Grace changes everything.

    A true taste of Jesus, changes everything. A picture of his scandalous, radical, undeserving, irresistible grace will take persecutors and make them preachers, will take cowards and make them courageous, will take dead people, and make them alive. Jesus’ changes everything and in the Acts of the Apostles we see that those who know Jesus and his Gospel, can not help but to tell everyone about it. Those who love Jesus, share him with the world; at any cost.

 As people who have been radically effected and touched by Jesus, should the church not want to tell everyone about him?

 We motivate people to be missional by teaching, preaching, and reminding Christians of who Jesus is and all that he has done. That he was missional first. He pursued us, loved us, died for us, and gave us something we could never get on our own; Grace. Not only should the life of Jesus challenge us to be missional, it should fuel us.

Jesus; a glutton and drunkard.

In the book of Luke we  discover a Jesus who is shocking, radical, counter cultural, and offensive. We see a Jesus who loves to party with prostitutes(Luke 13:1-17) and the outcasts of the society. The tax collectors and ‘sinners’ love him, the lepers love him, the widows love him, While the pious, religious, well behaved moral people take offense to him(Luke 11:45) and can not relate to what he was about; the outrageous, scandalous grace of God.

In reading the book of Luke, one can not help but to notice how he interacts with the social outcasts of the day. Instead of looking down upon them, rejecting them, despising them, he shares a meal with them. He offers them grace.

What is the Son of Man doing when he comes to earth? The Jews expected him to come  defeating God’s enemies and vindicating his people but instead he shares a meal with the lowly.  God comes to earth and he shares a meal with his enemies. The leaders respond by calling him a glutton and a drunkard(Luke 7:34), while the ‘sinners’ respond by sitting at his feet(Luke 7:38)

The ones who considered themselves good with God, seem to be furthest away from him, while those who were considered the furthest from him, are joining in intimacy with him. This is a game changer.

Jesus meets broken people where they are at, interacts with them, and then he turns them into worshipers. He speaks into their situation and their life is forever changed and he doesn’t care about the cultural norm. He accepts them, forgives them, and joins into relationship with them, as it was always meant to be.

God has sat down and eaten with sinners. When he sat down with Levi, he was sitting down with me. Despite my uncleanliness, my sin, my past, the baggage that I have. Despite all my good works, and all of my bad works,  Jesus has offered me relationship. He offers to meet me where I am at. I  come as I am, join relationship with him and have forever been changed. I do not obey, in order gain acceptance from him but because I am accepted I will obey.

Workspace.

Philippians; following our humble King Jesus.

The book of Philippians is about serving in humility. A virtue that is counter intuitive to every performance driven impulse of our heart. Paul makes some big game changing statements that go against everything the Philippians knew.

" In humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you not look to your own interests but the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)

the word humility is defined (Word Study Dictionary) as

"the sinners confession of his sin and deep realization of his unworthiness to receive Gods marvelous grace"

The only way for me to truly serve unconditionally, and selflessly is to understand that I have been loved and served unconditionally, by the only true one worthy of being served; that is Jesus.  In a overflow of thankfulness, I will serve and love on other people, because I realize that I am just as jacked up as my neighbor.

sin is deep. his grace is deeper.

Camp Lurecrest

 Dorms and laundry room.

 Dorms

 Kitchen.

 Office.

 Snack hut

Philemon; one down 65 to go.

Philemon is an amazing epistle. Taking only a page of the new testament; this book is gospel soaked. At first read, it is easy to read past the richness and fullness of what is actually happening.
The letter is Paul appealing to Philemon, in love, on behalf of Onesimus (a run away slave  that has wronged Philemon), who Paul converted while in prison. He asked to free him from debt and accept as a brother. The implications of this is huge. Unfortunately everything I can and want to say, would take up way too much time and space. Excited to get into Philippians on Monday.

Hello North Carolina.

After  13 hours of commuting, Rylan and I have made it to Lake Lure North Carolina where we will be residing for the next ten months.  I am looking forward to this next season of life. Tomorrow classes begin and we dig into the word.

 Augers Workspace.

My Workspace.

Lecture Hall.

