the encounter

I woke up quite early this morning.

Around 3 I pulled myself out of bed and opened up my copy of The Message to finish reading the good news according to Mark.

As I read through it, several things crossed my mind.

• Matthew seems to write from the mindset of proving to the Hebrews that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the prophecies within the Hebrew Scripture
• Mark seems to write from a mindset of encouraging his readers to give all they’ve got for the cause of Jesus

Along the way a couple passages really jumped out at me and stirred my heart and soul.

In the 4th chapter of his letter, Mark writes:

With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots. (mark 4:33-34)

I’ve always heard and known that Jesus used stories to relate to people, but Eugene Peterson really makes the language/idea pop when he suggests that Jesus presented his stories according to each group’s experience and maturity.

The NIV translates it this way: Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.

It seems like we could take a lesson from Jesus when we’re trying to explain Biblical principals to people. Tell it like we would a story. Don’t try to impress people with your big doctrinal words. Don’t try to overdue the theological ideas. Break it down and tell the story in a way that makes sense to your audience.

The second passage that really grabbed me was a few pages over, in chapter 6.

Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

That jumped out at me and really comforted me this morning. It helped me to realize that even Jesus, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Son of God couldn’t force people to change. Their stubbornness won out sometimes – even in his hometown.

I can often get frustrated when I see a lack of change in people I may be ministering with/to. But it’s really not up to me — it’s up to the Holy Spirit to convict hearts. I’m just called to continue living the life.

What do you think? What are you reading this week? Anything you really like in Mark’s telling of the good news?

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Last weekend, Circuit Riders motorcycle ministry collected school supplies at the Walmart in Midlothian.  The response was overwhelming!  Shane and Sarah Carlile and the other riders took the collected supplies to Joy at Daniel’s Den homeless ministry in Waxahachie.  Way to go Shane, Sarah, and Circuit Riders!

For more pictures, go to CIRCUIT RIDER PICTURES

For the news story printed in the Waxahachie Daily Light, go to NEWS STORY

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It is huge.  To believe that what God has done is really greater than we ever really imagined.  That as a result of coming to Christ in repentance I really am forgiven.  I really am free.  I really am seen as perfect and holy in His eyes.  What Christ has done is far greater than we ever really imagined.

Though we say we ”believe” it, the proof is seen in how we now see God, see ourselves, see the people closest to us, see those who are still far from God.  Here are some of the clues that we discussed Sunday that may show that we really don’t “believe” what Christ has done for us on the cross.

• you beat yourself up all the time for your weaknesses and failures
• your guilt keeps you from being truly intimate with God
• you have little or no joy in your life
• you’re unforgiving, impatient, and hard on others
• you struggle with the idea that God fully forgives you
• you struggle with the idea that God has a good purpose for your life
• you find it hard to believe there’s not something else you have ‘to do’ in order to gain God’s favor

This Sunday at encounter we continue the discussion and continue learning more about what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.  It could be that you are more free than you ever really imagined!

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“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Matthew 11:28-30

HT to Headphonaught

What a great image of God and Jesus.

“Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”

I remember in elementary school I was in the band. I played snare drum simply because I couldn’t play a wind or brass instrument thanks to my orthodontist work. When I first started out, I had to force the rhythm at times. I had to work on getting it right. But as I became familiar with the song and the drum, it became easier. Suddenly it wasn’t forced. It was natural.

The same happened when I took piano lessons. The more I did it, the less forced it was. The more natural it became. Now years later, it’s a real effort for me to sit and read music. There are a few songs that still come naturally to me – but don’t ask me to read the music for it – I’ll be lost in an instant. It’s because I’m out of practice and now what may have been unforced rhythm takes a lot of effort.

Throughout life I see this pattern over and over again.

Imagine grace becoming such a thing we’re so used to giving and receiving that it just comes natural. It’s just a natural rhythm of life. It isn’t a pain to give when asked. It isn’t a forced effort to smile at someone we’re not particularly found of. It isn’t unusual to accept the unacceptable or the unloved.

When grace becomes an unforced rhythm of life – suddenly we love those who least expect it and love those who lease deserve it.

Imagine what would happen if grace became an unforced rhythm of life just as music was to Evan in the movie August Rush? What if it just flowed from us each and every day?

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