The Good Word

A Season of Trial

pastorbrad12 — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:34:29 +0000

What’s the good word? I recently went through a season of trial a while back. It seemed nothing I did went well, nor did it seem as though God was answering my prayers. Prayers that I had been praying for for quite a while. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine shared some important insights that I realized that perhaps God was answering my prayers, and perhaps I needed to change my prayers. I was reminded that I shouldn’t jump to conclusions right away, that I needed to give myself some time to let my feelings settle down. It really is hard to think clearly with all those emotions surging through ones brain and heart. Once you calm down, God says “Why don’t you invite me into your process of deliberation? Let my presence improve your perspective.”

Yes, if we look at our problems from God’s perspective we can see these trials both as an opportunity (to strengthen one’s faith) and temptation (to allow your feeling to trump your faith). I had done the later. I let my feelings trump my faith, what I knew was true from my past relationship with God and from what I knew from Scripture. In times of trial we must cling to the words of Jesus in Matthew, “With men this is impossible, but through God all things are possible”. And this is the good word for today.

Being Joseph

pastorbrad12 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:08:52 +0000

What’s the good word? Every holiday season I get into costume and I portray Joseph. No, not the coat of many colors Joseph, but the famous step-dad of Jesus Joseph. I love being able to play this character who shows up only so briefly in Scripture, and yet, in my opinion, plays a HUGE role in the story. Not only that, but I feel that he also sets a great example for us all during this holiday season, and all year long.

Here we have Joseph, who in the middle of ambiguity and confusion, still takes Mary as his wife and doesn’t abandon Mary and Jesus. In the middle of all of this confusing news of a baby being born through the Holy Spirit, who will one day be the Savior of the world, Joseph shows honor and compassion towards Mary and this unborn child. It’s a lesson for all of us this holiday season. As the Christ child comes to us and visits this earth this weekend, it is through him that God gives us a shot of being Joseph to someone this season and every day. Although the situation may seem confusing and you don’t have all the facts, God DOES call us all to be Joseph to whoever it might be. Merry Christmas! And that’s the good word for today!

Advent

pastorbrad12 — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:01:55 +0000

What’s the good word? Well, you wouldn’t know it, but we are deep into the season of Advent. For all it’s intents and purposes, I believe it gets harder to stay in the mindset of Advent as we get closer to Christmas. I know for me personally, I do GREAT at the beginning. I’ve just come off of a thanksgiving feast and that first Sunday of Advent comes that Sunday after. It’s a sign to me to get ready! But as we get closer to Christmas, the stress of the season seems to come into play and well, there are times when it just doesn’t feel like Christmas. But I believe that the purpose of Advent is to help us in this season.

The well-known Internet Monk blogger Michael Spencer illustrates the difference between Advent and Christmas well. He says, “Christmas is joyous, but the joy comes after weeks of waiting, watching, lamenting and calling upon God. Advent is that season of waiting; of looking for the signs and promises of the Savior in the Scriptures and in the world.” Advent slows us down. Advent is counter to the chaos to the noise and bustle. In the weeks leading up to Christmas—when our culture is shouting at us to “spend!” “buy!” and “consume!”—the season of Advent teaches us to slow down and reflect on the God’s story and our place in it, it teaches us patience and cultivates within us a child-like sense of anticipation and longing. Oh, how I long to rediscover the natural spiritual rhythm that comes with the season of Advent. When we do discover it, I believe it will help Christians experience the true meaning of Christmas.And that’s the good word for today.

Hope

pastorbrad12 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:10:52 +0000

What’s the good word? Jeremiah writes in the book of Lamentations: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. It’s no surprise that if you watch the evening or late night news you tend to ask yourself often, “Is there any hope?” Today, dreams are underscored by a positive, successful outlook for the future. Hence the American dream, rags to riches, Cinderella, a dropout rising to greatness. But how does one define happiness though? It is increasingly obvious it’s not defined by money. Even those who possess “happiness” now are faced with turmoil. Pain results, a feeling of inadequacy, incompetence, degenerative self-worth. “I walk alone.” In this season of Advent we are reminded that Hope comes to us in Jesus Christ.

The wonder in the Scriptures is the hope pulsing through it, this statement in Lamentations on God a fitting example: “His mercy never fails. It is new every morning.” Tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, ripe with possibility. Smog and particulates conceal celestial glory, but the right evening provides unparalleled clarity. Take a breath. Make a wish. Dream. Hope without ceasing, and then, this holiday season, bring hope to someone. And that’s the good word for today.

Happy Thanksgiving

pastorbrad12 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:26:20 +0000

What’s the good word? This thanksgiving, thanks to this video, I am thankful for God’s goodness. God’s goodness has blessed me with more blessings than I can count. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

http://youtu.be/tfEZC8eG1_Y

And that’s the good word for today.

