How Can a Loving God Allow Suffering?
With the recent events in Haiti and with the intense suffering that takes place in so many of our lives it leads one to ask…why?
Scott Thomas, director of the Acts 29 church planting network, answers this question in an article found here.
How Can a Loving God Allow Devastation in Haiti (and in my life)?
Pat Robertson doesn’t get it: (more…)
Random Thoughts
After the election and all the hype leading up to it I’ve got a few random thoughts and questions rolling around in my head.
Have a great Weekend! May you draw close to Jesus and point others to him.
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1. I never thought Barack Obama was a terrorist that desires to lead our nation into Jihad.
2. If Obama is not a terrorist he has a really poor choice of friends.
3. How long will it take some of the prophecy conference guys to link Obama’s choice of Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel, an Orthodox Jew, as his chief of staff to his eventual peace treaty with Israel?
4. I don’t think Obama is the anti-christ either.
5. Why is the Church perpetually in bed with the Republicans? Don’t think it’s true…how many Christian’s would have vilified McCain if he was running on the Democratic ticket?
6. Speaking of John McCain, where was the McCain that gave the concession speech on Tuesday night, during the campaign?
7. If Jesus were alive today would the GOP and the Dems be the equivalent to the Sadducees and Pharisees?
8. If heaven is so awesome why are we so afraid of death?
9. The Church is to be looking for the blessed hope (the Return of Jesus) but apparently we are to fight against any event that might lead up to it with all of our power.
10. When the Church begins to love people with an authentic Biblical love and model Jesus in our lives we will revolutionize our cities and blow the doors off of our fellowships.
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
Fantasy Football
Last night 12 guys from church gathered to have our annual fantasy football draft. I began playing fantasy football about 4 years ago when my friend Jeff Stewart invited me to participate in their church’s league. Previously I thought that fantasy football was the activity of complete nerds who huddled together to engage in dungeon and dragons during lunch in high school.
Well it may be nerdish but I really enjoy it.
I am really excited about my team this year. Barring injuries to key players (which is almost inevitable) I should have a very solid team.
Here is my roster:
We start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 Flex (RB/WR), 1 TE, 1 DST, 1 K
Starters:
QB – Jay Cutler (Broncos)
RB – Clinton Portis (Redskins)
RB – Frank Gore (49ers)
WR – Terrell Owens (Cowboys)
WR – Anquan Boldin (Cardinals)
RB/WR – Earnest Graham (Buccaneers)
TE – Jeremy Shockey (Saints)
DST – Redskins
K – Phil Dawson (Browns)
Reserves:
QB – Jon Kitna (Lions)
RB – Matt Forte (Bears)
RB – Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers)
WR – James Hardy (Bills)
WR – Donte’ Stallworth (Browns)
Oh by the way speaking of Jeff Stewart…please keep him in prayer as he goes in for the removal of his native kidneys today. No he’s not Native American…those are his original kidneys that are diseased. When he recieved his transplant back in May they left the native kidneys and it’s now time to remove them. This surgery has the propensity for many complications so please remember the Stewart’s in prayer.
The Life of Faith
What does it mean to live a life of faith?
Paul quoting Habukkuk declares that the “just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17). He doesn’t say that the justified shall put their faith in Jesus once and then move on to bigger and better things. He tells us that the justified shall continually walk and exercise faith.
In Colossians 2:6 Paul tells us that the way we recieved Christ is also the way in which we should walk in Him.
How did we recieve Christ? By grace though faith…therefore we should continue to walk with Jesus by faith.
Now for some reason we have this really warped view of faith. Everything from the TV dudes telling us to have faith in our faith…to us pastor types telling our people that the church is going to “step out in faith” to pursue a new building project.
Is that what it means to live by faith? Taking leaps into the darkness hoping everything is going to turn out ok.
No…this intepretation couldn’t be further from the truth.
Everytime faith is exercised Biblically it is attached to the revelation of God.
In Hebrews 11 we find several OT men and women who are commended for thier faith. But the faith we see them employing is not a blind leap in the dark. It is a choice to trust in the revealed word of God.
Example: God told Abraham to leave Ur and to make his home in Canaan. Abraham obeyed and dwelt in Canaan. God told Abraham he was going to have a son…Abraham, despite lapses of faith, trusted God and was even willing to sacrifice this promised son concluding that God was able to raise him from the dead. (cf Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19)
This idea that faith is akin to bungy jumping or sky diving needs to be striken from our thinking.
What does it mean to live a life of faith…Hebrews 11 gives us some great insight.
The Life of Faith is Obedient (vs. 8 )
*Abraham obeyed God by leaving Ur and making his home in Canaan.
