The song that I included in this blog has been playing in my head for the past 3 weeks. It’s my favorite song. Ever since the moment that I heard this song, I fell in love with it. If you listen to the lyrics, which is simple, No place I rather be but here here in your love. If your not a Christian or if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you probably won’t understand what I’m about to say.

We’re born into this world with a void in our hearts/life. Some people find things to fill it like drugs, alcohol, sexual pleasures, etc. It might work for awhile but eventually it will end. I was one of those types of people. I filled that void with crap. I had problems and no solutions. Finally, I found Jesus. I asked him to fill that void in my life with his LOVE. From that moment on, the emptiness had been replaced. Was life perfect after that? Nope. I probably struggled with temptation and aspects of this world more than before. However, what changed was the fact I was given assurance of his love no matter what. When I come to his presence, I feel peace, hope, and  encouragement. The other nonsense didn’t give me this type of feeling. When I hear the lyrics, “ No place I rather be but here here in your love” it’s true. I don’t want to be anywhere else but only in his love.

The Bible says God’s love is everlasting and infinite. The Bible also says no one can separate us from his love. The only way to feel this love is to ask Jesus to come into your life. It’s a decision that I will never regret. The presence of love can’t be described because it’s indescribable. There’s no words in the English language that’s worthy to be used as an adjective. If you take that decision, I promise you’ll never want to be anywhere but in his love.

On Wednesday of last week, this British alternative rock band named Coldplay had an un-staged concert in Spain. This is one of the few bands that I really respect. They don’t sing Christian songs and they don’t have amazing dance moves.  But the one reason they appeal to me is that whether they are in the studio or in a huge stadium, the band still sounds good. Like there’s no way to auto tune their voice in the studio and at a concert. Plus you guys know when a band sounds different than from when they’re live.

I feel that being Christians, we should be the same way. By that I don’t mean we should or should not auto tune our voices. As Christians we should sound the same way when we are with other Christians; whether we are in public places or even in the private spaces of our homes.

Sometimes having a live performance or being ready at a moment’s notice is hard. Like for example, what if you were walking around town and saw a man that needed Jesus, but you didn’t practice or even rehearsed what you wanted to say. Even if you don’t speak clearly, you can still tell that person that God sent his Son to die for all of us, and that unrehearsed little word that you tell him could possibly change his life.

In Matthew 24:42 it says “Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming”. This world is unpredictable but whatever happens we should be ready to proclaim God’s name. It doesn’t matter how you do it, but just do it lol. Hey it’s tough being ready at random, but come on it’s for the Heavenly Father!!!

Being involved in ministry means you’re the nice guy. Love one another. Be gentle. Kind. Compassionate. And all those other fruits.

No matter who offends you, turn the other cheek. And you should. But where is the line between getting slapped in the face repeatedly and teaching people what true love is? Have we become a generation of people pleasers?

Tough love seems to be a lost fruit these days. In a world where the church has become a hangout spot, fashion trends override holiness, and leaders are worshiped instead of leading worship, what have we done with the message of the Gospel?

Have we cheapened what cost so much?

I’m not sure if you know this or not, but some people really didn’t like what Jesus had to say. So much in fact that they killed Him. But our generation supposedly wants to say the same thing…but just a little nicer, with cool music and a fog machine. What happened to the cost?

I’m saying this because I’m guilty of it. There’s got to be a point where you can stand for the Gospel even to the point of offending someone. Don’t get me wrong…I’m not saying be the strictest person who preaches legalism because that is just as bad in my opinion. But if we let the world influence us without letting the Gospel influence them through our actions, then we just end up becoming a people pleaser. Don’t be a push over, but stand firm with the same Gospel that led people to yell at Jesus with the words, “Crucify Him!”.

Do you let things slide….when you know you shouldn’t? Do your friends know where you stand? Are your worldly, unbelieving friends comfortable around you? I’ll leave you with some profound words from Francis Chan where he talks about reading the words of Jesus in a different light.

As I reread the Gospel passages, Jesus’ words are much harsher than I remember. There’s a tone in some of the things that he said that are really difficult to stomach, and he says things in a way that I would not have.

