God's Planning System--GPS (Because Everything Is Cooler With An Acronym)

The band director has complete control of what is going on in front of him.With various strokes and movements of the hand, he is able to completely direct and orchestrate every bit of the music that is being played. He knows what is coming up, what is currently being played, and what has already been accomplished.

The University of Michigan Marching Band has a long history of directing incredible performances.

For the audience in the seats, however, they are clueless.

Often...okay, pretty much always...we're in the audience.

God is the grand orchestrator of all things. We see throughout Scripture that he has "predestined" things to happen "from the foundation of the world" (and then John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius went to battle from there). We find verses in Jeremiah  that remind us that God has a "plan to prosper us"; He totally knows what is going on.

Take a look at one of my favorite verses.

And, for the record, my two favorite verses are both from the minor prophets--Zephaniah 1:5 and this one.

The prophet Habakkuk says in chapter 1 and verse 5: "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Pretty cool stuff, right? Well........let me drop some background on you. And then remedy it.

This is actually NOT a real happy verse. If you look at the verses that come before it, Habakkuk is crying out to God, describing all the evil and bad things that are going on around him; "Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict emerges" (1:2). So that's not a good start.

But it gets worse as we gain the actual insight to verse 5 in the verse that follows it. In Habakkuk 1:6, God says to the prophet: "Look, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation that marches across the earth's open spaces, to seize territories not it's own" (1:6).

Yeah, that verse isn't so happy now. God's promising to destroy Israel in ways they can't imagine.

Yay for my life verse.

But that's not the end of the story. It is true, God came through on His promise and destroyed Israel like they couldn't imagine. The holy city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and the nation was taken captive to Babylon in 586 BC. But here's the important part: they came back.

It's true--that verse is a verse of promised destruction. But even so, God does not just leave His people hanging. Every promise of preservation for the nation of Israel still held true, even though they were chastised (more on the preservation of Israel in a future post). The nation had done wickedly, and this punishment by God was to set them back on the path to fellowship with Him. Everything God does has a purpose.

Israel would come out of the exile better than they could ever imagine. They were literally set free to return to their nation and rebuild their holy city. That's something that they would never believe, even if somebody told them about it. Though a verse of destruction, I think it is safe to say that God's people can apply it as a verse of encouragement as well.

It's a statement from God that, whether for punishment or for blessing, He has a plan and everything is under His control. And the things He is doing are so incredible, we wouldn't believe it. He is, reverently, the celestial band director, holding the sheet music to everything that is, that was, and that is to come.

God's plan is going to blow your mind.

Smashing My Head Into a Goal Post...as well as...Dealing with Jealousy, Anger, and Whatnot

There is a home video of me smashing my head into a goal post.

Granted, I was like 5, and could barely skate at the time. But sure enough, I fell over and slid into a solid goal post supporting the hockey net. And you could totally hear me yelling all the way in the stands. That wasn't exactly the prettiest start to my career in hockey.

Looking back can be a lot of fun. But there's always things (like this video) that you'd rather forget.

But maybe it's not just home videos. Maybe it's looking back through old messages you've exchanged with others; then suddenly it hits you. How stupid and selfish you were. How you totally messed up on things and should have handled them better. How you should have shown patience and understanding instead of rashness and jealousy. 

I kinda laugh, wishing that previous paragraph was all written in the hypothetical.

But here's the thing I was reminded of tonight: we can't be the people we should be without a Savior. I can't be the man I want to be without a Messiah. They say the first step in fixing a problem is realizing you have one. I think we can all admit that we fall short; I certainly have seen a lot of specifics that I've fallen short in, just from looking at a few past messages (okay, so this hasn't been hypothetical--but you knew that). 

So where do we go from here?

It has to be a radical war. It has to be a spiritual war. As seen from my last post, there is a monster in ourselves that wants to win. And that cannot and will not happen. One practical thing to do is to write down some of the areas you know you fail in (not all...there's no piece of paper big enough for that) and pray about them...hard. Pray about them every day...strongly. Take them before the God that can control all things. Radically.

