You have to live for something…

July 4, 2011

He we are the newbies on the parade scene, not prepared for anything. At 10am it was already hot enough to feel like the entrance to Hell and it just kept getting hotter. We rookies are parked almost a mile from the parade route and we’re walking. We have no sunscreen, umbrella, water, chairs to sit on, or cash to buy any of these items, and apparently no common sense. As we walked towards the parade route we realized how unprepared we were and that neither my wife or I could remember the last time we just watched a parade and not participated. Honestly, as a former Boy Scout who had the motto “Always be prepared” driven into him from the beginning I was frankly shamed (but I digress). After walking a mile and finally finding an open spot on the street (with absolutely no shade for our baby and toddler) we settled in and we were in for a surprise.

The parade began…

tractors, horse drawn carriages, Antique cars and trucks, local Dance studios, Girls scouts and Boy scouts (who pelted us with candy), political representatives, Renaissance Festival people and surprisingly churches (and other religious organizations). The one that left the deepest impression were the Shriners (pictured above). Despite the silliness of a grown man riding in a miniature car in a parade the Shriners actually do a lot of good things.

My daughter was standing right in front of me as they approached performing power slides and figure 8’s, a mesmerizing sight for any child. My wife looked out on the road as they went by and casually said something very profound,

“I guess you have to live for something.”

You see I run into people all of the time who look at Christians and Christianity and simply say “this doesn’t pass the smell test”. I said this when I was 8 years old. Our focus is somewhere else. Most of the people that I see or hear about attending a [Christian] church of any stripe I see them striving to be a good person. Listen, Jesus said that we will be known for our love for each other not for being a good person! Actually, being a good person is not a sign of love and in most cases is a sign of self fulfillment as a person strives to manipulate others for their or ultimate outcome.I’m not saying that what you are focused on is necessarily bad, but I am saying that it takes you and I away from what is suppossed to be the first thing in our lives. Jesus said:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

The love that Jesus is referring to is not casual butterflies toward Him or that special hymn or K-Love song you sings to Him as your boyfriend, but the experiential reality coming to Jesus is desirable above all things. You see to love Jesus from the Bible’s perspective means we experience Jesus as precious and perfectly satisfying in our lives. You see if you are viewing Jesus through the Gospel filter you will treasure Him for who He is, and for what He has done and is doing. That same love, once focused on Jesus, then made to permeate our community and be reflected into the world around us.

In light of this I have a few questions (surprise):

Does your faith pass the smell test?
If I asked those who truly know you what would they say that you are living for?
Is Jesus is desirable above all things in your life?

“I guess you have to live for something.”

We Don’t Need More Christians…..

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be radical.

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to stand out.

We don’t need more Christians who are trying to be celebrities.

We don’t need more Christians who treat other Christians like celebrities.

We don’t need more Christians who don’t listen.

We don’t need more Christians who look down others.

We don’t need more Christians who think they’ve arrived.

We don’t need more Christians who fight about things that don’t matter.

We don’t need more Christians who exclude.

We don’t need more Christians who intrude.

We don’t need more Christians who make promises they can’t keep.

We don’t need more Christians who turn a blind eye.

We don’t need more Christians who are better at politics than community.

We don’t need more Christians who pretend.

We need more Christians who look like Jesus.

———

The days are short. The fight is hard. The journey is worth our lives.

HT: Catalyst Space (read the rest of the post)

What do you think?

Why can’t I see God?

One of the most common questions I get as a pastor/minister is,

“You say you see God in BLANK…or that you hear from God…why don’t I have the same things happen to me?”

My response isn’t always what people want to hear, nonetheless it remains the same,

“Maybe you just aren’t looking for Him.”

I once heard John Maxwell teach a lesson and one of His points was, “We see what we are prepared to see.” The older I get the more I am convinced that is true. In fact, I had an experience with my daughter the other day that illustrated this so clearly.

My little girl LOVES Firetrucks (trains, and all trucks for that matteer)!

