jroelive

From my reading this morning in “The Valley of Vision” published by Banner of Truth

Come as power…to expel every rebel lust, to reign supreme and keep me thine;

Come as teacher…leading me into ALL truth, filling me with ALL understanding;

Come as love…that I may adore the Father, and love him as my all;

Come as joy…to dwell in me, move in me, animate me:

Come as light…illuminating the Scripture, molding me in its laws;

Come as sanctifier…body, soul and spirit wholly thine;

Come as helper…with strength to bless and keep, directing my EVERY step;

Come as beautifier…bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos.

Magnify to me thy glory by being magnified in me, and make me redolent of thy fragrance.

May you be blessed by this.
Grace and peace…

admin Christian Life, Prayer Jesus, Prayer

During my studying this past week I was reminded of a story my father likes to tell about an old Nazarene preacher by the name of “Uncle Bud Robinson.” Uncle Bud Robinson was a character.

He would pray…

Lord Jesus; help me to declare war on the devil.
Give me a backbone as big as a saw log,
and ribs like crossties,
and iron shoes along with galvanized breeches,
and give me a rhinoceros hide for a skin,
and hang a barrel full of determination in the gable-end of my soul.

Help me to sign the contract to fight the devil as long as I live.
Help me to beat him as long as I’ve got fists,
and to kick him as long as I’ve got feet,
and to bite him as long as I’ve got teeth.

And when I’m too old to hit him with my fists
and to kick him with my feet,
and when I no longer have a tooth to bit him,
help me to gum him until I die.

All this for Christ’s sake…Amen.

Reuben “Uncle Bud” Robinson 1860-1942 was born in a log cabin in the primitive mountain region of Tennessee. When he was 16, his father died, and his mother sold what little they had and moved to Texas. After an unsuccessful endeavor as a sharecropper, Bud hired out as a ranch hand.

In August of 1880, during a camp meeting, he felt deep conviction for his sin and trusted Christ as his Savior and was gloriously saved. That same night, while lying under the wagon with his hat on a mesquite stump for a pillow, the Lord called him to preach.

Although he had no education and stuttered so badly that he could hardly tell his name, yet in the first year of his ministry he saw about 300 conversions in his meetings. On January 10, 1893, he married Miss Sallie Harper at Georgetown, Texas.

The remaining 60 years of his ministry were given to evangelism. While lacking formal education, Uncle Bud had a wisdom all of his own. It was an unusual insight into the purpose for the redeemed man here on earth, a holy walk, day by day.

During his long ministry, it is estimated that Uncle Bud traveled over 2,000,000 miles, preached over 33,000 ser- mons, witnessed more than 100,000 conversions, personally gave more than $85,000.00 in helping young people with their Christian education.

In spite of his handicaps and physical ailments, speech impediment and lack of education, he made the Who’s Who of California. From Boston to Los Angeles, thousands thronged to hear him, charmed by his homespun wit and his unique presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was one of activity, and his will to his dying hour was to serve his Lord. He went to be with the Lord on November 2, 1942. I guess within the next 50years, or so, I will chill with Uncle Bud in Heaven.

admin Documentary, Great Story, Preaching Jesus, Missions, Preaching, The Gospel

Check out these business cards…

I thought that this was very creative.
That’s all…for now.

admin Random Stuff creative, random

Here are a few thoughts that I decided not include in my sermon of James 2:14-18 regarding Authentic Faith.

Hebrews 11:6 The writer says…Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Well, if faith is so important—and if James is right in that we must speak of our faith AND show our faith in action—we would be wise in asking, “What are hindrances to my faith?”

Hindrances to Authentic Faith – reasons why we don’t have legit faith/reasons why we have trouble trusting God/Jesus…

• Fear of man – rather than being a missionary (living out your faith, doing your faith around the lost, being light in the darkness) we tend to recluse ourselves from the needy because we have genuine fear and intense anxiety when around the needy.
• My own pride/arrogance – I am smart enough to “wing” the Christian life. I don’t really need to pray, serve, share, etc. So long as I look the part, I don’t have to play the part. Also, I really don’t have the time to invest in my faith—time to read, pray, serve, etc.
• Selfishness/Fear – We fear that God may ask us too much of us. We fear that we may have to open up our life to others—this scares me to death! I like my walls of protection my “privacy.”
• Scared of ending up weird. All those I know who have really worked hard at their faith have ended up being really strange. (they probably ended up being extremely legalistic—that’s why they seem strange)
• Too Easily Satisfied – We settle to just know more than the next guy rather than to live by faith—NOT just knowing. We live just enough like a Christian to “fit in” but not enough to be considered authentic by Christ.
• Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
• In John 16 Jesus says, to ask in order to receive. Have we proven that we are desperate for faith? Do we ask for it. Ask and you will receive.

