Understanding God's Healing

I'm not going to profess to understand everything about God's amazing power to heal; but, I would like to share God's healing hand in my life tonight.

I've always known that God has the ability to bring about physical healing. I read the stories of His healing throughout the Bible and also of His other miraculous works, and I continually am amazed what He has done. However, I wasn't raised in a church that overtly talked about physical healing, so it was always something that I expected happened at other places. Sure, I didn't doubt that God could heal someone from my church, or even my family, but it just wasn't something that we saw.

Tonight, I experienced yet another healing moment, but I'm not sure that I've ever really thought of it as such until now. Since we have youth group on Wednesday nights, I usually come very tired after a normal work day. On several occasions, I have come home from work with a headache, sometimes borderline migraine, and not wanted to go to youth group. It's not that I don't love my church or my people, but rather that I literally feel as if I am going to fall over. Tonight was one of those nights.

I specifically remember driving to pick up a couple of the teens at their school and thinking, "I hope that I can stay conscious long enough to just get through this service." But, I also spent some time in prayer. I know that, if God has called me to the task of preaching, then He will equip me with everything that I need to get the job done. So, I just asked that God heal me - even if it was only to preach.

7 o'clock rolled by and still the headache was there. It was so bad, I was having trouble seeing straight and didn't even know how I was going to remember the message. And then God, as He has often done, said, "It's time to start. Let's go." Immediately, I was taken to another place and I was ushered on stage to lead the group in praising God. No headache. No thought of a headache. No desire to be in bed. My only thoughts and desires were to lead my group into the presence of God, so that they could connect with God.

As soon as church was over and I was back in my car, the headache had returned. I realize that I had it for a reason - I was dehydrated; but, what blows my mind is the fact that God takes care of me, every time He needs me to do His work.

Sure, it's not like I had a broken arm that was healed. It's not like I had a terminal disease that was taken away. I wasn't taken from a mat, carried into the presence of Jesus, touched by His hands, and told to walk; but, my body was healed so that I could preach the Word of God to the group.

Well, Bryan, that's not really that big of a deal.

Maybe not, but one of the teens was saved tonight. A young man, lost and alone, was forever changed, because he heard the message of the Gospel. Call it whatever you want, but I believe that my God handles things when they need to be dealt with. I believe that He intends for us to prosper. I believe that He desires a blessed relationship with us. And, I also believe that many will turn their back on Him, because they don't quite get it - the message, that is.

I just want you to be encouraged. I know that, often, we are required to follow God without knowing what will happen or how it will happen or even who will go with us. That's exactly how I felt tonight and I was reassured that only one thing mattered: connecting to God. I encourage you to follow that same path. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then connect with me and I'll connect you to Him.

Blessings upon your life.

Second-Rate Love

As I sit, considering tomorrow's Thanksgiving festivities, I'm forced to reflect upon tonight's communion service message from Revelation 2:2-5. Some of us are thankful for things. Others of us are thankful for family and our church body. Sometimes, we forget the only thing worth remembering: our First Love.

In a recent conversation with a friend, I was drawn to the fact that my love for Christ, however strong, never fully reaches the love that Christ first had for us. "How are you today?"

"I'm about 75%."

"Interesting, because 75% pure gold is still considered to be impure." It wasn't a statement of condemnation, rather one of self-reflection. Have I ever attained first-rate love? A communion service, a remembrance of our communion and one-ness with Christ, should bring us back to remembering our First Love. And yet, why is it, that most of my life is spent with the feeling of being a second-rate lover.

I offer the following lyrics as my reflection. I realize that it can sound like a love song, but consider the words as you stand face-to-face with Christ. Maybe I'll record the music...someday...for now, consider the reflection.