So, one day we were in front of our house and I thought I heard something so I quickly glanced up to see if I could find a firetruck…but I didn’t see one. Within a matter of seconds her eyes got huge & she pointed saying emphatically, “Firetruck, Daddy look, Firetruck!”

I smiled at her “imagination” and was about to explain to her that there were no firetrucks around but before doing so I looked at the direction she was pointing and there were literally about 3 of the things with lights and sirens driving
by.

There is a reason I didn’t see them and she did, she was purposefully looking for them and I was not!

It’s the same thing with us and our relationship with God. You see, God is ALWAYS at work (John 5:17), He is ALWAYS speaking. He is ALWAYS obvious–even in the ordinary! (Seriously, the sunsets He paints every evening are AMAZING!). It’s just often times we aren’t really looking for Him, we are merely giving quick glances His way.

Questions for you (if you don’t mind)…

When was the last time you came to church & begged God to reveal Himself to you? Or…is it your goal to get in and get out?
When was the last time you prayed over your food and GENUINELY did so with a thankful heart? Or…are you still using that prayer you memorized 20 years ago? (”Bless us, help us and guide us…”)
When was the last time you prayed before reading the Scriptures and asked God to get personal? Or…do you read the Bible to try and see what is wrong with “those other people?”
When was the last time you allowed God to place HIS passion into you? Or…are you to busy trying to instill your passion into Him?

We see what we are prepared to see! You see God isn’t playing some game of hide & go seek!!! He WANTS us to know HIM (Jeremiah 29:13 is a hint as to how)! He WANTS us to see Him!!! He WANTS us to grow in Him!

Maybe our prayer needs to stop being for Him to reveal Himself and switch to begging Him to let us see what’s He’s already tried to make obvious.

Just a thought…

See the world clearly

**I know that I did not post last week but hopefully after listening to or watching this you will understand.**

This past Sunday morning I had the opportunity to fill in the pulpit for Pastor Robert Terry (Church planter, barber, philanthropist, ect.) at PeaceMakers Bible Fellowship, a church plant in Shawnee Mission, KS. Needless to say that I was both happy to be invited to speak there and at the same time encouraged by the presence of those who came. If you live in Shawnee Mission and you are looking for a church, check out PeaceMakers Bible Fellowship which meets at Hocker Grove Middle school (10400 Johnson Dr. Shawnee Mission, KS). I hope you enjoy both the audio and video below.

Audio:

Right-click here to download audio file.

Video:

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/27740589]

I’d Love To Speak At Your Next Event!

n571116032_413901_6381 — WFCOP Pic - speaking at Westside (OP campus). They are not responsible for the content of this blog.

Dear Reader,

I’m truly blessed by all of you who read the Neo Soul Faith blog on a regular basis, thank you. Some of you have been walking this journey with my family and I for a couple of years now, and others perhaps for weeks or months. Whatever the connection may be, I truly appreciate you allowing me to enter into your weekly conversations on faith and other issues.

Obviously, I’m becoming more passionate about writing with every post but there is something else that I have always been passionate about as well… Speaking. Actually, writing is a fairly new expression of how I communicate the Scriptures, Theology, and [just] my thoughts with people. Long before I was writing Neo Soul Faith blog, I was preaching to College-aged, Young Professionals, and adult congregations. I absolutely love it! Speaking to groups is one of the things I know and believe I was designed for, and as the school year prepares to begin, I would be honored to speak at your next event.

I’m glad to speak in various settings such as:

Church gatherings
Conferences
Retreats
University chapels
Camps
Lectures
and various other Christian events.

Communicating the radical message of the Gospel is something that gives me energy and I’d love to be able to share that with you. This also may be a wonderful opportunity for me to connect with you or give you a week off from leading your ministry.

So, if you are interested you can email me directly at: joncolinnelson (at) gmail (dot) com.

And if you are not in charge of the particular event in mind, please feel free to pass my information along to the appropriate person.

Thanks again for reading and I hope to meet you through some speaking engagements!

Jon

Totally like whatever, you know?!?

