Narcissism…

Narcissism describes the character trait of self love.

Since first learning this word is has lodged its way into my brain. The idea of self love, self worship, where the ‘I’ rules. As I survey the American culture it has increasingly becoming a ‘culture of narcissism’.

Historian and social critic Christopher Lasch (1932—1994) described this topic in his book, "The Culture of Narcissism", published in 1979. He defines a narcissistic culture “as one in which every activity and relationship is defined by the hedonistic need to acquire the symbols of material wealth, this becoming the only expression of rigid, yet covert, social hierarchies. It is a culture where liberalism only exists in so far as it serves a consumer society, and even art, sex and religion lose their liberating power”.

Are we sliding in this direction? I can’t help but to see it everywhere. People come to church and their attitude is ‘what can you do for me’. Is this what it’s suppose to be about?
The apostle Paul writes…

nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, 1 Thessalonians 2:6 NET

Paul didn’t seek the favor of man…he wasn’t out for himself, or what he could benefit from…Paul worked to bring glory to God. I think we have lost our way from this ideal.

We go to church to bring glory to God…we pray to bring glory to God…we worship to bring glory to God. He is the only one who deserves the glory of our lives.

In a narcissistic culture it become impossible to think of someone other than ourselves…it become increasingly difficult to give glory to God first, it become increasingly difficult to worship God first…because our focus is on self first. The result is we are lost and carry the burdened of our own depravity.

Here is the point: When you get to the point of focusing on God first, God carries our burden of sin. He lifts the sin off us…through grace he sets us free. People look at Christianity as a type slavery…but the truth is, its freedom…freedom from self.

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Sean Michel video…

I love this song “Forgiven Much”

Here are the words….

When I sing to You/May it be just like Im pouring perfume
/All over Your feet/just after shedding my own tears
/Upon them/to wash them/Drying with my own hair
/And Im steadily kissing your feet/

(Chorus)Because Ive been forgiven much
/Because Ive been forgiven of so much
/Because Ive been forgiven muchIve been forgiven much

/When I live for You
/May it be just like Im pouring perfume/All over Your feet
/just after shedding my own tears/Upon them/to wash them
/Drying with my own hair/And Im steadily kissing your feet
/(Chorus)

Look at my sin/look at my sinBut look at His grace
/look at His graceCause where my sin abounds
/His grace abounds even moreCause where my sin abounds
/His grace abounds even more

Here is a video of him live in the Sudan, singing this song…

Video “Forgiven Much”

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Hannah Part II

What can we learn from Hannah life and how can we apply it today. Well mothers you can pray for your future children…if you know you are going to get ‘married’ and have children someday. Pray for that future child…if you’re in a marriage and you are planning to have children…pray for that child. Pray for their health, pray for their lives…pray God would use them.

When they are born, pray for their growth…pray for their futures…pray for their future wife or husband…pray they would grow up to love the Lord and be used by him. Pray for their friends, that God would surround them with Christians. Grandparents you can do the same…

Most of all pray in front of them…let your children see you praying for them. Let them hear you pled with God about their lives. Grandparents when your around your grandchildren let them see you pray! Set the example for them to follow the rest of their lives.

Worship! Worship with them in church…take them to church and let them see you worship…let them hear and see how important worship is in your life. Worship in marriage…let them see God is apart of your marriage. Let them see you praying with each other; show God’s love and patience to one another...The best thing a mother can do for her children is to love her husband and the best thing a father can do for his children is love his wife. Most of all let them see you worship God by the way you live everyday. Let them see you honor God with money, your language, everything you do should honor God, it is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). Grandparents you do the same thing…lead by example…the children will never forget it.

So there you have it…Hannah gave a great example for mothers to follow. Re-read the story in 1 Samuel and most of all have a great Mothers Day…I love all the moms out there, who are doing the very best they can. I want to encourage you the best I can. Keep your eyes on Jesus and God bless you all!

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Hannah and Mothers Day…Part I

I am just about finished with my sermon for this Sunday…which is of course Mothers Day…Now me and Mothers Day haven’t always meshed well. This will be the third time I have preached a Mother’s Day message…but I always struggle, because….I’m not a mom! Yes it’s true, I know it’s hard to image…

Now don’t get me wrong, I have spent my whole life around mothers. I mean my mother raised me, my grand mother took a role in raising me…and now my wife is raising me, at least that is what she say’s! I love moms, where would we be without our mothers! Hannah is one of those mothers. She is without child and she is married to a guy who has another wife who does have children. This of course is a problem; the second wife reminds Hannah at every chance she gets…she does it to the point of purposely hurting Hannah. Hannah prays and prays…she is weeping and praying from her heart…and Eli the priest see’s her and thinks she’s drunk! So there is Hannah, and no body understands…her husband has tried, the priest thinks she’s drunk…she isn’t shaken…she chooses to let God have the situation.

