Things to be Remembered

Have you ever found yourself wondering why you are in your current situation? Have you been so completely overwhelmed with life that you forget to remember the GOOD things that Christ is doing in and through your life? To hopefully avoid finding myself in that place, I'd like to share the following story. It may not be that significant to some, but it is to me, and therefore is set up as an Ebenezer for future remembrance.

Last night, youth group was a different service that what we've experienced lately. Don't get me wrong, I've been enjoying our youth services, but last night was special. It was the culmination of a number of changes that God has been making in my life and in the lives of many of my teens. It was the turning point and a time that should not be forgotten.

We started with our music. While the teens were excited and full of rambunctious energy, when we began singing, we were moved from our current place of understanding, to a place in which the Holy Spirit was able to speak into our hearts. This was in addition to the fact that I really had fun playing guitar with my brother. I mean, there's just something about playing well together, when you are in sync, that let's you know that the groove is on and you're playing out of the overflowing abundance of your heart. THAT was cool!

But, back to the teens. There is something about hearing a bunch of teens lift their voices in praise and adoration of our Father and Creator that soothes the soul. There is something about that moment in time that allows the Holy Spirit to just say, "Peace. Hear my voice and respond." In that instant, you are moved from thinking about your current situation, your problems, your worries, and your concerns with life to only caring about serving the one, true Savior. THAT was cool!

But, put the guitar aside. Put the music and lyrics aside. Open the Word of the Lord to Hosea 10:12. If, as most Christians would state, our desire is to draw closer to God through righteousness, we would look at this passage and wonder, is my field fallow? Is my soil rocky? Do I have weeds in my life that are keeping me from worshiping God with every part of my being? If so, then I HAVE to plow my field and get it ready for God's great and abundant blessings for my life.

This brought us to the point of an invitation to answer the Spirit's call on our lives. Hands were raised, teens were feeling the Spirit moving in their lives. The altar was open and ready to receive people for prayer. In that moment in time, there was absolutely no doubt about God's call for repentance, changed lives, and new attitudes. To leave there without connecting with God was a very purposeful and rebellious decision.

Afterward, the teens wanted to stay and talk. I mean, we have days in which people jet out the door and are ready to go home; but, not last night! I literally had to force them out the door so that we could have our new believer's Bible study. The fact that they were disappointed to leave the House of God just warmed my heart, and warms it still.

Fast forward through Bible study, which was great, and you are brought to the van ride home. There was laughter! There were giggles. There was fun. There was excitement. There were good conversations. How can you get better than a van full of life?

To look back and say that God's Spirit was not present would be a scandalous falsehood. God was present last night. He was real. And, He was moving. I would rather have that with only a handful of teens, than a room full of disengaged and disinterested teens. But, here's the kicker! We had a great number of teens! More than I expected for "Christian concert" night at the fair, for which many people decided to skip our mid-week service. I don't hold that against them, but rather I rejoice in the fact that God still brought new people into His house so that they could hear the Gospel message. THAT was cool!

I fully recognize that there are times in life that seem dreary, dull, and without hope. Let this be a reminder that God is still God and that He reigns on His throne. He is the King and He will always protect and care for His people. Let this be a reminder that He's got our back! Let this be my Ebenezer!

Blessings on you! Feel free to share the message! Christ lives and His salvation changes our lives!

Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness - 10/10/11

Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

Righteousness, as defined by the dictionary, is "the quality or state of being just or rightful." Righteousness is something that everyone understands, whether they can put words to it or not. We are trained from birth to act correctly, because we understand very early on what sin is. Living in righteousness means that we are living through justified actions. How many people can honestly say that every single one of their actions is justified?

In Romans 5:15-19, we see that, through the actions of Adam's original sin, each of us is plagued with sin and condemned to an eternity away from God. We also see, however, that because of Christ's pure and righteous act (death on a cross and resurrection into life), we can reenter into righteousness.

