CLICK HERE to read more about the Belhar Confession

CLICK HERE to read more about the Manhattan Declaration 

I thought is was interesting how kind, loving, pastoral -- whatever you want to call it -- Jesus was the moment before telling his listeners to sell their possessions and give to the poor.  I'm glad verse 32 precedes verse 33 (Luke 12).  

I'm not sure I should get into the details of some of the specific things that have been making me angry, but my guess is that you and I would find some commonality if I were to spill the beans.  Some of the things I'm angry about have to do with the way the world works -- my guess is that you're mad about something along these lines as well.  What I've thought about in the past few weeks and that Bill brought to light on Sunday is that anger is often times a secondary emotion, and, as such, anger can be a helpful diagnostic tool. 

On Sunday, Bill mentioned these as primary emotions -- the stuff that leads to anger: fear, inadequacy, helplessness and anxiety.  I think I might add to this list pain or hurt.  As I've analyzed my anger, I realize that much of it is related to my sense of helplessness -- the sense that I'm unable to change the way the world works.  I'm not just angry at what's wrong.  I'm angry at my own inability to comprehensively change what is wrong. 

So, where do I go from here?  Again, the sermon on Sunday was helpful.  Bill encouraged us to offer "right sacrifices."  He suggested the right sacrifice in the face of your anger might be silence, apologizing or asking for prayer.  These are certainly true for me.  I've also determined that patience and personal prayer are also right sacrifices for me.

That's enough for now.  How did the sermon speak to you on Sunday?

Seems like a solid prayer in its content and its brevity. It involves a private component -- prayer -- and a public component -- confession. I'm going to pray it.  I'm also going to share what the spirit reveals to a brother I confess sin to every week.  

Also, I've just been thinking about the stuff I act like isn't there for one reason or another -- not necessarily sin, but challenges/issues/things that need to figured out.  I have this incredible capacity to put things off.  Is procrastination a form a denial?  Is fear?  

Look forward to hearing from you.

I can see why Jesus would ask Peter the question.  I can see why Jesus aks me thequestion. "So, Jason, do you love me?" I continue to do and say plenty of things that betray my desire to follow Jesus.   I am zealous . . . and I have failed enormously in ministry.  On Sunday I was so thankful for the question.  I don't believe Jesus asked Peter because he (Jesus) didn't know the answer.  I believe it was for Peter's sake.  Peter got to say to Jesus after his (Peter's) complete collapse of faith, "Jesus, you know I love you."  

I'm grateful Jesus gives me the chance to say to him again, "Jesus, I know that I fail.  I know that I'm not a particularly good follower of you.  But, I love you." And, just like Peter, I'm thankful Jesus calls me into ministry again, "Jason, feed my sheep."  

"Wow!  Really! Me.  But I've denied you, I've acted like you aren't there, I've abandoned my calling, I haven't done things right . . . you still trust me to feed your sheep?  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you."

I'm curious to know your thoughts about the sermon on Sunday.  It was a powerful one for me as I head into another year of ministry.

Jason thought he would give an intern a shot at the Pastor's Blog this week, so if you disagree with this post, just remember, "I'm only an intern."  If you really like it, don't be afraid to tell Jason to give me a raise. 

This past Sunday, Bill spoke on the theme of Communion and how it serves as a model for the disciple of Christ.  Just as the bread is taken, blessed, broken, and given, so too are we taken, blessed, broken, and given by God to the world.

I love the idea of being taken.  How wild is it to think that an all-powerful, all-loving God would take the initiative to take or choose me.  This is even better than the prettiest girl in school walking up to me the day before the Sadie Hawkins dance and saying, "You, Greg, are the one that I want."  Whoo-hoo-hoo!! (Grease reference)

Being blessed by God is even better.  Who doesn't want a little bit of God's blessing?  I can even understand the being given or sent by God.  It makes sense that you fill something up so that it can be poured out.  Thus, the initial blessing grows to an even bigger blessing.  This is good stuff.