So many times in life we are faced with difficult problems. They come and we pray and nothing happens. What do you do? Do you stop praying and have a big ol’ pity party…or do you let God have the situation. Do you trust God will see it through until the end. Hannah chose to let God have the situation. She got up 1 Samuel 1:18, ate something and was no longer downcast. She trusted God…the next morning she got up and worshiped the Lord.

Hannah returns home and conceives a child…she named Samuel. This wasn’t an ordinary child…but the Last of the priestly, judges of Israel and the first great prophet. He would usher in a new era for Israel. God would use Samuel in a very special way. Hannah kept her oath and at three or so years…she took him to Eli the high priest and gives her only son to the service of the Lord. Hannah then shares a prayer, 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Hannah confirms the Lord is in charge…He is Lord. How many would be able to give up the one child they prayed for and still praise the Lord. But that is what Hannah did.

There are several things we can take from Hannah…

Hannah prayed…she prayed when she face difficult problems, she prayed for her son, before he was born. She continued to pray for him her entire life…I’m confident in the fact.

Hannah worshiped….worship was important to Hannah, she worshiped at the tabernacle, she worshiped with her very life, she worshiped with her heart and she was consistent.

Hannah also sacrificed…she gave of her self to the lord and to her husband. She gave her only son to the service of the Lord.

Lastly Hannah was blessed….The Scripture says “the Lord was gracious to Hannah”.

I’m going to stop there…I will continue this conversation tomorrow…we’ll look to see how Hannah’s example can be applied today.

Keep reading your Bibles…

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Another Class down…

I finished “Case Studies in Leadership” and have moved on to “Leadership and Small Groups”. I feel like a huge weight is off of my shoulders, turned in my final and homework for the week. My mind is numb from writing and thinking about all this over the last few days…So now I get to turn my focus on VBS (Vacation Bible School) and Mothers Day. I got the sermon this week and have to start thinking about it. I have some ideas…but that is the challenge. So say a prayer for me as I start seeking what God would want me to say.

Well I’m tired and I want to get to bed. Here is a thought for the day…

“When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than yourselves.
-Philippians 2:3 NCV

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Old Friends….

As I progress through the years of my life I can’t help to enjoy talking to old friends.

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was A time of innocence, A time of confidences Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you…

Today I talked to my friend Daren, who is still in the Air Force doing well. It’s interesting to talk to an old friend…long ago now we were deployed together in Germany. It was in 1997…ten years ago. We both ended up at Beale AFB and worked together. Most of all he was my brother in Christ. Working in Security Forces it can be something very rare to find a fellow believer.

Thank you Daren, for being a friend and brother in Christ.

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Can you guess the song from which the above verse is from?

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 01

What do you think of these short video? Did they go to far? What is the message? and do you agree or disagree?

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 02

Very Fascinating…

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 03

Very interesting...

I Like David…

David is an amazing character in the Bible. I could read his story over and over again. David never took his eyes off of God, or I should say his heart never left God. He did take his eyes off of God long enough to get into real trouble…he saw Bathsheba bathing. Once he saw her beauty he had to have her and slept with her…while her husband was off fighting for the king. Now if things couldn’t get worse Bathsheba becomes pregnant…and David orders Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband to come home and to be with his wife. It just continues to get worse…You see David didn’t account for Uriah to be a good man. Uriah refused to go home not once but twice. David even loaded him up with a few drinks to encourage him and still Uriah refused to go home. Because of Uriah’s actions, David decides to cover his sin…does the unthinkable.

David the man who God said, “is the apple of my eye”…writes a letter to Joab the military commander to put Uriah in the thickest part of the battle and withdraw from around him…so he will be struck down.
The worst part is David had Uriah carry his own death note. Everything works, the note is delivered and Uriah dies. David brings Bathsheba into his house as his wife and none is the wiser. David thought he was in the clear, he had covered his tracks…but God saw everything.

Along come Nathan the prophet, who tells David a story…about an old man who had a lamb who he loved like a child. A rich man with many lambs, takes the old mans lamb for a feast. David gets very excited and says, “Who is this man, he deserves to die!” Nathan says, “You are that man.” Nathan proceeds to tell David the result of sin…in which David acknowledges his sin. From then on David, never looks back…He accepts the punishment and puts his trust in the Lord. Event after event, he loses his sons, his kingdom…and yet David never blames God, but continues to praise him in psalms.

I take from David this line from the end of 2 Samuel 22:20, “he rescued me because he delighted in me.” I take comfort in knowing God delighted in David, despite his terrible sin. It gives me hope in knowing God delights in those who seek him with their hearts.

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