For the Big Game

Just so all you football guys aren’t mad at me from yesterday, enjoy- (and please don’t end up like this guy!):

All the small things

The world has some big things coming from the end of January (last week) to the beginning of March. From the (not so shocking) release of Apple’s iPad, to this year’s Super Bowl match-up (along with its controversial commercial), and the Olympic Games beginning this month, we have plenty to talk about. Not to mention all the other exciting things that fill our lives (movies, video games, home accessories, the list goes on…)

But didn’t we have enough to talk about already?

Think about it. We deserve death. Not just a sweet slumber into the unknown- death by our sin and it’s punishment. But we have a great God and savior who called us and chose us to be like him through the death and resurrection of His perfect Son; meanwhile we are debating whether or not the iPad will be as effective as it was desired to be? Are we really spending our lives focusing so much on our possessions and trivial matters when the cross is at stake? Are you worshiping the small calves or the other guys in place of Christ?

Me too

You know that whole “cast the first stone” thing Jesus talked about? Well I am throwing one at myself. Lately my worship has been misdirected. Oh, I have been worshiping a lot, but it hasn’t been for our risen Christ. It has been people-centered, me-focused, self-indulgent worship that needs to stop. That is where we’re all at. No, it’s not a bad thing to enjoy the Super Bowl, route for your favorite country in the Olympics, or even enjoy the new toys that keep coming out, but when you make these good things ultimate things, watch out- because they have become your idols.

Worship Jesus, not his creation.

Becoming Like Christ

On Christmas I posted about how Christ became like us and thus made it possible for us to become like him. Just as a man and woman who have been married for a while, so the Church should begin to look like its Savior.

For Meditation

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain…

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come… Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I, therefore, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them.

In light of the Cross

We must live for him, in him, by him, and reflecting him always. It is what we have been predestined to do.

Why I hate Community

Tense. That’s how I describe my relationship with community. This is coming from a very Gospel and Community oriented weekend. Between Thursday and Friday I had three different meetings focused on how the Gospel needs to change us as individuals and a body. Saturday and Sunday evenings I was faced with a challenging message from Josh at Atmosphere about what my calling is now, and how it is being worked out. Sunday morning I met with my Fight Club- me and two other guys who will (lovingly, not literally) punch me in throat if I don’t deal with my sin issues. Last night, my small group met and we discussed what loving other believers looks like, and this morning I met with a group of godly guys for prayer and encouragement.

I hate it.

The sinful, prideful, arrogant Jakob doesn’t want any of this. Deep down, my flesh hates it: “Community? Really? Why on earth would you want others involved in your life? You can and should do this on your own! Why let others challenge you when you are doing just fine!?”

I don’t want to be a part of Gospel-centered communities because they hold me accountable for my sins and encourage me to grow. They challenge my heart. They force me to look at myself and my actions and compare them to God instead of others. They speak the call of Gospel into the life that I so want to be in control of.

I need it

But I cannot imagine being away from any of it! I sometimes wonder what my life would be apart from these people, the Church, God…

What would it be like if I dropped the Fight Club? If we ended our small group? If I quit Atmosphere? Nothing. Nothing good anyway. Pastor Cousineau talked about that in this weekend’s sermon- if I stop moving forward I begin moving backwards. That is why I need my small group, Fight Club, and everything else: they hold me accountable for my sins and encourage me to grow. They challenge my heart. They force me to look at myself and my actions and compare them to God instead of others. They speak the call and the comfort of Gospel into the life that I so want to be in control of.

Being part of the body of Christ is vital to staying connected to the head.