This video goes out to all of the Young Professionals and College -aged people I know. I understand that we sometimes become frustrated in conversation but this piece sums why I ask what I ask of you. Know what you believe and be able to articulate it with like conviction you know…and stuff (?)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGAMd-tT6fQ&feature=player_embedded#at=152]

9+1 Myths about Sex and Relationships

As the weekend approaches I know that some that read this blog may be tempted to make some rather irrational (or rational by today’s standards) choices when it comes to sex and their relationships with the significant other. Social researchers Mark Regnerus and Jeremy Uecker expose nine myths about sex and relationships among emerging adults in America (ages 18–23) and I wanted to add one more (not that I’m half as smart as them) to the end.

Myth: Long-term exclusivity is a fiction

Truth: Half of all marriages last a lifetime, and extramarital affairs are not as common as assumed.

Myth: The introduction of sex is necessary in order to sustain a fledgling or struggling relationship

Truth: The quicker sex enters a relationship, the sooner the relationships fails, and most relationships fail.

Myth: Boys will be boys. That is, men can’t be expected to abide by the sexual terms that women may wish to set. You may not want the double-standard to be there, but it’s there

Truth: Women may enjoy sex as much as men, but they do not think and feel the same way about it. Generally they “set higher standards for their relationships.”

Myth: It doesn’t matter what other people do sexually; you make your own decisions

Truth: The actions and attitudes of others do affect your decisions: “If a critical mass of men and women enjoy an extended series of sexual relationships and expect sex fairly promptly within them, it becomes quite difficult for a minority to do otherwise.”

Myth: Porn won’t affect your relationships

Truth: Because more and more men are viewing porn regularly it “cannot but shape sexual market dynamics.” And studies have shown that the tandem of porn and masturbation actually “reduces the value of intercourse” because it is much more physiologically satisfying than masturbation alone. “Porn becomes easier, and so must women (on average).”

Myth: Everyone else is having more sex than you are

Truth: You are less conservative than you think. “Most still overestimate how much sex is actually going on around them.” The authors write about this phenomena of pluralistic ignorance, “it happens when individuals within a group begin to believe that their own private attitudes, beliefs, or judgments are more conservative and rare than the public norms they see displayed by others.”

Myth: Sex need not mean anything

Truth: This myth can occur broadly between the sexes, but exists especially among women. It is emotionally challenging for women to engage in casual sex and to experience a broken sexual relationship.

Myth: Marriage can always wait

Truth: Most emerging adults still want to get married—eventually. They put off marriage for years and years and thus the marriage market “does not grow deeper and more impressive with age.” Thus, the authors encourage “men and women who’ve met someone who is ‘marriage material’ to think twice before rejecting the notion that they’re just not ready yet.”

Myth: Moving in together is definitely a step toward marriage

Truth: In most cases, cohabitation does not last. “It overwhelmingly leads to either marriage or breakup within a few short years.” It is also more advantageous to men than to women as it gives them “more stable access to sex, without the expectations or commitments of marital responsibilities.”

The above were taken from a book entitles Premarital Sex: How Young Americans Meet, Mate, And Think About Marrying.

I would like to add one more myth from my personal experience and from pastoral work:

Myth: Sex is just [a] physical activity

Truth: I do not and will not act as if I fully understand this but I do know that this is true. Your sexuality is connected to your soul and person-hood in a more powerful way than I can comprehend. Don’t believe me we here are some rather awkward questions (that I do not have the full answer for) for you to ponder.

Why is it when a child is sexually abused and becomes a adult and then connects to the their past they can’t just “shake it off”?
Why is it that rape is so much more devastating to a woman than just being beat up?
Why is it that men with the deepest sexual issues (most of the time) have uninvolved or distant fathers?
Why is it that [most] men and women with sexual addictions when trying to overcome said addiction run into a “Family of Origin” issue?
Why is it that most peoples greatest regret is sexual?

Again, I don’t claim to have a complete answer to any of these questions but I can say this with cofidence, Sex is NOT just a physical act!

Connecting through serving

Over the past 3 weeks we have conducted a 30,000 ft fly over on Spiritual Gifts. Sadly, it seems ignorance about spiritual gifts persists in our day. That is why our Pastors felt it was so important to clarify the roles of the spiritual gifts in our lives. My prayer as we re-enter the book of Colossians, is that you not only discover your giftedness but find creative ways of utilize them in whatever local church you find yourself.

