object or toy. Love is beautiful. This teaches you that sex is completely for pleasure and that love should be removed from the equation. 

If you are a Christian, and you read God's word, then I implore you to find a place in the Word or even in your heart where subjecting yourself to this is okay. By seeing this movie we are telling writers and producers that we want more. Violence and sex will make them the money they have been seeking. I only say these things out of love for my brothers and sisters. Satan is smart and always on the prowl, but we have a powerful God whose love and grace are enough. Take a look inside yourself and question which way you want to live. With love for all.
-Joshua   

Christmas is Not About Family

As Christians, I believe, we have been making a mistake when it comes to celebrating the saviors birth. i tell a lot of people that I dislike Christmas, and what it has become. Many of the answers I receive are, "It's whatever you make it," or "It's just about getting together as family." I may have missed something, but the last time I checked Christmas was not something that was to be made, or what family members' company you may enjoy. Christmas is about Christ. Some may argue that Jesus was actually born in the summer, and we just picked the date we wanted so it does not matter if Christ is less involved. However, if we are going to celebrate a day focused on Jesus' birth then that is solely what it should be about. Do not get me entirely wrong, all of those things are great! I love my family, I enjoy spending time with them, and I enjoy the season. However, even when we put something as great as family in front of Christ then we are wrong. Watch a Christmas any Christmas movie today and the theme you will find is not Christ. They talk about the "spirit of Christmas," but their "spirit" is focused more on family, attitudes, decorations, or things such as those. Again those are all great, but they are nothing compared to the glory of Christ. The farthest we tend to get is the Christmas story at church the Sunday before, one or two subliminal Christ messages in a movie or two, and then a nativity scene. It's so easy to get caught up in decorations, or whose house you spend Christmas in, or even if people will like their gifts. If I had my way I would have people do without all that for one year so that maybe we can focus on the truth of the "spirit of Christmas." That "spirit" is that one day a perfect baby was born into the world so that man, who only deserved death, could live forever. He would live a perfect life, and die a tragic death so that those who believe in him can enter into the kingdom of God. This is the truth. Imagine how much different the holidays would be if we were to solely focus on THIS truth. Sometimes I am a little too much like scrooge in the matter. However, I just become frustrated when everyone gets caught up on the wrong thing and takes nay amount of glory away from the savior. I know that in my family, with my kids, I am going to make sure that every Christmas in our household is full of food, family, joy, and even the gift of giving. Most importantly though, it will be full of the love of Christ and ample time spent dwelling on the perfect gift given to us by the Father. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life!" - John 3:16 Try you best to focus on the real reason for the season as we come upon the holidays. With love for all. Merry Christmas.

-Joshua

Identity in Christ

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20

            Identity in Christ is one of the hardest things we can ever do in this life. Even beginning to grasp it is a journey that is not easily made. For Christians it is pretty easy to make Christ a part of who you are, but it is nearly impossible to make Christ everything you are. Think about it like your life is Ferris wheel. We tend to think of ourselves as the Ferris wheel, and all the little cars make up our identity. We only have room for so many cars, but the ones we have define us. We have our education, our families, our jobs, our attitudes, and for the die-hard Christians even Jesus gets his own car. Yet this is not what Jesus is asking of us. He wants the whole thing. Jesus is the Ferris wheel of our identity, and only the cars that align with his will and purpose get to be in our lives. Luke chapter nine verse twenty-three says, “If anyone would come after Me he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. This does not ask us to include Jesus in our lives whenever we can. It says that we are to go against everything that we are, and continue to fight just to follow Him. It is not easy. The thing about Christianity is that it will never just happen. Nothing about it is natural. We have to go against everything that we are to follow the ways of Christ. It is a constant battle with the flesh that can only be won through Jesus Christ.  He loves you. He gave everything for all of us who deserve nothing. We as Christians do not spread the gospel because we want everyone to join in on our secret gang. We do it because we truly believe that the only way to heaven is not through works, but through Jesus Christ. We want everyone we know to be there with us in that giant party in the sky. We want everyone to feel complete again. This is why judgment, hypocrisy, self-righteousness, intolerance (not by the world’s definition), and hatred are not signs of a true believer. A true believer simply loves Jesus, and wants to see others do the same. It was once said that everyone goes thought this life just searching to be loved. I think we often find that love in the wrong place. The reason most people never find it is because they want to follow their instinct, and be a slave to their own desires. They want to follow their hearts. What true love takes is to go against everything your flesh tells you, and believe in the Son of God. Only then can you fill a gap in your heart, a gap that can only be filled by your creator. I encourage you to not get hung up on what the world says about Christianity, but instead to try something new. I promise you it is the answer to what you are looking for. What have you got to lose? With love for all.

