Weekend Christianity

Sunday morning comes and there is a good chance you will be going to a building to have
your “church”. According to www.religioustolerance.org and average of around 40% of
Americans reportedly attend a Church service regularly whereas only about 8% stated that they
rarely or never attend. Jesus Christ used 12 regular people to change the world, why is our
country in a downward spiral if 40% of the people are attending church? The problem, in my humble opinion, is that only a very small fraction of that 40% are fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, the rest just make an appearance on Sundays.

According to studies and surveys conducted by The National Sleep Foundation, A.C. Nielsen Co and various other phone surveys the average American spends 46 hours a week working, 56 hours sleeping, 28 hours watching T.V. and just over 10 hours each week in their vehicles. That leaves about 48 hours left out of the 168 hours that are in a week: start adding in playing on the internet; eating and preparing food; talking on the phone; spending time with your families and there just isn’t much time for God so you make your appearance on Sunday morning and think you are all good. How can you combat all that time spent in the world with 2 hours on a Sunday morning? How can you possibly expect to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ if you only make an appearance once a week for an hour or two? How would your relationship with your family be if you gave them the time and energy you give God?

My church home offers something almost every night of the week to grow and connect and serve and yet out of more then 1,000 attendees only a small fraction of them attend the other events and often times it is many of the same faces that are seen at the different events. What are you doing, what am I doing, what are WE doing to encourage the Sunday morning Christians to venture out into the church community that exists on more then just Sunday? You cannot stoke a fire once a week and see it grow, it has to constantly be around a fuel source. Take an ember out of a burning fire and you see it burn out and die, true it may still be warm but the fire is gone but all that needs to be done to reignite it is for it to be place back within the fire. When you see dieing embers, your church family, go and bring the fire to them or bring them to the fire but don’t let them die out and become cold. The time is now for us to ignite our community, our state and our country. People need Jesus Christ and he has commissioned us, his fully devoted followers, to reach out to those around us so let’s roll.

I Surrender All

We had our First Wednesday communion service at Blue Ridge Community Church (BRCC) last night. I love all of our services at BRCC but our First Wednesday and Thirsty services easily top the list. I just love the close intimate feeling of those services and music is one of my spiritual pathways. Last night Angie was leading the music and prior to singing “I Surrender All” she asked us to make this our prayer and when we were ready to surrender it all to God, or at least want to want to surrender it all we could stand and join. Immediately I was ready to stand up in my proclamation of surrendering all to God; but I couldn’t. I got to thinking, what does it mean to surrender all to God? I mean, sure I am giving more and more over to Him but to surrender all is a big deal. I have plans and dreams; I want to travel and see the world; I want to change jobs and do what I love. I want to lie my life and I do want to live it for God but it really hit me when I heard the words “I Surrender All”.


I have control of my life and to surrender it all to God gives Him total control in all aspects. I had control when I made all of my selfish choices that caused myself and others pain. I had control when I went out on my own for a new job and ran up debt. I had control when I didn’t go to my college classes and dropped out. I had control when I would yell at my kids. I had no control. I am not in a position to manage my own life because I do not truly know what is best for me and what is best for those around me but God does.


The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation) that “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The creator of the Heavens and Earth has a plan for me. God knows what I need and what is best for me. I don’t know what God will do in my life but I know the promises He has made and I have seen how much I can damage my own life when I try to have power over it. I stood up and proclaimed to God and to all that I Surrender All.


On a side note, as I am getting ready to post this I am hearing these words from the song Mighty to Save:
“I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender (I surrender)”

Am I serving God?

