Word of Beard

To the saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus everywhere - you are loved on purpose.

Grace. Peace. (1:2)
Blessed. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (1:3)
He chose us. Holy. Blameless. Love. (1:4)
Adoption. Good pleasure. (1:5)
Grace bestowed on us. (1:6)
Redemption. Forgiveness. Riches of his grace. (1:7)
Abound. All wisdom and insight. (1:8)
Making known. Good pleasure. Purposed. (1:9)
Bring together on earth and heaven. (1:10)
Chosen. Purpose. Works all things. (1:11)
Hoped. Praise of his glory. (1:12)
Gospel. Salvation. Sealed. Promised Holy Spirit. (1:13)
Inheritance. Redemption. (1:14)

In these 14 verses of Paul's letter to the Church surrounding Ephesus he overwhelms us with the overflow of the Lords character - He floods with His intentional and gracious love for us. Crazy!

Seriously. Just read through the list above describing what God, through the life of Christ, offers us.

Not only that but all with preemptive purpose and design. Catch that? It's actually been Gods will from before the beginning of time to pull us into His vision of eternity. Check this out:

Chose us before the foundation of the world. (1:4)
Predestined. Through Christ. Good pleasure of his will. (1:5)
Praise and glory of his grace. (1:6)
He caused to abound to us. (1:8)
Making known to us the mystery of his will. According to his good pleasure. Purposed in him. (1:9)
Fullness of times. Bring together in Christ. (1:10)
Chosen. Predestined. Purpose of the One. Works all things according to his will. (1:11)
Promised Holy Spirit. (1:13)

It's not chaos and condemnation that propels the Creator onward in purpose and mission. It isn't anger and distance and disillusion. No.

From eternity past the Father, the Son and the Spirit have found nothing but pleasure in fostering and securing redemption for us. Through the eternal plan and cost of the life of Christ and the seal of the Spirit we are drawn in as heirs, adopted into the family of God the Father with love according to what pleases Him in His Holiness and Perfection.

He chose us and invites us into the divine mystery of His will.

You and I are loved. Read Ephesians 1:1-14. Read it again. Read it once again. You have been loved. You are being loved on. You will be loved forever. Now tell me that isn't just exactly what your heart truly desires?

Word of Beard

Often I forget the simple nature of words as tools.  That most of the time they either build up or tear down.  That when James describes this tool, language, he uses rudders and sparks - very beneficial tools in the hands of the healthy.

A rudder, when utilized by a true pilot, safely and productively steers the ship and its goods to the desired location, even amidst storms and waves and sirens and sea monsters.

A spark also, when placed in the hands of the wise, non-pyromaniac, builds a fire for warmth, for meals, for innovation and production.  Little things that are designed to build up and bear fruit.

It's true James notes the evil nature of our tongues which inevitably are an overflow of our collective soul (not the band) and while I can't deny it, I wonder if more often than not with the existence of so much social media, technology and narcisim (I'm aware of the irony says the guy writing a post on his personal blog with a picture of himself and titled after a notable facial feature of his own) that the average bear isn't so much set on speaking evil but simply incapable of shutting-up?

Self control is difficult, it takes practice, it takes discipline, it takes intentionality and accountability.

Even good things such as expressing dreams and desires, plans and visions and missions and goals...all very good things but done without an understanding of the weight and accountability of such expressions we may, albeit naively, find ourselves leading others, challenging others, designing expectations and stirring movement in others lives that we never truly committed to ourselves...simply because our words, our tools, were naively used.

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts...

Read James 1:19 and 3:1-12 and 4:13-17 and 5:13-20...ah, just read the whole letter, it's worth it.

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'This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.' 1 John 3:16

Giving is an interesting concept. I'm not sure I understood it until I was made aware of Christs sacrificial giving.

I would give in order to receive. I would give out of guilt though sometimes out of compassion. I would give because it seemed 'fair' in a particular context or simply to balance out a give/take relationship. Even those times where I gave out of love sacrificially, I cannot recall doing it for any greater purpose, any greater good. To be honest, I'm not sure I really wrestled with 'giving', especially it's deeper eternal purpose.

However, once in Christ, though not understanding giving entirely and not right away as a new believer, it did make sense that giving was 'right' and that it brought joy and those warm-fuzzy feelings, especially when it cost me much.

