My Story, What's yours?

So, the other day I decided to write out the process of how I came to faith in Christ. I did this for one reason in particular but found it to be a very helpful process. I was able to see where I had come from and how over the years I had grown in my faith. It was very encouraging as well as humbling to see areas where I really need to work on in my life. I just want to encourage anyone who reads this to try it out. Take some time to put on paper the journey of your life of faith. If anything, in the end, you'll be better prepared to answer when someone asks about your story! If you would like, please share it here in the comments section.

Below in a shortened version of my story.

My Story

I grew up in a Christian home. Both my parents are saved and made sure that church and God were high priorities for our family. Like so many kids who grow up in church, I heard a teacher talking about hell. I didn't really know or understand much about it, but it sounded bad and I got really scared. So one evening I asked my parents how I could go to Heaven because I was rather certain I didn't want to go to hell. Like a lot of well meaning parents they told me to repeat this prayer after them and I would be saved. So I did.

I spent the next 10-12 years doing what any kid does that grows up in church: I went to church every time the doors were open, and sat through countless sermons and special conferences. I had as much information downloaded into my head as I could. I knew all the right answers, how to act and what exactly I should believe, but not always or hardly ever why. It wasn't until sometime in my late teens that I realized something didn't seem right.

I felt God really pressing in on me. I looked at my "Christian walk" and realized I really didn't have one. I had spent years conforming to a pattern of behavior and not into a image barer of Christ. The pull of God on my life became too great and I could no longer resist the grace that he was offering. Like before, I had prayed a prayer. It wasn't some memorized predetermined prayer. It was a prayer of repentance and thankfulness. That's when God saved me.

Over the course of the next 10 years I grew in my faith. Looking back, the growth that I saw was small. God had saved me, I knew that but it still seemed like I was really living my parents faith and not my own. It wasn't until my mid 20's when all that started to change. I started asking questions of why I believed some of the things I did. I asked these questions not just of myself but of pastors too. With none of the answers I was getting making sense, I started really reading my Bible.

I always had read my Bible, but this was different. God gave me a passion to really study his word. To find out what it is God actually said concerning the things I had been asking questions about. Since Gad has given me this passion for his word I come to hold it in a much higher regard than ever before. It's also given me a passion for right doctrine and it put a weight on me to make sure I handle Gods word with care. I love God and my Bible. I'm so thankful for what Christ had done for me on the cross.

The Cost of Discipleship

I thought this was a great sermon from Pastor Mark Driscoll. For me was was very challenging. Go ahead, push play, it's good stuff!

More Than Just A Rant

Do you love your Bible? If I asked that to a group of Christians I know many would say, "of course I do", as they blow the layer of dust off the cover. Sadly, to much of my own life has been spent not in and not meditating on the words of God. I can be honest here, right? Most would probably agree to that statement to one degree or another, but I've been noticing something else.

Actions certainly speak louder than words. Saying you love your Bible is great but that greatness seems to diminish quite a bit if you have to clear a layer of dust off it. Or if you have to search around for it because you love it so much you've forgotten where you left it. May I suggest looking for it in your churches lost & found? Assuming of course that you brought it to church in the first place.

Every time I walk into church and this is happening at my church as well, I notice more and more people that don't have a Bible with them. Is there a Bible shortage? Did Crossway Publishers run out of ink? It just seems crazy to me that people will say they love Gods word and then leave it at home when they're going to the one place that it's being taught. I'm sure when you were in college you brought your textbook to class, you needed it to learn. Just like your professors have power point and throw many things up onto a screen, churches do this all the time as well.

I think it's great that this is done. Anytime technology can be use to convey the gospel I consider it a win. However I do think it has made many Christians lazy in their efforts to really know Gods word. We would rather have a pastor tell us what to know and what to believe. Rather than take the time and put forth the effort on our own. Not every pastor is going to get it right all the time, he's human. Gods words are true and timeless. On Sundays you should have your Bible with you so you can see truth for yourself or be able to spot error if it's spoken from the pulpit.

The christian life is a relationship with God. Like any relationship it takes work. It can be hard and at times very messy. God speaks to us through prayer and the reading of his word. Your Bible contains the very words of our creator, let that sink in! When someone of importance gives a speech, says something profound or writes a book, we listen. How much more greater things does the creator of the universe have to say?

Your thoughts?

It's Been Too Long

Wow, has it really been since August! When I started this blog I never wanted to become some forgotten about corner on the web. I felt like this was my little corner of the cyber world. A place to share my thoughts, ideas, reflect on things I've learned and maybe even rant at times. I also felt that if I wasn't contributing to it at least a few times a month then nothing really must be going on in my life. Actually, just the opposite has been true!

I've really had so much going on, I really didn't take time to stop, slow down and share what God has been doing. So what has been going on and what exactly has God been teaching me? Glad you asked! I'll try to sum it up in one word and then explain it briefly.

In a word: Running or Run. Yes, it's something I've been doing a lot of the last 6-7 months. It may not be a lot to some people, but I've put in almost 400 miles during that time. The time running has given me a lot of opportunities to talk to God and for him to talk to me as well. One thing I've learned, never disqualify an occasion as one that God might speak to you. Sometimes he waits to speak until mile 12 and then I reminded to stay strong, focus, finish the race. Knowing that he's not talking only about my current physical condition but also my spiritual one.

