Let's talk about sex

We know casual sex feels good at the moment and everyone is doing it but it's not working somehow. It complicates our life and one temporal moment lasts a lifetime. Why?

"There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body." (1 Corinthians 6:16-20 MSG)

I can't claim credit for the important reminder of what sex is. Andy Stanley said it best how our world has twisted what sex is. (Twisted Lesson Number 4 http://northpoint.org/messages/twisted/category-of-one/)

Now how to teach the teen who sees the fun everyone is having and wants to engage in the activity that's so inviting by a world who is shoving it in his face...

If he only knew how the one RSVP yes has implications that will last a life time. I know because I can honestly look back at my own life. 

Let's be real with this generation! We know it's not just physical. Let's be real with ourselves! Read between the lines of what you see and hear and teach the next generation to do the same.

What are you listening to?

You can't be willing to hear God if you got your headphones on listening to yourself play your own music. 

I know a guy who is so passionate about his music, he wanted me to purchase the headphones he used because he knew they were the quality needed to hear his voice loud and clear without any static.

Since when do we need to pressure people into hearing us? Why do so many feel like they've gone unheard? Why does the world seemed to accept the culture of plugging in only what you want to hear and tuning everything else out? And since when do babies need earphones?

Every question requires one personal inventory of asking yourself what it is you chose to listen to and what it is you chose to tune out.

We are warned in the last days we will have convinced ourselves of our own righteousness so much so that our own voices are the ones we want to hear and all others get attuned to what we want to hear them say.

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT)

The Bible says faith comes by hearing in Romans 10:17. It's become harder these days to hear God amongst the many voices competing for attention. There is no greater time than now to discern what the Bible says about ears.

Again it's a simple call to reflect the Creator who is always listening as seen in Psalm 34. David pleaded for God to hear his cries in those intimate poems. He sought spiritual counsel to give him a hearing test. Some times it's so hard when we only hear mockers the psalmist writes in Psalm 44.

What are we doing to check our ears or are we just plugging them up?

The gospels proclaim those who hear and believe are blessed. Anyone who has ears to hear should listen (Matt 4:9, 11:5, Rev 13:9 and more). People are longing to hear but don't Luke said. 

I love how Rob Lacey put it in Word on the Street. He said they got wandering eyeness and selective deafness.

Listen up!

That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. (Hebrews 3:7-9 NLT)

The choice is yours on what you will clog your ears with and your choice to teach the next generation how to train their ears before making it acceptable to plug their ears up.

Sing to your soul

Did you ever discover a song that sings to your soul?

We all need a season with Jesus to discover our purpose. The transforming year of 2008 is 

so clearly defined in this song for me if I question my existence or place in the world, I can just play it.

http://youtu.be/UAY_qM09-hQ

A book titled Soul Song describes how each person has a song driven by an amazing unity of ONE SPIRIT. God speaks to us individually in a way he knows will light our flame that is just a flicker among all creation which together lights the world.

PSALM 148 (NLT)

Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decree will never be revoked. Praise the LORD from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the LORD. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones— the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 148:5-14 NLT)

Crossing God

I couldn't help but wonder about a strange phenomena that happens every school morning on the corners marking the paths toward the educational facilities. 

Without fail, no matter what the weather, volunteers donned in bright orange vests are positioned and ready to help students cross busy roads. Also, without fail, I see teens headed to high school avoiding these community servers.

Parents can probably tell you rebellious teens are always testing authority. There comes an age, they say, where their son or daughter doesn't even want to be seen with them. Usually it is around the same time in life they don't want to be seen next to a smiling stranger who wants to help them avoid dangers of oncoming traffic. 

What is even more disturbing is price of rebellion defined Scripture. It leads you wondering why anyone would choose it to begin with. Numbers 14:9 says those who rebel against the Lord have lost their protection. We aren't just talking about refusing to allow a crossing guard get you to school safely, we are talking about entire peoples being wiped out or devoured by the enemy because of one simple "no, thank you" and determined turn in the wrong direction.

Many times in the Old Testament the Israelites are not just called rebellious but they are labeled adulterous for leaning on other sources of satisfaction other than their one True God. A promise was made by their Heavenly Father that they would be numerous and mighty. He kept his promise but they would waiver time and time again.

Children are also given one commandment with a promise according to Ephesians 6:2. Living long and going well in the land God gave you is guaranteed for children who keep the promise by Exodus 20:12and Deuteronomy 5:16. The gospel writers add the flip side by saying if anyone curses their mother or father they face death.

I believe this isn't just for teens who don't want to be seen with adults. This is also for anyone who doesn't want to be seen with God. As His children, believers are called to fear or honor Him as a Father. Next time pride sets in or a choice has to be made think of God who is right there ready to help you cross the safe passage He set for you.

Humbly, like the crossing guards, Jesus is there every day no matter what the weather is in your life. He stands at his post offering a hand. At least thank Him.

Housecleaning essentials

Don't you just hate it when people come to visit and your house is out of order? 