The Apostle John explains this a bit, 'This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us' (1 John 3:16a) - this is the supreme example or model of love. this is a divine eternal love, a moral love, an ethical love, a sacrificial love, a practical love and a perfect human love. In other words, Giving flows first from our knowing and experiencing a perfect love in Christ.

He goes on, 'And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers,' (3:16b). John notes that Jesus is the model and that we are to be living examples of his perfect love. He goes on to stress that this is demonstrated specifically in the giving of our personal possessions (material belongings, food, money, housing etc), and in the general sense of how we live, 'action and in truth,' (3:18).

This is a holistic call to model Christ-likeness through the giving of ourselves, and this is a call to every believer at that. In fact John goes on to say that, 'This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,' (3:19)...if we give ourselves away. He follows this statement with some specifics about giving material goods and as well as good deeds, things and the Gospel.

There is something about giving that displays not only to the world but to our own hearts and minds that we truly know Jesus and what He has both redeemed us from and called us to.

Though as a new believer years ago I may not have been able to explain it, it seemed right to give. It seemed right simply because it was a divine character trait being fostered in my own life - I was becoming Christ-like. Whereas when I didn't know Christ I was simply acting Christ-like without knowing it and He yet honored this by providing those divine 'feelings' of joy and the like.

Giving is easy to do. That said, knowing the source of giving and our motivations is a deeper issue. Spend some time praying and discerning your own giving lifestyle. Are you modelling Christ-likeness?

Read 1 John 3:16-24 and Romans 12:1-8. Adapted from an original post at Medina East Campus' [RE]GIFT

Word of Beard

The new year is an interesting life-marker isn't it. It's this invisible line drawn in time that very strangely affects our worldview. It's an excuse for a do-over, or a second, third or fourth start at something.

It's very freeing to think that come January 1st we can actually start afresh. But it's also confining too isn't it? At the same time that we hope for a new start to our diet, we're limiting ourselves to that timeline, as if starting today would be futile.

I was reading about discipleship again and this time in relation to the new church campus plant I'm involved in. I was thinking about our Vision and Values and how they ought to connect us with Jesus on a molecular level. I was thinking about this in relation to a new year on the horizon and how I want to live and lead with clarity, at least as much as the Spirit allows in this crazy season.

In order to map out the coming year I've been convicted to view my life's Vision and Values in direct relation to the Gospel holistically. For instance, let me share my definition of each (Breen and Cockram sent me in this direction):

Vision: Gods kingdom at work in this culture through the Gospel.
Values: Gods grace at work in this body through the Gospel.

This Vision forces me to view all of ministry (personally and corporately) as the expansion of Gods kingdom here in Medina. And this expansion, penetrating the heart of this community and culture, coming solely through a practical understanding and outworking of the Gospel (to the unbeliever in Romans 1:16, and maturing believer in Colossians 1:6).

This definition of Values stirs within me a greater desire to enter into a Gospel lifestyle that applies divine grace to every relationship, situation and context in real time both within this local body and within the greater community.

Can you imagine what life would hold in the new year if I/we resolved to unite our individual and communal Vision to actual Gospel centrality on any and every front?! Our worldviews would be rocked and we might usher in the kingdom in this town with miracle and wonder.

What if our Values shifted dramatically as well. That in the new year we'd resolve not only to eat healthy or live at peace with the universe but to give grossly abundant amounts of grace to others as the Gospel demonstrates for us and demands of us. That our value system would be defined by a Gospel of grace and not unconvincing and discouraging law.

That our Vision for our lives and the Values we function within would be Gospel centered is quite simply the only way a new year resolution will come to fruition. I want to challenge us all to keep this in mind as we begin to ponder what the new year might hold.

Enjoy the journey in 2013 - in fact, why not begin now...

Read 'Building a Discipling Culture' by Breen and Cockram

Word of Beard

'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?' Job 4:17

...Says a spirit, a mysterious form in the night, to Eliphaz a friend of Job. He's in the midst of dreaming when all of sudden he's terrified at the presence of this being who then begins to whisper conviciting nothings in to his ear.

It doesn't whisper murderous threats or haunting growls - even more powerful it begs the questions above. It challenges his (or maybe this is a vision for Job) claim to goodness, power and righteousness in his own right etc. It causes him to discern his own attitude toward the Creator and his own understanding of his place in the world.

'Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone' replied Jesus to a young man seeking to follow Him.

It's true. The Son of God was solidifying what the wild spirit from Eliphaz's vision was positing. That God is good, righteous and pure and no imperfect human (that's all of us in case you were wondering) could be more so than Him.