admin Christian Life, Idolatry, Sermon Notes fear, idols, Jesus, Prayer

The Gospel is bad news before it is good news.
It is the news that man is a sinner, to use the old word, that he is evil in the imagination of his heart, that when he looks in the mirror all in a lather what he sees is at least eight parts chicken, phony, slob.

That is the tragedy.

But it is also the news that he is loved anyway, cherished, forgiven, bleeding to be sure, but also bled for.

That is the comedy.

And yet, so what? So what if even in his sin the slob is loved and forgiven when the very mark and substance of his sin and of his slobbery is that he keeps turning down the love and forgiveness because he either doesn’t believe them or doesn’t want them or just doesn’t give a damn?

In answer, the news of the Gospel is that extraordinary things happen to him just as in fairy tales extraordinary things happen.

Henry Ward Beecher cheats on his wife, his God, himself, but manages to keep on bringing the Gospel to life for people anyway, maybe even for himself. Lear goes berserk on a heath but comes out of it for a few brief hours every inch a king.

Zaccheus climbs up a sycamore tree a crook and climbs down a saint.
Paul sets out a hatchet man for the Pharisees and comes back a fool for Christ.

It is impossible for anybody to leave behind the darkness of the world he carries on his back like a snail, but for God all things are possible.

That is the fairy tale.

All together they are the truth.

(taken from Frederick Beuchner’s Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale…find it for FREE here)

admin Christian Life, Study Tools, The Gospel Jesus, resource, The Gospel, Truth

This weekend the prancing city of Nashville has been crippled by our largest snowstorm in 7 years. Ambulances overturned, salt trucks lost control and slid off the roads, of course the multiple car crashes, and 3 mph commuters all played a part in our stories. Perhaps this all happened to allow us to see a little bit of the coming Kingdom—the Kingdom we are seeking to establish at The Axis Church. “Is Jeremy saying that Heaven will be full of chaos?”—hardly! I am speaking of the results of such a storm.

As everything slowed down we were forced to relax—and have fun! We went to Sevier Park (12 Ave S) to go sledding. Of course we walked there—the four-wheel drive went out on my Suburban on Friday. Bummer! I had no idea what I would find when we crested the hill there at the park.

We saw people playing tackle football (hard for me to resist!), sledding, taking pictures, laughing, crashing into one another, wiping out, sharing equipment—it was so exciting! It was wonderful.

I loaded the kids on my snowboard (sitting, like on a sled) and down the hill they went—and fast! As I sent them on their way I wouldn’t simply watch them cruise into the creek and stonewall at the bottom of the hill; I ran as fast as I could along side of them. I ran to make sure they dodged trees, people, and of course the wall and creek! At just the right moment I would dive—arms outstretched—reaching for the bindings on my snowboard to pull them back towards safety. AHHHHHH! It was killer! I had so much fun—I can’t imagine that they had any more fun than I did. I loved it! We would roll in the snow together, the board would eventually stop and we would make our way back to the top of the hill.

Here is where the Divine Kingdom comes into play…

First, as I would take a break, I’d stand and look at the hundred or so people gathered together to slide down a hill. They used cardboard, large woks, poster frames, kid pools, wakeboards, surfboards, actual sleds (imagine that!), and even casket lids—that was very strange but highly effective and creative! They were all so very happy. No one was without a smile. Why?—the absence of work related stress and the presence of sheer, childlike pleasure. The people of Nashville had fun together, in community.
When I stood back I couldn’t help but think that Jesus was looking down upon us and grinning, ear to ear—watching us all get a small glimpse of the New World that He has prepared for us. I cannot wait!
Pray for this type of life to come quickly. Pray for us to allow Nashville to see just how wonderful Jesus is and just how much He loves and cares for them.
Thy Kingdom come!

