The Monster.

Galatians.
I hate going to the dentist. I hate going to the dentist, because I know when I get there my dentist is going to ask me that one question. “ how is your flossing going” and I know I am going to have to look at him and reluctantly say something like “well….uhm… its going ok….i’m trying” and then admit that I haven’t been doing as well I should be, and then he will give me the look of judgement. He will give me the evil eye.

I hate going to the dentist because I feel like my relationship with him is entirely determined by my performance to him. I will either leave the dentist full of pride because I did well in my flossing, or leave in despair because I realize I don’t do as well as I could.

It is amazing how in the  similar way in which I view my dentist, many people view God.

Everything inside of the human heart strives to measure up, to perform, to succeed, and to be accepted. Everything inside of the human heart drives us to try to earn our way. The harder one tries, the better one will become, the harder on performs and measures up, the more acceptance one will achieve. This idea often carries into our relationship with God. We try to earn his acceptance. We try hard to obey the rules, serve, and be good people, in order to be accepted. It is called self righteousness and it is a monster. Its the biggest and yet most subtle heresy in the church today.

The Monster says I obey therefore I am accepted. The idea being if one tries hard enough to follow the Law and Prophets and, by worldly standards, does a good job, God will love them. If one does all the right things, works hard and performs well when its necessary, God is happy with them and they may go to heaven. To get closer to God one must obey as many rules as possible.

The Monster is about becoming better on the outside; at the heart of it, all The Monster is concerned with is making himself the savior of his own life. Following the rules set out by God, he becomes proud of his own actions and not joyful in God’s. And as pride rules the heart so does contempt for those who are deemed less worthy by prideful people.
But
The Gospel Man says that I am accepted therefore I obey. Through Christ, God is infinitely happy and accepting towards me. Through Christ I have gained His acceptance, His love, and His approval. I no longer work in order to gain his approval, but out of loving response to grace I will work hard. God is a father who looks at his kids; a father who loves me, in spite of who I was. God does not love me so that I will obey, but loves me so that I can obey. His relationship with the father doesn’t depend on his obedience to him, but Christ’s obedience to him on his behalf because he never could. Out of that thankfulness and relationship with Christ comes the fruit and obedience, motivated and fueled by grace and love rather than duty and obligation.

The Gospel Man says that there are only bad people, who are either repentant or unrepentant. Since are all born into sin, all are sinners, all are bad, all are rebels, and enemies of God. So when Gods see him, he doesn’t see bad or good, he sees unrepentant or repentant; Dead or alive; he sees bad and he sees Jesus. Period.

The Gospel man recognizes his unworthiness.

The Gospel man is repentant and understands the message of the Gospel. He understands that he indeed is bad, sinful, unclean and in need of the mercy and grace of God and when confronted by God’s law, can’t help but cry out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death”

The law shows us that our best is never good enough. It is as “filthy rags” (Isaiah 54:6) It reveals how quick we are to run from God but the gospel reveals how quick God is to run after us. The bad news is that we are more wicked then we could ever know or fear but the Good news is that in Christ we are far more loved and valuable then we could ever hope or have imagined.

If you are a Gospel Man, you are right now under the completely sufficient righteousness of Christ. In the courtroom of heaven God the judge has examined your case & declared you totally innocent in his eyes. Your pardon is full and final. In Christ, you’re forgiven. You’re clean. It is finished.The threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed. You’re in.forever.  Nothing you do will make your position better and nothing you do will make your position worse. you’ve been set free.

Acts.

    God is sovereign; meaning that he is in control of everything and has a plan. When he does one thing, he is doing a million things. Whether he is doing miracles or whether he there is suffering God ultimately has a plan and is in control of the situation.
     In Acts we see both miracles and suffering which are used by God for God. After the healing of Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35) it says “all the residents ...turned to the lord”,  and after the healing of Dorca “ it became know throughout Joppa and many believed in the Lord” God is using these miracles not only to heal individually but also corporately.
    After the stoning of Stephen(Acts 7:54-60) there was a persecution against the church in Jerusalem and the church scatters (Acts 8:1) God uses this persecution to spread the Gospel outside of Jerusalem.Likewise After Ananias and Sapphira’s death, great fear comes upon all who hear (Acts 5:5,11) which leads to the church being held in high esteem (Acts 5:13). Furthermore, Peter and Johns arrest leads to the strengthening of the church in Acts 4:24, 31
    The reality is that we live in a fallen, broken world  that is corrupted by sin and we should expect suffering. Fortunately we have a loving, sovereign God who works out all things for good (Rom 8:28) Though he has freed us from the penalty of sin, and is from the power of sin, we are not yet freed  from the presence of sin but one day we will be.
    When I read the book of Acts I see that there are in fact good times and bad times but I also have a loving God who is in fact with me(Acts 18:10) and in control. Those who call themselves Christians should expect suffering and can be content in every situation, because as Paul says in Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”

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.