But why do we have to be broken?  Why is this such a crucial part of the disciples life?  Why would we be created in such a way that we become strong by being broken and mended again and again?  I would love some more insight on this idea.

I wonder how Jesus' warning to Peter and the 12 "not to tell anyone about him" is relevant for us. I think it might be related to Jesus' rebuke of Peter: "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." On Sunday, Pat spoke about the downward mobility of Jesus -- though he (Jesus) was in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, but made himself nothing (downward mobility), taking the very nature of a servant and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death . . . even death on a cross.  

The "things of God" are an entirely new way of getting the job done.  The "things of men" are the familiar ways of getting the job done -- political power, fame, wealth, recognition.  Sadly, we Christians compete for "the things of men" along with everyone else in the world, hoping that if we possess "the things of men" we'll be able to influence people towards righteousness . . . fearing that if we don't have control of "the things of men" we'll lose the battle.  But, Jesus encourages us to completely give up the pursuit of "the things of men."  His way of life and his humiliating death reveal that we do not need "the things of men" to see the Kingdom of God come to earth.  

Christians are the people who graciously allow everyone else to pursue "the things of men" while we humbly pursue the "the things of God" -- a life of downward mobility, of forgiveness, of trust in that which we cannot see, of generosity, of patiently giving up the pursuit of "the things of men."

Out of the many questions Jesus and Bill posed to us yesterday, three stood out to me.  The first was, "Why are talking about the bread you do not have?"  In essence, "Why are you always thinking about what you don't have?"  That's a great question.  It got me wondering why this is the case.  Why do I seem to focus on what I don't have?  How would you answer this question?

The second question that stuck with me was, "Is Jesus Lord of your last crisis or is he Lord of your next crisis?" It's a rhetorical question.  We all know the right answer -- but rhetorical questions are asked to make a point.  And the point this one is making is that everytime we face uncertainty, we typically freak out.  Even though Jesus has shown himself to be faithful in the past, it's pretty difficult to apply this knowledge in the present.  

The most straightforward questions Jesus asked were about how many baskets were left over after the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000.  Twelve baskets were left over after the feeding of the 5,000 and Seven baskets were left over after the fedding of the 4,000.  Those two questions are easy to answer.  But after this, he asks, "Do you still not understand?"  My honest answer is, "No, I don't. I don't get it.  I don't see what this means. Please tell me what I'm supposed to understand and apply from this, Jesus."

Pastor Larry focused on the persevering faith of the woman.  I focused on Jesus' discipleship of the 12.  That's one of the things I like about stories -- you can put yourself in the shoes of any of the characters.  With the story in Mark 7, you could see things from the perspective of the woman, the twelve or even Jesus. There is no single point of reference.  

So, what are you coming away with from the sermon?

Honestly, I see a tremendous shift going on within the church as we wrestle with the reality of Christ's approach.  I see people who are giving up being mean to those outside the church (it's a little strange we would demand Christ-like behavior from people who don't have the Holy Spirit in them) and are turning their critcal gaze inward.  For me personally, I feel so incompetent in my followership of Jesus that it seems hypocritical to point the finger at people "out there" and demand right behavior from them.  There's plenty of wrong behavior, wrong attitudes, wrong heartedness (is that a word?) in me to warrant the meanness of Jesus. 

Anyway, I'm thinking about two things: seeds and soil. I'm wondering what stories you have of people sowing spiritual seed in your life that unexpectedly bore fruit . . . or of you sowing seed in someone else's life that unexpectedly bore fruit. 

When I graduated from High School, I stood in front of Eldora United Methodist Church with two of my classmates. Each of us gave a 5-minute talk.  I have no idea what it was about and am sure it was completely unimpressive. At the end of the service, the three of us (my two classmates and me) stood at the door to greet people.  One of our older members -- a man who had found Christ late in life and could not contain his enthusiasm -- shook my hand with tears in his eyes and said, "Jason, you're going to be a pastor someday."  His name was Harold Putnam and his words stopped me.  I thought to myself, "How does that even happen?  How does a person become a a pastor?"  I had no categories to even process what he said.