Jesus purposely turned over the tables in the temple because  they made a mess of His Fathers house by turning it into a marketplace.

Think of how any parent reacts to their child's room utterly destroyed. In those moments I always got frustrated, especially if I knew the instructions on how to clean were received. Most times I'd collect the messy items in box then put them away for weeks as a punishment. 

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke's Gospel clear instruction is given to make a house of prayer, not a den of robbers. Mark also reminds us this house of prayer is for all nations.

Jesus clearly tells us to prepare a place for His arrival. We don't know the day or the hour, He said.

Before this temple tantrum occurs, disciples arranged Jesus' transportation exactly as instructed and the crowds prepared his arrival making a palm tree "red carpet."

In the street crowds shouted "hosanna in the highest" but obviously the people in the temple were not prepared.

Tonight an annoying cough and ache of allergy Spring kept me and my son from a Palm Sunday worship concert. In the past we were given palms at the Catholic churches. Once I even ended up in the Vatican Square without any intention or knowing it was a holy day. But tonight I learned I can dedicate my own house.

We prepared our home with candles and loaded up the Bible app references to the day on my phone. My son and I sang along with every rendition of Hosanna on YouTube by a variety of Christian artists. Together we read the readings. 

It reminded me how we are dancing on holy ground even though it is just our living room. Obtaining this house was truly a miracle in 2010. Immediately after I was handed the keys to the gift, my dear spiritual dad, a local Catholic Deacon and dearest mentoring friend, dedicated our home in the name of Jesus. Part of this writing is in memory of him who recently went to Heaven to sing Hosanna with the host of angels (another blog on dad's legacy coming soon)

We are also blessed to have a house that isn't full of stuff any robber would want. When Jesus gave us this house we left it free of materialistic clutter. Scripture is written on the walls. We don't even own a computer, Internet, cable, or any flat screen. The furniture is so minimal it would be so easy to move if God called us to do it again. 

The Bible also tells us our body is a house of the Holy Spirit. That's a whole other writing on how to keep this dwelling place within in order.

Jesus is ready to receive us. This week of reminiscing on all He did for us in preparation of Easter as the Jewish faith He came from celebrates Passover has so much to offer on house cleaning.

We are ready for holy week, are you?

They cry, I cry, we all cry "God, WHY?"

"Enough is enough already!"

Have you ever prayed that prayer?

It would make perfect sense if you were battling with some deep rooted scars or a repeated reoccurance of bad luck.

The Bible shows a picture of a whining nation of people time and time again during a season God was so close and personal. He walked with them. Their leader could call Him direct. They could see His miracles daily. A cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night led them safely through a strange land. 

Yet and still it wasn't enough.

They cried

"But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes." (Numbers 11:6 KJV)

Their leader Moses cried

"I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14 KJV)

As a parent I know what it is like to become extremely weary. How much drama can you have in one day? Can you ever expect to return home from work and there not be something crazy you have to address that happened in your teenage son's life? And yet nothing seems to be appreciated. Nothing seems to be working. No help is actually helping. Things seem to be getting worse.

All the while God is wondering how you lost sight of him. 

In this Old Testament story God actually came down and burned up the uttermost parts of the camp with his anger. He had walked with them all day and they seemed to of forgotten about him the minute they got home. They forgot how far he took them. They forgot the 72 hours of eternal bonding. 

Instead they sat at the dinner table demanding meat to eat. They reminisced on a former slave life as if it was a time of plenty and good health.

I can hear them sighing. I can see their eyes rolled. I can feel the dissapointment their Father God could feel. The manna He miraculously served after walking with them three days was not appreciated or respected.

Loud and clear in my mind I hear them say those famous teenage words "I'M BORED!"

Moses, their earthly parent shepherding them was getting frustrated to the point he questioned the purpose of his existence. He begged God to take the load and God answered with abundant help through 70 newly appointed elders.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." (Numbers 11:16, 17 KJV)

If you are feeling like enough is enough read those last three words over and over.

NONE OF US WALK ALONE!

God himself walks in three. His Son leads the way. We follow in Spirit-driven GPS. 

It is only when we lose sight of what's ahead we can become prey of the past, create a misconception of whose we are and fall victim to worries that don't really exist.

Worst of all we can forget we are not alone. God shows up and shows out through people. Just wait, trust and believe. There's really nothing to complain about when you remind yourself what He has done, is doing and has prepared for those who love Him.

Sound of revelation

To me, this is the lyric of "I just received WORD!"

Jesus asks very poignant questions in Mark 8 that should reveal a sense of this song.

Having eyes don't you see?

Having ears don't you hear?

Do you remember when (fill in your personal miracle)?

You understand?

Who do you say I am?

For what of a profit if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?

Set your mind on things of God (mark 8:33)

Then you will sing as you feel how this song ties together that awe inspiring feeling "I just received revelation."

http://youtu.be/0FksKAytQdk

"Alive" Capital Kings