You look so beautiful to me

Reminding me of nothing that I've seen

Drawing me to reframe the everything that I'm dreaming

I think the state of my me brings a purer love for Thee

I stand here as a second-rate

Holding only the shadow left behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

So pure and mine

I feel Your scarred and wounded hands

Not keeping me from driving the nail again

Bringing me to the place of giving up my needs

I think with less of me I'll find a purer love for Thee

I stand here as a second-rate, a second-rate

Holding only the shadow left behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

I bring to You the praise with my life

Leaving my depravity and sin so far behind

I sing hallelujah-lelujah

For the wonder of Your love

So pure and mine

Giving Love for the Ninja Nod-Off

Not all of you are aware, but there is a wonderful blog that I like to follow called Stuff Christians Like. Not only does it make my day, but also, it gives good ideas for things that we can do better in church. Check out today's post entitled, "The Ninja Nod-off!" I hope that it makes your day better :)

When Super Mario Bros & Dating Collide

There seems to be somewhat of a discrepancy over the different stages in getting to know someone. What many people don't actually understand, and seems to be a lesser-known fact, is the idea that dating is not simply defined as it used to be in the golden days. When I was in elementary school, if you wanted to date someone, you called it "goin' around." That was it. There weren't multiple steps or stages or whatever. We didn't kiss, because that was such a disgusting idea, that only the most raunchy of students actually tried it. When I moved into high school, it was no longer called "goin' around," but was changed to "dating." OK, that's still pretty simple.

Now, with the addition of social media into our world, there is a WHOLE new slew of stages that takes the concept of "dating" to a whole new level. I've described it in terms of Super Mario Bros for the sake of all of the guys out there that are still confused.

World One: Gently Stalking - This happens until the two become friends on Facebook. Generally speaking, this is the introduction phase, where you're learning how to play the game.

World Two: Texting - This is a casual conversation that allows the exchange of information, but no emotional connection. You probably think that you have a handle on things, but don't get cocky.

World Three: The Coffee Date - You are now able to establish an emotional connection in a Starbucks (or similar coffee shop), without feeling trapped or overwhelmed.

World Four: The Actual Date - If you are the guy, you wear jeans and a button-down, so as not to seem too excited, and take the girl to a restaurant that has been pre-approved by your non-dating-status girl friends. If you are the girl, you wear pants and a nice blouse that says, "Don't get crazy."

World Five: The First Call - This is initiated by the guy, because the girl doesn't want to seem too forward. He's usually unsure as to how long after the date to call, because Google data analysis still hasn't caught up to the modern age of social media awkwardness.

World Six: The Dating Phase - If you've passed World Five, then you are now launched into one of the longest levels of your life. It will seem insurmountable, but there are hints below to help you pass this level.

World Seven: The Question - There are multiple theories as to the best plan of attack for this level. If you don't keep a healthy balance at this point, then you won't follow through to the end. The question is only asked when you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you got this.

World Eight: The Wedding - You've Saved the Princess! Not yet...You are now facing the moment of truth. You have persisted and maintained your lives all the way up to this point. This is the final battle that will decide the truth of your relationship.

You will definitely need help throughout this process. If you think that you can do it alone, don't even try. The following are hints to help you along the way.

Warps - If you've played the game before, or at least been coached along the way, then you will find ways to warp between worlds. If this option is available and is not going to hurt you in the long run, then take advantage of it.

1-Ups - You NEED these. There is no way that you can make it through without these. You are going to make mistakes, so save your 1-Ups for the times when you make mistakes. Not only will they give you new life, but also they will give you a chance to rethink your plan.

Pause - There have been attempts to drink caffeinated beverages and just streak through the game without stopping. Don't do this. Take your time, if necessary, to pause and reflect. And...use the bathroom as necessary.

Coins - You can make it through the game without collecting coins, but it would be better to grab as many as you can. Pay attention to opportunities to gather more coins. Don't stop to get them, if it will hurt your time, but don't just pass them by without paying attention. You will need the 1-Ups that they bring.

Fire Flower - There will be times when you feel as if you are completely on fire. Enjoy it. Bask in it. But remember, it doesn't last forever. You still need to brush up on your overall skills, because the Fire Flower will not always be around to rescue you.

Starman - These are less common than Fire Flower, but allow you to blaze through anything without being affected. Please take caution when using the Starman. If you run out of your invincible power and are not paying attention, then you will surely die.

Remember that Bowser is just that - Bowser. He represents every guy that stands in your way of rescuing the princess. Don't let them defeat you. They will act stronger, tougher, and some may even spit game; but, don't let that stop you. You have ONE mission: Rescue the princess!

Good luck!

Sermon Notes - 11/14/11

I was reading a blog, recently, about taking sermon notes. Regardless of the rest of the blog, I started thinking about how often we take sermon notes and why. And, then I started thinking about whether or not we actually pay attention in church. I mean, do our notes reflect what we learned in the sermon? Do they just represent the main points that someone tried to get across to us? Are they just doodles?