Somehow, though, Harold was right.  I still can't believe it.  He planted a tiny seed that has miraculously produced fruit.  

In addition to thinking about the seed that's been thrown my way and the seed I've thrown, I'm also thinking about being good soil.  I'm not totally sure how that happens and am wondering if you could help me out.   

THE PASTOR IN COLLABORATIVE MINISTRY

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop
Nazareth  25922

 FROM: Jordan Management Consultants
Jerusalem  26544

Dear Sir:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for mangagement positions in your new organization.  All of them have now taken our battery of tests: we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.

The profiles of all tests are included, and you will want to study each of them carefully.

As part our service and for you guidance, we make some general comments.  This is given as a result of staff consultation and comes without any additional fees.

It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. WE would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.

Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, demonstrate a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau.  James, son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.

One of the candidates, however shows greater potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand men. All other profiles are self-explanatory.

We wish you every success in your new Venture.

Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants

(Taken from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Woodland Hills,CA)

But, I have to be honest with you.  It is easy for me to lose this perspective.  In the chronos moments of my day, it doesn't feel as if I'm riding the wave of Holy Spirit.  Apparently there is some repenting and believing for Jason Brown to do -- at least that is what Jesus suggests is the key to riding the wave.  And when I say repenting, I don't think it has anything to do with discontinuing doing naughty stuff.  My suspicion is that the repenting I have to do is much deeper and less obvious than that.  

So, I'm going to be in the gospel of Mark this summer with many of you, looking for what it means to repent and being wide open to how Jesus and the story told in Mark defines repentance.   I'm hoping many of you join in on this journey -- not because it's the right Christian thing to do, but so that we can learn how to be better surfers.  My guess is that most of you reading this want more than anything else to jump on board with what God is doing.

Looking forward to reading your posts

I heard over and over that God is incredibly pro-marriage and that He is committed to staying with our marriages. I suppose his being pro-marriage is about his love for his creation and his desire to reveal his character -- in this case, his faithful, undying, unconditional love -- through the union of a husband to a wife. I heard that there's no check-list that makes divorce a must.  I heard that hard-heartedness is the real issue in divorce.  I heard that there are circumstances in which the Lord permits divorce.  I heard that there is hope and healing for all of us.  

I'd be curious to hear your comments.  I want to caution you, though, I'm not looking for sermons (we already heard one of those on Sunday) and I'm not looking for you to critique the sermon (if you do have a critique, please contact one of the elders listed in the bulletin on Sunday or come to Oasis on Thursday night).  I suppose what I'm looking for is what you learned and/or any of your personal experiences with divorce.

As always, you can feel free to share anything that the Spirit seems to be doing in your life.  We like hearing these things and enjoy celebrating!

This was Joe's immediate reply, "It's OK, Dad."  I could have cried right there if I weren't in front of all of you.  My son forgave me.  As a matter of fact, it seemed like he was actually eager to do so.  Today, there was another instance where I would have typically raised my voice.  I caught myself, prayed for help right there and found an alternative to dealing with the situation -- firm conversation and direction, but no raised voice.  It felt like I was trusting that God was there, that he saw what was going on and that I didn't need to respond out of my own anxiety and fear -- something that is so easy for me to do.  I don't want to teach my boys and girl how to be angry and anxious with others.  

I sometimes wonder if I'm doing a good job of raising my kids spiritually.   I feel like my wife is doing an amazing job of parenting them, but most of the time I feel like I don't know what I'm doing.  I know, too, that there seems to be a fine line between teaching them religion -- something they'll weary of and probably despise one day -- and the life of the Spirit.  I need so much help.

Here's when the Spirit really got my attention on Sunday morning.  Pastor Ken referenced two envelopes.  He held up the first envelope and said, "This envelope has my name on it and God wants me to open it because it's His word for me."  Then he held up the other envelope, "This envelope has my wife's name on it and God wants her to open it because it's His word for her."  