Often, people try to justify their actions on their own, stating "their" reasons for acting in the manner observed. Unfortunately, this is the most childish of responses that we can have. We can't justify our own sin, so what good does it do to reason things away? Wouldn't it be better to just own up to the mistakes made?

Every time that someone tries to reason away their mistakes, they work out of their own strength. Working out of one's own strength just uses up whatever energy they had and thus leaves them with less than when they started. This is the essence of being burnt out and is the complete opposite of God's original intent for us to be filled.

Consider your life. Are you tired of paying the price for your own actions and mistakes? Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that you will live a life without consequences; but, you can live a life that is finally justified. Christ's actions don't justify us continually living in sin, but rather they justify us being removed from sin, to no longer be caught in the trap of unfulfilling and useless words. Do you desire to be filled by God? Then stop trying to make excuses for your wrong actions! Just stop doing them.

This week, I encourage you to take inventory of your thoughts, words, and actions. Do you have a growing sense of God's presence in your life or are you continually feeling empty and alone. Only you can change that. God will save you, if you would just let Him have authority in your life.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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A Healing God - 10/3/11

Do you believe that God truly wants to see His people healed and healthy? I'm not just talking about physical healing, but also spiritual and emotional healing. Often we don't trust that God has our best interests at heart. We wonder why He is taking so long to help us, but I want to encourage you to rest in God's amazingly perfect timing.

Last night, for our service, we baptized 9 teens/children! Here's what's really cool - I wasn't the only one baptizing them. Some of the children were baptized by their grandfathers. Some were baptized by their fathers. Imagine the legacy marker being left, because the Spirit of the Lord was working through fathers and grandfathers to bless the children of the next generation!

When you think of God's perfect and healing hand, His timing was exactly as it needed to be. For a church that has been wondering how God is going to continue to bless, adding 9 members to the family seemed an amazing shot in the arm.

I'm not sure how last week went, but I would like to encourage you as you start the new week. God has plans for our lives, but we are so busy trying to figure things out on our own that we miss Him. Look for the things with which God is blessing your life. Celebrate those things! It brings healing that we never even imagined could happen.

I'll leave you with a story from a friend. He was riding his motorcycle and a big SUV came racing up behind him, almost touching his tailpipes. After it happened twice, he almost lost his cool. In the moment, he wasn't sure what he would do; but, after he had cooled down, he said, "I should've just smiled." Smile this week, no matter what happens. You have a Savior that is completely in to you. Live like it!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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Follow Me As I Follow Christ - 9/26/11

"Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)

That's a rather bold statement, isn't it? I mean, Paul has a huge assumption that he is actually following Christ. Obviously, he thinks that he is, but what if someone contended that fact? What if you said, "Follow me, as I follow Christ?" Would you be ridiculed for that statement? Would people think that you are arrogant? Would they judge you?

Let me ask another question: What if no one is showing them Christ? What if they have no example of Christ in their lives? Do you think that it's more important to remain "without judgment" or to be an example for others?

"Bryan, there has to be another option than just those two." If there is, please pose it for me. Put words to your thought - your rebuttal - or consider the implications that my question leaves behind. There are plenty of people that live without a godly example in their lives. The problem is, none of us is willing to step up and take action. That is ridiculous!

People know that you are going to fail. In fact, they probably expect that you will fail, and fail hard. So, why not put yourself out on the line and guide them as best you can? Let them follow you, as you follow Christ. This will do two things: (1) give them a godly example to follow as they get plugged in to the truth of God's word, and (2) keep you accountable.

I think most of us would rather not be held accountable. If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that having no accountability is not an option. So, this week, see who you can influence in a godly way. Point others to Christ. We all know that you can't save them, but point them to the One that can! I hope that love becomes your guiding light, rather than fear of judgment.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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A Longing In My Heart

To borrow the phrase from Dannah Gresh (in today's D6 Conference), I am emotionally wealthy at the moment. What does that mean? It means that my emotions are super-charged and am have wasted at least half - if not all - of my ability to cry. So, the rest of this post is an explanation of the longing in my heart.

