Getting Started
Today at the gym, I was warming up to do my bench-press by doing pushups. I do two sets of 25 pushups to warm up the chest muscles to avoid pulling anything. I was knocking out the first set of 25 and I realized that doing these was nothing. Last year I made my mind up to get back to shape so I started by doing 100 pushups everyday. I did 4 sets of 25 and when I started it was hard. After a period of time, they got easier but I had forgotten that fact until today. My body is used to doing these exercises now and they are easy to me.
This made me think about when I first told people about Jesus; how hard it was. It took me pushing through the fear and trusting God to give me the words. After many years of telling people of Jesus, it is easier. Getting started was the hard part but as I did it the talking became easier.
No matter what you are looking to do, the first stop is always the most difficult and scary. Be it getting into shape or doing what you are supposed to do. Getting start will be hard but rewarding in the long run. So let’s get started.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sin is Sin
I'm still putting the final touches on next Monday's study of John 7:1-24. I want to point people to what Jesus is saying in these verses. In verses 19-24, Jesus was calling out the leaders of Israel. He reveals that the Jewish leaders were completely inconsistent and hypocritical. After all, they had allowed circumcision as a necessity to be done on the Sabbath, but they would not allow healing.
So, according to this logic, it was right to make one part of the body right before God, but not the entire body.Their logic was falling apart. Justice is to be based on substance, not appearance. They needed to get their values straight. The values of the Jewish leaders had been shallow and only on the outward appearance. They had completely missed the spirit of the law, and thus, God’s point of view.
We aren't too far removed from this same mindset in some of our churches. We live in a world that believes that “truth is what you make it.” We live in a culture that really lives that. When describing things that are ugly and sinful, we reword them to make them acceptable.
For example, if a man comes home from work and is mean and grouchy with his family, we call it “executive tension.” If a person is rich and snobby, it is reworded as classy and elegant. If a person is committing adultery, we dare to call it a “love affair.” The trouble is that sin is sin. It is not a weakness, shortcoming or a mistake; it’s SIN.
You know, if we change the label on the bottle of poison, it doesn’t mean that the power of the poison has been taken away. It is still poison.
This is the way Jesus saw it and that's how we as His people should see it.
I'm still putting the final touches on next Monday's study of John 7:1-24. I want to point people to what Jesus is saying in these verses. In verses 19-24, Jesus was calling out the leaders of Israel. He reveals that the Jewish leaders were completely inconsistent and hypocritical. After all, they had allowed circumcision as a necessity to be done on the Sabbath, but they would not allow healing.
So, according to this logic, it was right to make one part of the body right before God, but not the entire body.Their logic was falling apart. Justice is to be based on substance, not appearance. They needed to get their values straight. The values of the Jewish leaders had been shallow and only on the outward appearance. They had completely missed the spirit of the law, and thus, God’s point of view.
We aren't too far removed from this same mindset in some of our churches. We live in a world that believes that “truth is what you make it.” We live in a culture that really lives that. When describing things that are ugly and sinful, we reword them to make them acceptable.
For example, if a man comes home from work and is mean and grouchy with his family, we call it “executive tension.” If a person is rich and snobby, it is reworded as classy and elegant. If a person is committing adultery, we dare to call it a “love affair.” The trouble is that sin is sin. It is not a weakness, shortcoming or a mistake; it’s SIN.
You know, if we change the label on the bottle of poison, it doesn’t mean that the power of the poison has been taken away. It is still poison.
This is the way Jesus saw it and that's how we as His people should see it.
Obedience
In preparing for next Monday's Discovery Group study of John 7:1-24, I came acorss this story that feel is worth sharing.
"Many years ago, a pastor met a hard-bitten old Marine General, one of those tough, self-sufficient characters who was use to giving orders. After he had retired he became a Christian and grew with astonishing speed. Everyone who knew him saw the change. They respected him as much as they always had, but they saw a compassion, an understanding, a patience develop in him that was never there before. He was able to get along with people with whom he had formerly been bitterly at odds. When the pastor asked a Christian leader that knew him why this was true, he replied, “When the general hears something from the Scripture, he obeys it immediately.” This is why he grew so fast."
With every act of obedience, the truth of what Jesus says becomes more and more persuasive. We know it is true, because God proves Himself true every time. Obey God the next time you read the Bible and the Spirit touches your heart.