Urgency

pastorbrad12 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:28:36 +0000

What’s the good word? Recently read the following while in the book of Romans: “So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also in Rome.” Romans 1:15. Whenever someone asks me what my favorite part of being a minister is I always go back to preaching. Why? Perhaps it is because I share the same sense of eagerness and urgency that Paul felt. One of the highest honors of my calling is to preach the word to those who show up on Sunday mornings. As the priesthood of all believers, I feel this should be everyone’s sense as well. Jesus calls on all of us to preach and to share the good news. But do you have that sense of eagerness to do it? Let me put it to you this way: Do you have the same sense of eagerness to proclaim the Word of God as you do to see that next new movie that is coming out, or to go buy the next new video game, or to ________________? We show a sense of eagerness and urgency in many other areas of our lives, but rarely when it comes to proclaiming this wonderful message we have been entrusted with.

If you read on in that first chapter of Romans, Paul clearly describes our misplaced worship. He says that we worship the created rather than Creator (Romans 1:25). But what makes Paul eager to preach the gospel is the One whom the gospel reveals: Jesus. The deeper our knowledge and understanding of Christ, the more “eager” we will be to proclaim it. as well. Our fervor will grow, and rightly so, as we seek to know nothing except “Christ and him crucified” (I Corinthians 2:2). It’s hard to get excited about someone you know little of, so it is up to us to make time in our lives and get to know Jesus Christ. If we do this, I am sure that an eagerness to share the gospel will soon follow.

Sufficient

pastorbrad12 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:54:11 +0000

What’s the good word? In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul reminds us that Christ says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I don’t know about you, but sometimes for me that is just too hard to remember. I mean, why is it that we don’t often feel as though Christ’s grace is enough for us? Or, for that matter, why is it we don’t think that Jesus is enough? I wonder if we really know what we have in Jesus? For it is our faith in Jesus that can cause mountains to move. There’s nothing that can supplement the Savior- no program, no software, no ministry. Nothing! And even when we feel we aren’t doing well, or that we may not be up to the task at hand, we are reminded that God’s power is perfected in weakness.

It’s hard to live out a grace dependent life; we want to get to heaven by the work of our own two hands. It’s a hard pill to swallow- being really helpless and needy before the sight of God. He is not for feeling good or for comfort, but rather for life itself. May we refuse to forget where we came from and what we are capable of.

New Blog

pastorbrad12 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:33:55 +0000

What’s the good word? Just wanted to announce on here that I have launched another blog specifically devoted to Leadership in Ministry. It contains leadership lessons I learn along the way, along with links to articles and books that are out there. Check it out by clicking on this link: http://wp.me/p1VeNY-5. Subscribe to it as well as this one! Hope you enjoy!

Had To Share

pastorbrad12 — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 23:43:53 +0000

What’s the Good Word? Well, not so much a word this time, but I was recently at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta last week and saw these guys and saw this video. Out of the blue, one of my members sent it to me not knowing this at all. As such, I believe it’s divine intervention telling me to share. So, nothing serious this time, but have a laugh, don’t take it seriously, and have fun! Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQr56sZw6-s&feature=player_detailpage

And that’s the good word for today!

Causes

pastorbrad12 — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:05:33 +0000

What’s the good word? In my closet I have multiple Product Red T-Shirts (a portion of the proceeds go to help end HIV/AIDS), I have a ONE T-Shirt (One Campaign seeks to end poverty in the world), I have a Save Darfur T-Shirt (Darfur is being ravaged by genocide by the governing body) and my wife and I give occasionally to several other causes. Something has happened in the last 10 years- charity has become cool. One doesn’t have to look far today to find someone doing good. This “fad” has also made an entrance into the business world. Charitable causes are no longer monopolized by nonprofits; now they’re embraced by the white-collar CEO and the tech savvy twenty something alike.

But do these causes come with a price? If we relegate our compassion to a consumption mentality, we could end up reframing what it means to show compassion, which, in my view, flies into the face of Christian theology. Meaning we end up with a more narcissistic approach to charitable giving. And what happens when the uninformed teenager has to choose between donating $20 to the Salvation Army and buying a T-Shirt that endorses a cause? If “cool” takes the place of charity, then the cause with the greater marketing may win. But for Christians, aren’t our actions and signs of compassion supposed to be acts of worship? How do these causes speak to that? Does it murky the waters? And ultimately, does it hurt giving at local church levels? On one hand I see the good in these charities, I do after all support many of them and buy many gifts in the name of charity, but I also see how it could hurt our sense of what true charity is about. What are your thoughts? And that’s the good word for today!