That's what I'm doing. I wrote down six or seven things I tend towards that I know have been difficult for others and that need to be changed (anger, selfishness, jealousy--you name it). I'm going to pray about them every day for the rest of the month...and beyond.

If God can turn the hearts of kings in his hand like rivers of water (that's pretty awesome--it's in Proverbs, check it out), then He can absolutely help me battle my own sin and failures. He can change my heart.

As a side note, my career in hockey blossomed after this point. My team won a district championship when I was 11, and we went as far as the Michigan state semi-finals. I would also go on to lead the league in scoring at age 13 (however...those were about the only things I won in 14 years of hockey...so I treasure them).

A rocky start does not mean it has to stay that way.

There's power in the Blood.

Hero for the Monster

The battle for control of your soul. It's similar to an audio remix.

Say what?

Today I finished a smash-up of two rock songs by the band Skillet: "Monster" and "Hero." Why those songs? Well first, Skillet is my favorite band of all-time; that may or may not have played into it. Second, those songs are two of their most popular, and the energy they bring blows anything else off the charts.

So why mention all that in this blog? Because of the irony that those two titles would be placed together.

On the one hand, you have a monster. Something the artist describes passionately as coming from deep within himself--the "evil present in me, the one who wants to do good," as the Apostle Paul said. This monster wants nothing more than the complete destruction of the person in which he resides. It is stated in this way: "He's hiding in the dark/His teeth are razor sharp/There's no escape for me/He wants my soul, he wants my heart." The whole existence of the monster is for utter desolation of the person he lives inside--but it's more than just living inside the person. The artist himself "feels like a monster."

He is the very nightmare he fights against.

Contrast that with the hero. The person speaking knows that every day is a battle and a struggle. He openly admits that "we're in the fight of our lives"; the monster is waging battle. Every day. Every night. There is nothing within himself that can fight the monster, because everything within himself is the monster. Again, this isn't some small skirmish over a small chicken or piece of property--this is the battle for his soul. Finally, in desperation, the artist realizes that he is going to lose to the monster. He finally throws all reliance off of himself and cries out in the chorus:

"I need a hero to save me now."

It's funny how stuff like that works out. This deep analogy isn't what I had in mind when I cut and edited the tracks. But it's true: the pieces of music continue to transition between each other and cut each other off and on throughout the entire smash-up. It's like they are at war with each other--because, in reality, they are.

Lately, that track has been me. I've been in a place where I know I need a true Hero, and I go to Him for restoration. But the next thing you know, here comes the monster from inside me; a monster that is filled with hatred and bitterness, that makes a fool out of myself on Facebook due to my lack of control.

But this self-control is not something I can control myself. I need a Hero.

Anytime that the monster starts rising up again, it has to be Jesus that I'm going to for restoration and peace--there is no other way. Trust me. I've seen what happens when I try to run things myself, and frankly, it's pretty pitiful most of the time. You have to call the Hero. But that's the thing about it: when the monster comes, it takes you actually going to the Hero and telling Him about what's going on. He knows there's a monster--He just wants you to rely on Him enough to tell Him and know He can handle it.

Remember that, when you begin to see yourself losing to the monster. There's a Hero for that.

Relient K-hristian: The "Beauty of Grace" when "Life's Not Fair"

"Mmhmm."

That sound is most commonly used by football-watching husbands to their questioning wives. But that's not important. What is important is that, surprisingly, the phrase is actually an album title from punk rock/pop band Relient K.

The album Mmhmm contains one of, if not the most popular songs the band has produced: "Be My Escape." The lyrics to look at come from the second stanza of the song:

                                   "He's told me the way, and I'm trying to get there
                                    And this life sentence that I'm serving
                                    I admit that I'm every bit deserving
                                    But the beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair."

How about that? Grace makes life not fair.