Second, when I would help the kids have a wonderful but safe adventure on the snowboard, I was reminded of God’s providence and sovereignty. God is so magnificent that He allows us to have great adventures all within the control of His will. He loves us. He will never allow us to go so far that He is still not there in absolute control. He so desperately desires our happiness.
Oh that we would find our ultimate happiness in Him!

admin All things for good, Christian Life, The Gospel Family, Jesus, The Gospel

Many of you have been watching the horrendous images and videos that have been placed online from Haiti. My heart has been wrecked for that struggling country. There have been several times this week that I talked with Jill about trying to fly or take a boat into the shredded, discouraged country simply to move large rock and stone off of bodies for a week or two. I pray that things get in order soon so that many can make their way to Haiti to offer them aid.

So this begs the question, what can we do here in America?

I know that there are hundreds of mediums that are seeking your financial help for the sake of Haiti. I would like to encourage you to give to Churches Helping Churches This is an organization created by Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald that will help serve pastors and their churches during this crucial time in the life of this country.

Please pray about helping.

admin Missions Driscoll, Missions, Prayer

This year I am committing to a few things that I hope and pray will make me a better and more faithful Christ-Follower, husband, father, church planter and friend.

With new year’s resolutions, I try not to set myself up for failure. I aspire to things that are achievable with diligence, beneficial to my soul and those around me and practical in nature. So, here are my resolutions:

Resolution #1

Read the Bible in it’s entirety–the New Testament and Psalms both twice.
As I do this (here is the unique part of this resolution) I will journal my thoughts, questions and commentary in the margins of the ESV Journaling Bible and then keep this for my oldest son, J.J.
I will save this for a special occasion (e.g., graduation, wedding, etc.) and then give it to him. It will be something that only I can do and no money can purchase this anywhere. I hope to do this for each of my three children. Ideally, I will do this in a new Bible each year.
Also I plan to do the same with Banner of Truth’s “The Valley of Vision.”

Resolution #2

Spend more time in extended sessions of prayer–listening more to the still, quite voice of the Spirit.
My soul longs for this but my schedule tries to kill this. I must do this.
As a part of this I want to learn more of the Holy Spirit and His work in my life.

Resolution #3

Be more intentional with my family time. I have grown so much in this area of my life. I cherish being a husband and a father. It is the coolest hobby in the world. Who knew that fatherhood could be (and must be) more fun than snowboarding, hunting, basketball or football?!?! I love it!
Well, here is detail for this resolution. I want to spend more quality time with my extended family this year. After seeing two grandparents admitted to nursing homes last week, Jill and I are experiencing the brevity of life. Our loved ones will not be here with us forever. So, I plan to capitalize on my family moments more this year than ever before.

Thanks for reading.
Grace and Peace.

admin Christian Life, Study Tools Bible study, Family, Prayer

I try to read from Banner of Truth’s “The Valley of Vision” every day. It is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions from several centuries ago. I came across this one today and just had to pass it along to you. Wow! This really blessed me.

THE GREAT GOD
O Fountain of all good,
Destroy in me every lofty thought,
Break pride to pieces and scatter it to the winds.
Annihilate each clinging shred of self-righteousness,
Implant in me true lowliness of spirit,
Abase me to self-loathing and self-abhorrence,
Open in me a fount of penitential tears,
Break me, then bind me up;
Thus will my heart be a prepared dwelling for my God;
Then can the Father take up his abode in me,
Then can the blessed Jesus come with healing in his touch,
Then can the Holy Spirit descend in sanctifying grace;
O Holy Trinity, three Persons and one God,
inhabit me, a temple consecrated to your glory.
When you are present, evil cannot abide;
In your fellowship is fullness of joy,
Beneath thy smile is peace of conscience,
By thy side no fears disturb,
no apprehensions banish rest of mind,
With thee my heart shall bloom with fragrance;
Make me meet, though repentance, for thine indwelling.
Nothing exceeds thy power,
Nothing is too great for thee to do,
Nothing too good for thee to give.
Infinite is thy might, boundless thy love,
limitless thy grace, glorious thy saving name.
Let angels sing for sinners repenting, prodigals restored,
backsliders reclaimed, Satan’s captives released,
blind eyes opened, broken hearts bound up,
the despondent cheered, the self-righteous striped,
the formalist drive from a refuge of lies,
the ignorant enlightened,
and saints built up in their holy faith.
I ask great things of a great God.

I pray that this encourages you as well.
Grace and Peace.

admin Christian Life, Study Tools Bible study, Prayer, resource

What do you think if we substitute the word ‘life‘ for ‘cancer‘ (from Justin Taylor)…

1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that “beating” cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
10. You will waste your cancer if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.

admin All things for good, Christian Life Truth