Love Like Jesus – 12/12/2018

WARNING PREACHY… (preaching to the choir)

In his excellent book Six Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living[1], Dr. DeVries wrote in the second chapter “Love Others Like Jesus Loves You.”   This chapter begs the question; How did Jesus love you?

Jesus was the incarnation of God, meaning that God became man (John 1:14) and was born and laid in a manger.  Then Jesus grew up and spent his public ministry showing men how to be reunited with God through faith (read the Gospels).  And then finally Jesus went to the cross to die and defeat sin and death, thus redeeming us (Romans 8).  

Jesus loved us by total self-sacrifice then He called us to follow in his footsteps…

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Matthew16:24-26

This is Jesus’ plan for church growth; self-sacrifice for the others’ sake.  I’ll admit it, I rather like the plan of just improving the music offering of the church and increasing the friendliness of the greeter-team as the church growth strategy, but it seems that Jesus had a rather novel idea; sacrificial love.

So how does Jesus love you?  He sacrificed his being for you and now DeVries is reminding us that Jesus has called us to go and do likewise to others. 

Are you ready to dive into the waters of making disciples for Jesus?  Get DeVries’ book, it can be a bit daunting but Jesus is in the boat and he calms the wind and waves (Matthew 8:23-27). 

(Order a copy from Amazon here: http://a.co/d/1CropEG)

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[1] Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living: 100 Six-Word Lessons to Align Every Believer with the Mission of Jesus by David DeVries; http://a.co/d/1CropEG

Chris Cornell sings Show Me How to Live – 7/12/2017

WARNING PREACHY…

A month ago or so, singer Chris Cornell[1] committed suicide after a concert in Detroit.  I was not really a fan, nor had I ever been to one of his concerts, but he was an incredible musician and I loved most everything he created.

Since his death, I have been listening to his music through his career of performing in a bunch of different bands and projects.  He did a song “Show Me How to Live” that he sang when he was with Audioslave and I wanted to comment on it.

Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwKcMdiq60s

Show Me How to Live

Audioslave

And with the early dawn
Moving right along
I couldn't buy and eyeful of sleep

And in the aching night under satellites
I was not received
Built with stolen parts
A telephone in my heart
Someone get me a priest
To put my mind to bed
This ringing in my head
Is this a cure or is this a disease

Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live

Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live

And in the after birth
On the quiet earth
Let the stains remind you
You thought you made a man
You better think again
Before my role defines you

Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave me life
Now show me how to live

Nail in my hand
From my creator
You gave…

I’m not going to try to figure out the depths and details of this song but the chorus begs to be commented on.

Nail in my hand

From my creator

I find it interesting that Cornell was of the opinion that there was a creator of this world.  One may argue that this was just a song and he was not trying to infer this at all, but he has other songs that were somewhat spiritual in nature, and it leads me to believe otherwise.

On my deathbed I will pray
To the gods and the angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven

(Like a Stone – Audioslave[2])

He seems to understand that he has the curse of death in his life but he’s not exactly sure what to do about it.

You gave me life
Now show me how to live

These words are sung almost in an angry tone; like someone who is upset that he has been born into this world but doesn’t have the directions for life.  I can sort of relate...

When I first became a Christian, in 1994, I found I was upset because I was placed in the situation of having to live according to the will of Christ when all I really wanted to do was to live my life -- my way.  But the resurrection would no longer allow me to simply live my life for myself, and I could no longer deny that there was a moral obligation on my life.  My problem was that I wasn’t yelling to God to show me how to live, rather I already knew and I didn’t necessarily like the call to a new life of selflessness and sacrificial existence.

In Christ, we have all been shown how to live; for Jesus lived a life of selfless abandon led by the Spirit of a Holy God who cared for the poor and the neediest among us.  And he called us to pick up our crosses and follow him daily[3].

Chris Cornell was an extraordinary talent and I am sorry that he ended his own life.  I wish he didn’t struggle like he did and I wish he could have been around longer so he could have met the savior and learned the answer to his question.

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cornell

[2] Like a Stone - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX-t_Y-AzWY

[3] Matthew 16:24-26