Lukewarm and Lovin' It?

Lukewarm and Lovin’ It?

If you have known me for any length of time you know that apart from God I have two great passions in life: music and coffee. In fact my website/blog is even called “coffeeshopgod.com”, even furthermore a majority of these newsletters are written as I sit at my favorite coffeehouse. I am predictable in the coffee that I drink; I prefer a cup of hot, bold, brewed coffee. I guess you could say I’m a traditional coffee drinker. However in recent years coffeeshops have made a ton of money by selling new drinks iced, frozen/blended.. I could not tell you how tired I was of making frozen/blended coffee drinks in the summers that I worked at Starbucks in Mississippi. They were a huge seller. In all my time that I worked at Starbucks there is one type of coffee I have never heard anyone order, lukewarm coffee.

There was a city in the first century called Laodicea. Laodicea was self-sufficient city, a commercial center and the site of a thriving medical and textile industries. They did not view themselves as poor; they were sufficient by their own industries, not really dependent upon God for their daily needs. In many ways you can say that the community of Laodicea is similar to the modern day United States of America. As a vast majority of Americans we are self sufficient and do not have to wonder where our next meal will come from, where we will sleep, or whether we will have clothes on our back. Just as the city of Laodicea, we are not desperate for God; in fact I would make the statement to say that as a whole, we as American’s are Lukewarm. Sure we claim to “know God”, we may go to church on Easter or Christmas, we may be able to quote John 3:16, and our grandparents might go to church, we won’t renounce God completely, but we are not desperate for Him. We are lukewarm.

John, through the divine author Jesus Christ, has something to say the church of Laodicea in Revelation: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were one or the other!” So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit (vomit) you out of my mouth.” These are incredibly harsh words to be spoken to someone who doesn’t claim to not follow God, but who is merely not desperate for God, right? Wrong! “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform any miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

God views men and women who say “Lord, Lord” but live lives consumed with their own glory, as a cup of lukewarm coffee. He will spit them out of His mouth. Are you desperate for God? Who does your life give glory to? Think about these things as you have your daily cup of coffee.

SENT 2009: An Urgency for the Gospel

I had the opportunity to go to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention's SENT Conference this past weekend in Houston. I had opportunity to meet many people who work with college students all over Texas as well as people who work with missionaries all over the world. A question that I heard over and over is how do we get people to live missional or on mission? According to much of what I heard it's is not a great problem to get people to give money for missions or to get people who will go on short-term mission trips away from where they live, but getting people to share the love of Christ with people that they come into contact with daily is almost impossible. Thus living missionally, or on mission in our day to day surroundings is not being accomplished.

There must be an urgency for the Gospel. In a society where it is more and more common not to talk to people you come into contact with even in the marketplace, where we keep to ourselves, as Christians we must be the odd-balls and be exceptionally open and reaching out daily to those around us. It is uncomfortable - especially in our society where we can live a totally anonymous lifestyle.

Think about it we can go to the ATM to bank, pay-at-the-pump gas, and self-checkout at the market. We can go all day without having to come into contact with someone who we don't know. Through this process that we have found ourselves in it has become increasingly "awkward" in society to talk to someone and get any deeper then where is a product; if you ask how someone's day is going they flip out because it is just totally absurd now. The larger society/metroplex you find yourself in the more true this statement becomes.

There must be an urgency for the Gospel - your neighbors are going to hell - the people checking you out in the market are going to hell - the person you just cut off because you were reading this on your iPhone is going to hell - we must have an urgency for the Gospel and can no longer be casual Christians who have our "fire-insurance".

Be Awkward. Care. Share.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience......
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?....
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:18-39

Spring Christians

I am hot-natured. You know this if you've been around me for any period of time. Therefore I love spring - 65 to 70 degrees - it is near perfect weather for me. Apart from the weather I also think that spring days are more beautiful than any other time of the year. The beauty and great weather cause me to want to be lazy and lay around outside all day, however as this usually occurs simultaneously with the grunt-work portion of school, this has got me in trouble more then once.

Spring is beautiful. I can't figure out if the skies actually come bluer, or if the new growth of the green grass and green trees just cause the skies to seem more vivid. Regardless this combination of beauty with the newfound warmth of the sun (not to hot though), causes me to love Spring.

We should be Spring Christians. Now I know I've lost you, so allow me to explain. New growth, and warmth is attractive to people - people want to be stick around and be in its presence. If you are not growing as a Christian with your walk in the faith then you are dying or dead - If your spirit is not warm - then it is cold. People do not want to be around a dying cold person - they however are attracted and even magnetized to a person is is growing and warm.

Lets not be cold people anymore. I am convicted of this everyday - we should be the pursuers of people, wanting to spill the good news all over them, however many times we hoard the good news as if its a cup of 4 dollar coffee which we don't want anyone to spoil.

Lets be Spring Christians.

Do We Care?

Five minutes ago sitting in the Starbucks in Midlothian I ran into a guy that I admit I didn't even remember his name till halfway though the coversation. He was struggling with somethings and wanted to talk about it. Struggling where to go to college, what to do with his life, and getting plugged into a church. He wanted to talk, I was busy with some schoolwork, but I listened. I didn't really have the time to waste but the though came across - it's not always about Jonathan, service is about others.

I'm busy. I have a lot going on most of the time between planning a wedding, working at the church, landscaping, school, finances, and the normal business of life (cleaning, cooking, ect...).

So I've thought about this, I make time for what I want to make time for. If I want to read about apple news, play on facebook/myspace, or watch tv; I make time for it. Therefore if I don't make time to listen to others problems when they need somone to talk to, it's not because I'm really that busy, it is just because I don't want to "make time" for it.

I know many times I need someone to talk to and it seems as if there is noone - I know that there are people that feel like this, so I am convicted just listening to people makes a world of difference in their day and lives. Maybe this is a way that we could share God's loves with others; listen to their problems and when they ask for your advice or need your help there is your opportunity to share God's good news with them.

Just some thoughts,


jc

Some Old Blogs

As you may have noticed, I've uploaded some of my old blogs from the past year. These are combinations of just thoughts that I have had and newsletters I have written for the church that I work at in the past year. 2008 was a great learning experiance just as I'm sure 2009 will be. I am amazed at how much God teaches me daily - even when I am not aware that He is teaching me. I pray that you will be aware to what God is trying to teach you today, look around and see what He is allowing you to learn from every one you are surround by.