Posts from — April 2009

in Matthew 15, Jesus juxtaposes two different ways of doing life.  the first contrast is between living by the traditions of men versus living by the word of God.  in the first few verses, the religious leaders are bent because Jesus and His disciples don’t wash their hands like they are supposed to.  Jesus responds by telling them they let their traditions nullify the Word.  apparently a person could vow to give their money to the temple, which is not a bad thing.  actually it’s a good thing.  but if a person vowed to give money to the temple and then their aging parents were in need, the religious leaders were telling people they couldn’t us the money to help their family, they had to give it to the church.  i’m not clear if the “giver” was using this “corban” vow to get out of helping their family or if the religious leaders were demanding the vow be kept after it was made, but either way, the religious leaders knew what was going on.  and Jesus knew what was going on and told them they had lost their spiritual minds- they had invalidated the word of God for the sake of their tradition.

on the surface, it may seem like that has nothing to do with us.  but i wonder if sometimes we haven’t done the same thing?  i think about how martin luther went off on some traditions of men in his day- acts of penance and the selling of indulgences.  both of those “traditions of men” stood in direct contradiction to the teaching of scripture that we are saved by grace through faith alone and that we are to live holy lives in purity.  i was brought up to believe that you didn’t drink, dance, or smoke and don’t even hang around people who do.  now i’m not trying to cause myself trouble, but i wonder if Jesus would agree?  i’m certain He lived a sinless life, but would he go along with “what i’ve always been told?”  if i remember right, he actually kinda got in trouble for hanging with the wrong crowd at times.  and while i’m getting myself in trouble, what would he say to people like my mom (by far one of the most godly women i know) who declare that if you don’t have or go to sunday night church you are somehow not really doing all you should do for God and might even go to the “bad place”- {think hot and south}- (yikes…i hope she doesn’t read this- and if you know her, please don’t feel obligated to share any of this with her) but i do wonder.  while we’re at it, what about wednesday night service, come down front invitations, sunday school, three points and a poem sermons, and going to mama’s for lunch on sunday?  i don’t know about those first few, but surely there’s a bible verse somewhere about mama cooking on sunday!

what’s the point of all this?  i guess it’s just me and my small group last night wondering what we really base our lives on.  i’m asking are there places in my spiritual life where my tradition and God’s word may not exactly line up? and whose rules should i live by?  will i live my life based on the word of God alone or will i live based on the traditions of men?  no doubt, Jesus says go with the word every time. – enough for now.

without doubt this was one of the most rewarding easter experiences i’ve ever had.  as i think back on the week, several thoughts come to mind.

1) it took a ton of work- from sunday to sunday we had over 30 different worship experiences between the three campuses.  our staff team and volunteers are without doubt the best i’ve ever seen.

2) i learned some incredible stuff during the seder meal.  i never knew that the crowd that welcomed Jesus into jerusalem was actually waiting on the priest to bring the national passover lamb to the temple mount. i never knew that the priest said “it is finished” when he slaughtered the lamb.  and i never knew jesus had salt rubbed in his wounds to increase the pain.  in every aspect, Jesus is the passover lamb.

3) the 1-1-1 prayer was powerful.  for two weeks our church prayed for one person, for one minute, at one oclock.  within the first week, i was already receiving emails saying that people’s 1-1-1 prayer for someone to accept Christ or to come to church on easter was already answered.  incredible is the power of prayer.

4) no one worship experience or event was overwhelming by itself, but the cumulative effect of doing something every day made resurrection sunday much more special.  in the past, i’ve been guilty of not really thinking about easter until easter sunday.  but this week was different and so much better.  

5)easter sunday at pinelake rocks.  it seems like our worship teams and choirs just elevate to a whole new level during easter.  the tons of volunteers do the same- even at 6:00am, people are already smiling and serving- and i couldn’t be more proud.  every hour was great, but i have to tip my hat to the crowd who braved the 6:30 service- y’all turned out in force and the spirit was incredible.  

6)just way to go God.  good programs are no substitute for His presence and He never disappoints.  thank You Father for doing your deal- and for those whose eternity You changed this week.

7) i really don’t have a number 7, but you can’t end a spiritual blog with the number 6.