The Life of Faith is Patient (vv. 9-12)
*Abraham waited for God to bring His promises to pass.
The Life of Faith is Sacrificial (vv. 17-19)
*Abraham was willing to give up his promised son because He trusted God.
As I look at my life I see that I often fail in these three areas. But then I’m reminded of the fact that Jesus perfectly fulfills each of these three characteristics of the life of faith.
Jesus completely obeyed God’s will for His life…there was not one area of failure or disobedience. So when I fail to obey I fall into the arms of Jesus who is my Redeemer and Friend.
Jesus never failed to trust God in His promises. He patiently waited for the Father’s timing to come to pass. He was completely submitted to the will of the Father foregoing His own agenda and purposes. Therefore when I fail to patiently wait for God to act upon His Word I find hope in Jesus who is my Advocate and Mediator.
Jesus came not to be served but to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He willingly laid down His life for the Father’s plan and sinner’s redemption. In light of this when I fall short of God’s desire for me to “take up my cross” and live my life as a living sacrifice I approach His throne of mercy receiving the grace that flows from His cross in my time of need.
This post was inspired by a message I taught at the Preaching Practicum and at church on Sunday. You can listen to it here if you are so inclined.
blessings…ryan
I love you even when you're bad
Yesterday I taught the second of a 4 part series on the cross called “The Result of the Cross”
To illustrate my fourth and final point and to conclude the message I told a story about a pastor named Mike Nelson as told by my good friend Jeff Stewart.
Here is the story… (more…)
Finishing Well
Today’s Super Bowl got me thinking…
The Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season. But what will they be remembered for? Not for how they started but how they finished.
Blogging
I’ve always been an avid reader (I remember reading something like 200 books in 2nd grade). I’ve enjoyed writing since I was kid. I’ve always wanted to write a book. But since that isn’t going to happen anytime soon I’m getting my fix through blogging.
You're a pastor?
I get that question a lot. I used to hear ”you are really young to be a pastor!” But now it’s just “you’re a pastor?” It went from shock due to my age to amazement due to my complete incompetence. 
I guess I don’t look real pastoral. Maybe it’s the shaved head or the stubbly beard. It could be the Chuck Taylors, unbuttoned shirts and holey jeans that comprise my Sunday morning attire as well. But whatever the case it kind of ticks me off. No not that I don’t look pastoral ( I actually go out of my way to avoid that mystique) but that people don’t think I look young anymore! Come on I’m only 32…please tell me that I still look young to be a pastor I loved those days when no one respected me and treated me like one of their kids. 
But it is a funny question isn’t it? Especially when you include the facial expressions and the long drawn out tone…”you’rrrrre aaaaa pastorrrr.”
I totally deserve the question though…
Jesus is the BEST thing about us
This is something that I say to our church constantly. It’s not our outreaches…our programs…our modern worship…our welcoming atmosphere…it’s certainly not our funky folding chairs or our cramped storefront.
And God knows it’s not the short, fat, bald guy that teaches every week
No the best thing about Calvary Chapel of Crook County is Jesus.
When people step through the door of our church I want them to experience Jesus. Not the Jesus of their own making. You know the one who smiles a lot and exists to make us happy because he’s really nice.
No what people need is the real Jesus. The One who compels us to take up our cross and live a life of humility, selflessness, and service. The One whose humble condescension and loving sacrifice demand us to lay our lives down and follow Him. Any other Jesus is a sham. Milli Vanilli without the dreds.
As a I pastor I desire to point people to the real Jesus. As a Bible teacher I want to take every text and make Jesus come alive to the listener. As a church planter my goal for our church is that it draws people into a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus.
I don’t want people to just “enjoy” the services and ministries we offer. It saddens me when people show up with no heart to be changed. You know the people who say, “that was great worship” or “wonderful message pastor” but then depart to completely forget what was said and to have their lives remain exactly the same. I want our people to have an amazing encounter with their Creator who is longing to have a living dynamic relationship with them.
“Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’.” (John 12:20-21)
This is the true need of every person that darkens the door of our churches. They need to see Jesus. Like the women with the issue of blood they desperately need to be touched by Jesus.
I pray every week that the people who attend our services will be arrested in their spirit having their hearts captured by the Lover of their Soul. I don’t want anyone to walk away without being challenged to wrestle with and personally apply the truths we discussed.
Sadly though many people will never truly experience the Jesus we so passionately worship and preach about. They are content to sing 5 songs, drop a few bucks in the box, listen to the sermon while checking their watch and return to their life unchallenged and unchanged.