In preparing for next Monday's Discovery Group study of John 7:1-24, I came acorss this story that feel is worth sharing.
"Many years ago, a pastor met a hard-bitten old Marine General, one of those tough, self-sufficient characters who was use to giving orders. After he had retired he became a Christian and grew with astonishing speed. Everyone who knew him saw the change. They respected him as much as they always had, but they saw a compassion, an understanding, a patience develop in him that was never there before. He was able to get along with people with whom he had formerly been bitterly at odds. When the pastor asked a Christian leader that knew him why this was true, he replied, “When the general hears something from the Scripture, he obeys it immediately.” This is why he grew so fast."
With every act of obedience, the truth of what Jesus says becomes more and more persuasive. We know it is true, because God proves Himself true every time. Obey God the next time you read the Bible and the Spirit touches your heart.
Reverence
As I am working to get Connection Point Church started, I have people who aren’t in our core group calling me “Pastor Thomasson” or “Reverend.” That feels weird to me to be called “Reverend” even by people I’m leading. It’s even weirder being called that by people I don’t know. The times I’m called “Reverend” by non-core group people I’m trying to buy something for the church or set something up for the church. I’ve never been big in titles when it comes to church work because we are all equal in the eyes of God. The only title I offer is Mr. or Mrs. to those people who are older than I (I was raise to respect my elders). I tell people to just call me Tom; just Tom.
The last church I worked as a youth pastor, I had one of the teens asked what I wanted to be called. I told them to call me by my name, Tom. They said, “Pastor Tom?” I told them, “No, just Tom.”
I hate the title “Reverend” and try to avoid it at all cost. When I fill our anything and am asked to choose a title, I put Mr. At conferences, if there is a preprint name tag it will have “Rev.” on it. I bare it in those circumstances. I know that my distain for the title “Reverend” goes back to my pastor and mentor of many years telling me as a young 16 yr old preacher-boy that, “The only person that we should reverence is Jesus Christ and that no man should be revered or called reverend.” Below is the definition for the word “Reverence” and I’ll let you make your own mind up. But as for me, I’m just Tom.
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens respectful, reverent
Date: 14th century
1: honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect
2: a gesture of respect (as a bow)
3: the state of being revered
4: one held in reverence —used as a title for a clergyman
As I am working to get Connection Point Church started, I have people who aren’t in our core group calling me “Pastor Thomasson” or “Reverend.” That feels weird to me to be called “Reverend” even by people I’m leading. It’s even weirder being called that by people I don’t know. The times I’m called “Reverend” by non-core group people I’m trying to buy something for the church or set something up for the church. I’ve never been big in titles when it comes to church work because we are all equal in the eyes of God. The only title I offer is Mr. or Mrs. to those people who are older than I (I was raise to respect my elders). I tell people to just call me Tom; just Tom.
The last church I worked as a youth pastor, I had one of the teens asked what I wanted to be called. I told them to call me by my name, Tom. They said, “Pastor Tom?” I told them, “No, just Tom.”
I hate the title “Reverend” and try to avoid it at all cost. When I fill our anything and am asked to choose a title, I put Mr. At conferences, if there is a preprint name tag it will have “Rev.” on it. I bare it in those circumstances. I know that my distain for the title “Reverend” goes back to my pastor and mentor of many years telling me as a young 16 yr old preacher-boy that, “The only person that we should reverence is Jesus Christ and that no man should be revered or called reverend.” Below is the definition for the word “Reverence” and I’ll let you make your own mind up. But as for me, I’m just Tom.
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens respectful, reverent
Date: 14th century
1: honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect
2: a gesture of respect (as a bow)
3: the state of being revered
4: one held in reverence —used as a title for a clergyman
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Determination
Some animals have the curious habit of steering a straight course, no matter what obstacles may be in the way. A black bear swimming in the water, for instance, will not turn to the right or left for any reason-boats, floating logs, reeds, or whatever.
Large tropical snakes will slither right over a boat or canoe rather than go around it in the water. Some land turtles are so determined to proceed in a straight line that they will push headfirst all day against a telephone pole rather than go around it.
We may laugh at these animals for their stubbornness or stupidity; but they are only following an instinct buried deep inside them.
This instinct also lies deep within many human beings. Sometimes it results in tragic or foolish mistakes. But when guided and focused by the Holy Spirit, this instinct to steer a straight course matter what the obstacle becomes a marvelous thing.