He then went on to explain that most of the time we're busy trying to get the other person to read their mail.  We like to open up the letter addressed to them, put it in their face and say, "This is what you need to do!"  Did anyone else wonder whether Pastor Ken was having a personal conversation with them at that point?  That was a word for me.

So, when it comes to reading my mail from Ephesians 5, Jesus is asking me to love my wife unconditionally -- as Christ loved the church.  He tells me to love and care for her as if she were my own body.  Whoa! This is what I'm called to irrespective of whether my wife is reading her mail from Ephesians 5.  So, by the grace of God, this is what I'm focusing on.  Pray for me!

By the way, I think this envelope analogy needs to be pressed beyond the marriage relationship.  Too often we Christians feel the need to open the mail addressed only to those who follow Jesus and put it in the face of people who haven't yet said yes to following Jesus. I'm not sure why we would expect anyone -- politicians, prodigals, and people who don't think and act the way we think they should -- to adopt Christ's ethic if they haven't gladly said, "Christ is Lord."  The mail that's addressed to them says this, "You are loved.  Come home."

I look forward to your thoughts.

Outside of learning that deep listening takes a lot of patience and concentration,  I've also realized how I use words to gain control.  I realize that statement is a little opaque, so if you're not sure what I mean about and want to hear more, shoot me an e-mail (jason.brown@erc.la).  How are you doing a better job of listening?

Now, second on the list is the Swine Flu.  Whoa, scary stuff!  So, how does a Christian think and respond to the Swine flu different from your average Joe.  I think it's human to be fearful, but how does our faith come into play as we deal with this?

I look forward to your posts.

OK, so this week, by the grace of God and with the understanding that He loves you deeply and that you can't do anything to curry his favor (enough with the caveats, already!), let's try doing this.  No unwholesome talk.  This doesn't just mean putting a cap on swearing or naughty jokes.  It means putting a cap on every single demeaning, sarcastic, subtly gossipy thing (you know the things you and I say about presidents and politicians and people we don't like and our prayer requests regarding friends) and replacing this with words that help build others up.  

Let's try it.  Let's try going a week without any -- none, nada, zippo, zero -- unwholesome talk.  Nothing that approaches a slightly judmental sentiment about another human being.  And, with the help of the Spirit, let's try to say ONLY what's helpful for building others up according to their needs.  We'll call it "Paul's Pipe Dream Challenge"  If you've got a better name, let me know.

So, who's with me? Are you in?  

Also, if you've got some thoughts on Love Languages, feel free to chime in.

For whatever reason, Easter meant more to me this year than any year previous.  I'm embarrassed to say it, but I've looked forward to Christmas more than Easter -- maybe it's because there are more cultural cues that prepare me for Christmas . . . I don't know.  Regardless, I was so thankful for Easter and feel like it surpassed the celebration of Christmas in my heart for the first time.  The death and resurrection of Jesus are the most important events in our "family history."   So, it feels to me like Easter has finally taken it's proper place in the order of Christian Holy Days. 

I'm wondering what you are giving thanks for in terms of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Maybe it's a story you heard at church or maybe it's something new in your own life. Maybe it's something specific and simple or maybe it's something general and grand.  Whatever it is, I'd love you to take a minute and post it.  

Oh yeah, and if you have any ideas on the food item(s) that should be associated with First Thanksgiving, chime in with those as well.  Salsa con queso has already been suggested.

1.      1. The young man whom Bill spoke about in the sermon became a Christian after the 9:00 service after pausing at the line a long, long time.

2.      2. There’s a Muslim woman who’s been coming to Emmanuel for a few months.  She came up for prayer, weeping as she gave her life to Christ.

3.      3. An 80 year old woman who’s been at Emmanuel for years stepped up to Randy Romberg and said, “I’ve been here a long time but I’ve never done this.  I’m ready to become a Christian now.”  So she did!

4.      4. One guy from CenterPoint shared how he’s been drawing close to Jesus for a while now, but it just struck him that he needed to seal the deal, so he did.  And he’s been on one of our leadership teams!