The apostle Paul had it right so many times when he equated the Christian life to a race! I've come to understand this analogy more and more. Especially when I find myself saying "he waits to speak until mile 12". Another thing I've learned, and yes it's been through running, is that I am my worst opponent.

When running, it's easy to fall into the trap of talking yourself into stopping. After all I deserve it, I've ran strong up to this point, I could use a break. It's all down hill from there. You actually remain stronger in the end if you don't stop!

I was recently reminded of this verse: Galatians 5:7 (ESV) You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? Sadly much of the time we hinder ourselves.

I'll end this with one final thought. This statement or words of wisdom came from the most unexpected person and has stuck with me for more than 18 years. It came from my high school cross country coach, Clarence Vandenbosch, we called him "Bosch".
He said: "Listen to me Charles, that first decision to stop running is easy and it only gets easier after that."

Obedience Through Suffering

Obedience through suffering. Most of us at some point in out lives have experienced this. While the majority of of us don't remember a lot of it, for some it's a very vivid memory. What I'm talking about, at least in our case is that swat on the rear end when we didn't do what we were supposed to be dong the first time. It was inevitable, every time we disobeyed or did something very stupid, out came dads belt. Of course it wasn't always dads belt, it might have been a paddle of sorts or even a switch off a tree (thank you Grandma for that one). Now days it's a time out peering into a corner, having a favorite toy or privilege taken away or being held captive in ones room for days on end. Personally I preferred the spanking, yeah it hurt, but it was quick, to the point and I was typically back to playing in 5 minutes depending on who administered it. My point is is that we all suffered on some level in order to learn obedience.

This past week a friend and I were studying through Hebrews chapter 5. Most of our time of discussion after our reading was on verses 7-10:

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (ESV)

Jesus did go humbly to the cross in total obedience to his heavenly father but he learned that obedience, through his suffering, before he went to the cross. Verse 7 says: "Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears". His suffering started long before he was nailed to the cross. His full obedience through suffering was designed in the cross and because of this obedience he was made perfect and became the source of our salvation.

Thankfully Jesus' full obedience to his heavenly father and his atoning work on the cross makes it possible for us to one day stand before God as obedient children.

Focusing On The Negative

"The single biggest mistake that most beginners make is putting 100% of their effort into the positive (concentric) part of the rep, while paying no attention to the negative (eccentric) segment."-Dorian Yates 6-Time Mr. Olympia

What a great quote and after lifting for a number of years I can say it's 100% true! I also think that this principal applies to our spiritual lives as well as it pertains to our joy. Notice I said joy and not happiness.God is more concerned with our joy in Christ than he is with our happiness. Nehemiah 8:9-11 talks about how the joy of the Lord is our strength. Christ is the source of our joy. It is this joy that gives us the strength to get through troubled times in our lives. So lets get back to the quote.

When it comes to our spiritual lives I'm not saying that we need to have such a focus on a negative time of life that all we are doing is wallowing in our self pity, continually grumbling about our current circumstance that we find ourselves in. What I am saying is, is that we have been brought into our current circumstance for a reason. Our focus should be to learn what God would have for us in that circumstance therefore growing us into the men & women of faith that he would have us to be. It's in that learning and growth where we find our joy.

I tell people, "don't be to quick to try and remove yourself from a situation that might be making you uncomfortable. God is molding, stretching, and shaping you for something. You don't want to go into what he has next for you unprepared."

So then, what is God bringing you through? Or better yet, what is God teaching and preparing you for?

Jesus Had to be Made Perfect.

Now that I've got your attention, I'll explain. Every other Thursday evening I meet with one or two friends of mine and we study through books of the Bible. It's really great to read Gods word with others and then get their feedback as to how they read the text and what God has reveled to them through it.

We're all at different places in our lives, no doubt, but we are also in very different spiritual places in our walk with Christ as well. Many times God will use a portion of text that effects one of us in one way and while the rest of us appreciate the text it has no big impact on us at the time. A couple weeks ago, this was not the case.

I've read through Hebrews on several different occasions and for whatever reason a portion of text really stood out like it never had before. Not just to me but also to my study partner as well.

Hebrews 2:9-11 reads as follows (our focus is on verse 10):
9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers
Wow, did you catch that! Here it is again, this time in slow motion: 10... make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Wait, I thought Jesus was already perfect, but he also needed to be made perfect? The answer to both of those questions is YES! Yes, Jesus is God! Yes, Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life. Yes, Jesus was always obedient to his father even to his death on a cross. This verse is not implying that Jesus was sinful by any means. In fact it has more to do with our justification and or sanctification than anything else.

In order to have a perfect sacrifice for our sin, Christ himself had to be prefect. He had to perfectly obey his father all the way up to and including his death on the cross. In his divinity he is perfect in every way and in his humanity he was made perfect by going through the same temptations, trills, life experiences and even death that we go trough. In his sinless perfection he is fully God, in his death he was fully human. In his resurrection he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who can humbly identify with those he calls his.