Read James 4:13-17.

James is saying, in v. 17, that if you are certain of the Lord’s will and that he has called you to something that is good, and you refuse and push his will aside, you are in sin. This is very difficult to swallow. I still struggle with this to this day because on a number of occasion I have heard a clear call from God but I ignored it because it was either too difficult or not in my own planes. Well, when I pushed God away in that circumstance, I am in sin.

I think one of the lessons the author James is pointing out is that we are always in sin. We reek of pride when we think we are not in sin, because even as we are called to follow an instinct we believe to be from God, and we ignore it, we are pushing God away and in sin.

The first good we ought to do is recognize that we are in sin; that we push Jesus away and make ourselves our own god. It’s easy to pursue our own wants, our own things. That’s what makes us human. But Jesus calls us to a higher standard.

Jesus was tempted just as we are; yet in his humanity, he never sinned. In our humanity, we sin all the time. We are broken. We are living with broken hearts. Beat up hearts. That’s is why Jesus came. He came because he knew we needed help. We needed to be rescued from our endless sin. That’s why, as a Christian, someone who has fully accepted Jesus to take over his or her life, they are given this wonderful gift called forgiveness. To recognize our folly and ask for forgiveness is one of the most powerful acts anyone can do. And when we do, Jesus is always there to forgive because he loves unconditionally.

Jesus is sinless, we aren’t. Recognize that your not perfect, you need help, and that this life is not about you. It’s all about Jesus.
For Jesus’ Fame,

JK

I struggle with wanting people to know my successes in life. My inclination to make my success known is my insecurity in myself. In this weird twisted way I want people to see me as smart, tough, wise, successful, and happy. I want people to accept me and I want to be liked. But by boasting and bragging, that person I am speaking with only wants to push me away and thus a fake relationship is birthed. By boasting, what I am really doing is covering up the fact that I am nothing and a mist that will vanish.

One thing I have learned about pride, is the proud that are doing the boasting are really only covering up your weaknesses.

Our lives are brief and quickly vanish. James is getting at the root of pride. Pride is when we think we are our own saviors, our own lords, controlling our own will and life. James is warning us that our boasting is nothing because in the grand scheme that is eternity, we aren’t very much.

The humble see life as nothing but a grace filled gift. And Jesus defines that humility. Take the time to read Philippians 2:5-11 out loud. Take your time to read through it. Does Jesus seem self-centered? Prideful? Boastful? No.

Now I know there is resistance here. You want to think that because God loves you, you matter. Its true. Jesus does love you and you do matter. But the problem is when you start thinking you matter more than anyone else. The apostle Paul considered his life nothing to him. It was all for Jesus. In the book of Job we see a strong reflection. “my life is but a breathe…our days on earth are but a shadow…my days are swifter than a runner”

Jesus defines humility. Lets stop trying to define it ourselves and on our own terms.

Just as we aren’t perfectly humble, we aren’t sinless either…

For Jesus’ Fame,

JK

Had a great weekend with the Alma Bible Chapel youth group.  I think I had everyone’s name memorized by the end of the weekend.  Had a great time- watched some Olympics (the Canadian mogul skier got robbed), watched the dunk competition (Nate Robinson did NOT deserve to win a third time), and played some basketball myself (I still feel like a 92-year-old arthritic.)  

Got to talk a lot about dreams and calling.  

A recent story that’s been fascinating me is that of the Hadal Snailfish.  It doesn’t move slowly like a snail though- it’s a legit fish.  But there’s something VERY special about the Hadal Snailfish.

They live 7.7 km under water.  In total darkness. In near-freezing temperatures. The water pressure is 11,380 pounds/square inch.  That’s the same as if 1600 elephants were piled on top of a Mini.

And yet the Hadal Snailfish survives against all odds.  Because their internal pressure and design ensures that they maintain their shape and don’t get crushed by the overwhelming pressure.

So too is it with our lives- we live in a world of almost absolute darkness. It’s a cold and lonely place.  And the pressure is immense- to conform, to be like everyone else, to meet the expectations of those around you.  And for most people, the pressure changes their shape.  

Don’t get crushed.  Don’t get flattened like a pancake.  Maintain the shape that God created you to be- by letting Him do the designing, and by having an ‘inside pressure’…a fiery passion to conform to the image of Jesus.

Because “greater is He that is in you, then he that is in the world.”

Happy Family Day!

Jay

“Fuggedaboutit”

If Jesus was the Godfather, that’s what He’d say all the time.

Maybe, if Jesus was the Godfather, we’d actually listen to what He has to say.