-Joshua   

Encouraging Words

We all struggle to make God the number one priority in our lives. Everything about what God asks us to do is contrary to our human nature. We often only make God a section of our lives, instead of everything else a section of our life in Him. I find that shame is always there to welcome me when I have neglected God in any way. I often hide in shame instead of standing in the light. Why then are we called to try at anything if we will always just convert back to our human nature? It is because in our weakness He is made strong. Our weakness combined with our overwhelming desire and continuous efforts for Him make our God glorified. Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, and that is the end of that. If there was a point where we could live perfect lives then we wouldn't need the gift of Jesus' continuous cleansing blood in our lives. The point of needing a savior is that we cannot save ourselves. If we begin to grasp the weight of Christ has done I believe He will become our identity instead of just a part of it. It is then in this place where victory over certain battles are met, and God teaches you the things that He wants you to know. Let us learn to not use his grace cheaply, but strive to be successful in what he has done for us simply because we love Him. We couldn't earn it if we tried. Just a few thoughts. With love for all.


-Joshua

Do Not Follow Your Heart

As I look at the world today I see a humanity that cannot stand for anything to be politically incorrect. There is absolutely no tolerance for intolerance. The biggest argument individuals have is that we are oppressing people when we tell them they should not be themselves. Everyone should just be who they are, and follow what their heart tells them. My argument is against this for I know the natural state of the human, and the heart will always lead you down a path of unrighteousness. Christ does not call us to just be ourselves. Actually, quite the opposite. Christ continually asks us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily to follow him. (Luke 9:23). Everyone feels oppressed if they are unable to pursue their own attitudes, sexual desires, greed, and selfish ambitions. After all this is the American dream. However, let's look at a little bit of what scripture has to say about human beings, and their heart they want to follow. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This does not sound like something I want motivating my decisions. In James 1:14-15 it says, "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Okay so we are seeing here that when we sin it is only because we cannot curb our own stinking human appetites. Why in the world would you want to be yourself? You can only find reconciliation with God through his son, nothing you do by "instinct," or "feeling," or because you were "born this way." Sorry Lady Gaga. However, this is an okay thing. I am not saying that any one person is a worse sinner than any other. WE ALL ARE! This just shows how very badly we all need Jesus Christ. It may be harder for some people to curve some appetites more than others, but we are all hopeless without Jesus Christ. Yet with Him we are unable to fall. "What then shall we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) This is most helpful in Christian leadership, discipline, and growth when we realize that it is not just going to happen. You will never reach a state where Christianity is easy. No matter how close to Christ you grow you will never just naturally want to pursue what is good in all things. Your human. You have a human heart. Nothing about Christianity agrees with the flesh, and if you choose this lifestyle then you will be at constant war with the heart that fell so long ago. Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." This is why we need our hearts reconciled with Christ's through his saving grace. Through Christ you can deny yourself, your human nature, your evil desires, your deceitful heart, and all things contrary to Him. Through Christ you can have daily quiet times, you can memorize verses, you can evangelize outside of your comfort zone, you can make disciples, and you can most certainly flee temptation. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, and with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape so that you may endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) There is hope in Christ, there is hope for humanity, there is hope for love, there is hope for understanding, there is hope for me, and there is hope for you. Please just put your trust in Christ, whose love never fails, and do not be yourself. With love for all.'
-Joshua