godly insomnia

PS 16:7 I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

 

When you lie awake in the middle of the night, are you sensing God instructing you into your prosperous future? His promise is for his people to succeed, after all (Joshua 1:7).

 

So often, we get guidance at night. Something to do with slowing down, I suppose. Being able to hear without distraction. What does God want to say to you tonight?

 

Write down what you are thinking about when you awake in the middle of the night.

tender

Ps 14:1 Only fools say in their hearts,

      “There is no God.”

 

Here is a great paradox. God wants all people to love and trust him, and so he has the most tender place in his being for those who reject his love.  Yet, God’s people have the hardest time of all with people who aggressively go against God and his ways.

 

It must be so hard to deny that there is more to a human being than just “particles and progress,” as Dostoyevsky said. Yet, when Christians are not gracious and open to those who deny God, it gets easier.

 

Think of ways you can be more gracious with people you disagree with.

distant

13:1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?

      How long will you look the other way?

 

 

There are times it seems God is far away. This is never a factual matter of distance. God is closer to us than the air we breathe. This is reality, however when you consider perception. God does allow us to know times of distance and even near abandonment as he build us in character. Also, God isn’t likely to force himself into places he is not wanted. Part of sensing God is not there may have something to do with not wanting God there on his terms.

 

When do you sense yourself most distant from God?

guys: get mad and look stupid

six rules every man must break- rules 5 & 6
what are you willing to do to save a life?

favorites?

Ps 12:5 The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
 and I have heard the groans of the poor.
 Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”

 

God loves all of us equally; better than any human parent could. He plays no favorites. Yet, God does have a special heart for those who need him most. Those who don’t know him as their God, and those who are most vulnerable in society. God eventually rescues those who cry out to him.

 

Do you think God is playing favorites with the poor and vulnerable? Does this bother you? Explain.

guys need Jesus

six rules every man must break- rules 3 & 4
what is your life based on, guys?

watching

Ps 11:4 But the Lord is in his holy Temple;
 the Lord still rules from heaven.
 He watches everyone closely,
 examining every person on earth.

 

Jesus is watching and more and more today, so is everyone else. Like never before, through social networks like facebook, online photo albums, e-mail, and the rest, we are able to communicate in more detail and check up on each other more than ever before. This isn’t all bad or all good; it is just reality. More than ever, our attitudes and actions in real life are a real reflection of the God we worship.

 

What are you most positive strengths? 

it's a new day

O.K. the most influential biblical scholar in my life for the last several years has been N.T. Wright. I recommend his book Simply Christian as a Luther's catechism/ C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity wrapped up in one. A must read for Christians and an awesome read for seeking skeptics. 

Well, Wright has a new book out, Surprised by Joy: Rethinking Heaven, The Resurrection, and The Mission of the Church which will be another amazing classic. So, why am I freaked out? One of the most brilliant biblical scholars alive today and I caught Wright on the Colbert Report!!

It's a whole new world folks. God gets his word out however he wants. The age of media is blending everything together. Enjoy.

John 7 Bible Study

Jesus works against legalism and add-on rules

trust

10:4 The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.

 

The “wicked” are not necessarily mean and nasty. They may be some of the nicest people you ever meet.

 

To be wicked in this Psalm is to purposely ignore God and choose not to seek him. If you find yourself there, don’t give up too soon. He kinda’ grows on you after awhile.

 

If “God is dead,” does that mean he was alive at some time?

justice

9:18 But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.

 

God is a God of justice. Everything will be fair at some point. In the meantime, we take active compassion for those in need. Why?

We love who God loves.

 

Read Luke 16:19-31

 

six rules every man must break: rules 1 and 2

add-on rules are killing the church

creation

8:6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority…

 

People are to care for creation as God cares. Everything. We are management working for corporate headquarters. The Chief Creative Officer (CCO) and CEO are one and the same: God the Father. How is it going?

 

We make progress when we realize we are responsible and trustworthy. When you love God you love everything he loves.

 

How have you loved God’s creation lately?

come on

PS 7:6 Arise, O Lord, in anger! Stand up against the fury of my enemies! Wake up, my God, and bring justice!

 

King David wrote most of the Psalms. Here we see him perturbed by, what looks to him, God’s lack of attention to the plight of his people. Of course we know that God has his way of doing things. It doesn’t stop David from getting some sarcasm, though.

 

‘Hey, big guy, wake up!’

 

What would it be like to have that close of a relationship to God that you can speak to him like a friend? You are, you know.

where churches go to die...

Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which a human being or an animal has learned to believe that it is helpless in a particular situation. It has come to believe that it has no control over its situation and that whatever it does is futile. As a result, the human being or the animal will stay passive in the face of an unpleasant, harmful or damaging situation, even when it does actually have the power to change its circumstances.  (Wikipedia.com)

 

Now read this.

 

Interesting…

restoration

PS 6:4 Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.

 

Here is the cry of God’s people. The story of the Bible is a story of rescue with restoration just around the corner. Restoration never comes. God’s people always turn in on themselves, away from God, after they are rescued.

 

Then comes Jesus. Restoration is here.

 

When are times in the Bible when God’s people cry out and are rescued?

mercy

PS 5:5 Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,
 for you hate all who do evil.

 

It appears that God doesn’t only hate sin, he hates those who do evil. In the context of this verse, I understand. Someone who takes pride in going against the completely just and completely pure God and his ways on purpose- I don’t even want to think of what that means. I just know I need God for me and not against me. I am driven to his mercy when I look inside myself.

 

“Evil is just culturally conditioned. Who’s to say what is good and what is evil? There is no such thing.” When you hear someone say something like that, what do you think?

well done

I talked about my friend Nick who graduated from The King's Seminary last Sunday. I also have a friend, Brian Cashman, who graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies.

Brian is a great husband and father, as well as lead pastor of Valley Metro Church in Sherman Oaks. What is very encouraging to see is Brian taking the time and having the interest to advance in his studies after having a large break between when he enrolled several years ago, and when he completed this degree. Life stepped in with family and ministry and it would have been easy to not have finished this at all. 

Way to go, Brian!

And all the rest of you out there who are raising the average age of college and graduate school classrooms, go for it!

rest

PS  4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

 

“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.”

 

What was I thinking as a young child as I was saying that nighttime prayer? What were you thinking if you said that prayer?

 

“Good night mom, if I don’t croak I will be seeing you tomorrow morning.”

 

All I know is if God has my soul in his hands, I am ready for anything. Even a good nights sleep.

 

If you are having trouble sleeping, try thanking God for filling you with peace and expect it to happen.

courage

PS 3:6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.

 

Either this guy is naïve, Jett Li or River Tam, or he/she knows something we all do well to learn.

 

‘When God is for me, who is against me?’

 

Where do you need courage in your life today?