One way to connect with Christ-centered community for you to be empowered with the gospel to serve God and others. Serving is one of the greatest things that we can do as disciples. We should be committed to growing as disciples by using our gifts and talents for God in a way that will bless others and make the community a better place. The Bible tells us that God gave each of us the ability to do certain things well (Romans 12:6‐8). The Holy Spirit gives gifts to believers to be used for the building up of the body of Christ. As a church, we need to help people find and use these gifts for God. Serving is a powerful connection point that many believers ignore or simply overlook. Serving others is certainly not encouraged in our individualistic society, to be a servant means that we must look after the interests of others. It means selflessness as opposed to selfishness. A servant asks, “What can I do for others” instead of “what can they do for me?”

Additionally, Christians must strive to be like Jesus, our perfect example. Jesus set the example of being a servant by saying, “For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). This scripture beautifully embodies the task of Christian ministry. Disciples are to serve and give their lives for others. Serving is the example that Jesus gave, and his followers should follow it. Jesus met both the physical and spiritual needs of the people he ministered to in the Gospels. As the Body of Christ, we become his representatives to a lost world.

Finally, a servant revolution in our churches will reach our community and show the love of Christ. Each week and month, our church provides dozens of different opportunities for people to make a difference through service projects that touch peoples’ lives in the community. These pathways of service help people connect to their community with their God-given ability to serve. Serving is one of the major connection points in our church. The church should be an army of servants who are making a positive difference in their families, their community, and the world. Help find creative pathways for people to connect to your church through serving.

For more information on Spiritual Gifts from a [trusted] Pastor’s perspective please check out this series of blog post. Click here…

HT: Winfield Bevins’

Do You REALLY Want To Be Like Jesus?

One of the most overused phrases among Christians today is, “I just want to be more and more like Jesus.” I am not saying that is something bad, it’s just that I don’t think that some people have a clue what they are talking about when they say those words. I don’t think I have a clue sometimes when I say this phrase. People from a churched culture grow up with a “safe” picture of Jesus, he had feathered hair, wore a white robe with a purple “Miss America sash, was a constant giver of hugs and carried a lamb where ever He went (there are some paintings in churches that would prove this). However, in reading Scripture that is not the only aspect of Jesus that I am seeing. I am discovering that if I want to become more and more like Jesus that I am going to have to drop my Sunday school perceptions and embrace the following:
#1 – Jesus Is A Warrior King!

Check out Revelation 19:11-16. I have never seen a picture of that guy in a Christian bookstore. One of my favorite stories is found in Matthew 21:12-16 where His passion is demonstrated by the fact that He whipped some tail in the temple. I am sick and tired of people saying that a Christian is always nice, a Christian is someone who is passionate for the things of God, which requires some table turning from time to time.

#2 – Jesus Purposefully Offended The Religious!

Keep something in mind, it wasn’t the atheists, agnostics or even the devil worshipers that murdered Jesus, but rather the most religious people in that time period. Why? Because He was such a nice guy? No not really it was because He…

Healed on Sunday, which in their mind was sinful! These people (who aren’t much different from us) missed a miracle because it did not fit into their formula and they considered Jesus “wrong” for doing what He did!
He hung out, even touched lepers which was a HUGE no-no in that time period.
He went to a tax collectors house for a meal, which was a social declaration!
He went off in Matthew 23 calling the Pharisees “whitewashed tombs, sons of hell and snakes!”

Jesus was not concerned with making the religious happy,He was dangerous, on the edge that’s who Jesus was!!!

#3 – Jesus Did Not Get Inward Focused!

Like it or not Jesus didn’t go to a bookstore, get a theology book by a dead guy, get a group of guys together that were just like Him and give the world the middle finger because He was obsessed with “going deep”.

