Are you really involved?

So we're planting a church. And there have been many people who have asked us who, what, where, when, why, and how. And I really haven't minded answering all of those questions. But the question really on my mind today is how many of these people asking have a church they are actively a part of? How many people are being the church within their community everyday? How many people look at church as a destination and not as a lifestyle taking place with Christ and other believers?

I will probably never know the answer to these questions. I want people to get involved. I want people who call themselves Christians to actually be Christ to their world. So here is the challenge, to everyone, but maybe more specifically to those living in and around Escondido. BE THE CHURCH! Either with us at the Branches Community Church, or as a part of any church that you are currently attending. If your "Church" isn't encouraging you to BE the Church then come to the Branches and we will encourage you to BE the Church with us.

Just know that I am calling you out if you call yourself a Christian and you think that the church is a destination that you go to every Sunday. Don't be that guy/gal.

The In-betweeners

There's been something on my mind lately. Actually it's been on my mind for a long while. And sometimes when something's been on our mind for a while we think it's been on other minds as well, which usually is not the case. So I'm going to write what's been on my mind.

When it comes to the Bible I really want people to either believe what it says or don't believe what it says (preferably the former). I'm tired of the in-betweeners. What do I mean by the in-betweeners? Well I'm glad you asked, here are a few examples.

People who continually want to change what the Bible says to fit their life or other's lifestyles.

People who say they believe in God but will also say they neither read or believe a lot of things in the Bible.

People who continually say that a certain translation, or all translations are tainted by men, so the Bible is bunk or weak. The funny thing about this one is that I've looked up a lot of verses recently in the original language and compared it with good translations and I've found they are almost identical, so whomever made up the ESV or NASB did a really great job.

Denominations that feel it necessary to pick a side. Whether it's Reformed or Arminian, it's almost like we have to pick a side instead of picking the Bible. I've got a good idea, why don't more churches just pick the Bible and just choose to live with the tension of the questions that we really can't answer by saying, "We just don't know." or "The Bible says it so it's true, but we can't understand it yet because we don't have the mind that God has." Classical example being predestination and man's free will to choose God.

So I will get off my soap box now. If you have any further things that you would like to add just leave it in the comment section. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

A Couple of Good Questions

"As a Pastor where do you see the church transitioning to in the next decade?"

I honestly don't think you'll see much change in the church in the next decade. For the most part the church has been what it is for the past several hundred years.

But, there is a group of Godly people who are stepping up and emphasizing the gospel and the Love of God to the world. There has always been this group, but I believe that it has been growing over the past 20 years and will now continue to grow until Jesus returns. We need it! There are far more people in the world today that need to hear the Gospel of Jesus, we need more Christ lovers. This group has a heart for the gospel and social justice. They want to reach the hurting world in tangible ways with food, shoes, water, money, etc, and the love of Jesus. Isn't that what Jesus did? For far too long people have either tried to reach the world with food, shoes, water, money etc. minus the gospel, or have tried to reach people by sitting in their holy huddles and hoping some other people come into their church, be born again, and become a part of the club. Both ways are wrong. What this world needs are Christ loving disciples that are the hands and feet of Jesus to their world. This world doesn't need a club, it doesn't need a hippie movement, it needs the gospel! In the gospel we find all the hope that is needed for a dying world. It is eternal hope!

"Why do you think that the 'church', not the body, has taken such a huge hit in the past decade?"

Because of what I've stated above. The "church" has wanted people to come to them. You've heard pastor's say things like, "go out and invite your friends to church!" This is a misnomer. We should be the church, not go to "church". We need to go to the world! We need to bring the gospel, even the unread, unspoken, and unpreached gospel to our world. Because when we do what God says we are reading, speaking, and preaching the gospel to the world like Jesus did. I'm not suggesting there is no place for the written or spoken Word, but people are going to be far more accepting of the written and spoken Word when they see it lived out first. It is crucial that we reach and love the lost, teach them what God says, then go do what God says, and tell others how awesome He is! They will become the body of Christ in turn.

OBL

So I'm gonna give it a go. I'm going to try to explain whether death should be celebrated or not. It's not gonna be easy because we have a few different things to consider, but it should be fun.

A few weeks ago, as you know, Osama bin Laden was shot and killed by an American soldier. There was more than a few moments where we saw people dancing, singing, and rejoicing in the streets. There were many who thought that this was in poor taste or worse, especially in the Christian community. They got so bent out of shape that it actually put a damper on their day. I found that to be sad.

So what's up? Should we have been rejoicing? Well I guess that depends on which group you are talking about. I'm only going to be talking about two groups here, basically because these are the only two groups I feel educated enough to talk about. ;)

Group One: Those who are agnostic or atheist, in other words there is no belief in God. Why would you not want to celebrate?!? The world had to be considered a little safer after this happened. You could make the case that OBL was not a threat to us holed up in that compound, but I could also make the case that all of the terrorists in the world now have to believe that these forces can find them and will kill them, no questions asked. So any way you slice it there should have been some celebrating going on that night.

Group Two: Christians. I think Christians should have been celebrating as well. Not necessarily in the same way but they should have been rejoicing within themselves that God brought justice and in that more men, women, and children were not going to be killed by this man. And I don't think this is dishonoring to God.