5.      5. Eliseo Chavarria saw a guy he knew at the beginning of the worship service – a guy he was pretty sure was not a Christian.  So Eliseo went up to the guy and said, “There’s an altar call today at the end of the service, do you know what that is?”  They guy said no, so Eliseo explained it to him and invited him to think during the service about coming forward.  At the end of the service, the guy crossed the line and found Eliseo up front to pray for him to accept Christ.

6.      6. One whole family came forward and just stood at the line after one service.  Finally, after things were over, they stepped across the line together – a dad, mom, little girl, and baby boy.  Through tears the mom said the timing was incredible.  Just that morning she had an epiphany in the shower and turned her life to Christ, and now the whole family was following.  Her four year-old daughter told her she wanted to accept to, so she did.  And the baby – “Well, he’s just along for the ride but he’ll pick it up along the way” – was what the mom said.

7.      7. A six year old boy prayed with his dad to accept Christ and they shared that with one of the prayer counselors.

8.      8. Bill White called a friend on Friday and left a message for him inviting him to give his life to Christ on Sunday, even though it would mean surrendering his porn and drug habits.  He came and he was one of the first out of his chair and to the line after his service.

9.      9. Maria Elena Guerrero saw a woman crying in the front pew.  Turns out the woman was unemployed with two sons and had ‘began to be in need’ as it says in Luke 15.  Well, right there in the front pew, she found her Father’s embrace for the first time!

As Easter approaches, let’s continue to walk across the room and invite people in so their destinies can be changed as well!

The Big Story outline

The Bridge Diagram

A Basic Gospel Outline of Scriptures 

The Four Spiritual Laws 

I really have no idea where this is headed, but G's name came to mind when Bill and Larry asked us to pray on Sunday.  I'm trusting that the Spirit dropped the name on me for a reason.  I'm going to do my best to pray for him and his family until Easter.  I'd appreciate your prayers as well.  I really do want G to know Jesus at a deep level.

Well, who are you praying for? Who are you walking across the room to meet? 

I was a sophomore in college and the Spirit was at work in my life.  At the time, I had no idea the stuff going on in my heart was the work of the Spirit -- it was just a feeling, a change in perspective, a hope that hadn't been there previously.  Anyway, after not doing much spiritually my freshman year, I had decided to attend a gathering of Christians at my college.  I showed up at the designated spot on campus and was immediately introduced to some extraordinarily weird things -- a couple of people were playing guitars and everyone else was singing songs I had never heard with their hands in the air and their eyes closed.  I thought, "WHOA!!!! What in the world is going on here?"

At the end of the night, as I was contemplating NEVER coming back, a junior on the basketball team, Tim Loomans, approached me.  We knew each other's name -- I was on the team as well -- but we had never really talked.  Tim walked across the room and said, "Jason, I was hoping to have a Bible discussion group in Gaass Hall and I was wondering if we might be able to meet in your room?"  I told him I would need to ask my roommates.  Fortunately for Tim, I had dragged my roommates to this gathering so I was able to talk to them on the spot.  They all thought it would be OK.  I told Tim he could use our room and we quickly negotiated a time:  Monday nights at 7 PM in Gaass Hall 101.  

All Tim wanted to do that night was secure a spot to have a Bible discussion in a dorm room.  He had no idea that his walk across the room was an instrumental part of the Spirit's work in grabbing hold of my life for good.  He didn't know the Spirit had been powerfully at work in my life in the weeks leading up to his invitation.  He couldn't see that the scripture discussion in the Gospels on Monday night in a stinky, sweaty guy's dormitory would become my Ebenezer -- the touchstone for a life-time of following Jesus.  No, all Tim did was walk across the room.

I wonder what stories you have . . . of people who have walked across the room to touch your life or ways you have walked across the room and found yourself participating with God in something that completely blew you away.  We look forward to reading your posts. 