I had the privilege of going to a small group last night and listening to Peggy, one of our churches leaders, speak (actually I know that God wanted me there last night). Peggy talked about serving values and why we serve God and how we go about doing that, she also had many amazing stories that she shared with us. What really hit me the hardest, there were a couple of things that perked my ears but this was the biggest, is her question of “are we prepared for Sunday mornings when we come into church, are we prayed up for it?”
I use to think I was prepared for Sunday mornings; I get to church a little early so that I can go around and talk with many of my friends and then I go into the big room and worship God through music, tithing and the message. Sounds pretty good right? Wrong! I was making it about me. I wanted to talk to my friends; I wanted to worship God for me alone. I wanted MY seat and I even got a little upset last Sunday because someone moved MY bulletins in MY seats and they sat in MY spot. I didn’t know who those two people were who so rudely stole MY seat. See all of the “MY” there? My. What a selfish word. I didn’t think about who those people were, I didn’t introduce myself to them and I am guessing I probably didn’t have a very warm and welcoming look on my face. What if these people were new to church or at least new to Blue Ridge? Did they know God and if they didn’t they sure would not have seen Him too clearly in me at that moment. Some body of Christ I was acting like at that moment. God may have had them there because He wanted me to meet them and talk with them. I hope they were not visitors looking for an excuse to not come back because I very likely could have been the reason they chose.
I don’t serve on Sunday mornings; no car parking, kid community or greeting but I am a part of the church and I am representing the church and while I do not have an assigned place to serve on Sunday mornings I am always serving my God and savior. I don’t pray during the week for Sunday service, true many people come to Christ throughout the week but Sundays are the biggest gatherings of people in one spot who are drawn by God. I pray that God will use me and I often make myself available but often I am very selfish on Sunday mornings. I have a new outlook on Sunday service now. I will come prepared for the spiritual warfare that will be taking place and I will open my ears for God to speak to me. I will let Him lead me to where I will sit and who I will talk to and stop thinking just about me. I will serve God by serving others and I pray that people will see God through me and if I seem to be closing off Gods light I ask that my fellow believers will tell me, no matter how harsh the words may seem. This is a battle for lost souls, who cares if I have to sit in a different seat this week.

Happy Birthday

December 25th marks the day we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday. My son asked if Jesus is 2,008 years old this year (out of the mouths of babes). The bible tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning”1 and a few verses later that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”2 So Jesus has always existed but this year we will celebrate the 2,008th birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the day that the eternal God put on human flesh and came down to us, being born in a manger over two thousand years ago. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”3 God left His throne in Heaven to come down to us and was born in a manger. A manger? The God who created everything humbled Himself and was born in a manger because there was no room for God in the inn.
No room for God, oh how often is that the case with us? Thanks for coming God but there is no room in my life for you, why don’t you just go wait over there. Is your life too full for God to have a place to stay in you? Is Christmas too full for Jesus to have a place in it? Christmas is a day of celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ. He came to us! His birthday and yet He was the gift. The bible says “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”4 Don’t be afraid there is good news, a great joy, a savior –the long awaited messiah- and this gift is for everyone. The gift is for all who will receive it, but you have to open the gift to have it. What good is a wrapped gift sitting in the corner collecting dust? Sure it may look nice over there and maybe that is what you want from God. You like to look at the wrapped gift He has given you but there is no room to open it in your life right now so you will keep it under wraps. That’s insane! You have to open the gift to enjoy it, to use it.
This Christmas let us celebrate the birthday of all birthdays; the birthday of Jesus Christ leaving Heaven and dwelling among us to redeem us. While you are exchanging gifts this year with one another don’t forget whose day it is and the meaning behind it. And don’t forget to give Jesus a gift this year. After all it is His birthday, isn’t He the one who should be getting presents? I say we should all write down something we are going to give to God this year. Maybe it’s something that is holding you back from fully devoting your life to Him. Perhaps it is the forgiveness of someone who has wronged you, maybe its money, time; an addiction, your marriage or maybe it is your life. If you have never given your life to God what better time then now, what better place then here? This is why Jesus came here. Maybe it is time you open your gift from Him.




Notes 1. John 1:1(NIV) 2. John 1:14(NIV) 3. Luke 2:6-7(NIV) 4: Luke 4:10-11(NIV)

Christmas, X-mas or Happy Holidays

Many years ago this wouldn’t have even been a question or concern; December was the Christmas holiday season. Now amongst the outcry of intolerance December is mainly for Happy Holidays.