What the Bible says:

Romans 13 1-4, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."

I can also rejoice because God is right in his Word, and he is a God of justice and love.

30 Minutes and Counting

Well it's down to 30 minutes and then Jesus will take me to heaven. Well I guess if you believe a false prophet. So what happens when 3:01 arrives? Well, I will actually keep living as Jesus wants me to live. I will occasionally screw up and then I will repent. Not to say that Jesus hasn't forgiven me of all my sins, but my repentance is what I am propelled to with the Holy Spirit inside of me.

Hopefully Harold Camping will repent publicly. Seeing as he put out a false prophesy publicly. But I'm not holding my breath, considering he was more than willing to prophesy falsely about a biggie.

What will True Christianity do with the mess that will have been created in 29 minutes. Well, probably nothing, because hasn't this "mess" been experienced before and won't it be experienced again. People who want to believe that all Christians are crazy will continue to believe that all Christians are crazy. Crazy "Christians" will continue to be crazy and not really believe what the Bible ACTUALLY says.

Bottom line is that I will continue to preach Christ. I will continue to tell people about the gospel today, tomorrow, next week and next year. I will sin, but I will get up, repent, and walk towards Christ again and tell people about His Gospel. I will do all of this until Jesus actually returns, maybe in 23 minutes.

Love Big, Love Small

Thus Their Language Becameth Antiquated

I honestly can completely appreciate the King James Version of the Bible. It becomes 400 years old this year and that got me to thinking. Some churches and denominations won't use anything but the KJV. This, in my opinion, is a problem.

The problem with using the King James Version in todays context lies in the fact that, although it's beautiful for some to read, it essentially speaks a language that is irrelevant and hard to understand for today's English speakers.

Before the King James Version, and a couple of other versions from Tyndale and Wycliffe came into existence back in the 1400's to 1600's, the church would read the Latin Vulgate to their congregations. Unfortunately not many could understand what was being read, and they couldn't read the Bible themselves.

The sad part is that when churches only use the King James Version of the Bible today they may as well, in many ways, be reading Latin. Most people don't understand most of the stuff that is read to them out of the King James Version. Don't we want them to know what they're hearing and reading?

This is why I would recommend a version that is theologically solid as well as being in the language and pattern we currently use in today's world. Two I would recommend are the English Standard Version (ESV) and the New American Standard Version (NASB). These two translations are doctrinally sound and they are written in a way that most people can understand today. Kind of like how the King James Version was relevant and understandable to the people in England in the 1600's.

And remember God inspired the Scriptures, not a particular translation. Staying true to what God said is of utter importance. Keeping scripture in a particular language that is incomprehensible to people who need to read God's Words is not what God wants for His people. He wants us to read, hear, understand, and do what He says.

Products that have the Market Cornered

I have a growing list of things that I will only buy one Brand of. Tonya is getting more than a little irritated by this, but here is the list so far:

Ketchup--Heinz

Cream Cheese--Philadelphia

Peanut Butter--Jiff

Dry Roasted Peanuts--Planters

Toilet Paper--Charmin

Mayonaise--Kraft

Computers--Apple

Up for a Concert?

I'm not really a concert guy. Actually that's probably the case because I never have any money I want to dedicate to a concert. I'm not interested in going to a concert just to see whomever it is while my nose is bleeding. I'd prefer seats where I can actually see the artist live and not up on a big screen, and these tickets usually cost a lot of money. My thinking: I may as well watch them on TV or You Tube if that's the case.

But there is a concert I want to see. I'd love to see Adele in concert. Preferably in a small, intimate coffee house or club somewhere in San Diego. I don't know if it will ever happen but it is a wish of mine.

Who would you like to see in concert?

I Drive a lot

And so I notice a lot of crap. Here are a few things that drive me crazy on the road:

1) Today I pulled up to make a left behind a lady. The light turned green, she didn't go. I honked, she didn't go. The light turned yellow, I kept honking, she didn't go. We then waited for the next green light. (Side note: It was a brand new BMW, so no I wasn't being insensitive about someone who had a broken down car.)

2) People run red lights from a dead stop a lot more now.

3) Where have all of our reflexes gone? Why does it take a good three seconds for some people to press the gas once the light turns green?

4) I wonder how many bicyclists die each year in Escondido? Besides those bicyclists with the spandex, none of them follow any of the rules of the road.

5) Pedestrians want to die. How many times do I see pedestrians trying to cross the street, at night, in dark clothes, NOT at a cross walk or corner?

6) I have wasted 8,394 hours of my life waiting at the lights going East and West on Valley Pkwy at the intersections of Quince and Center City in Escondido. I cannot believe how long those lights keep me at a dead stop before I can go on green.

7) U-turns using the Round Table parking lot are illegal. But that doesn't keep all of Escondido from ignoring that little sign just so they can get to McDonald's.

8) Why do people go under the speed limit in a 45 zone but over the speed limit in a 35 zone?!?

9) People don't want to signal anymore. Of course that's probably because they are holding their phone to their ear with their left hand and don't have a hand free to hit the lever.

10) Backing in I'm a fan of. Could you wait until no cars are coming so that you don't hold up the whole world while doing it?