Do you pay attention? To life?

We just had a recent discussion in youth group about the usefulness of cell phones in a church service. Their response, without my prompting, was that phones are unnecessary in church. I asked that those with the Bible app on their phone to raise their hand. About half of the hands went up. Then I asked that those who owned a physical Bible put their hands down. Only one hand was left up, and I promised to get her a Bible.

When we take out all of our excuses for not paying attention, we really are forced to ask the hard question. Do I really and truly want a relationship with God or am I just really, really good at pretending?

Psalm 78:1-4 says, "My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old - things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power, and the wonders He has done."

I hope that you can answer the question of life.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Widows and Orphans - 11/7/11

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday (around the United States), so I thought it would be appropriate to have a discussion about our responsibility as the church in regard to widows and orphans.

James 1:26-27 says, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I see three very basic things rising up out of this passage. The first is that anyone who first considers themselves religious is just fooling themselves. Speaking out about your religion, but having not actions to back up your words, proves just how shallow you truly are. If you desire to have a deep sense of "religion," then look out for others in greater need than yourself, and ensure that you are following biblical principles.

Secondly, James warns us to look out for the orphans and widows in distress. Do we even know who those people are? That seems to be the question running through my head. How do I find them? Well, in order to know who those are in distress, I have to first have a relationship with them. Some people are so secretive about their issues, that they don't want anyone to know. You may have people in distress, right under your nose, but wouldn't know what is causing that distress, because you haven't been paying attention.

And lastly, keep yourself from being polluted by the world. I don't think that this overshadows our attention to others, but rather it coincides with it. Helping others is a part of how we keep ourselves from being polluted. We can't have more concern for others than for ourselves, but it also works the other way. There is a constant pull between what we feel for ourselves, and how we respond to others, and that balance that we find is what comes from being filled with the Spirit of God.

I say these things, almost more to myself than to you, because I know just how hard it is for me to remain faithful to the call of God upon my own life. I hope that this week, you are able to seek out those in distress and pray for them. Bring them comfort. Help meet their physical needs. They are truly all around us, we just have to look.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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I Pulled the God Card

Have you ever considered forgiving the person that hurts you the most? How about the person that drives you insane? Or the person who should already know better, but they continue to act inappropriately? I have...

Honestly, I'm not thrilled about the prospect of forgiving them. The social justice side of me wants to speak out, "But, they need to be held accountable!!" I'll share with you tonight's lesson from the track.

I was walking, as I sometimes do when I cannot run (by sometimes, I really mean a lot) and having a conversation with myself. Well, I was really having a conversation with "the other person." There were a lot of "Oh ya, do you know what you did??" statements and also calls for repentance. But, the entire time I was NOT convincing the other person to see my side of the argument (interesting, since it was ultimately myself).

I finally pulled my wild card. I mean, I had "the other person" dead to rights with this card. There was no escaping, no denying - NOTHING. This was the "God" card.

"If you were standing in the presence of God, you would have to repent. If you don't, then God is going to smite you." I don't think I actually said smite, but I like the word, so it'll fit closely enough. I was there, intimately looking for a response. God was standing next to me and He said, "If there is no repentance, then you make the call and I will end the life of 'the other person.'"

WHOA - wait a minute! You mean to tell me that I get to make the call? This was the moment. I could finally get an apology! This was the thing for which I had been arguing until my legs hurt from walking.

And, then it hit me. I was condemning this person to death. The judgement that I was to deal out, was the judgement that is reserved only for God. But, He said I could! No. But, "the other person" deserves it! No. In that moment, I knew that I had no more argument left.

How could I, a sinner just like "the other person," justify anyone's life? To this moment, I still feel a sense of loss, as if I had really pulled the trigger or swung the axe. I wanted it so badly, even if it meant the other person's condemnation to an eternity in hell.

I hope you learn from my mistake. Maybe "your other person" has done worse than mine. If that's the case, then you have a longer road to walk. I can't say that I envy either of our situations, but I can say that mine is ending in forgiveness.

One of my fears is that "the other person" will hurt me again after I forgive. The truth is, I can't control that. I can only promise to remain faithful to God and ask that He direct my steps. I hope that you can do the same.