Discontent

One of the diseases that infect our culture today is the disease of discontent. It seems like we are constantly striving to get the next best thing out there. Last night I was talking to a friend about golf balls. I know, probably not very interesting to you, but 20 years ago there were just a handful of brands and models of golf balls. Now, the list is endless. Titleist alone has 11 models. Nike, who didn't even make golf equipment 20 years ago, has 10. Every year the greatest, longest, and best golf balls are reinvented. Why? Because our culture is constantly looking for the newest, greatest, next best thing out there whether it be cars, TV's, phones, clothes, shoes, or even golf balls. We have become a culture of the discontent and it robs us of our peace.

Think about this… Many people don't get married because they are afraid that they will miss out on someone better. Discontent. Many marriages fail because the husband or wife feels like they have found someone else who will better meet their needs and love them. Discontent. People move from job to job because are discontent in their present job. Superstar athletes have fueled this. No longer are athletes staying with one or two teams over the course of their entire career. Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers were pasted by the Celtics. Early this morning they were already talking about Lebron James moving on to another team. Why? Discontent. And when discontent is in our lives, we cannot live in the peace of Christ.

Francis Assisi says this, "The devil never rejoices more than when he robs a servant of God of his peace of heart." This cultural disease has moved from mainstream society into churches today. People come and go through our doors all the time. They make the rounds from church to church. I call them free agent Christians. I know people who have come to Oasis who have moved on to other churches and have in the last 5 years attended 5 churches. Why? They get infected with discontent. To be quite honest, most of these people do not live very peaceful lives. A person who lives a discontent life cannot live a life of peace. They are diametrically opposed extremes.

Sometimes we need to just settle down and pray the words of Jesus, "I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift that the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

Are you filled with discontent? Then pray that the peace of Christ will come into your mind and heart today.

Test

Angry God vs Loving Father

Sometimes we get the idea that God is an angry God waiting to punish us, even taking joy in punishing us, when we make a mistake. The Bible is filled with verses of Judgement for those who reject him. It is true that without Him we face the cosequences for our choices. But His joy is not in punishing us. God's joy is in us embracing him. That is what brings him joy. Repentence, transformation, and love for Him and people. I read this verse today Ezekiel 33:11; 11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die? Just as any loving father points out to his children what they will face as a cosequence for disobedience, God does the same. But his delight, joy, and Happiness comes from our love and obedience to Him. Once we obey him and receive His Son Jesus, we need not fear seeing him as angry at us.... He loves us! Make the segway from angry God to Loving Father today. - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

Pneuma

Just wanted to remind everyone that tommorrow morning we will be continuing the Pneuma series with Pneuna: The Church. If you are in the area, hope you can make it. Come at 10:30, grab some coffee from our coffee bar and be ready to start at 10:45! - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

Pneuma- Week 2

Wanted to invite yo to tommorows service. We will be in the second week of the Pneuma series. Come, grab a cup of coffee from our coffee bar, and come experience Pneuma! - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

Good Friday

For as Long as I can remember I have struggled with Good Friday. The idea that it is good seems so evil. What is so good about a man who was hated, beaten, spit upon, had his beard plucked out, a crown of thorns pressed into his head, and last; nails driven through his hands and feet. Then to finish it, prop this man up in the air on a cross to watch Him die a horrific death. What is good about that? Oh yeah. He was no ordinary man. He was Jesus. The son of God. The punishment he received wasn't for him, for he was innocent. The punishment was for you and I. He took our penalty of death for our sin on himself. That way we could be forgiven. I guess that's why we call it Good Friday. - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

Relevant or Revolutionary

"If we are to achieve results never before accomplished, we must expect to employ methods never before attempted." - Sir Francis Bacon One of the hazards the longer you are in a leadership position is the danger of falling into patterns or ruts. We can begin to do things out of habit and tradition and lose the excitement of being led by the Spirit of God. Gods message of love, hope, healing, forgivness, and acceptance does not change. But sometimes the methods change. In leadership circles a lot of attention has been given to being culturally relevant. I belive this is not correct. Being culturally relevant means relecting the culture around you. Instead, I believe we should be revolutionary. Instead if reflecting the culture, how can we impact and influence the culture around us. Here's the simple answer; Spend time getting to know the culture around you and pray and ask the Holy Spirit how you can be a part of His cultural revolution. Then listen to The Holy Spirit and do what He leads you to do. - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

New Series

Just got the proof for the banner back for the Series starting April 11th and ending on Pentecost Sunday, June 23rd.  Invite your friends to Pneuma: Come Discover the Holy Spirit!

If Your Church Closed Today.....

If your church closed it's doors would your community notice? I read these words a few days ago. Every year thousands of churches in America close their doors. When a church closes, the community should notice. Are we as Christians making the kind of impact on our cities, towns, and neighborhoods that would be missed if we closed up shop? The truth is many churches close and no one notices. Many times the church has no impact on the community so no one misses it when it is gone. This shouldn't be so. Jesus impacted every town he stepped foot in. He made a difference everywhere he went . We should strive to do the same. Is your church making such an impact on your community that it would be missed if the doors closed? - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

Sunday Questions

I wanted to invite everyone in the area to come to Oasis in the morning. We will talking about Questions for God. Everyone has questions from time to time. We are going to look at few you might have. Hope you can be there at 10:45, wait, make that a quarter till 11. - Posted using BlogPress from my Itouch

What Questions are You Answering

One of the concerns we must have as leaders in the church is this; Are we giving answers to questions that no one is asking? When I read through the bible what stops me is how Jesus was willing and open to questions from his follows. We as leaders (not just pastors) can get caught up in trying to impress everyone with how much we know. In the process, we give intellectual information that does nothing to help people with practical problems and questions. Some of us have been in church for so long that we forgot what it feels like to have questions. We need to stop and find out what questions people are asking. Are you answering questions no one is asking? - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Motivating!

I was trying to catch up on my 90 day bible reading plan today and hit a passage that stopped me. I have read this so many times but for some reason God really opened it up to me today.

Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated..... And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt... Deut. 34:7,10-11

What a reputation Moses has. All the way up until his death he still had it! He was living life with vigor and had kept his focus on what was important. Moses knew God face to face. In Exodus we read of God speaking face to face with Moses as a friend.

That is the kind of relationship that we should all strive for. Speaking to God face to face and never losing our focus all the way through the end of our lives. Keeping our excitement, energy, and focus on God and his focus for our lives.