Many of these emotions are derived from our most recent church split. Over the last 7 years, Harmony Church has gone through a succession of three pastoral resignations. For a church, that is a lot of turnover. I remember reading Doug Fields' Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, and in that he tells the story of a girl who had 5 different small group leaders during the course of her 6-year participation in youth group. That much change can wear on a person. That much change has worn on me. I'm not planning to leave, but I have been left with scars - things that don't ever go away.

In addition to that, past feelings that I thought were put to rest have, once again, been drummed up. I thought I was content with being single. I know that you probably don't want to spend much time reading this part, but I feel compelled to share part of this experience. When we had our church business meeting (two weeks ago), I was forced to think about my brother's recent engagement. Knowing that my future sister-in-law was new to the church, I wondered what she thought about our fighting and squabbling during the business meeting. I also wondered what it would have been like, if I were recently engaged and living through this event with a fiance.

Would she be upset over this? Why would she want to be with someone who had committed his life to working in the church, if this was the mess that she could look forward to? Why would anyone even want to consider me as a future spouse, knowing the conflict that I would face? Why would I want to make this my life, my goal, my passion?

Obviously, these were rhetorical questions, but I found myself wondering them. And, I found myself revisiting the previous issue of singleness, wondering if I was truly content.

Now, to add another lay to this complexity, I am leaving the freshly wounded church, to fly out to Dallas and attend a conference about keeping people healthy within the family of God - ironic. In the morning session, however, we heard from David Platt - a man with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Following an encouraging talk from Doug Fields, Platt proceeded to kick our butts. Very simply summarized, there are too many unsaved people in this world to continue playing Christian. There is a calling more profound than anything we have ever known and that is to follow Christ, with everything that we have and with all that we are.

In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple. The cost, however, is not something that we are prepared for - leaving behind all that we have, including family. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't love our families or work hard to train them in the ways of the Lord. It does mean, however, that we are undeniable called to seek Christ's Kingdom, despite our family. Christ is not a means to an end. He IS the end.

Couple this with my previous thoughts and it seems that I have nothing left to stand on. What I perceive to be a "hard time" or a difficult situation to deal with, really looks stupid in comparison to the ultimate goal of the Kingdom. Why has Harmony Church gone through this pruning? Why am I left to the life of a single male? Why are each and everyone of us faced with difficult situations? Does it really matter, when compared to the larger goal of the Kingdom?

Christ has called us to join Him on His journey, and most of the time, all we can think about is our own selfish ambitions. When are we going to catch the vision for His Kingdom work? We have talked for so long about needing the vision from a pastor, but the vision has already been cast! All we have to do is open our eyes to see it!

We live in a wicked and depraved world that tells us that we're bad if we judge people and mad if we take a stand for justice. Look around us! People, on every street corner, are looking for justice - they just can't stand a righteous Judge. We have been so timid to preach that vision, it just proves our selfishness in not taking a stand.

I, for one, can no longer stand to sit on the sidelines, when billions of people remain unreached for the cause of Christ. I can't let the church stand in the way. I can't let my own timidity stand in the way. I can't let ME stand in the way.

I'm sitting here in the hotel room and Chris has "God of this City" playing as a reminder of the vision that we have already been given. We have been called to rise up and follow Christ by reaching the lost of our world. I, for one, don't intend for mission to be put on the shelf for another day - we are called NOW!

This renewed longing in my heart is what I should've been passionate about during all of this conflict. Whether inner turmoil or exterior anger management, I can't lose sight of the fact that God has wrapped His indelible Spirit around His me for the purpose of protecting and guiding me into the next generation of winning souls for His Kingdom. This longing is an awakening to the true potential of all believers, and shouldn't be quieted for the world.

