Daily Interactions (4/30)

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Okay Peter, it's like this.


Acts 10:9-48

God loves the drama in this story.

Why the drama, because this was a big event and a transition for Peter... and for Christianity.

Up until this point, Peter (a man that understood Jewish traditions and law) knew certain things about God. What was acceptable and what wasn't.

Or at least he thought he did.

God comes in with something simple like food and ends up paralleling it to people.

Before this, Jews were the chosen people, but now he understanding that God loves everyone just as much as he loves the Jews.

He loves....
the gentiles
the Jews
the Romans
the pagans
the Americans
the Iraqis
the Chinese
the Republicans
the Democrats
the atheists
the murders
the jerks
the hypocrites
the church going
the mean girls
the "you".....

all the same.

Peter didn't accept this easily, much like it is hard for us to accept that God loves people that we don't. As Peter began to understand, he changed his mind... and so can you....

Qu?

- How would you react if God asked you to change your mind about something you've always believed?

- Is there any place in your life where you believe some people are more important than others? Why?

- How does this passage help you deal with that? (knowing you're not alone, Peter feels your pain)

Daily Interaction (4/28)

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Christian Virus


Acts 1:6-8

Hey, I know it is a weird title to discussion, but I like to think differently. I prefer it.

I love this verse, it is like God telling you to get off you butts and get to work for Him.

God could of sent Jesus to ever corner of the Earth so that everyone would see the miracles,
hear the teachings, and receive salvation....but He didn't.

Jesus/God empowers us, (that's right, you have powers) to spread this message of salvation to the
far ends of the globe. God wants you to act on your own salvation and forgiveness to tell other about
what has happened for them as well.

There is roughly a billion of people who have never heard the Gospels...that's crazy.

Qu?

-Have you ever felt like God was calling you to tell someone outside of your culture the Message?

-How do you think we could reach that billion+?

Finally, pray/mediate in silence about the verse...read it 2-3 times and ask God how He wants to use you?

Daily Interactions (4/27)

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Roots.


1 Peter 2:9-10

Where do you come from? Are you Irish, Native American, African American, etc?

Your roots give you a sense of direction, guidance, history, and importance in the grand scheme of things.

Today, look at your spiritual roots.

You are part of a long standing heritage that is the church.

Read the scripture.

How does it feel to know you're a part of a larger spiritual kingdom?

How should this knowledge change the way you live as a believer?

Daily Interaction (4/26)

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Role Playing


1 Corinthians 12:27-31 & Colossians 1:18

Being a part of a church or a part of the Church (all Christians together), means that you have your part to play in community of believer. You may think, "I'm not important because I'm not in a particular group or have a particular personality", but that is far from the truth. Everyone has been blessed with spiritual gift
(to figure out yours click here -> http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/).

Another part of being in a community is realizing who is in charge. We get caught up in following people in the church... Friends, Parents, Youth Directors, Clergy, Etc...

The truth is Jesus Christ is the leader of our church.
The Brains.
The Heart.
The Power.
The Inspiration.
The Message.
The Authority.

Qu?
-How can you honor Jesus today as head of His Church?


- Do you know what your role in the Church is? ...no?... Pray and ask Christ to reveal to you what it is.

Daily Interactions (4/25)

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Churchin'



Using the message from Bryan's sermon this morning, I wanted us to look at what is church.

Why do you think Christians attend church weekly, hardly at all, or never?

What is the purpose of going to church?

I've experienced various reasons in my own life.
- I've gone out of discipline (just showing us)
- I've gone because my parents made me (stay out of trouble)
- I've gone because I didn't have anything better to do (stay out of trouble)
- I've gone because I'd mess up (wanting forgiveness)
- I've gone because it was an escape (wanting refreshment)
- I've gone because I love God (wanting to worship)

Church has many faces.
It is a noun.... a place to go.
It is an adjective..... describing people that are discipline (churchie person or church-going)

It a verb.... an act of meeting with others that are trying to understand and thank God.

Church is not entertainment, Church is not a reflection of worldly values and justice, Church is not a business, Church is not a commodity.

Verses 18-19. What is described about Church?





Daily Interactions (4/24)

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Mark 10:17-31


What part of the verse/parable do you focus on the most?

This parable mainly focuses on two things:
- What money, little faith, and good works gets you.
- What leaving it all behind will get you.

The focus for today is verses 29-30

Whatever you leave behind, you'll receive 100x that later. We shouldn't ultimately struggle with leaving money and possessions behind, but it is hard when you're talking about people (especially family).

If your relationships are struggling outside the church community, how are you working on building those relationships with your brothers and sisters in God?

Have you ever felt like Peter? (meaning... Peter surrendered everything)?

