Rooster

Everyone needs a Rooster. It is the Rooster that unveils who we really are...
Here is my Rooster:

All of my sins were future when Christ died for me. It is with this certainty that allows me to confess boldly and publically before God and His family, it is with certainty of his unfailing love that I humbly confess I am nothing like my Savior but so much like Judas. My money is my God. I am like Peter ashamed at times for being a Christian.

You say, "Why are you doing this to yourself, Jonathan?". I am confessing. The bible says to confess your sins to one another. In doing so we expose ourselves that we might be humble, we remember we are not perfect but He is, and we encourage each other in our weaknesses because it is in our weaknesses that we are so much alike.


I read early this morning that even one of Jesus very own disciples denied Jesus, "Peter replied, Man, I don't know what you're talking about!". Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter... Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken" (Luke 22:60-61). I alway thought Peter denied Jesus when Jesus wasn't in his presence. This morning I realized that Peter denied Jesus with him standing right there. Can you imagine what Peter felt like when Scripture says, "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter". What kind of look do you think Jesus gave? Was it the evil eye? Was it eyes of disapointment? Or was it eyes of forgiveness?

If the Lord looked straight at me today... what would I feel? Would I lie and tell him that I love him with "all" my heart, all my money, all my time, all my affections, all my desires. Or would I confess that which he already knows, and already died for. I hope to God I would confess that though I want to love him, I at times am ashamed..., though I want to follow him at times I don't... though at times I think I am strong, mostly all the time I am weak.

So, let the Rooster crow...

I confess:

I love talking about you as long as I'm with my Christian friends.
I like to talk about being on mission but I never intend to change anything about the way I live.
I don't talk about you to strangers.
I pray to you like a man rubbing a lamp hoping for good wishes to come his way.
I struggle praying for others because I don't know how much it helps, and because it profits me little.
If I tell people I am praying for them it is not for their encouragement as much as it is for mine.
I worship you not because you are worthy, but because I need to feel good.
I compare myself to other Christians and measure myself accordingly rather than accepting my gift being called Your son.
I love sermons only because I agree with the truth of what is in them, but I rarely listen to a sermon to be challenged to change.


Jesus,

These are only a sample of the multitude of sins in my life. Thank you for bold reflections on sin, and even bolder reflections on your mercy, grace and love. It is with the Psalms that I say, "Surely goodness, and love will follow me all the days of my life". Thankyou that in all of these things you have already forgiven me. I, like Peter have denied you even in the midst of your presence. I am an imposter, a hypocrite and deserve such titles. Yet, you choose to call me Son. For this I am humbled and will ask today that somehow today you will give me the grace to change this cold heart into a well of courage and compassion to be a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to you. Thankyou for knowing my heart, and the wickedness thereof, and loving me still. It is the loving me "still" that I find so sweet.

Thankyou,
Jonathan

Please... just do something!

"We Are On Mission. So how many more Beth Moore Bible Studies do we need to do? I'm just saying, can we run some of the plays instead of just studying them. I mean how much are you going to study until you just play. - Matt Chandler

I just listened to his Easter 2009 sermon and now I am pumped!
Listen here: Easter at the Village Church

Grandpa Core

On April 1st, 2009 my Grandpa went home to be with his Lord. Though we miss him we mourn as people with hope in the resurrection of our bodies. My belief has been tested this week. Do I really believe that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord? As we watched the casket close, and my eyes glanced one last time at the man who has been as a father figure to me, I must say without the hope which comes by way of the cross and resurrection of Jesus, I could not get through this. I don't know how the unbeliever does this. I guess they surround themselves with fantasy as a buffer from reality and truth and say things like, "He's in a better place". I am so thankful for the Gospel which clarifies with crystal clarity that for those who know Jesus, for those whom Jesus knows, there is an everlasting rest in store from the moment we breath our last till forever comes.

My grandpa was a humble, un-assuming, gracious, loving man. He was married to his bride for over 66 years. His integrity in business, his faithfulness in marriage, and his love for his family will be remembered forever. Memories of Grandpa for me are manifestations of God's grace calling me to live like he did; with integrity, faithfulness, and love all the days of my life.

I had the privilege of giving the eulogy along with my brother. It was so comforting to know we didn't have to make up stories of grandpa, or paint a picture of him as something he wasn't. What a gift he gave us. The ability to be able to tell the truth about him at his own funeral. He was truly my hero and best friend. My prayer is that I will become half the man he was, and live my life in simple contentment, with love for my family, respect for all, and work hard all the days of my life for the joy of all those around me.

Philippians 4:4-9 is a description of my Grandpa and was read aloud at his funeral.
I encourage you to go now and take a moment and reflect on these words.

As for Grandpa, he enjoys his reward, not that he attained it, but that it was given to him as a gift: The gift of an eternal resurrected mortal body created for pleasure, consumed in God's presence, never again tempted by evil, experiencing full health, and happy beyond measure. To this end we all live and die that we might join him and countless other Saints in the glories of heaven that even now our hearts and minds can not comprehend. To God be the glory, great things he has done for us!