It’s amazing- if someone says that abortion or homosexuality is a sin, they are labelled a fundamentalist.  But if they aren’t tithing, worshiping, or serving, they really don’t even deserve that title.

If we’re going to call ourselves Christians…if we are going to follow the Father of all fathers… we should be obedient to all that He says.

Take, for example, Matthew 6:25-34.  Actually read it.  Do you know ANYONE who is walking in obedience in this one?!

“Don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, `What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of Gods above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Fuggedaboutit.

I hope we all become fundamentalists some day.  But I hope Christ’s teachings become 100% fundamental to how we live our lives.  Because Jesus calls that obedience.

Jay

I am declaring war on passivity…both personal, and of that which surrounds me.

Take a guess at which I detest most.  Is it…
a.) People who talk about the weather.
b.) People who complain about not having enough money.
c.) People who are tired and sick all the time because they work so much for no apparent reason.
d.) All of the above.

I am SOOOO sick of people who are living unconsciously.  Who don’t take the time to actually THINK about what God created us to do.  We’re letting the world dictate what OUR life is supposed to look like.  And it’s making us forget that “our” life, is indeed, not our own. (any Bible verses come to mind?

We as a society have created some absolutely MENTAL diversions to keep us so busy that we never get anything done!

Think about it…
-you have to work for 25-30 years just to pay for the box of bricks that you live in.

-people slave for 40-50 prime years at a job they hate, in hopes that they’ll be rewarded with 5-10 years of healthy retirement before the slow and painful decline towards death.

-the ‘holiday’ seasons are now a huge constant shopping barrage…we go straight from Thanksgiving to Halloween to Christmas to Easter to whatever…no one stopping to think, “hey, this is bull$#!t.” (someone had to say it)

-the major sports seasons run pretty much year-round, with thousands of possible game options, highlights, re-runs, endless commentary about the most trivial of matters.

-news stations, tv, papers, etc…spout the same boring crap on repeat 24 hours a day, just in case you forget that this world is still falling apart. (and let’s be honest, it’s all day-old Twitter news anyway

I’m ready to EXPLODE!  Or rather, declare war.

So here’s my official warning:

If you want to live a passive, mediocre, boring, safe, guarded, mask-wearing, run-of-the-mill, just-like-the-rest-of-the-world life…stay the heck away from me.  I don’t want to have to hurt you, and I certainly don’t want your disease.  Seriously, stay way from me.

***I want to be surrounded by people of adventure, people who care more about Jesus and people than anything else, people who dream big, work hard, and inspire me to do the same.  People who care more about being than working, people who desire experience over stuff, people who see Jesus in the common, ordinary things of life. People who take the gloves and masks off, people who are honest, real, passionate, loving, and violently gentle.  People who are so on fire that they light up the world and advance His kingdom without thought for personal harm OR glory.  If you’re that kind of person, move into my neighbourhood homie!***

(I’m so amped up that I’m sweating right now.)

A good friend took me to the Raptors game on Sunday. We had a great time- laughing, talking, cheering, and planning a very exciting ministry project for the New Year.  As for basketball, we’ve been known to play a bit.  We’re minor fans. We have no stake in the Raptors.  A win or loss doesn’t make us furious or ruin our weeks.  But I looked around us- we were surrounded by many whose very lives seemed to hang in the balance…of how many times a piece of leather dropped through a metal-and-mesh net.

Dear God, allow us to see ourselves through your eyes.

Another good friend of mine is a nanny.  She takes care of two kids from a ridiculously financially wealthy family.  And last week, she taught the kids how to make cookies.  They didn’t know that people actually made cookies (they assumed only the store did), because they’d never made cookies with their parents before. They don’t even own a cookie sheet.  Add to this the fact that my friend is now away with this family for their Christmas vacation…because the parents are too busy partying to even spend the holiday with their ‘loved ones.’  Sorry- what is the point of amassing wealth and working for a family who’ve you’ve clearly rejected with your actions??

This world is driving me nuts.
Women who obsess over food and clothes and decor and ‘fashion’.
Guys who gush over sports and booze and video games and television.
Couples who spend so much time working towards the delusion of ‘getting ahead’ that they forget to LIVE.
Families with so much on their agendas that they’ve lost their souls and forgotten their dreams and passions.

And it’s the worst when it’s a Christ-follower.  Because Jesus was oh-so-very clear: be in this world, not of it.

If this pains you to hear- talk to Him, don’t complain to me.

And so, my dear friends, I beg of you to do something radical today:

Declare war on passivity…both personal, and of that which surrounds you.