Fall Break - October 12-16, 2011
Thanksgiving - November, 23-27, 2011
Christmas - December 16, 2011 – January 2, 2012
Spring Recess - March 4-12, 2012
Easter Break - April 6-8, 2012
Graduation - June 2, 2012 (move out day is June 4)

207 Charlotte Dr, Lake Lure, NC 28746, USA 

God of Peace.

Third sermon preached at the Gathering.
Judges 6:1-24


click here to listen

90 day bible reading plan (Chronological order)

Dear Adam, Jason, Jennifer and Orlando:
I've created a chart for you that will help keep track exactly where you should be at in your commitment to reading the bible in three months. Because you are reading it in Chronological order, it does jump back and forth at different parts and can be confusing at times. I hope this helps you in your reading. Each section is broken into days.  Today is your 21st day of reading so go to #21 to find out what exactly needs to be read by the end of the day. This should also help if and when you fall behind.
Keep pressing through. Only 69 more days left.


   1.    Gen 1-13
   2.    Gen 14-22, Job 1-4
   3.    Job 5-17
   4.    Job 18-30
   5.    Job 31-42, Gen 23
   6.    Gen 24-36
   7.    Gen 37-49,
   8.    Gen 50, Exodus 1-12
   9.    Exodus 13-25
   10.  Exodus 26-38
   11.  Exodus 39,40,Psalm 91, Lev 1-10
   12.  Lev 11- 23
   13.  Lev 24-27, Num 1-9
   14.  Num 10-22
   15.  Num 23-35
   16.  Num 36,Deut 1-12
   17.  Deut  13-25
   18.  Deut 26-34, Psalm 91, Joshua 1-3
   19.  Joshua 4-16
   20.  Joshua 17-24, Judges 1-5
   21.  Judges 6-18
   22.  Judges 19-21, Ruth 1-4, 1Sam 1-6,
   23.  1Sam 7-16:13, Psalm 23, 1Sam 16:14-17
   24.  1Sam 17-19:11, Psalm 59, 1Sam 19:12- 21, Psalm 34,56,1Sam 22:1,2,Psalm        57,142,1Sam 22:3-, Psalm 52
   25.   1Sam 23, Psalm 54, 63, 1Sam 24-31, Psalm 30, 2Sam 8:1-14, Psalm 60,         2Sam 8:15-
   26.    2Sam 9-12:14, Psalm 51, 32, 2Sam 12:15 -15:37, Psalm 3, 69, 2Sam 16,17
   27.    2Sam 18-22, Psalm 18, 2Sam 23, 24, Psalm 4-8,
   28.    Psalm 9, 11-17, 19-22, 24
   29.    Psalm 25-29, 31, 35-41,
   30.    Psalm 53, 55, 58, 61, 62, 65, 68, 72, 86, 101, 103, 108-109
   31.    Psalm 110, 138-141, 143-145, 1Kings 1-4, Proverbs 1
   32.    Proverbs 2-14
   33.    Proverbs 15-27
   34.    Proverbs 28- 31, Song of Solomon 1- 8, 1Kings 5
   35.    1Kings 6-11, Ecclesiastes 1- 7
   36.    Ecclesiastes 8- 12, 1Kings 12-19
   37.    1Kings 20-22, 2Kings 1-10
   38.    2Kings 11-14:25, Jonah 1-4, 2Kings 14:26-, Amos 1-5
   39.    Amos 6-9,  2Kings 15-23
   40.    2Kings 24-25, Psalm 1,2,10,33,43,66,67,71,89, 92,93
   41.    Psalm 94-100, 102, 104-106, 111, 112
   42.    Psalm 112- 124
   43.    Psalm 125, 127-136, 146, 147
   44.    Psalm 148-150,  IChr 1-10
   45.    1Chr 11-16, Psalm 42, 44-49
   46.    Psalm 50, 73-84
   47.    Psalm 85, 87,88, 1Chr 17-26
   48.    1Chr 27-29, 2Chr 1-10
   49.    2Chr 11-21, Obadiah 1, 2Chr 23
   50.    2Chr 24-26:8, Isaiah 1-5, 2Chr 26:9- 26:23, Isaiah 6, 2Chr 27-30
   51.    2Chr 30-32, Isaiah 7-16,
   52.    Isaiah 17-29
   53.    Isaiah 30-42
   54.    Isaiah 43-55
   55.    Isaiah 56-66, Hosea 1-2
   56.    Hosea 3-14, Micah 1
   57.    Micah 2-7, Nahum 1-3, 2Chr 33,34, Zephaniah 1,2
   58.    Zephaniah 3, 2Chr 35, Habakkuk 1-3, Jeremiah 1-6, 11, 12
   59.    Jeremiah 26, 7-10, 14-20, 35
   60.    Jeremiah 36, 45, 25, 46-49, 13, 22-24,27,28
   61.    Jeremiah 29, 50, 51, 30-33, 21, 34, 37-39, 52
   62.    Jeremiah 40-44, Lamentations 1-5, 2Chr 36:1-8, Daniel 1-3
   63.    Daniel 3-12, 2Chr 36:9-36:21, Psalm 137, Ezekiel 1,2
   64.    Ezekiel 3-15
   65.    Ezekiel 16-28
   66.    Ezekiel 29-41
   67.    Ezekiel 42-48, 2Chr 36:22,23, Ezra 1-5:1
   68.    Haggai 1-2, Zechariah 1-11
   69.    Zechariah 12-14, Psalm 107,126, Esther 1-8
   70.    Esther 9,10, Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 1-7
   71.    Nehemiah 8-13, Malachi 1-4, Matt 1-3
   72.    Matt 4-16
   73.    Matt 17-28, Mark 1
   74.    Mark 2-14
   75.    Mark 15, 16,  Luke 1-11
   76.    Luke 12-24
   77.    John 1-13
   78.    John 14-21, Acts 1-5
   79.    Acts 6-14, James 1-4
   80.    James 5, Acts 15, Galatians 1-6, Acts 16, Philippians 1-4
   81.    Acts 17- 18:11. 1Cor 1-12
   82.    1Cor 13-16, 2Cor 1-9
   83.    2Cor 10-13, Acts 18:12-20:1, Ephesians 1-6, Romans 1
   84.    Romans 2-14
   85.    Romans 15, 16, Acts 20:2-28:30, Colossians 1,2
   86.    Colossians 3, 4, Hebrews 1-11
   87.    Hebrews 12, 13, Titus 1-3, Philemon 1, 1Tim 1-6, 2Tim 1
   88.    2Tim 2-4, 1Pet 1-5, 2Pet 1-3,  1John 1,2
   89.    2John 1, 3John 1, Jude 1, Revelation 1-10
   90.    Revelation 11-22