Jesus left the remaining eleven disciples with a tremendous task: “Go into the world and make disciples of all nations.” What were these men and a handful of followers against the entire world? Yet their single-minded determination to follow Jesus, inspired by the Spirit, turned the world upside down.
If we are Jesus’ disciples, we too carry within us the seeds of that determination. We can either dismiss it as foolish stubbornness or bring it to God’s Spirit for focus and direction. Around us is a world that is waiting for a handful of people to turn it upside down again.
Some animals have the curious habit of steering a straight course, no matter what obstacles may be in the way. A black bear swimming in the water, for instance, will not turn to the right or left for any reason-boats, floating logs, reeds, or whatever.
Large tropical snakes will slither right over a boat or canoe rather than go around it in the water. Some land turtles are so determined to proceed in a straight line that they will push headfirst all day against a telephone pole rather than go around it.
We may laugh at these animals for their stubbornness or stupidity; but they are only following an instinct buried deep inside them.
This instinct also lies deep within many human beings. Sometimes it results in tragic or foolish mistakes. But when guided and focused by the Holy Spirit, this instinct to steer a straight course matter what the obstacle becomes a marvelous thing.
Jesus left the remaining eleven disciples with a tremendous task: “Go into the world and make disciples of all nations.” What were these men and a handful of followers against the entire world? Yet their single-minded determination to follow Jesus, inspired by the Spirit, turned the world upside down.
If we are Jesus’ disciples, we too carry within us the seeds of that determination. We can either dismiss it as foolish stubbornness or bring it to God’s Spirit for focus and direction. Around us is a world that is waiting for a handful of people to turn it upside down again.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Anxiety
Last night I laid out the plan of doing a monthly Celebration Event starting in October to our small Monday evening Discovery Group. It’s out there now. Last night I had the same dream over and over again. The dream was me and only 2 people in this Celebration Event; the same two people for 3 months. I know actually what the dream means. I have some anxiety about this step. Last year I came across Philippians 4:6:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
I have freedom in knowing that God is in control (even when I can’t see Him), and He will make known everything I will need to know. The rest I have to take through faith. He has given us the people to help us reach out to the community of Carrollton, and He (God) is the One who draws people to Himself. We can have all the bells and whistles and if God isn’t in it, nothing will happen. And on the other side, we can have canned music, folding chairs, no multi-media slides, and preach the Bible and Christ, and God is in it, it will exploded.
Through the eyes of faith, I will trust the One who saved me and has called me to be His servant. I will trust in His great power and His great knowledge to do what He has called me to be and do.
Lord, take me and use me the way You see fit.
Last night I laid out the plan of doing a monthly Celebration Event starting in October to our small Monday evening Discovery Group. It’s out there now. Last night I had the same dream over and over again. The dream was me and only 2 people in this Celebration Event; the same two people for 3 months. I know actually what the dream means. I have some anxiety about this step. Last year I came across Philippians 4:6:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
I have freedom in knowing that God is in control (even when I can’t see Him), and He will make known everything I will need to know. The rest I have to take through faith. He has given us the people to help us reach out to the community of Carrollton, and He (God) is the One who draws people to Himself. We can have all the bells and whistles and if God isn’t in it, nothing will happen. And on the other side, we can have canned music, folding chairs, no multi-media slides, and preach the Bible and Christ, and God is in it, it will exploded.
Through the eyes of faith, I will trust the One who saved me and has called me to be His servant. I will trust in His great power and His great knowledge to do what He has called me to be and do.
Lord, take me and use me the way You see fit.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Mud Run 2008
I have to say that I will never look at sand the same way after I ran in the ASYMCA Mud Run. The course was at least 85 to 90% sand. I mean loose sand, not compact sand. The race kick my butt and it was the toughest thing I ever put myself through and I loved it. They waited to put the toughest part toward the last half. They had a 5 foot wall which was easy to jump over (for me) and 3 “mud pit” areas. The last mud pit was one I had to crawl under rope and through mud (it was awesome) and through it my knees got cut up (no big deal) it was a cool adventure.
According to the website’s result tab, my running time was 67 minutes and 29 seconds, and I came in 64th out of 86 men in the age group of 35 – 39 and 973 place out of over 2000 runners. Not too bad for my first 8K mud run. See below for some of the photos of the run. After August 31, I’ll post about the Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon.