How we view our position in relationship to God affects how we worship or fail to worship Him.

Read Luke 18:18-30 for the story of the young man.

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'"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord.' Isaiah 55:8

Thus...my assumptions never quite line up with His actualizations. 'For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength' (1 Cor. 1:25).

Yet His promises, which are revealed, can be clung to.

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'He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.' John 1:10

Imagine if your family didn't recognize you in the morning. If you had to demonstrate your love for them in very explicit ways again, a deep love that only a deeply connected father/husband figure can display for his family.

Imagine pointing out the elements of you that were inside each of them. The characteristics of yourself in and through them. While speaking against those character traits that you hadn't planned for them.

Modeling, not forcing.

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'But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it's by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.' Jeremiah 17:7-8

What is a true disciple? This is.

All of one's life, attitude affected by the truth of Christ. And this spoken by the Father several hundred years before the incarnate Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and His desire for His church is the same as well.

Question: Are you this sort of disciple? Is there any other?

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'You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.' 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Paul and his co-authors were speaking directly to the Thessalonians in their context, but we've much to learn from these notes. If you suffer for the Gospel in any way as an imitator of Christ, and you've been convinced of the Truth of the Gospel and you know the model that was Paul's life...then the work of the Spirit in the Thessalonians is also at work in you.

So in this verse we see that the Holy Spirit carried the message along from town to town and generation to generation (2 Peter 1:20-21), stirred within them a perseverant heart allowing them to stand firm in the Truth (James 1:2-3), and transformed them into models of Christ-likeness (Philippians 2:13).

The Spirit also brought about joy, one of the key elements in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). He brought joy to the Thessalonians and He brings it to us through the Word here and now. He is the embodiment of it and is given to all disciples of Christ. No disciple can be a fully functioning imitator of Jesus without also experiencing His supernatural joy.

Joy frees us from the trap of self-esteem, depression, circumstance and suffering...and this only comes from the divine power of the Spirit.

So, be imitators of Christ.

The Thessalonians were transformed by the Gospel and their new lives were models to those who knew of them. How about your life?

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'"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.' John 7:38-39a

Now the streams of living water thing is awesome but it's not the focus of my thought here. I recently connected with a couple of young and passionate Latter Day Saints (Mormons to lay person) and it simply reignited my study of and faith in the Text that has been carried along by the Spirit, the Counselor and reminder of Jesus' teachings, a Truth that has been tested and approved.

Jesus breathed and poured the Spirit on them (John 20/Acts 2), an awesome picture of an intrinsically unified God. And that Spirit of power was received, is here and will continue working in the Church until Christ returns 'and finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God' (Luke 22).

At no point from Christ's ascension to this very day has the Spirit left the Church to our own demise as the Mormons may propose. He has been and is on the job until Christ returns to redeem His Church in the great finale! If the Spirit truly was sent for all as Jesus prayed in John 17 - then the Mormons Extra New Testament of Jesus' Vacation in the 'Merica's is all the more shown to be in the least unnecessary and at worst unbiblical and destructive.

And while the conversation may be greater than this tiny thought on a partial passage...it isn't anything less.

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'In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.' 1 Corinthians 11:17

Can you imagine the conviction of the guilty believers listening to this letter from Paul - sitting in a room with those you've put down, thinking of the imperatives of Jesus you've abused, making eye-contact with the overseers whom you've disobeyed or worse, pridefully judged.

Yet Paul's desire isn't to condemn is it? It's to clarify and call back to faithful living. It's to directly point out the fault, no matter how intense, so that Jesus can once again be glorified.

What is it that you, your friends, your small group, your local church body, your denomination are doing when you gather that Paul would have issue with. Not just Paul but his Lord Jesus! What freedoms are you abusing, what imperatives are you ignoring, what good are you avoiding and evil or ignorance are you running to?

Examine yourselves (11:28). Judge your own actions and motives (11:31. And work this out with fear and trembling beneath the awesomeness of God and you and I will hear this instead...

'Well done my good servant, you have been trustworthy...'

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'...he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you...And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going...[to] complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."' Acts 20:17-24

Moving on is hard. There are moments in life when change doesn't simply happen but is intentionally sought out in order to glorify God in uncharted waters...though exciting it's no less difficult to traverse.