Emmaus School of Biblical Studies.

In one month. Rylan Auger and I head to Lake Lure, North Carolina to Emmaus School of Biblical Studies; a nine month program,which will require digging deep and inductively studying Gods word in its entirety

I am excited for this next season in life, and even more excited to be journeying it with a good friend and brother. It's going to be challenging, require a ton of discipline and study. Nonetheless we are excited and ready for this opportunity.

We just ordered sick genuine Leather ESV's. Before next June, these new bibles will be well read and well marked up. These will probably be the bibles we use for the rest of our lives.

below is a exert from our acceptance letters.

"...Know that you are coming to a gospel focussed community, meaning that we really do try to live life understanding that what Jesus did for us is WAY more important then what WE do for him. Good deeds are done BECAUSE of Gods love for us in CHRIST, and not to earn his love. That's the tone of our community, its the focus of our discipleship and it permeates the culture you are coming into.

The last thing I will mention by way of introduction to the program is this: The 9 month program is challenging and WILL REQUIRE COMMITMENT AND DISCIPLINE to keep studying. In some ways it is like turning a fire-hose full blast trying to take a sip. We are going to race through the entire bible in 9 months, which is a high bar to jump. Typically we see students studying a minimum of 6-8 hrs/day 6 days a week. That's a marathon, and not always easy, but SO worth it. Nonetheless it takes resolve, and a heart to press in and keep studying. in many ways its a year unlike any other year you'll ever experience, but the rewards for the hard work put in here pay dividends for a lifetime"

Remembering.

Adam, Jason, Jenn and Orlando; Hold fast and Endure for the sake of the promise.