It’s the sad reality of humanity. It’s the discouraging dichotomy of ministry. Some get it some don’t. There’s not much we can do about it. In fact there’s nothing we can do about it.
Jesus is the best thing about us. When people realize that it will change everything.
Predictions
Some predictions…not important stuff or things that will cost me my life if I’m wrong but just some ideas of what will go down in the world of sports and politics.
Something I hate about Christians
Yeah I know that is an alarming statement…
But there is something I hate about Christians. I hate the fact that we get so focused upon what we think defines being a follower of Jesus and in the mean time we totally miss the point.
Be Yourself
I think one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned in ministry since planting Calvary Chapel of Crook County is that I can’t live up to people’s expectations or preconcieved ideas of what a pastor is supposed to be.
11 Years!
11 years ago on this date I married the love of my life. We were young…we were broke…and we were so excited about living life together.
11 years later we’re still young (which is why it’s cool to get married at 21 and 19). We’re still broke (we’re in ministry what do you expect) and we’re still excited about living life together and experiencing all that God has for us.
Things are different though…now we have two awesome kids and a lot more responsibility. Life is a lot more complicated than it was 11 years ago. But neither Andrea nor I would have it any other way.
I’m looking forward to another 11 years with my beautiful bride. Who knows what life will be like then but with Jesus as the center of it all I’m certain that it will be amazing.
What?
Here is a story that is a microcosm of the state of marriages in our world…this is taken from Reuters here.
WARSAW, Poland – A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment’s employees.
Polish tabloid Super Express said the woman had been making some extra money on the side while telling her husband she worked at a store in a nearby town.
“I was dumbfounded. I thought I was dreaming,” the husband told the newspaper on Wednesday.
The couple, married for 14 years, are now divorcing, the newspaper reported.
Not Feelin' It
I haven’t felt real inspired lately. Therefore I haven’t written anything in a few days. It probably stems from the fact that I’ve been sick as a dog since Christmas. Like most men I refused to go to the doctor until it got so bad that I had to. I’m now on some powerful antibiotics and hopefully I will return to the land of the living soon.
My Seahawks did beat the Redskins 35-14 in the Wild Card round of the NFC playoffs. They will now travel to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. to face a very good Packers team in a very tough place to play on the road. The Seahawks will need to play equally as good defensively as they did against the Redskins and they will need to shore up that offense that seemed to struggle a bit. Be sure to carve out some time to root for the Hawks on Saturday, January 12th at 1:30pm (Fox).
The New Hampshire primary takes place today. Barack Obama who took Iowa last week is projected to take the Granite State by double digits as well. If this projection proves to be true this might be the beginning of the end for the Hill and Bill show.
On the Republican side, John McCain is holding onto a slim lead over the self-made Mormon (Romney) who surged in the polls after a good showing in the Republican debate on Sunday night. Mike Huckabee who came out of no where to take Iowa is projected to finish third in New Hampshire. This is no surprise as the southern evangelical doesn’t resonate well with the sophisticated secular residents of New Hampshire. The other Republican candidates seem to be really struggling and it makes you wonder how long guys like Fred Thompson and Rudy can hold on.
I hope that you’re feeling better than I am. Have a great day and may Jesus be our focus no matter who wins this year’s presidential race.
Grace
This time of year typically brings much introspection. As we look back at ‘07 we are reminded of our sin, our failures, and the the things we wish we had done better. As we look ahead to ‘08 we make commitments to right those wrongs and inevitably we fail in those vows as well.
So whether we are looking back or looking ahead we desperately need grace. The unmerited favor of God…recieving the exact opposite of what we deserve.
Paul told Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Tim. 2:1)
Peter tells us to “grow in grace…” (2 Peter 3:18)
In this New Year we all need to be strengthened and growing in the grace of God. We must daily experience the grace of God so that we can extend God’s grace to those around us.
If we are having difficulty forgiving those who have offended us. If we are struggling to deal with the failures of people in our lives. If we are lashing out in anger to our friends and loved ones then we are not experiencing the grace of God personally. This is just the fruit of the actual root problem. Our relationships horizontally are simply a picture of our relationship with Jesus vertically.
Jesus may we experience your grace that we might in turn extend your grace to those around us.
No Complaint in '0 Eight
Every year at this time we make these lame commitments that we ultimately give up around January 2nd or 3rd…New Year’s Resolutions. I’m not even sure why we bother with most of these vows. Saving money, organizing the garage, losing weight, exercising, eating better, etc, etc. They are all great concepts and would be awesome if we actually implemented them. But even more important are the myriad of Biblical commands that shouldn’t take the New Year to resolve. (more…)