Thursday, April 3, 2008

Kingdom of Comfort

Save me, save me from the kingdom of comfort where I am king.
From my unhealthy lust of material things.
I built myself a happy home in my palace
On my own castle, falling in the sand
Pull me out, please grab my hand, I just forgot where I came from.

Save me, save me from the kingdom of comfort where I am king.
From my unhealthy lust of material things.
I rob myself of innocence with the poison of indifference
I buy my stuff at any cost
C couple clicks and I pay the price
Cuz what I gain is someone else's loss.

Save me, save me from the kingdom of comfort where I am king.
From my unhealthy lust of material things.

Save me, save me from the kingdom of comfort where I am king.
To the kingdom of heaven, where you are king.
-Martin Smith

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Our Truth, Our Hope

"Sometimes our lives depend on that which we place Faith in. And sometimes Faith relies on whom we are depending." -Jeff La Villa

I was thinking about what it is like when we know the Truth (Jesus) and yet find our lives unfolding in such a way that has caused us to lose hope in the future. I know I talk a lot about being in the present - living for now - but sometimes when all you see is now, it can be discouraging to see what lies ahead. At times we may feel "stuck" where we're at and not see hope to a "brighter future."

The quote above has always stuck with me, ever since I heard it when I was about 15. We rely on Faith so much as Christ-followers, but sometimes are Faith can depend on what we're placing it in. Sometimes we do depend on our jobs to "provide," or our spouses or - of course - ourselves. We put faith in tangible things - like our bank account - to bring us "hope" for tomorrow. I'm a victim of thinking that, for sure. (And it can be discouraging to most.) But to be honest, that's the most foolish thing ever to think.

Let's look at "whom we are depending..."

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV)

and probably one of the coolest verses ever:

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (ESV) [How can that not get you pumped!?]

1 Peter 1:13
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

When we know the Truth, yet have no hope, how are we living? Literally. How? I have to believe that knowing the Truth and having Hope go hand-in-hand. Don't you? Do you believe that? Is that manifesting in our minds and in speech and actions? We know that Jesus is the Truth, we know him and now we are confident in His Hope, the one we all celebrated a couple weeks ago at Easter; hope in the conquering of sin, the resurrection of our Lord and our redemption.

When we set our minds on it, we know the Truth and we will know Hope. And we can fight through our days with confidence.

I pray that for all of you today...

Monday, March 31, 2008

Here I Am, Send Me

I've heard this phrase a lot lately. Actually in a couple songs. Great songs at that. We sing these words, think or pray them even...but can we grasp what they mean? I surely struggle with that fact that if I do pray them or admit that I am 'ready' to be sent, I actually don't feel ready at all.

Isaiah heard from the Lord "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" After having his sin purged he proclaimed those famous words. As soon as he did the Lord told him to go speak to the people. (chapter 6:6-9)

If we ask the Lord to send us, are we ready to speak to the people?

And being sent, do you imagine it being a far off place? Is it over-seas or across country? Sometimes I wish it were. Sometimes I wish I would hear God say "Are you ready Jeff, I'm sending you to West Africa. The place you want to go." But honestly, that's not how God works. I think when we ask God to send us, it very well could be where we already are. "Send me to the lost, or the sick or frail," we pray to God. Well for most of us, let's look inside our workplace. For me that is as far as I have to go, work.

At this point let me share some lyrics from Dustin Kensrue, lead singer of my favorite band Thrice. The song is called: The Messenger.

Mark me with fear and trembling, send someone else instead.
I know my world is ending; I can't repay my debt.
How can I carry such a heavy burden?
How can I move when I am paralyzed?

I see a fire behind a heavy curtain.
I lean in closer & I close my eyes & kiss the coals, breathe in smoke & I say

"Here I am, send me."

Lifts my soul, free & so unafraid.
Mark me with fire and send me among the living dead.
They cannot comprehend me, I watch the sickness spread.

How can they hear me when their hearts are hardened?
How can they see me when they close their eyes?
So then can tell me I'm an easy target.
A wooden saw is quite a way to die.

Kiss the coals; breathe in smoke. And I say:
"Here I Am, Send Me."

Sometimes I think this: how can they hear me, when the world has hardened their hearts? I work everyday with college students who are lost, they see no direction in life. Literally. They go to school with no means to an end. They're underage and yet they love to binge drink because everyone else does it. Or they surf everyday because they don't like school and hate their classes. Well I could go on, but for me when I ask to "Send me Lord" I am convicted that I have to look at where I am. But of course God can grant the desires of our hearts, and Leanna and I would love to serve in Africa someday. But He has us here now. This is where we are "sent."

I think the crux of this is what happened to Isaiah before he uttered those words. We should focus on this: his sins were purged. They were removed, atoned for, wiped out. He was clean before being sent. Think about that. Whoa.

Before we sing "Here I am Lord, Send Me," let us take a knee (or two) and ask for forgiveness. Ask God to purge your sin. Then as we model Isaiah, let as ask God to send us where He will...

I pray our hearts respond...