Daily Interaction (4/23)

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"busyness"


Wow, I asked my group on Wednesday to come here (bindandloose.blogspot.com) and read/respond to whatever was up for the day. You know, just a way of being disciplined to read some scripture on a daily basis.

Guess how many have....? 0.

Shocking.

Or maybe not that shocking.

I'm sure if I asked individuals for a reason, I'd get some good ones...
"Had to study", "Forgot", "Tired", or my favorite "I just don't want to (the apathy dagger)".

That last one stings a little, but it is the truth.

People, not just Youth and definitely including myself, are too busy. Or are least they have the perception of being too busy. Either way, we're busy. Corrie Ten Boom once said, "If Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy". The truth in that statement is scary. I feel saddened that people have forgotten "purpose" and replaced it with ...
-tv
-facebook
-texting
-XBox
-entertaining websites
-boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend
-money
-stuff
-etc.

The truth is we shouldn't have time for these things and instead we argue the opposite to be true. Saying I don't have time for....
-dinner with the family
-sit alone and think about my life and those I affect
-pray
-read
-exercise
-fishing...etc.

We think that "busyness" means productive or successful.
Exodus 34:21

God commands you to slow down and rest, but let's say that you are a "busy body" or you're "ADHD" (even if it's self-diagnosed).

Read Colossians 3:23-24

I'll ask the tough question.

What are you doing, and how is it for God?

(and I'm not asking, what is one thing you're doing for God?. I'm asking how is EVERYTHING that you're doing purposeful for God?)


Daily Interaction (4/22)

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Earth Day... Liberal thought...maybe...


Christian calling... definitely!

Verses to chew on (Pick at least one, but read all of them to get the picture)
-Gen. 1:26
-Lev. 25:23-24
-Ezek. 34:2-4
-Isa. 24:4-6
-Jer. 2:7
-Rev.11:18

I read those verses and can't help but be move to act.

I think of it as a job/duty/calling to take care of things. I think of it as I think of other things like teaching my children right from wrong, paying bills, feeding my cats, and calling my grandma. These are not things that are negotiable, THEY HAVE TO BE DONE. Sure I could skip out on following through with any of these thing, but I see the side effects of doing so. My kids would get in trouble, my water would get cut off, my cats would die, and my grandma would be sad....

So what is the effect, spiritually, if I don't take care of that which God commanded me to take care of?

The bible is a story of redemption and about us being a part of that redemption.

How does taking care of the planet bring the message of God to the world?

Why don't all Christians recycle and oppose waste/pollution?

If you don't care about any of this, is that right/wrong/indifference/etc?

Daily Interaction (4/21)

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I've decided to put something up daily for us to discuss. The importance of interacting and sharing a community is important when we are together and when we are apart.

Community is important and sometimes our church tries to manufacture (create) it. I think it is hilarious that we try to make something there which is already there.

You believe what you believe because of your environment...Right?

You believe that Jesus is the son of God because your parents and friends believe that...Right?

Can you see God in a different light... Meaning, can you imagine a God that is different from that of your parents and peers?

I believe that the God I grew up with is just a "Catalog" image of the real thing. I feel like I was brought up to believe in a God that someone else believes in. It was until I truly started to believe that I realized I didn't understand. The understanding of what I believed, helped me understand that I didn't understand (....pop.... I think I just blew a fuse).

Respond if you dare...I dare you!

Matt. 16:13-20

-What do you think of Jesus? (Teacher, Prophet, Etc.)

-If you didn't know anyone that believed in Jesus, would you? y?

-If everyone began to reject the divinity of Christ, would you? y?

The worm....

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Tonight we looked at prophecies in the Old Testament and how they were fulfilled in the New Testament.


Psalms 22:6
Zech 9:9
Psalm 69:21
Isaiah 53:5-9
Psalm 78:2

This is just a very small sample of all the prophecies in the Old Testament.


We then looked at New Testament "prophecies" of what Christians will be.

Again looking at a few verses, we came up this.....

A Christian is....
1. Someone that denies Earthly things
2. Realizes that to be 1st, you must be last.
3. Realizes that you don't become a Christian just to save themselves.
4. Strives for martyrdom
5. Spreads the Word with no regard
6. Does hate, appreciates.
7. Love themselves first so that they can love others.
8. Loves other before themselves.
9. Generous
10. Democratic.

What are some more attributes that verses would define as "Christian"?

Give verses and examples.

Same Story (again, and again, and again....)

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I went to bed frustrated last night because a conversation went "South". It is a conversation that repeats itself and it, in this case, is with the same person. Trying to be aware and understanding during a debate leaves me wondering if debating is counter-productive between certain people.

