Saturday Night Musings

So I should be sleeping because tomorrow is the big day... We will be busy running around, making the magic happen. People will be juiced up and ready to go with coffee in hand and big smiles on their faces. The strings will be tuned and the messages will be prepped. The doughnuts will be fresh and the chairs will all be straight. The lights will be cued and the sound should be perfect. The computers will be buzzing and check-in will work without a hitch.

Sometimes it seems like its a well oiled machine, that doesn't need tuning. It runs in high gear and purrs like a kitten. But the truth is without God we don't have anything. It is all lights, smoke, and posing. Without the Holy Spirit we are just another production, almost like broadway or any local theater troupe. Without hearts that are in humble posture to the Almighty we are just another busy religious parody.

But I know with all of my heart that we are not that machine. The church will rise up tomorrow and in buildings all over central Florida God's name will be lifted up. See, we have been praying and are praying this very moment for God to be the center of our attention. We have put our whole hearts into what you see on Sunday. Not because we want it to be flashy, but because we to give God the best that we have. We do that every day you see. As long as He gives us strength we will push as hard as we can to just reach one lost soul. Because you know what, I was once that person. I still remember my "first" Sunday. And believe it or not, every Sunday is someone's "first" Sunday.

So no matter what you think, or believe, or hate, or love, or disdain about this thing we call "church". Please take a second to remember that it is God's church and Christ is the head of it. Christ loves the church and it really is the hope of the world. So before you cast judgment, or decide to sleep in because it's not worth it, remember that. Remember what is good, lovely, worthy, hopeful, joyful, wonderful about Christ's legacy in the world. Pray for her (the church) and go to your worship gatherings tomorrow with great gladness in your heart. Let's celebrate together what God has done, so we can go out and be the hope of the world 7 days a week.

summer dreams...

hey guys. just wanted to tell you that what you are seeing is not a test. I just have the summer/beach vibe going on. So I changed it all up. Hope you like the new look!

i love my vegetables... but this is ridankulous

great wisdom- D.A. Carson

"People do not drift toward Holiness...

Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith.

We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."

----D.A. Carson

Please don't think for one moment, that when you cross the line to be a Christ-follower that the battle is over. In fact, it has just begun. You must realize it is our natural tendency to fall away from Grace. (many times because it's all we have known)

But we must remain diligent, putting on the things of God (Eph 6:10-11) that we can fight the good fight. So put up your dukes today and know that the battle belongs to the Lord!!!

mmmmmmm... salt...

Salt. I dont think about it much. I mean, I grew up in the south, which means you salt your food before you even taste it (and butter it). I remember one of the earliest phrases I learned was, "pass the salt". Why??? Because I like me some flavor!

I'm not one of these fitness fanatics that say food is just "fuel". Gas is fuel. Firewood is fuel. Food is my pleasure. That's why I want my food to taste good! In the gospel of Matthew 5:13 it says that WE (as Jesus people) are the salt of the earth.

If you are in Christ, you should have flavor. You flavor the world like salt flavors food. But think about it, you don't put chunks of salt on your plate. That would be weird!?! It would be like saying "Hey pass me the salt, I need to salt my big chunk of salt a little more..." Salt flavors the food. What this means is the food (the world) actually benefits from the salt's presence. It (salt) makes a difference...

You (are the salt) make a difference! If you are in Jesus, realize that he has put you where you are for a reason. You may be disgruntled, because you are in a harsh work situation, or a bad school, or a terrible carpool group, or a sketch neighborhood, etc. etc. But here is the real deal. If we are to live like Jesus, we need to be in these places, because we need to bring the God flavor (love, selflessness, hope...) to these areas. God has called us to be salt in a place that has lost it's true flavor.

Now, I'm not downplaying that it is hard to live in contexts that don't seem to put God first. It is a high calling to take up our cross. But who can snatch us from His loving care? If God is for us who can be against us? If we are in Christ that is the ultimate prize.

Even if we die. He is worth it...

Now, go out and share the flavor!!!

Video I have been jamming lately...

Hey family. I have decided to add a new page to the blog. If you look over to the right you will see different menus and one of those is "Read More". I know there are some of you out there that love to see what's new in gospel rap music and I will try my best to update this from week to week (or so). If you look on that menu, you can select, "Video I have been jamming lately" and it will take you to a page with one of my favorite videos that I have been getting crunk on. So definitely check it out and get your jam on!!!

for my boys at Edgewood...

LECRAE:: GO HARD from Adamson.TV on Vimeo.

Blondie..

So I did it again. I powered up and went blonde. I had a few people ask me "What the heck?!?!" So I decided to post about it and tell you the many reasons why ;)

It seems like every summer for the last 10 years I have decided to bleach my hair out. I like to do it because it is fun and I love the look on ppls faces. But the real reason I do it is because it reminds me of my love for my wife Kim.

You might be thinking-What?!? are you crazy?- Yes, I am. Let me take you back in the day. I remember in May 2000 I was on my way to Orlando, FL to be a summer missionary. I decided b4 I went to FLA, i was going to bleach my hair. And that's what I did! So when I first met Kim, I had this crazy blonde 'do and she laughed at me (in both a "what a weirdo way" and "hey you are kinda cute way").

If you read some earlier posts, you know that was one of the best summers ever and Kim and I got married a year later. I know it has nothing to do with my hairdo and more to do with God's promises and providence, but I'd like to think I get a little of that swagger back when I bleach my hair.

So it seems like every summer since 2000 I bleach my hair. It takes me back, and Kim and I both like it, so that's all that really matters. I think about how God was (and still is) so active in our lives back in 2000 and every time I bleach my hair out again it reminds me of God's faithfulness. So, if you see the crazy 'do on Sunday, now you know the back story!!!

no explanation is necessary...

it comes and goes...

If you follow this blog, you know it comes and goes. It sputters and it stalls. Sometimes it runs pretty smoothly and consistently and sometimes... well it just outright stops. But I am trying my best to carve out time in my week to write because:

A.) blogging seems to be more efficient (and cheaper) than skywriting in a prop plane

B.) my writing should give even the greatest cynic hope because if God can still use a mess like me then there is hope for anyone ;)

C.) I think that maybe somewhere, someone will relate to this "God yearning" and think maybe it is worth giving their life to.

D.) I want to be the number 1 hit on google when someone searches..."most average blog ever" LOL

So, all that to say. If you decide to follow along, it should prove to be interesting next few months. We are going through some wonderful growing opportunities here at Grace Fellowship and I know that God is going to really rock us in some major ways coming up, both as a staff and as a church and as individuals. I am currently doing some personal research on the family ministries concept (or "Orange") and am fascinated on knowing more of what it means to partner with parents in the spiritual formation of their students!

PS a few good reads I have found for family ministry-- "Think Orange" by Reggie Joiner and "Family + Church Collaborate" by Michael Chanley... Good places to start!!!

I am so glad you decided to stop by today. Be encouraged and remember that Reading is FUN(damental)!!!!So keep posted and Ill be back sooner or later.... but hopefully sooner!!! LOL