As many of you know, because it's all I've been talking about recently, my friend J.R. Wydra and I have finally gotten the podcast project off the ground (www.elevator-music.tumblr.com). It took a lot of work to get it where it is though.
A lot.
Possibly too much, at least for me. Last night, around 9:00, I realized that all I had done besides working/sleeping/eating, was work on this podcast for the past 48 hours. Even at work we discussed different things regarding the process.
Obsession.
I took some time last night to swap the keyboard and mouse for a guitar and pick, and started worshiping. It felt great. But it reminded me of something.
Often, we can get so wrapped up in the planning and administering of ministry, that we make the ministry the god. We begin to concern ourselves with the ministry more than the God we are doing it for.
God always comes before ministry.
Reading through the Pentateuch, there are a lot of long passages regarding rules and regulations for worship, cleansing, and "ministry" things. Scattered throughout these passages is one recurring phrase. The same phrase throughout the entire Pentateuch.
"I am the LORD your God."
When God was setting up the rules and guidelines for ministry, He constantly reminded us that He is still Lord. Probably because Israel had a problem with idols. This might be a stretch, but maybe He said that so often to remind the priests who would constantly study these scriptures, rituals, and ceremonies that He is God.
Despite the insane amount of work the priests and people had to do for ministry, God is still Lord of all.
Whether the ministry is a small little podcast or a global evangelism project, God is still bigger. He is still more important.
God is ministry.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Stalker Jesus
Picture this: An middle aged man, maybe late 40's, on a motorcycle (not a Harley, but a more "old man" type bike). Jeans, sandals, and sunglasses. Short hair with a goatee. Picture a pastor in casual wear.
This is what I saw while I was waiting at a stop light the other day. He turns one way, I go the other, never to see each other again.
Or so I thought.
About five minutes later, I see him at another intersection, coming from a different direction. I don't understand how he possibly could have been where he was, because not only did he get there before me, but he turned south at the first intersection and was on the north side of the second one. It's like he was following me. I thought I might have been under some sort of secret surveillance. But I'm not sure how he did it.
Now, I'm not claiming that this man was some miracle worker or anything supernatural, but it did remind me of something.
I began to picture Jesus as a guy who tails us like they do in spy movies. He's just a casual, everyday guy, wearing sunglasses, and secretly following us wherever we go. Some people know He's following them, but choose to ignore Him. Some people invite Him to come join them as opposed to keeping Him in the shadows.
Still, there are other people who don't even realize that He's following them. He secretly and patiently cares for us and watches over us. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When somebody holds us at gunpoint for our iPods and wallets, He comes flying out Chuck Norris style and delivers a sandal-shaped bruise to their face.
He'll even take the bullet for us.
Despite our level of interaction with Him, Jesus is there. We can ignore Him all we want, and He'd still keep watch over us. We could reject Him seventy seven times, and He would still shower love upon us.
I thanked God for that man on a motorcycle, because it made me realize that God is always with me. When I'm conscious of it. When I'm unaware of it. Even when I don't want it, He's standing at the ready to protect me. Hold me. Love me.
Jesus is like my own super stalker.
This is what I saw while I was waiting at a stop light the other day. He turns one way, I go the other, never to see each other again.
Or so I thought.
About five minutes later, I see him at another intersection, coming from a different direction. I don't understand how he possibly could have been where he was, because not only did he get there before me, but he turned south at the first intersection and was on the north side of the second one. It's like he was following me. I thought I might have been under some sort of secret surveillance. But I'm not sure how he did it.
Now, I'm not claiming that this man was some miracle worker or anything supernatural, but it did remind me of something.
I began to picture Jesus as a guy who tails us like they do in spy movies. He's just a casual, everyday guy, wearing sunglasses, and secretly following us wherever we go. Some people know He's following them, but choose to ignore Him. Some people invite Him to come join them as opposed to keeping Him in the shadows.
Still, there are other people who don't even realize that He's following them. He secretly and patiently cares for us and watches over us. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When somebody holds us at gunpoint for our iPods and wallets, He comes flying out Chuck Norris style and delivers a sandal-shaped bruise to their face.
He'll even take the bullet for us.
Despite our level of interaction with Him, Jesus is there. We can ignore Him all we want, and He'd still keep watch over us. We could reject Him seventy seven times, and He would still shower love upon us.
I thanked God for that man on a motorcycle, because it made me realize that God is always with me. When I'm conscious of it. When I'm unaware of it. Even when I don't want it, He's standing at the ready to protect me. Hold me. Love me.
Jesus is like my own super stalker.
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