I have to say that I will never look at sand the same way after I ran in the ASYMCA Mud Run. The course was at least 85 to 90% sand. I mean loose sand, not compact sand. The race kick my butt and it was the toughest thing I ever put myself through and I loved it. They waited to put the toughest part toward the last half. They had a 5 foot wall which was easy to jump over (for me) and 3 “mud pit” areas. The last mud pit was one I had to crawl under rope and through mud (it was awesome) and through it my knees got cut up (no big deal) it was a cool adventure.
According to the website’s result tab, my running time was 67 minutes and 29 seconds, and I came in 64th out of 86 men in the age group of 35 – 39 and 973 place out of over 2000 runners. Not too bad for my first 8K mud run. See below for some of the photos of the run. After August 31, I’ll post about the Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Loving FaceBook
I’ve been playing around on FaceBook for almost 2 months now and I’m loving going on this community website more everyday. Teresa is now hooked on it and is on it more than I am.
There have been people in my life that I allowed to go by the way side and I think of them every once and a while. Friends I made in college that went one way and me another. Teens I lead as a Youth Pastor now adults that I lost touch with. And people in my travels in ministry that I think of often but never been able to find an e-mail or phone number for. The people I have based sermon illustrations and stories I tell to my now friends.
FaceBook has given me back the opportunity to reconnect with these people. I love hearing about where my college friends are now and what they are doing. Some are where I thought they end up and others no where near. One has gone from Youth Pastoring to being a Warrant Officer in the Army (still work with youth as a volunteer), and some are teaching in Christian Schools. FaceBook is an awesome tool to reconnect.
I’ve been playing around on FaceBook for almost 2 months now and I’m loving going on this community website more everyday. Teresa is now hooked on it and is on it more than I am.
There have been people in my life that I allowed to go by the way side and I think of them every once and a while. Friends I made in college that went one way and me another. Teens I lead as a Youth Pastor now adults that I lost touch with. And people in my travels in ministry that I think of often but never been able to find an e-mail or phone number for. The people I have based sermon illustrations and stories I tell to my now friends.
FaceBook has given me back the opportunity to reconnect with these people. I love hearing about where my college friends are now and what they are doing. Some are where I thought they end up and others no where near. One has gone from Youth Pastoring to being a Warrant Officer in the Army (still work with youth as a volunteer), and some are teaching in Christian Schools. FaceBook is an awesome tool to reconnect.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
19,999 People and Me
After almost 10 years, I starting jogging again back in March 2008 (only 4 months), and have run in two 5K Races and will run in an 8K Mud Run on Saturday, 8/9. I say that to say this, I registered to run in the Virginia Beach Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon. The race is on August 31. I looked through the race’s website about 6 weeks ago, and it said that only 20,000 spaces were available. I thought there is no way 20,000 people will run in a race in VA. After I race 8 miles on Sunday, I told Teresa that I think I can run in this race. I went in the website to register and there were only 200 spaces left. I thought wow, 19,999 people and me will be running over 13 miles on Labor Day weekend. It should be interesting. I’ll post after the race to let you know that I survived the race and my time and placing. In the registration, there is a place where they want to know your guess on your running time. I put 2 hours 30 minutes and 24 seconds. I have no clue but I ran 8 miles in about 1 hour and 22 minutes on Sunday so I’m giving myself another hour to run 5 miles. It will be a neat adventure.
After almost 10 years, I starting jogging again back in March 2008 (only 4 months), and have run in two 5K Races and will run in an 8K Mud Run on Saturday, 8/9. I say that to say this, I registered to run in the Virginia Beach Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon. The race is on August 31. I looked through the race’s website about 6 weeks ago, and it said that only 20,000 spaces were available. I thought there is no way 20,000 people will run in a race in VA. After I race 8 miles on Sunday, I told Teresa that I think I can run in this race. I went in the website to register and there were only 200 spaces left. I thought wow, 19,999 people and me will be running over 13 miles on Labor Day weekend. It should be interesting. I’ll post after the race to let you know that I survived the race and my time and placing. In the registration, there is a place where they want to know your guess on your running time. I put 2 hours 30 minutes and 24 seconds. I have no clue but I ran 8 miles in about 1 hour and 22 minutes on Sunday so I’m giving myself another hour to run 5 miles. It will be a neat adventure.
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