I was randomly listening and flipping TV stations and stumbled across a concert with Live. I have always liked their music and ended up listening to most of the concert. The lead singer gave a few words before singing their song, “Heaven” about how this song was his prayer for his daughter and his famly.
I’m fairly certain…not positive, but pretty sure…that these guys are not Christians as you and I would define it. However…the lyrics to this song are such a vivid analogy of Romans 1:20 where Paul describes the unrighteous as being without excuse in not knowing God.
I wanted to share this simply because of late, the circles I run in have had many discussions on unbelievers capacity to serve and can unbelievers impact our lives for God’s glory, etc.
I included all the lyrics, as repetitive as they might seem…but in reading them, keep Romans 1:20 in mind.
“Heaven”
You don’t need no friends
get back your faith again
you have the power to believe
another dissident
take back your evidence
it has no power to deceive
I’ll believe it when I see it, for myself
I don’t need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don’t need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
I sit with them all night
everything they say is right
but in the morning they were wrong
I’ll be right by your side
come hell or water high
down any road you choose to roam
I’ll believe it when I see it for myself
I don’t need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don’t need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive, yeah
darling, I believe, Oh Lord
sometimes it’s hard to breathe, Lord
at the bottom of the sea, yeah yeah
I’ll believe it when I see it for myself
I don’t need no one to tell me about heaven
I look at my daughter, and I believe.
I don’t need no proof when it comes to God and truth
I can see the sunset and I perceive
The time is getting closer to our assessment with the Acts29 Network of church plants. We attend the October conference in St. Louis and will spend the last day being assessed as church planters.
I have listened to nearly every Mark Driscoll message out there. I have laughed till I cried, I have wept till I couldn’t breathe and I know that God is in our lives, in our ministry and in our marriage. And for some odd reason, I find great security in that. I find great peace and contentment in the knowledge of the Kingdom picture. That’s definitely new for me. I’m more of an “in the moment” kinda gal.
I think I am looking forward to meeting other people who have a similar “demographic” as we do. We’re not inner-city, we’re not a “downtown” kinda area, we’re not even suburban by definition. We’re in a county surrounded by 160,000 blue collar workers with incomes on the low side of middle income. Football is a religion, shopping is nobody’s pastime, and Budweiser is how you spell relaxation.
We’re smack in the middle of a country music video with achy-breaky-big mistakey-haircuts. The people here work hard, very hard – nearly every home is two income. Their weeks are filled with jobs, taking kids to various activities and shopping for food to feed them all. These families love one another, love their community and would like to love their neighbors. They’ve just never met them. They don’t make to time to meet them. They live in an area 25 years and don’t know their next-door neighbor, because it’s not something we do today.
I love our community. I love the people around here. They work hard all week and spend the weekends caring for their homes, their yards and trying to squeeze in a movie or sporting event.
They need Jesus…and they need Him desperately. Our neighbors are lonely, but fearful. They’re friendly, but distant. They’re in need of the truth and how it will set them free from their burdens. We have reached out our hands to our neighbors and while it’s been kinda weird for everyone…they’re starting to reach back.
At our assessment in October, I feel like we’re representing more than just our community. I know there are other areas with similar people, similar lifestyles. I pray we can share our stories, gain encouragement and learn to keep our ears to the ground, listening to the heartbeat of our own community.
It’s weird, but assessment sounds so personal to me. My temperament will be assessed and then they will determine if I do indeed possess the character that exhibits Christ in my life.
I will be given the approval from a group of men so that I may go out to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Wait a minute….didn’t I get that already? Some guy about 2,000 years ago said something about going out … hmmm
I read one magazine. Only one. Real Simple and yes, I do take a little too much pride in the fact of buying just one magazine per month. Course, that one magazine is like $5 or something ridiculous.
This months edition has a great article in it about improving relationships by listening. I mean it. It’s very practical, simple language, great application. So why does that article set my teeth a little on edge? Why do I wish that magazines and other such publications would just stick to issues of politics and economics or the latest recipe of the month?
Because…
Because in my most personal of opinions, Christians should be the ones leading the pack and demonstrating to the world how to improve relationships. Seriously, we have the owner’s manual for it and yet, how many times is a Christian the last person we want to hear from regarding relationships. Why is that?
What have we, as a church culture, so misrepresented to the world that it’s not even interested in asking us about our lives or our convictions?
Well, let’s see …
Do our marriages show Jesus as alive and well? When’s the last time you heard a wife (even in a church setting) say something nice about her husband in a public way and not quickly apologize for it. Many women feel embarrassed that their marriages are good. It’s far too trendy to complain about everything. How many women would be so blessed to hear about how wonderful marriage is, how strong the committment is and how loved they feel.
Do we as parents show Jesus to our children? Has anyone ever heard a parent or anyone else, for that matter say something good about a teenager. What we normally hear are groans and mutterings and a little fear slipping into our lives when it comes to the dreaded teen years. I’ve done it myself. Someone tells me they have a teenager and I’ve found myself responding with a humorous, “I’m so sorry…” That might get a smile, but it’s certainly not very godly. Has anyone bothered to actually have a conversation with a teenager without turning it into a debate. Teens love to talk about fashion, music, sports, where they might live after they leave home…anything. Just let them talk. And then shut up.
Do we as Christians love our neighbors? Do we really? Would you be willing to drive a neighbor to work for a week if they lost their car? Would you include them in your meals for a month, if their health went downhill? Would you do more than wave, more than a fleeting prayer, more than a dismissive “how are ya” when you see them? All this without a bitter thought, an angry comment or some harbored resentment.
Do we as Christians love the Lord? Openly, with conviction and without reservation?
I have a book study every other week at a local coffee shop. Along with my book, I also bring my bible. There has been a time or two when walking into the crowded shop, I’ve thought to minimize the fact that I have a bible in my hand. Even if I don’t do anything about it, I still have the thought of wondering if anyone is staring at the lady with the huge purse and big bible. What’s that all about?
I don’t know why. I love the Lord. I’m not afraid to pray in public. I’m not afraid to talk about Jesus. So why…why does that initial entrance just make me twinge ever so slightly?
hmmmm ::evasive maneuver:: well, that’s enough about me…
Back to the original thought of something about magazines and Christians having the owner’s manual. Oh yeah…
What does it say? Open it up, read it, check the index for words that lead to verses that in context, will help you grow. Become convicted. Have spiritual conversations.
If we want to impact our communities, we gotta get our hearts right. We have to learn to listen to people with real interest, with a genuineness of heart and spirit. Listen to their emotions, listen to what is left unspoken. Get rid of the scarlet letters and targets on their foreheads. Allow our marriages to be examples, allow our teens to serve and take ownership in our church body and community.
Let us, as His Body be the dearest place on earth.
I love this song by Casting Crowns – Derek and I were singing it on the way to dinner and a movie Saturday. It’s perfect for today.
yes, yes, I stole the dearest place on earth from CJ Mahaney…although, I’m sure he won’t mind.
peacemakingirl