The Older Brother

Luke 15:28-32

The prodigal son humbly walks home, the whole village throws a huge party... and his older brother sulks. 

"Father, listen to me. I've been serving you faithfully, day in day out, for so many years - I can tell you the exact number too - but you've given me nothing. Aren't I more important? Haven't I proven myself much more? You should be celebrating me.

"But instead you're celebrating this worm that's crawled home. Do you know what he's done? He can't be trusted. I can't believe you're doing this -he's just going to do it again. He should be getting justice - what he deserves. I will not come to this 'party', because it's wrong. It's an insult to righteousness. He needs to know how bad he is."

Jesus keeps mentioning these people who've "grown up" in the faith and are bitter, or are invited to the banquet but say no, or started out following Jesus but hadn't figured out the cost. It's been a kind of secondary motif running through these stories about the lost being found.

I guess what this says to us is that there will probably always be people who've grown up in the faith but can't get with the program - whoare bitter, unforgiving and jealous of the more rebellious, "not as mature as us", lost-who've-been-found people. There are probably some in every church. We've got some in ours.

I think what Jesus basically says to these people is,

"Hey, what's the problem? You're still my son [or daughter]. Get over your issues and get with the program. We're celebrating here. Look at the amazing things that are happening! Lost people are being found! Blind people can now see! My kingdom is being built. We're having a wedding FEAST and you're invited. Are you coming?

Get over it and celebrate with us. Christianity is about celebrating, not sulking.

Are you coming?

Stand Out

Matthew 23:11-12

"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty." - Jesus

I used to think this was saying "Don't stand out. Good Christians don't draw attention."

But I think Jesus is actually making the point that if we humble ourselves and serve others, we will stand out, because this is different to normal.

Think of the surprise the disciples got when Jesus washed their feet. And accepted Judas' kiss. And walked to the cross.

Jesus stood out. And his kingdom does stand out on these points. And we will too, if we live like humble servants, care for our enemies (who else does that?), look to advance others instead of ourselves, pray hard, dream big for our world.... We'll stick out like a sore thumb.

Here's the paradox: it doesn't work when we try to stand out. That's just like the rest of the world. It only works when we try to live like Jesus, and don't care about being noticed.

There's no award for the best Christian in the world. We just love.

Lily playing cricket

 

Lily's World

Lily: What doing, Daddy?
Me: I'm flossing.
Lily: Why?
Me: Because when you're older, it helps to get stuff out of your teeth.
Lily: I want some foffs. I older now.

I could take 21 of em

Encouraging Article

Small-Church Youth Ministry

My youth group now? A big numbers night for us is...I shouldn’t tell you. What does it matter, really? Okay, just for the sake of comparison, a really big night for us is 10 kids, or whenever we have to pull up another couch when we’re hanging out in our Coffee Café. With everything else I have to do to serve my church, I have maybe five to eight hours a week to offer our youth group. And it’s just not enough time.

Crowds

Matt 5:1-12 - The Beatitudes

I found this little story interesting....

Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds. Imagine how the disciples would have been feeling. I think they would have been loving it....

"Wow, we are so successful! We've got bigger crowds than all the other Rabbis put together. We've made it! We're so blessed."

So Jesus takes them away, sits them down, and starts teaching....

"This is not blessing. This is not real success. These crowds are not the guage.

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.

   when you feel you've lost...

    when you're content with just how you are

    when you're hungry and thirsty for God

   when you care

   when your mind and heart are right

   when you help people get along

And when you're persecuted because of me."

Maybe the disciples were thinking, "What?! Persecution? Wake up and smell the adoration, J Dog! They LOVE us. You're a hero!"

But Jesus was right. The crowds are fickle. Numbers mean nothing. Those same crowds all deserted him. These same people crucified him.

He needed to tell his disciples all this, especially when things were going well.

And then he goes on...

"Let me tell you why you're here. It's bigger than this. Not just to build crowds, and grow a "successful" ministry. You're here to be salt, and light.

"Love. Shine. Give. Pray. This is the way to influence."

Psalm 4:6-8

"Why is everyone hungry for more?...

"I have God's more-than-enough,

more joy in one ordinary day

Than they get in all their shopping sprees.

At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,

For you, God, have put my life back together."

- King David

iTunes Game

1. Put your ZUNE/iPod/iTunes/MP3 Player/etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds!
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
"Goodbye Apathy" (OneRepublic)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
"My Glorious" (Delirious?)... I have a healthy self-esteem

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Plan B" (Mute Math)... ha

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
"Sacrifice" (Tree63)... actually that's pretty true

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Beautiful" (Phil Wickham)... no surprise here

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Elevation" (U2)WHAT IS TWO PLUS TWO?
"Stars" (David Crowder Band)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"Mixtape" (Butch Walker)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Befriended" (Matt Redman)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Seasons" (Susie Suh)... very philosophical

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"Orphans" (Jack's Mannequin)... uh oh

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Politicians" (Switchfoot)... ha

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"After Your Heart" (Phil Wickham)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Rapture" (iiO)... true, can't wait for heaven!

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Roll Right By You" (Powderfinger)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Only You" (David Crowder Band)... are you sure you won't tell anyone else?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"What If" (Coldplay)... what if they were as cool as me...

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
"Come On Back To Me" (Third Day)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
"Reset" (Mute Math)... I'm really not a robot... I promise...

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
"101" (Tree63)... i have a lot of regrets

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
"Won't Stop" (OneRepublic)

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
"Lift" (Audio Adrenaline)... well it does taste like rubbish

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
"Nothing But the Blood" (Phil Wickham)... especially when you can see the bone sticking out too

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
"*Fin" (Anberlin)... my swedish friend

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"Anthem" (Tree63)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
"Never Let You Go" (Evermore)... Ok Fin, but can you loosen your grip a little?Wow, that was informative. Obviously I'm more good-looking than I thought, I like politicians, but I've discovered that only my Swedish friend likes me (must have been the mixtape). Oh, and I think I'm going to be an orphan....