On Sunday many of us got a "fresh" look at a young adult perception of what it means to remove the mask. It was in the art form of a Spoken Word that Eileen Evind  presented at the Noon Service. She gave an extraordinary presentation and it was well received. So I thought you might want to read the words for yourself. Please do so and respond back with your thoughts.

I'm hurting and broken

My thoughts go unspoken

Confused and abused my appearance is bruised

Worn out from being improperly used

Confined and blind

Sometimes so hidden I’m difficult to find

Blocked from my mind by a wall too tall to climb

I deceive those I love the most

In myself I love to boast

But only to cover the truth that I’m actually gross

Too delicate to touch

Too embarrassed to be seen

The manipulation of truth keeps me in a constant day dream

Parts of me are locked by an unknown key

These secrets I keep cause me to bleed

When I’m hungry I feed on the weak

My foolishness causes my inards to leak

And deeper into myself do I sink

Dirty and dark

Too many times have I been broken apart

I long for wholeness but I don’t know where to start

You think I’m a stranger

But I’m actually your heart

Broken in the brokenness, unspoken grossness, host this, post it, neon sticky note, facebook quote, stubborn as a billygoat, words caught in the throat…choke,

I’m Broke.

The white mask of false perfection.

Correction.There’s a crack in the mold

Leaking the story untold

Just fold

The lie is old

Nobody’s sold

You’ve got a cold so stop fightin’ it, denyin it, here’s honesty, try it

Cry it

Pry it open like a clam in the ocean

Revealin the treasure inside

Beauty we hide, behind our fear and pride as our insides die

This stubborn self-inflicted pain causes heavenly tears to fall as grace like rain

Longing to wash away the shame and self-blame, tellin us to stop playin this game

Pretending to be sane when really we’re all crazy.

Maybe,

If you let your grip slip and allowed the script to flip and acknowledged the porcelain’s chipped

Your life might shift.

It’s a gift, so live in the present

Acknowledge you imperfection without the fear of rejection

For you are not judged by works but by grace

So take off your mask and embrace his glorious face

Open your heart and take a taste

Here’s your hope It’s called grace.

So here I am.

Broken in the brokenness, unspoken grossness, host this, post it, neon sticky note, facebook quote, stubborn as a billygoat, words caught in the throat…choke,

I’m Broke.

Like a face mask im peelin it

Revealin it

Can’t keep concealin it cuz I'm feelin it

And father God I need you to heal it

No longer can I function in this pain

Cuz im watchin others change while I remain the same

It’s a game.And I’m losin’

So today I proclaim it’s you that I’m chosin

I give you my masks so I can keep movin

No more of myself am I provin

I’m letting go.

Losing self-control in order to gain it

Today my lips proclaim it

I’m broken and it hurts

This mask is a curse

Only your water can quench this thirst

So here I am

This is me

And with God by my side I’m ready to the let whole world see

That through my honesty I’m free

I ran into someone new at Connect on Thursday night.  Connect is a prayer/worship/fellowship/teaching time for young adults.  She was too afraid to come into the room so she remained just outside the doors to N111.  As the night was wrapping up, I walked outside to introduce myself and learn a little bit about her.  She is a sinner and she knows it.  There's lots of guilt and shame -- and lots of fear in acknowledging to others the truth about herself.   I told her about the type of people Jesus spent time with.  She was stunned.  I told her she was welcome here.  She seemed even more stunned by this -- she thought the church wanted nothing to do with her.  

This makes me so sad.  I wonder what I can do (or who I can be) that will change the world's understanding of what the church is supposed to be.

Well, I don't know what thoughts this sparks in you, but it would be great to hear a story, a thought, a confession, a hope.   

As he went into grab some hot chocolate and do some work, a man who was sitting at one of the tables outside was yelling and pointing his finger.  Ken soon realized the man was actually talking with someone on the phone.  About 15 minutes later, the man was still yelling and pointing his finger and Ken thought, "Buddy, you seem to think the problem with the world is the person you're yelling at, but the biggest problem in the world is you."  And after telling that story, Ken shared, "The biggest problem in the world is me.  It's my sin.  It's the ways I'm not following Jesus."