If I meet one more group of guys who think they are becoming more like Jesus because they are theological superior to people but do not know a lost/ unchurched person by name or refuse to exercise their spiritual gift, yet claim to be godly, fisticuffs may occur. (For everyone who just got mad about that–please refer to #2 😉

#4 – Jesus Offered Forgiveness

The people Jesus was nice to were the broken, the poor, the outcasts, the prostitutes…those whom society had thrown away! He didn’t yell at them, He didn’t look down His nose at them, He didn’t sit in a church pew and wonder, “Why are they here?” He offered them forgiveness. We’ve all seen it someone goes through a painful divorce and they are pushed to the margins if not out. A teenage girl gets pregnant and the other people in the church forbid their children to hang out with her. I’ve seen it and so have you. Jesus NEVER told them their behavior was ok, in fact, He preached repentance. Jesus did not shoot the wounded amongst us.

# 5 – Jesus Was Passionate About Obeying His Father!

Jesus had a passionate desire to obey God. He recognized His Father as the absolute authority in the universe and He went to the cross and gave His life as an act of obedience and worship. If we are going to be like Christ–obedience, not prostitution (being paid to perform a service) is required.

#6 – Jesus Had A Vision To Reach People!

Jesus had a desire to reach the NATIONS (Matthew 28:18-20 and in Acts 1:8)!
Now I am not the smartest man on the planet, but that’s a lot of people. Jesus told three parables in Luke 15 about something lost being found, and then said the angels in heaven rejoice when people cross over the line of faith. though we must grow we must also be about the outsider coming in.

#7 – Jesus Was Not Normal!

Jesus, in His teaching and mentoring tactics, was just simply different! He taught with authority, He told stories, He didn’t go line by line, verse by verse through the Old Testament, He used modern illustrations, He connected with the hearts of the people and they got it! He was not normal in who He surrounded Himself with, He didn’t go for the religious professionals but rather men who were crazy enough to believe and follow Him. He didn’t fit in with the religious system of the day and they killed Him for it (though He did have the last laugh!).

These are just my thoughts/rants I wonder what you think…

Do I want Jesus OR a Genie in a bottle?

Recently, I was heading out the door to go and meet with a friend of mine or coffee. As I was getting ready to leave the house my daughter came running up to me, hugged my neck, looked up at me and smiled & said, “Daddy!”

So…what did I do? I did what ANY dad would have done at that point…I stopped in my tracks, picked her up and gave her a big hug! It felt so wonderful to receive attention from my child and I REALLY was enjoying that moment…

Until…

She looked at my sunglasses on my face & said, “ooooooh” and reached for it.

Let me explain…

A few days earlier we had been shopping when i bought them and she was enamored with them them. Additionally she had been wearing them around the house and playing with them (even after i asked her to stop) all morning long. She walked around the house with it…and even tried to put it on her head, like daddy. When it was time to leave I took it from her and told her I had to go and that is when she ran after me and began to give me attention.

You see her attention and affection was not because she wanted to be close to me but because of what I had that she wanted. As I sat there thinking about this for a second God spoke to my heart and said, “This is the way you treat the Gospel many times!”

I am so guilty of times in my past where I prayed like crazy, raised my hands in worship, made HUGE promises and so on but NOT because I was in awe of who He is, but rather I wanted something from Him and falsly assumed that if I did the right things and gave Him enough attention that He would finally break and fulfill my selfish desires. THAT IS RELIGION! THAT IS REPUGNANT!

God knows my heart! He knows my mind! He knows my motives and He will not be tricked or deceived by empty worship.

One of the things I’ve been continually praying over the past year or so is for Jesus to continually make my motives pure and if there is ANYTHING in me that is not of Him to help me see it and get it out of my life. It’s not the easiest process to go through but it’s been incredibly liberating!

At the end of the day I am praying that I will not want what I think Jesus can give me…but simply just want Jesus! It’s a battle and I think there will always be a struggle to try and manipulate Him but it simply cannot be done.

So how about you? Are you pursuing Jesus, OR are you just after you believe He can give you? Just something to think about today! I wish I were an expert on this, but I am struggling just like most of you are. However, in His grace, mercy and patience He is blowing my mind as I work through this. I hope you will work through this as well!