                                      *                                  *                                *

Lately, it seems life has been less than fair. There are people in my life that I feel have treated me wrongly--terribly, even. People that seem to have betrayed my trust. I just want this people to see what I'm saying...to see my side of the situation and the points I am presenting, instead of ignoring it and being stubborn. There is a lot of bitterness to fight.

And that's not easy. It's never easy when life's not fair.

But here's the thing: life isn't fair.

Let's go back to the lyrics: "The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair." Truth be told, we'd all be in hell right now if we got what we deserved. There is nothing righteous and just about us...without Christ, that is. Grace and forgiveness are things we do not deserve.

Forgiveness is not fair. Grace is not fair.

But God extends both to us. Maybe we should do the same to each other. Even when life's not fair.

Mmhmm.

The Lord's Table: "Communion" or Disassociation?

Note: In no way am I stating that I am absolutely correct in the things written in this post. However, they are concerns that I have had for a while now, and I feel no harm in addressing them. Leave either a comment on the blog, on my social network, or on my email if you have answers or concerns with what I am addressing. Hopefully, if nothing else, it will help you think.         --JE

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"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

No, this is not going to be a post about "The Princess Bride"--that would be 'inconceivable.' But sometimes when we read words in Scripture (in this case "added to [the church]"), we tend to interpret the definition in light of what we want it to mean, or have been taught that it means. To do so without looking at the larger picture, as well as the whole of Scripture is unwise. Looking at the whole picture of Scripture is as imperative as "building up an immunity to iocane powder."

                                                 *                           *                            *           

Everyone will agree that the Lord's Table is a church ordinance; that is, it is something given to the church by Jesus Christ. What is 'the church'? The church is a group of believers, or disciples, that come together in local church 'bodies' across the world in order to corporately worship God through song, prayer, reading and the sacraments. 

It should also be simple to see from a study of Scripture that the bread and cup that are partaken of do not change form into the literal body and blood of the Messiah, as Catholicism would indicate. We are to "do this in remembrance"--as a picture. This is an illustration that we are commanded to continue "until he comes."

Many of the churches I have had contact with, however, seem to put a barrier upon the Lord's Table. It is agreed that the Table is a church ordinance and is "merely" a symbol of Christ's sacrifice. However, they also add that believing on Christ is not enough to participate in this ordinance--official church membership is also necessary before accessing this sacrament. 

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I have difficulty with that conclusion.

First, look at who Christ Himself first had the Communion table with--the disciples. At that time, these men were part of no organized and constituted church. The early church was not established until around the time of Pentecost, which we find account of in Acts chapter 2. Were the disciples taking the supper with Jesus "in an unworthy manner" (1 Cor. 11) ? Of course not. Who were the disciples? 

They were believers and followers of Jesus Christ. And as such, they partook in a remembrance of Christ.

Second, observe the early church. It is clear that there is Scriptural command towards local bodies of churches--that is not to be disputed. But what people made up these churches? These are nothing more than groups of believers and followers of Jesus that bring themselves together in a certain place for worship. Words in Scripture such as "added that day" or "when you come together" do not indicate any sort of official membership courses, titles, or positions. It is an "adding" to the Body of Christ--an adding which makes itself manifest as these new believers begin anchoring themselves in continued coming to the gathering of Christians where they are at.

The similarities between what I am saying and the beliefs stated earlier are great. There is much the same thought in regards to the sacrament: it's a church ordinance, it's only for believers, etc. 

The main difference is that it is denied to believers and followers of Jesus, who continue striving to follow him personally while corporately they do "not forsake the assembling of ourselves together." Why? Because they have not completed "formal church membership."

These are Christians, believers, and disciples--the very ones Christ first instituted the Supper with, and the very same that were part of the early church believers. There is nothing in the early church, as we see it in Acts, that indicates any type of "formal membership." It was enough that they "continue to grow in grace" as they "keep the faith" as believers and followers of Jesus. 

And as believers in Christ, they were permitted to partake of Christ's Communion in their local body. 

The requirements of the early church should not be added to.