To my brothers and sister in Christ; 

Adam Blanchfield, Jason Hunt, Jennifer Knight and Orlando Barrera,

Over a year ago, I was challenged to read the bible in its entirety in the short time of 90 days. I accepted and began to eat up the scriptures, reading relentlessly for hours  feasting on the word of God. As I read, His word started to become alive to me, in and through my life. Seventy days later, I had read the entire bible in chronological order; Genesis through to Revelation.  

I came away from that time a changed man; something significant happened: God had melted my cold, dead heart, given me a new regenerated heart and opened my eyes to see truth about His nature and character, the world, sin, His Son and of His Gospel. I realized that though I am more wicked and terrible then I could ever fear or know, God loves me more then I could ever hope or dream. I began to see the beauty of Christ.

It brings me joy that you also have begun your own journey. I am ecstatic that you are going to dedicate 90 days and commit to racing through to get the "big picture" of the most epic and beautiful story ever told; the Story of God.

I am excited to see and hear how God grows you in this next season of life.  I pray that God opens your heart for what he has for you. That he gives you a hunger and thirst for His word. I pray that he meets with you in a very real and transforming way.

This is WILL NOT be an easy task. It will require discipline and endurance.

There will be times when you are reading and just want to quit.There will be times where you just want to skip ahead, or procrastinate. There will be times that you will want to make up excuses to get out of your reading.

God has a gift for you. An infinitely valuable gift—his word. Receive it. Hold it fast. Give yourself to it.

Endure for the sake of the promise.

How he loves us. The Story

Dear Marie - Scripture (part one)

My first letter must be on Scripture. In part of our discussion you mentioned your hesitation to believe that scripture is truly Gods word, and that it is indeed inerrant. You said that there are many contradictions in the bible, and questioned the validity of it.  Before we go any further, this must be addressed. The reason it must be addressed is because if we don’t meet on the basis and agreement of God’s word, then we have no basis to agree for any of the other letters I will write.

First, you mentioned that it’s ok and if scripture isn’t completely god’s word because you just live to know, serve, and love Jesus and God. This statement alone is a very dangerous statement and actually is a contradictory statement or oxymoron. You can’t love God, know God, learn about God or be in relationship with God unless he has given us something in which teaches us how to love, serve know and be in relationship with him. You can’t know and love God unless having a foundation in which we know it to be true. If the bible is only partly God’s word and not entirely we cant be sure that we could ever even come close to knowing God.

Is it fair to say that if God is God who created everything he can do anything?

Is it fair to say, that if God is God who created all and can do all, that he can use his creation for his purposes? And if we are his creations can’t he use us to speak his truth?

Is it fair to say that if God is God then is he capable of giving us His word that is absolutely truthful and absolutely inerrant?

Is it fair to say that if God is God, who created all and wants to be in relationship with us, he would give us a means with which to know him?

Is it fair to say that if God is God, who created all and can do all and is the God who never changes, then would he not set a standard of knowing him that is equally unchanging?

…I hope so.

Before we dig into this together I want to set a few preliminary thoughts:

1. We have to agree on scriptures authority before we move any further. Though we cannot comprehend and understand every single thing in the bible that does not mean that it is not true. The bible tells us things about God that are gloriously true but way beyond our ability to understand.as we approach the bible, everything that we find has to be taken at face value, believe it because God has revealed it to be true and it’s in the bible, though we will never fully understand, we will be tempted to say I can’t embrace it or ill just dismiss it. If we don’t dismiss it but wrestle and take God at his word, we will grow and mature
2. We cannot put God in a box. God is God, and we are not. God is big, we are small. God is infinite,  we are finite, God is creator, we are creation. Though he is Knowable, we can never fully fathom and comprehend him.  Though God has broad shoulders and can more then handle our questions and concerns, I urge you not to Judge God.
3. I am going to do my best to try to prove to you evidence of scriptures authority, though the reality is that it is going to take some faith. Not blind faith, but faith none the less. One does not walk on the glass floor of the CN tower without first trusting that it is truthfully safe. However upon taking that step of faith one sees that what was claimed to be true is true. Though this analogy has its flaws and is not a perfect representation of scriptural truth. It serves the best that my huge head but tiny brain can come up with.

Here we go.