Season greetings, happy holidays and Winter break have replaced the word Christmas and we, those who call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ, should be concerned. Those who do not recognize the deity of Jesus Christ will not be celebrating the birth of the messiah and yet many of them will be exchanging gifts on December 25th. Sadly many “Christians” celebrate Christmas no differently then anyone else. The 25th is filled with Christmas trees, gifts, stockings, Santa, elves, Rudolph, Frosty and an abundance of eggnog and yet little if no celebration of God taking the form of a man to live with us and reconcile us to Himself.

Many people will be out shopping this time of the year for the must have gift and yet so many are missing out on the only “must have gift”, one that is free to receive, one that cost the most from the giver and the one that only really matters. That is the free gift of Salvation given by the one who’s day of birth we have replaced with Santa.

I love this time of year, and I especially love the Christmas story. No, not the one where Ralphie convinces his parents to buy him a Red Ryder BB gun (I wonder how many of you immediately thought of this story when I said that?). I am talking about the Christmas story found in Luke chapter Two. There is no Santa Clause; no lamp made out of a leg and no Red Ryder BB gun in this Christmas story but there is hope. Hope for the weary and the lost. Hope for sinners to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. There is a reason for the season.

December 25th will come and go. Trees, stockings and tinsel will be packaged away until next year. Families will return home leftovers from dinner in tow. The must have toys and gadgets will be forgotten and discarded. School and work will resume and life will continue. But Christ will remain. Don’t X out Christ this Christmas. Isn’t it time to hold onto something that will last? Isn’t it time to celebrate now and forever that Jesus is King? I want to leave you with some lyrics from one of my favorite Christmas Carols; O Holy Night. This wraps up why this time of year is so wonderful to me.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Noise

Ever been in a crowded room with everyone talking at one time? It’s enough to drive you insane isn’t it? Why that is enough to drive you crazy but a room full of people each playing a different musical instrument (I am basing this on the assumption that these people are actually talented and know what they are doing) actually sounds beautiful? I think the differences lie in the fact that with the music everyone is actually playing together and are in unison with one another whereas in the room with people talking they are each saying there own thing and each one gets louder then the other in an attempt to be overheard by everyone else.

I was in a class today and prior to the start there were about 20 people each having different conversations. I attempted to listen because the noise was just making my head hurt but no matter how hard I tried I could not focus on just one conversation, it was all just unintelligible noise. Immediately I got to thinking (as well as jotting down a few notes to use latter for this) and I realized that many of us have this same problem with God. We want to hear from God, we want to hear what He has to say so that we can act on what we have heard but far too often all we get is noise.

God speaks to His children; that is not the problem. His children can’t hear what God is saying; that is the problem. We have too many other voices competing with God, trying to be heard over Him, that we cannot distinguish what He is telling us. Work, family, addiction, pride, comfort and fear are just a few of the voices that raise the volume attempting to drown out Gods voice. If we do not learn to silence these voices or at least get them to play in unison with what God has to say, well; we may just miss out on hearing from God.

My BUT, your BUT

Woody gave an excellent sermon last Sunday; fairly humorous as well. He spoke on King Uzziah out of 2 Chronicles 26 with the key passage being verse 16a which reads “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall…” One word; BUT. How our lives are filled with this seemingly nonchalant word.

I was going to go to church BUT I slept in. I was going to go visit my sick mother BUT there was too much cleaning to do. I wanted to spend more time with my family BUT overtime was more important. I wanted to go where God was calling me BUT life was comfortable. BUT, But… but!

Our “buts” can be simple things that just have a small effect or they may be quite large and keep us from living to the full potential that God has for us. What is your but that is holding you back from what God wants for you? I don’t know about you but I want to kick mine and see where God is going to take me.

I probably could have written much more on this but I think Woody did a great job and you should hear it first hand. www.blue-ridge.org