Moving is crazy difficult as well for those staying behind, no longer sharing life with those setting sail. Without a doubt I will miss some dear friends. Community builders. Church Planters. Missionaries. Family.

Thanks for all the sweet times my beloved 'merican.

'When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him...Then they accompanied him to the ship.' Acts 20:36-38

(picture in honor of the called onward...real nice)

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'Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.' 1 Corinthians 4:2

Need I say more?

No...But I think I will anyways.

If we're given an awareness of God. An understanding of His love. A relationship with His Son. A unity with the Spirit. Not only should we believe that there's a responsibility to do something with this knowledge, but shouldn't we, by our love for God and for others, prove faithful in this divine trust?

I said too much.

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'...we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.' Colossians 1:9

So in the life of a Christian not only are we called to seek His wisdom and dwell in the Scriptures but it's God who inevitably grants and fills us up with His truth.

His Spirit guides us with spiritual wisdom, as opposed to the worlds version of it, into a deeper understanding of His will here and now and eternally.

And all this through prayer.

I best get busy.

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'Beware not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from you father in heaven.' Matthew 6:1

This is a simple but profound teaching.

Regardless of what the reward is that He's speaking of it's obvious that living a life for the admiration and praise of our neighbors, co-workers, church members, friends, family etc. is of no value in the larger scope of Kingdom life.

Our 'acts of righteousness' or practical godliness or functional Christ-likeness - these spiritual disciplines are acted upon solely for His glory. It's impossible to be hypocritically righteous (continue reading the passage), or insincerely authentic.

To clarify, the goal isn't to keep our Christ-like actions hidden, unseen from others. But that their seeing isn't our intention.

Whom are you seeking honor from? Be-aware of your hearts intention.

Read Matthew 6:1-18 for the greater context.

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'No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.' John 15:4

Branch = man / Vine = Jesus / Fruit = character traits of the Spirit - those who hear and accept Jesus

The Christian is called to not simply claim to be connected to Christ, but to actually be connected daily for refreshment, encouragement, nourishment, obedience. You don't have to be a horticulturalist to know that a branch not connected to it's vine will grow no fruit...it'll grow nothing and eventually die. Not surprising.

Grapes grow in bunches, where one sprouts so sprout many. Not only this but many branches grow as well, producing enough grapes to profit the gardener. A picture of healthy, productive, sourced, fruit-bearing, multiplying, profitable community.

No, a branch can't bear fruit alone, it needs the Vine - and it seems that the Vine is seeking to grow many healthy branches to produce lots of fruit - to honor the Gardner.

'...I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.'

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'But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.' 1 Corinthians 15:10

Popeye catch-phrase aside, Paul is telling us something about the power of the character of the living God here.

Paul was not one of the original 12 Apostles. He did not walk alongside Jesus. In his own words he was 'abnormally born' into the kingdom and in particular, apostleship. Paul became the ultimate proponent for the universal Church, that is, to the Jews & Gentiles...thanks to the grace of God alone.

We know what Paul was thanks to his writings and legacy. Has the grace of God effected you so dramatically?

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'As evening approached there came a rich man from Arimathea...Joseph took the body [of Jesus], wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb...' Matthew 27:57-61

Interesting may not be the right word but think about this: He was born into a poor family in the poor part of the region - He worked hard growing up to become a carpenter/mason - upon beginning His ministry he forsook a home, his family, wealth and security, marital pleasures etc. to travel: preaching, teaching and healing.

He noted that even animals have safe places to rest on earth...yet He had none (Matt 8:20). It took His physical death to be honored with the physical riches of man. The freshly cut tomb of a wealthy family. Do we honestly deserve more while on earth?

'Be like Me' Jesus says to all of us (Luke 14:33). How do we really balance that call to that Life with our lives amidst our desires?

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'Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.' Romans 12:10

Is this ever irrelevant? Is there any society that would function better without brotherly love, mutual edification, honor, respect, self-sacrifice for the health of others?

What are some of the consequences when this is denied, ignored or attempted with false motives.

The real question is - are you living this out today?

Word of Beard

'This is how we know what love is...' (1 John 3:16)

What follows is two-fold:
1) A simple definition of Supreme Love in action.
2) An appropriate response to this Love.

This incredibly simplified definition of love is actually a holistic culmination of every other in Scripture.

Finish reading the passage and you'll see this surpasses any distorted-confused-puppy-fluff 'love' and quite possibly in our culture re-aligns the biblical definition of love with our subsequent language and action.