This seems right in line with Greg Dolmage's proposal a few weeks ago about taking a sabbatical on telling the world what it's doing wrong in order to focus on what what we're doing wrong.  

I don't like admitting that the problem with the world is me.  I especially don't like doing this when people are already breathing down my throat telling me that the problem with the world is me!  But, when I'm in the room of grace, trusting that God loves me and wants to help me deal with my sin, there's incredible freedom to acknowledge this brutal truth.  Actually, it's been great over the past 3-4 weeks to open up a whole new line of conversation with God in which I'm coming to him with my anxieties, desires, sin and needs throughout the day and asking for his grace and help. 

I'd be glad to hear your thoughts on any of the above, how you're growing and changing as a result of the current series, maybe a personal story . . .. or maybe just a good joke that's appropriate to post on a church blog.

So, what's the hard thing to do? Being HONEST with God and others, letting them completely in on our thought-life, our fears, our failures, our uncertainty, our sin, our need, our brokenness, our joy.  When you go about your day, do you have an ongoing conversation with the Spirit?  Do you invite the Spirit to rescue you from your silly desires, to give you strength to meet the challenges of the day, to give you the fruit of the Spirit in order to live well?  Do you confess your secret lusts, fears and hurts all day long?  

Similarly, do you have a close friend (or a few close friends) with whom you share everything -- every embarrassing, shameful, ridiculous, or egoistic thought and action?  Doing this is the only means we have of receiving the love of God and others.  If we don't share these things, then others are only loving our mask.  They aren't loving us. 

I do very few things well, but Pastor Bill and I meet every Friday morning to take a walk and pray.  During the walk, we tell each other everything we don't want to tell each other.  And after we do this, we pray in response to what we've shared.  Strangely, I look forward to this time AND wish it would go away.  We continue to meet week after week because we know we need to do this -- for our sake, for our family's sake, even for your sake.

Have you found someone to be honest (TrueFaced) with?  Have you begun to practice moment-by-moment prayer?  Take a minute to post a thought

Anyway, you didn't visit the blog to read about my favorite commercials or the SuperBowl.  Was curious to hear your thoughts on taking a two-year hiatus from telling folks who haven't yet said yes to Jesus what to do.  Instead of investing energy in this, we could invest energy in praying for and repenting of our own hypocrisy -- we could work on becoming the type of people Jesus called us to be.

If you have any other thoughts on the sermon -- maybe related to church being a place to take off our masks and deal with our sin openly -- it would be good to hear those as well.

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Of course, I know I am saved by grace.  I know there's nothing I can do to earn God's love and salvation.  I can get the test question right.  But often I live as if I am not saved by grace.  This was true of the church in Galatia.  They began to believe they had do something to please God.  And Paul understood the slippery slope this would lead them down -- after all, he was a Pharisee of Pharisees and knew better than anyone the ramifications of believing we must do something to curry God's favor.  

For me, the most dangerous result of my believing I must do something to earn God's favor is the attitude I have towards people who are not yet following Christ.  Rather than extending them the same grace God has shown me, I demand they believe and act like Christians.  Can you believe my hypocrisy?  My self-centered, greedy, small, comfort-loving, enemy-hating, sin-defending soul has been forgiven, loved, blessed, healed and called simply because God has decided to show me kindness . . . and yet, I throw it all out the window in my approach to people who don't follow Jesus.  Though God made no demands of me before he loved me, I make all sorts of demands of people who have never known his love.  I know it's crazy, but it's true . . . pray for me to connect the grace God has shown me to the way I treat others.  

As Ken and Bill have reminded me many times on Sundays, the problem with the world is not them but me.

Some other things that struck me from the sermon:

• The Dove commercial.  
• We can't speak face to face until we have a face.
• You can't love a mask.
• We all experience guilt and pain.  Instead of dealing with this openly, we wear masks.
• God is angry when we try to fix ourselves rather than let him do it.
• Sin done to us will always ignite the sin that is in us.