No matter what you have been going through, know this - Christ is here to save us from our depravity and give us a new life, a new Spirit, and a new vision. You are called to be one of His children.

Leave me your feedback on God's specific call for you to take His message to the world! I'd love to hear from you.

We Are - 9/19/11

Have you ever heard someone say, "I'm trying to be a Christian?" They might not have said it in those words, but if asked the question, "How is your walk with God," they might respond with, "Well, I'm trying."

Why trying? Does that make them feel better about failure? Does it make them think that they can save themselves? As if trying harder would do anything to forgive sins. I mean, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He is the only way. You trying is not going to change that fact.

I've been considering the movie We Are Marshall. The theme of "we are" is significant in this, because it proves unity by virtue of being on the same team. We, as Christ-followers, are either Christians or we aren't. There isn't a middle stage of "trying".

You might be thinking, "Bryan, that sounds very legalistic. You can't expect there to be a hard and fast rule, because God is the one that judges the heart." I don't argue God's judgement here. All I am doing is bringing up the fact that there is no middle ground. If Christ has not forgiven your sins, then you are still a sinner and you deserve death and judgement in hell. If Christ has forgiven your sins, then you are undeniably covered by His blood and you will be welcomed into the gates of heaven.

"But, Bryan, what if I sin? What if I mess up? Am I still covered under the blood? What if I don't feel like a Christian? What if I am struggling or just having a hard time?" Honestly, these are the questions that we answer during the first lesson for new believers in Christ. If you don't know the answers to these questions, then we need to have an honest and real conversation about the Bible.

The point that I am making is that, as Christians, we have an unshakable responsibility to BE Christians. We don't try to act like them, we ARE them. Live out your faith this week, showing others that there is something more significant to life than just existing. Be a Christ-follower!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

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A Few More Commands - 9/12/11

We just had Bro. Curtis Linton at our church for a revival. I wasn't able to attend all of the services, but he started off the series (Monday night) with a sermon on Achan's sin. In light of the fact that I just sent out an email about obeying God's commands, I thought I might use some of his sermon to highlight or readdress a couple more thoughts. Take a look at Joshua 7:1. It says that "the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things." Achan was the only man that took what he wasn't supposed to, but ALL of Israel was considered sinful, because of his actions. WHAT?? How on EARTH is that fair?

You guys know that I am very close to my family. Consider, for instance, that I were to do something for which the rest of my siblings would receive punishment. I know what you're thinking…"Bryan would NEVER do that!" Well, that may or may not be true. But, rather than bring any blame on myself or anyone else, let's just consider this theoretical situation. Would that be fair? Absolutely not! So why would my parents have reason to discipline all four of us? Even worse, what if my parents were to discipline the other three and not me? What would be the initial reaction of the other three?

I think there would be anger - for sure. I think there would also be some resentment. However, I hope that, after some time had passed, my siblings would consider our future as a family. You see, we've never just stopped at telling someone what we think they should or shouldn't do. Rather, we dive into their life and make sure that they know how serious we are in keeping them from trouble. If I had a habit of getting the others in trouble, they would try even harder to keep me from future trouble. Interesting.

Reconsider Achan. A man who, for all intensive purposes, isn't that significant. His sin affects the entire nation of Israel. It starts Joshua on a road of doubt as the leader of the people. It causes the deaths of 36 men and routed the Israelite army in humiliation. It caused unrest, strife, and mourning in the camp of the Israelites. One man's sin did this. ONE man.

How many "one man" situations are causing you or those closest to you to fail? We're not just individuals living out this life, despite the fact that we are individually responsible for our decisions and commitment to God. We keep each other accountable. You are held to accountability by those closest to you.

You affect those around you.

So take some time to be honest with yourself this week. In what ways are you holding others hostage by your own actions? Do something about it. How are others holding you hostage by their actions? Do something about it. But, do it in love.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan
http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com
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