Because we in America read certain passages over and over to the neglect of others, we start to believe that Jesus had a friendly tone all the time. And that there isn’t any wrath or anger or judgment. When you read it all like you are reading it for the first time, you walk away going, “Wow, he was pretty hardcore.”

Here’s what I had to repent of: I had felt the need to soften a lot of Jesus’ statements, because in my arrogance I think, “Okay Jesus, I’m not going to say that like that. Trust me, people will like you more and be more willing to accept you if I say it like this.” Obviously I’ve never said that to God. But that’s the attitude I’ve taken, and it made me sick. Who in the heck do I think I am? To think that I can make God more palatable or attractive if I try and change the tone in which he says some things. I know people say, “Well it’s just cultural this or that.” That’s garbage. People back then had a much deeper reverence for God than we do. Especially the religious community. Yet it’s to those people whom he speaks so harshly.                  

                                                                                  -Francis Chan

If you really want to be Mr. Nice Guy, you can. Because if you truly love someone, you show them the Gospel. No matter how offensive it is.

God bless,

Jobbin

“The time of death is 11:08.” – Spokeswoman for the Georgia Dept. of Correction confirming that Troy Davis has been executed.

Try to imagine this scenario. Waking up in the morning, knowing you’re going to die. When you see the sunrise, knowing it will be your last. Wiping the crust out of your eye, brushing your teeth, eating breakfast….all for the last time. Every person you walk past is a surreal moment in time, knowing you will never see them again.

The clock ticks closer and closer. You can probably hear the second hand moving every notch. Every deep breath of air feels so much better than any other day, and you wonder why you took it for granted. The grass looks greener, the sky bluer, the relationships all the more meaningful. But it all comes to an end today.

You walk up to the execution chamber knowing what to expect. You know the charges, and the consequences. It’s just a matter of time. And that time has come.

But then a call comes from no where…

The execution is delayed.

The entire day, you’ve been mentally preparing to die. You know what you’ve done. All the fighting back to save yourself has failed. It’s time to die. No more arguments, no more lobbying. Everyone has given up on you. The highest authority on the planet cannot save you. It’s time to go.

But who would literally stop death? This isn’t a scenario you have to imagine. It is completely real, and is true for all of us. We deserve the death penalty. The consequences of our sin is death. None of our good works, none of our cries for help, and not even the Supreme Court can save us.

That’s what Jesus did for us. He literally overcame the sting of death for us, when we truly deserved it. This isn’t about capital punishment or even Troy Davis. It’s about a story so much greater. Many people have mixed reactions about capital punishment, whether we have the right to perform that action or not. But stop and think for a minute what reactions were going through Troy Davis’ mind as he was strapped into that chair, and then getting a call that there is a delay.

The story doesn’t end well for Troy Davis. The Supreme Court denied the stay of execution and he was put to death. The delay was only minimal, and he was served with the punishment. We deserve death too, but Jesus came to save us from it. So what do we do with this amazing grace? Do we go back to our old ways knowing the immense sin He saved us from? How can you go back?

You have the chance to smell the flowers again. See another sunrise, brush your teeth, and eat breakfast. But if you want to throw it all away, it’s almost as if you have been given a pardon from capital punishment and tell the judge to just go on with the injection. Sounds crazy right?

It’s painful seeing someone experience death, but even more painful that there are people out there who don’t know they’ve received a call. A call that conquers death. A call from a Savior.

God bless,

Jobbin

Give us cleans hands give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us cleans hands and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another

Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face oh God of Jacob

I was in church listening to this song during our praise and worship. I’ve been feeling pretty down lately because it seems I can’t get a grip on some bad habits in my life. Considering that I’m part of ROC 3:22 I should be on top of this but that’s not the case for me. I take this role pretty seriously and it angers me when I fail. When I sang this song, I know God was speaking to me because in a warm room I suddenly got goosebumps all over my body. This is my prayer that I seek God through the good and the bad times. I know I speak alot about failing and saying your forgiven and just “get back on the horse” but sometimes we need to really reflect on our actions. We have to be accountable. I was reminded of that just recently. Let this be not only my prayer but all of ours.