I was making all efforts to agree to disagree, but that wasn't "kosher" with the other person. The other Brother in Christ was determined to make me see the same way.

My goal is not to convince others that my beliefs are right, rather to express what I believe in general.

People often think that their words sway the oceans.
.....I do understand Matthew 15:11, Proverbs 13:3, and numerous others...

But, when someone says that they are concerned about my beliefs, I have to wonder ....WHY?

I don't go to bed at night wondering about what other people believe.
I don't go around trying to make sure that we all agree.
I don't think that disagreeing necessarily means that one is right/one is wrong.

I guess it bothers me when I anger people by believing differently. That isn't my intent and I wonder if God is shaking his head.

Questions?

I am doing something to bring this on?
Should I work on being more aware of WHO I'm talking to?
Realize that some people are not good at debating with me?
(with some people, it is just a conflict of personalities, but I do think that when people are hell-bent on convincing you it is because they don't honestly respect you)

What scripture relates to this?

One Step Forwards, Two Steps Back....

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As I start to look for progress and depth in my life, I start to look backwards more than forwards.

It's a weird feeling to some degree, but I feel like I've personally missed the mark. I feel like the "truths" about God, life, family, health, fitness, relationships, and entertainment are simply more simple. I've (and the culture/society) have just made things complicated.... and for no other reason than .....progress?

What is the progression from?

I think we've made the simple things hard, and we are making the Godly difficult things extinct.
Difficult things like forgiveness.... discipline.... integrity....

People will give up on almost anything these days because they've lost to ability to forgive, be discipline, and have integrity.

How many people give up on doing healthy habits, give up on friends, give up on some possession for a newer one, give up on doing something right because no one is looking, give up on a marriage/family, ???

It's like we have a limited amount of resources to deal with the "hard" things and because we've actually made stupid stuff complicated.... we have little left to handle the meaningful

I want to deal with my struggles to forgive, to be disciplined, to have integrity.... I don't want to stray from this and worry about status updates, dieting (we are the only country worrying about killing ourselves with too much food), music, ego, hairstyle, type of car, how much money I make, technology, entertainment, tv, etc, etc, etc, etc....

How many hours a day do I spend learning, sharing, meditating, focusing, worshiping God?

Now compare that to the amount of time I spend learning about sports (ESPN), sharing gossip, meditating on...nothing, focusing on what I don't have, and worshiping stuff.... Ouch... it's not even funny or close.

So, without beating the spirit out of the Spirit, how do I change?

Simply put. Simplicity.

Why? Por Que?

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Why the title? Why the blog? Why should I participate in the discussion?


All great questions....

I've been talking (seeking counsel) from friends/family/etc. about ideas to help depth of the religious discussion.

How do we talk as brothers and sisters in Christ without it being "Here's some Bible info.....learn it"?

Title?
Through conversations I've realized that I dominate the discussion, and it is because the approach is all wrong. It exists, but it can be counter-productive. In this self-reflection and inspiration from God and various authors (mostly Rob Bell), I've decided to create a place to "bind" and "loose".

This is a Jewish (then turned Christian) method of looking at theology.

To bind something is to prohibit it
.....No working on the Sabbath....no eating pork....no making false idols....
To loose something is to allow it
.....Working on Sunday.....Bacon in the morning time....wearing a cross around your neck.....

This is a very broad example, but I'm only trying to paint the picture with a broad stroke so that you'll understand.

Another Blog...Really?
I feel that a blog, where anyone can comment, is an easy place. I would prefer to meet in person, but that goal is and will be achieved eventually.

....Until that time, this is going to be the place to work on questions. To work on answering a question with another question. To learn that being "right" is ultimately pointless if we miss the point. To learn that ignorance and weakness are voids (gifts) where God is able to fill.

Honestly?...to learn to get over yourself.

Why waste my time?
Don't. If you think this is a waste of time. You are not ready. Some scratch the surface like a "scratch 'n' sniff" sticker thinking this smells good. Then they "stick" the sticker on their life and forget about it most of the time.

Guess what? It stops smelling good.

Others smell it. Scratch some more. Understanding how to scratch it, when to scratch it, and are aware that the sticker isn't a badge or a decoration in their life.

I'm talking to person number two...and praying person number one learns to truly appreciate what that "sticker" is.

I know that is a weak analogy to come up with, but it's mine and makes sense to me....

I'm looking for the few that can't get enough. Those that understand that the more they understand the more they don't (....AND THEY LOVE IT....!!!!)

I've asked my brother (Doug - 13 year veteran youth minister) to join me in this. I've ask him to ask his youth to join all of us in this.

The possibilities. The realities. Your spiritually. Are what you allow God to do.


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